The University of Auburn and the Southeastern Conference are dealing with a public relations nightmare today after a highly-qualified African-American coach was passed over for the Tigers’ head coaching job, allegedly because he has a white wife.
Ordinarily we’re inclined to dismiss this sort of thing, but in this case it’s not just former Auburn standout Charles Barkley alleging racism at his alma mater.
According to ESPN.com football writer Mark Schlabach, two SEC head football coaches told him that Buffalo’s Turner Gill would never get the Auburn job because he is married to a white woman.
You can watch that video report here.
Plus there’s the obvious question of qualifications.
Gill has transformed Buffalo’s football program from one of the nation’s worst to a bowl-eligible team in just three seasons. The Bulls won the Mid-American Championship this year, and in a twist of Alabama irony, he’s a finalist for the Paul “Bear” Bryant College Football Coach of the Year award.
Gene Chizik, the guy Auburn hired, went 5-19 in two seasons at Iowa State.
Hmmm …
By Lost Boys December 16, 2008 at 5:30 pm
Fire Spurrier, hire Charlie Strong.
By Crooner December 16, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Got any pics of Gill’s wife?
By reggie December 16, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Maybe USC will wise up and get him. Sounds like Buffallo 2.0 to me lol
By James the Foot Soldier December 16, 2008 at 7:46 pm
Sorry Lost Boys, Charlie Strong has a similar “problem” in the eyes of the Gamecock Club, a.k.a. Knuckle-dragging Kross-eyed Kry-babies.
By Lost Boys December 17, 2008 at 12:14 am
James, you racist duck. Hiring Charlie will allow for the shamecocks to get past this racist sh*t, while also getting a quality coach that produce more wins then that cocky duck.
quack-quack cracker
By James the Foot Soldier December 17, 2008 at 7:34 pm
Lost Boys:
First, read my post CAREFULLY before calling me a racist turd. You may then notice the clever use of mis-spelled “k” words that when combined into an acronym yield a comparison of the good ol’ boys at the Gamecock Club to the KKK.
(what fun is this if I have to explain myself)
Second, I’ve always been a huge Charlie Strong fan and I personally could give a rat’s ass what ethnicity his wife is. His defenses and recruiting produced top-notch first round draft caliber talent, and allowed the inept aging offenses of Lou Holtz to go unnoticed.
Third, I would suggest you quit screaming racist at the first sign of tension lest you become known as the boy who cried wolf – or are you one of those who uses it as a crutch to hide your own shortcomings – one being reading comprehension?
By Lost Boys December 17, 2008 at 11:32 pm
James, It is not my fault that you hate America. Communist duck.
By Crooner December 18, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Got any pics of Strong’s wife?
By Al Stanley September 21, 2009 at 9:12 pm
Looks like Chizik was a good hire after all. What you fail to mention in this article is that Chizik went 13-0 while D-coordinator at Auburn. Gill was not a good fit for the type of players that Auburn can recruit.