We’re pretty sheltered here in the Pacific Northwest. Many readers likely skipped over the story about Sylvester Croom’s first game as head coach of Mississippi State last week and missed the enormous significance of the day.
All it was, was the debut of the first black head football coach in the 71-year history of the Southeastern Conference. Nothing special.
Nothing special, that is, until you consider what enormous influence the hiring could have on the lily-white profession of big-time college football coaching.
I made a business trip into rural Tennessee in 1996 and nearly choked on my grits when I saw that the restaurant openly and proudly sold rebel flags and bumper stickers that made backward, vicious references to blacks, slavery, cotton fields, burning crosses and selective lynching.
Most of the people were wonderful, with the exception of the guy who cornered me and rattled off reasons why The Deep South was, in his words, “a conquered nation.”
Time marches slowly there, but it’s not alone, as we’ll see later.
Croom, a classy 49-year-old who grew up in Tuscaloosa, Ala., has downplayed the historical aspects of his own hiring from the start. Certainly, though, he knew the impact. Upon his hiring in January, he said, “The only color that matters to me is maroon.”
Croom’s father, Sylvester Sr., was a Tuscaloosa minister who played a major role in the integration of the city’s public school system. A big, bear of a man who died four years ago, Senior was there in 1963 when the late Gov. George Wallace blocked the door at Foster Auditorium at the University of Alabama so blacks couldn’t enter.
Senior also was present 20 years later, when Wallace, in a wheelchair because of an attempted assassination attempt in 1972, apologized to the black community.
Croom Jr., was an All-American for Bear Bryant at Alabama, when the Crimson Tide won a national championship in 1974.
It was just the second year blacks were allowed to play football there.
Croom was an assistant on Bryant’s staff when ‘Bama won two more in 1978 and 1979. Then he spent 17 years as an NFL assistant.
There are those who say Croom should have been hired at Alabama instead of Mike Price, then again when Price was fired months later in favor of Mike Shula.
After all, Croom’s qualifications and resume were off the charts and he’s part of the Alabama family. He had great support from former Tide players.
But Alabama officials passed Croom over. One theory: The unknown impact. Would wealthy donors and alumni there shell out money for a black coach and keep the program running?
Very questionable. And such thinking isn’t limited to Dixie.
Of the 117 Division I-A football teams in 2004, just five have black head coaches. Besides Croom, there’s Tyrone Willingham at Notre Dame, Karl Dorrell at UCLA, Tony Samuel at New Mexico State and Fitz Hill at San Jose State.
Mississippi State, which has won just eight games over the past three seasons and is subject to an NCAA investigation, made the correct move in rewarding Croom with the head-coaching job. While it was met with almost universal approval in the region, Croom certainly will receive nasty backlash if he continues the Bulldogs’ losing ways, as all coaches would, regardless of color.
But he also will be the subject of scorn from those who stood silent at his hiring, the added element that wants him to fail because he’s black, the element that figures to bring financial pressure to the school even if Croom finishes 6-5 this season.
While Croom’s hiring is a wonderful victory, it will be interesting to see how long he stays.
Here’s hoping he stays at MSU as long as he wishes, and that he serves as a shining example to the rest of the D-I presidents and athletic directors in the country.
Washington State vs. Colorado
Kickoff: 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Qwest Field, Seattle.
TV: ABC (channel 4).
Radio: KRKO radio (1380 AM).
Stars to watch: Washington State – Quarterback Josh Swogger passed his first test at New Mexico, where the Lobos play defense like Keith Moon whaled on his drum kit. Swogger was 24-for-38 passing for 240 yards and three touchdowns in his first collegiate start. Also making his first start was cornerback Alex Teems, who picked off two passes and forced a key fourth-quarter fumble that WSU recovered. Middle linebacker Will Derting, despite playing with a dislocated wrist, still is one of the most feared hitters in the nation. Punter Kyle Basler averaged 47 yards an attempt against the Lobos, with a net of 44. That earned him Pac-10 Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
Colorado – Tailback Bobby Purify ran for 189 yards on 26 carries in the Buffs’ 27-24 victory against Colorado State. Quarterback Joel Klatt was 13-for-25 passing for 117 yards and an interception. Jordan Dizon and Akarika Dawn are outstanding linebackers, splitting 16 tackles between them last week. Place-kicker Mason Crosby nailed a 55-yarder against the Rams.
Breaking down the game: Colorado ran for 255 yards last week, which the Cougars can only aspire to. WSU mustered just 31 yards on the ground, which has to improve to take the pressure off Swogger. Chris Bruhn had 47 yards on 20 carries. Give credit to Swogger – along with a huge blocked punt in the fourth quarter – for leading the team back from a 17-7 deficit, but the Cougars won’t get away with so much down time against the Buffs. The difference may be Swogger, so protection is key.
Bottom line: Don’t underestimate the Cougs’ road win in altitude.
Pick: Washington State, 28-24.
Elsewhere in the Pac-10
Utah at Arizona: The Utes are building into something special, while the Wildcats are simply trying not to stink. Pick: Utah, 34-13.
Arizona State at Northwestern: The challenge for the Sun Devils is the long trip and the semi-hostile environment. Pick: ASU, 40-20.
New Mexico State at California: The Golden Bears made a believer out of me after they grounded Air Force. Pick: Cal, 45-10.
Indiana at Oregon: Yawn. Pick: Oregon, 50-6.
Oregon State at Boise State: People forget that Boise State has won the Western Athletic Conference the past two years. Watch for a Beaver letdown after letting LSU off the ropes. And remember, OSU handed the Broncos their only loss in 2003. Think BSU won’t be up for this one? Pick: Boise State, 17-12.
BYU at Stanford: BYU last week held off what many think is a much-improved Notre Dame team. Doesn’t matter. Stanford doesn’t have the guns. Pick: BYU, 27-16.
UCLA at Illinois: Illini mucky-mucks should pay spectators to watch this disaster. So alarmed are the Bruins at giving up 426 rushing yards to Oklahoma State that they’re considering switching Eyoseph Efseaff, a pretty good, experienced offensive lineman, to defense. Maybe they should try him at quarterback, too. Pick: UCLA, 7-6.
Colorado State at USC: The Trojans flew cross-country for a season opener in a strange stadium in Landover, Md., that was, by all appearances, a home game for a very good Virginia Tech team, and “experts” dog them for not running up a gazillion points. That’ll only make them angry for this one. Pick: USC, 34-14.
Sleeper pick of the week: Fresno State 24, Kansas State 23.
John Sleeper is the Herald’s college football writer.
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