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Panel Discusses African-American Issues At Packers Hall Of Fame
by Mike Spofford, Packers.com
posted 02/09/2007
In celebration of Black History Month, the Green Bay Packers held a panel discussion on Thursday night in the Hall of Fame focused on several issues surrounding African-Americans involved in football in the past, present and future.
Long snapper Rob Davis, defensive ends coach Carl Hairston, pro personnel assistant Tim Terry, and former Packers linebacker and current director of player development George Koonce all participated on the panel, which discussed issues including the NFL's "Rooney Rule" in searching for head coaches, the Green Bay community's treatment of African-American athletes, and the current African-American athlete's appreciation for those who paved the way before them.
The "Rooney Rule," named for Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney, who was influential in instituting it, was at the forefront during last week's Super Bowl with two African-American head coaches getting to the big game for the first time. The rule requires teams to interview at least one minority candidate anytime it is searching for a new head coach, and though it has come under some scrutiny as almost any affirmative action initiative has at some time, the panel generally agreed it is good for the game.
"I think it's a great rule," Terry said. "Hopefully you look forward to the day when that rule is not needed because they'll interview the best candidates, period. But the rule being in place as it is, it's good, because prior to the rule it was just coaches being recycled, and young talented coaches wouldn't get an opportunity to sit in a room and even interview."
Terry pointed out a great example of the rule working recently was with Rooney's own team, the Steelers. Other candidates were rumored to be at the forefront for Pittsburgh's head job, but Minnesota defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin, an African-American, won the job in the interview process.
But Davis cautioned the rule will only work as intended if all teams, like the Steelers did, take it seriously and don't just look at it as something to chalk off on a to-do list in the search process.
"I think it's a great rule only if it's the right intentions," Davis said. "Don't just march these brothers through there just to say we had one, but we already have our guy in mind and we're just going to go along with this rule. These guys should have an opportunity to go in and present themselves as football coaches, not black football coaches, and be compared to that.
"If the 'Rooney Rule' indeed has given our coaches, not a better opportunity, just a fair opportunity to interview, then I think it's working. But if it's just propaganda, it doesn't hold much weight."
The panelists also noted that the league is considering adopting a similar rule for general manager openings. Hairston, who was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1976 out of Maryland-Eastern Shore, a traditionally black college, said that after his playing days he looked back at the Eagles and noticed that, at the time he was drafted, other than some players there was only one African-American in the entire organization, and he worked as a scout.
"As the years went on, you got to see more black assistants (coaches), and more African-Americans in front offices," Hairston said. "After a while, after people attacked the problem, it started changing, and I think it's a good thing."
The panelists also commended Green Bay for the way the community receives African-American athletes.
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Koonce, a Packers linebacker from 1992-99, said when he had the opportunity to return to Green Bay as the team's director of player development last year, he didn't hesitate.
"Me and my wife talked about it and she said, 'Do you want to go back?', and I said, 'Most definitely,' because when I was there as a player I had a great experience," Koonce said.
"It tends to get a little cold every once in a while, but the people's hearts, and the way the fans are, and the people in the community, they'll make you feel warm. I've been really pleased with the people, not only in Green Bay, but in Wisconsin as a whole."
Koonce also is one who understands and appreciates the African-American players who came before him, and has been inspired by them.
Koonce is originally from New Bern, N.C., the same hometown as the late Bob Mann, who played high school football with Koonce's grandfather and went on to become the first African-American to play in a game for the Packers, and for the Detroit Lions as well later in his career.
"Just hearing that when I was a young kid, I thought, I'm in a small little town, but the sky's the limit," Koonce said. "If Bobby Mann can do it, George Koonce can graduate from high school, get a scholarship, go to East Carolina University and showcase his talents."
The panelists agreed many younger players often don't appreciate the African-American players who paved their way to fame and fortune, though they noted some are becoming more educated. Moreso than any knowledge of detailed history, they feel the ultimate tribute to those players is simply to respect the game and play it the way it should be played.
"I'm standing on the shoulders of the Willie Davises, the Herb Adderleys, the Willie Woods," Koonce said. "I just respect what they've done. I can imagine what they went through, and I want to tell them thank you." |
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