UM's coaching search

[stillsomeguy]

Has Drew Sharp, Terry Foster and Rob Parker weighed in yet on how Michigan should hire a black coach?

The only reason I ask is that back during Moo’s latest coaching search, all three, IIRC, had separate articles suggesting that MSU should hire a man of color to replace the departing Slappy Smith.

I’m just wondering if those three highly-talented sports journalists will now suggest that UM do the same.

It would seem to make sense.

Afterall, the UofM is very pro-diversification and Affirmative Action. In fact, I believe (and someone can correct me if I’m wrong) that UM’s stance on the Affirmative Action issue, before it was nuked by the state's voters, was that persons of color should receive placement in the U, even if said persons' past performances were viewed to be sub-standard to that of a white person.

At least that's how I think it went.

Anybody know?

[HolyToledo]

That's quite true. It'd be hypocritical for UM not to hire a black head coach, even if he's not the most qualified candidate. I nominate Ty Willingham.

[stillsomeguy]

Seconded.

The motion carries.

Let's go drink beer.

[stillsomeguy]

Dear Mary Sue:

http://bcasports.cstv.com/genrel/102807aac.html

[jaster]

Oh god, that whole affirmative action debacle went down while I was there and I'm not about to relive it here. But yes, they wanted less-qualified black individuals to have priority over more-qualified white individuals.

BAMN is the insufferable organization that promotes and defends affirmative action at school campuses. Their underlying goal is seemingly integration and their intent is mostly good, but they go about trying to accomplish their goals in all the wrong ways imo. They are using the ends to justify the means. As I understand it, they've done good things at other places, but at Michigan, in regards to the affirmtive action crusade, I was steadfastly against them.

http://www.bamn.com/index.asp

[jaster]

And by the way, the case was split in 2003. The Supreme Court ruled Michigan's law school could continue with their affirmative action policy, which favors minorities, but that the undergraduate program was not allowed to use race as a factor.

[stillsomeguy]

How SCOTUS ruled is immaterial if you think about it.

What’s important is UofM’s often expressed view that it should be allowable to give less-qualified persons of color placement over more-qualified whites.

Mary Sue likes to talk the talk and walk the walk when it comes to student admissions. Something tells me, though, that Mary Sue won’t walk the walk when it comes to the new coaching hire, although I’m sure she’ll say that Ron English was a finalist and "just barely" lost out on getting the job.

[redwinghockeyfan]

You know, I thought the point of affirmative action was to make sure that people of color would not lose out on a job to a less qualified white person.

What is the point of doing the exact opposite, now you have just created the exact situation you were fighting against, you just changed places of the people involved.

To me giving a job to someone because of their color even if they aren't as qualified is racist, no matter what the color.

[HolyToledo]

You know, I thought the point of affirmative action was to make sure that people of color would not lose out on a job to a less qualified white person.

What is the point of doing the exact opposite, now you have just created the exact situation you were fighting against, you just changed places of the people involved.

To me giving a job to someone because of their color even if they aren't as qualified is racist, no matter what the color.

Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner. There's some thinking out there that the past injustices have to be made up for in order to ever get to a level playing field. In my book 2 wrongs never make a right.

[PokerAndPucks]

Affirmative action is like when you're playing your little brother in basketball (or football if you're Mike Hart) and you spot him 5 points. If I was a minority, I'd be insulted that people think I need that.