No Gmartin, this is in response to Auburn in Alabama hiring a white coach with a 5-18 career coaching record over a African-American who turned around one of the worst programs in 1-A to make it to a bowl game in just three years.
Now in Auburn’s defense the coach they hired has ties to the school … but to look at the resumes and pick the white guy over the black guy seemed a bit incongruous.
This character as drawn would seem to be a caricature of the old South.
I don’t read it as blaming the South. I read it as a CARICATURE of the old South and that perceived mentality … which this Auburn decision seems to feed.
I hope Chizik succeeds and Auburn is redeemed and this goes away, but if he loses and Gill goes on to greener pastures as well, but if Chizik fails and Gill keeps moving up … well right or wrong Auburn will look guilty regardless of the circumstances.
And Fred, I believe racism to be a national problem, but to bury our heads about the history of the South and even today to look at a state (Mississippi) that still incorporates a confederate flag into their state identity is pollyannish.
I see it as Auburn and the South being portrayed as the only racists in college football. The FACT is, most (if not all) Northern Division I schools have never looked at hiring black coaches–and are never called on it by the media and snarky cartoonists.
Enlighten a guy who doesn’t follow much football… if a guy has played good football for a Division 1 school for 3-4 years and has a choice between making millions in the NFL or making a good 6-figure salary as a coach, why would he want to be a coach?
South bashing again today? Can’t we just rerun an old strip and save this story line for the upcoming Tank McNamara 40th anniversary collection? This just isnt fair, alot of Deep South schools have worked hard to wash away old ways of thinking. To paint them all with the same brush is just as bad rascism in the first place.
No one would EVER think of slamming an all black college like this. Even one that failed consider a white candidate for an important position.
TerrenceStamp, I appreciate your honest opinion but your logic has a big failure. Just because I call something satire doesnt mean it cant also be offensive. I recognize satire and I’m a pretty good judge of what I consider offensive. And I’m pretty sure I’ve still got the right to express my opinion, even if you disagree. I’ve got a pretty durn thick skin, until it comes to ignorance. I dont care how many coaches Aubrun has, or how poor their record. If a cartoonist wants to satirize Auburn they should do it without slamming an entire group of people.
I really enjoy Tank McNamara, and I have a great respect for Millar and Hinds. I just think this is one of their less brilliant story lines.
terrencestamp90346 over 15 years ago
No Gmartin, this is in response to Auburn in Alabama hiring a white coach with a 5-18 career coaching record over a African-American who turned around one of the worst programs in 1-A to make it to a bowl game in just three years.
Now in Auburn’s defense the coach they hired has ties to the school … but to look at the resumes and pick the white guy over the black guy seemed a bit incongruous.
This character as drawn would seem to be a caricature of the old South.
buckmizer over 15 years ago
Auburn is also the same school that got rid of Tommy Tuberville who won 80 games in 10 years at Auburn. They’ve got a lot of problems besides racism.
I think that the writers are enhancing the problem by placing the blame of racism in one place. Kind of like what the whole country does to the South.
buckmizer over 15 years ago
BTW, folks, I am still waiting to hear about all those black Div. I football coaches in the North.
terrencestamp90346 over 15 years ago
I don’t read it as blaming the South. I read it as a CARICATURE of the old South and that perceived mentality … which this Auburn decision seems to feed.
I hope Chizik succeeds and Auburn is redeemed and this goes away, but if he loses and Gill goes on to greener pastures as well, but if Chizik fails and Gill keeps moving up … well right or wrong Auburn will look guilty regardless of the circumstances.
And Fred, I believe racism to be a national problem, but to bury our heads about the history of the South and even today to look at a state (Mississippi) that still incorporates a confederate flag into their state identity is pollyannish.
buckmizer over 15 years ago
I see it as Auburn and the South being portrayed as the only racists in college football. The FACT is, most (if not all) Northern Division I schools have never looked at hiring black coaches–and are never called on it by the media and snarky cartoonists.
ChiehHsia over 15 years ago
Enlighten a guy who doesn’t follow much football… if a guy has played good football for a Division 1 school for 3-4 years and has a choice between making millions in the NFL or making a good 6-figure salary as a coach, why would he want to be a coach?
WaltSouth over 15 years ago
Oh, I thought it was about the hoopla over Yale hiring a black coach.
Durak Premium Member over 15 years ago
South bashing again today? Can’t we just rerun an old strip and save this story line for the upcoming Tank McNamara 40th anniversary collection? This just isnt fair, alot of Deep South schools have worked hard to wash away old ways of thinking. To paint them all with the same brush is just as bad rascism in the first place.
No one would EVER think of slamming an all black college like this. Even one that failed consider a white candidate for an important position.
TerrenceStamp, I appreciate your honest opinion but your logic has a big failure. Just because I call something satire doesnt mean it cant also be offensive. I recognize satire and I’m a pretty good judge of what I consider offensive. And I’m pretty sure I’ve still got the right to express my opinion, even if you disagree. I’ve got a pretty durn thick skin, until it comes to ignorance. I dont care how many coaches Aubrun has, or how poor their record. If a cartoonist wants to satirize Auburn they should do it without slamming an entire group of people.
I really enjoy Tank McNamara, and I have a great respect for Millar and Hinds. I just think this is one of their less brilliant story lines.