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Jesse's plea Rev. Jackson: 'Bama should consider black coachPosted: Monday May 05, 2003 4:35 PMBIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) -- The Rev. Jesse Jackson urged the University of Alabama on Monday to consider hiring a black to replace football coach Mike Price, fired over allegations of personal misconduct. Speaking in a telephone interview with The Associated Press, Jackson said the hiring process at Tuscaloosa should focus on "the best coaches available in the market." "The crisis at the University of Alabama creates an opportunity for them to consider a qualified African-American football coach," said Jackson. Commenting on reports Alabama may be interested in NFL assistant and former Tide quarterback Mike Shula, a son of NFL coaching great Don Shula, Jackson said the hiring process should be "open." "You shouldn't get these jobs by incest and an inheritance. You should get them based upon some track record of service," said Jackson. Jackson declined to name anyone he considered qualified for the job. Officials at Alabama did not immediately return telephone calls seeking comments on Jackson's remarks. Jackson's comments came as he traveled to Birmingham for a meeting with black ministers about the Alabama coaching job and other issues. T.L. Lewis, pastor of Bethel Baptist Church of Pratt City, where Jackson was scheduled to speak, said Alabama should consider Green Bay Packers assistant coach Sylvester Croom, an Alabama graduate, and Terry Jones, a former Tide football player who works as a conditioning coach with Alabama basketball players. "I think there should be some strong consideration given considering that so much of the success there has to do with African-American players," said Lewis. Croom has declined comment on the Alabama job. Jones did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment. No Southeastern Conference school has hired a black as head football coach, but Alabama has considered at least one black for the position. Alabama interviewed then-offensive coordinator Woody McCorvey for the top job in 1997 after Gene Stallings resigned. The job went to Mike DuBose, the defensive coordinator at the time. Jackson compared Alabama's current predicament to Notre Dame, where Tyrone Willingham was hired as the Irish's first black coach last year following revelations George O'Leary's resume included inaccuracies. "We appealed to Notre Dame over and over again to consider a black and they did not," Jackson said. Notre Dame turned to Willingham after it was "embarrassed by a situation," he said. "Now they have the No. 1 coach in the country," said Jackson. |
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