By Sylvester “Nunnie” Robinson
I’m blessed to work for a publisher who allows me to digress periodically from my main focus – sports – to areas that relate to life such as politics, religion, family, social issues, et al. Twice I’ve written about young scholar/athletes at least considering schools that demonstrate some inclination, sensitivity or understanding of issues impacting the lives of Black Americans and other minorities in today’s climate of political upheaval and trumped up cultural wars.
Have you ever heard of Tommy Tupperware, oops, I meant Tuberville. He is a U. S. senator from Alabama who is currently holding up military officer appointments, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. At one point he was an assistant football coach at UM, and the head coach at Auburn and Cincinnati Universities, responsible for the many Black athletes who played for him. Now he asserts that white nationalists are patriots, not racist. He is MAGA personified, elected by the good people of Alabama over former Democratic Senator Doug Johnson, a decent liberal, thinking politician overwhelmingly supported by Black Alabamians. What’s your point, Nunnie? Alabama has dominated the college football landscape during the decades of the twenties, having won 6 national championships under Nick Saban using our Black athletes, and most of those fans cheering for them on Saturday are MAGA republicans who care not one iota about them individually. I want parents of these future phenomenal student/athletes to consider schools in states that support the democratic process in all aspects of our American way of life.
It’s been alleged that Jalen Carter, the Philadelphia Eagles’ #1 draft pick, has been supporting a Georgia Bulldog walk on financially with meals and housing. What is the football program’s responsibility to the athlete? Again parents, there are options beyond schools in the old confederate states and ya’ll know who they are!
Can we at least start and have the conversation?🤷🏽
