What do you all think of the "Rooney Rule?"

The Rooney Rule requires National Football League teams to interview minority candidates for a head coaching opportunity. The rule is named for Dan Rooney, the owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and the chairman of the league's diversity committee, and is often cited as an example of affirmative action.

In 2003, the NFL fined the Detroit Lions $200,000 for failure to interview minority candidates for the team's vacant head coaching job. After Marty Mornhinweg was fired, the Lions immediately hired former San Francisco 49ers head coach Steve Mariucci to replace him without interviewing any other candidates. The Lions claimed they attempted to interview other candidates but that the minority candidates withdrew from interviews, believing Mariucci's hiring was inevitable.

Since the Rooney Rule was established, several NFL franchises have hired minority head coaches (including the Steelers themselves, who hired Mike Tomlin before their 2007 season), although the policy is still debated. No team has stated whether the Rooney Rule contributed to the hiring of a minority.

However, the rule does not apply if an assistant coach has language in his contract guaranteeing him the starting job in case of an opening. [1] This was the case when Mike Martz took over as head coach of the St. Louis Rams before the 2000 season.



If you were an African-American coach, would you want an interview just because a team HAS to give you one? I was thinking about this today due to the Skinscoaching vacancy. It seems as though Gregg Williams is the frontrunner for the coaching gig in DC. He had his interview, but in order not to face a fine, theSkins (like all other teams) have to interview minority candidates even if they have no intention of hiring them. I can see how it works in certain cases inthat names get thrown out, and it may lead to other interviews. Obviously, there are a lot of instances where there are questionable hires, and we arewondering why certain minorities are being looked over. I think the Rooney Rule has good intentions, but I am not sure if I would like to be a hire if I knewthe only reason why I was given the job was because of my skin color to appease the public. It was great seeing two guys like Lovie Smith and Tony Dungy atthe pinnacle of their professions when they were representing both the Bears and Colts in the Super Bowl. I think that alone will open more doors forminorities down the road in the coaching profession. That being said were they, along with Mike Tomlin hires because of the rule (I'm not sure)?

here's a great quote from Dr. Harry Edwards

"The Rooney Rule," Edwards said, "was instituted as a prod for granting access that traditionally has been blocked, not always because of racism but because of limited vision.

"It simply never crossed people's minds 'Hey, there might be a Latino, an African-American, a woman who can function in an NFL front office position.' The Rooney Rule opens that whole spectrum of vision for the entire league."

The spirit of the Rooney Rule has stirred diversity throughout NFL front offices. Four general managers are black, as are two vice presidents of player personnel and the league's executive VP of football operations.

"You change the character of the dialogue in the franchise and the league when you have representative numbers," Edwards said. "Otherwise, you end up with such a cultural abyss. You have Lawrence Welk and Pat Boone speaking to Snoop Dogg and Ludacris about what makes good music."



http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphins/content/sports/epaper/2008/01/13/a1b_dolphins_0113.html

I am on the fence with how I feel about the Rooney Rule...

Discuss.....

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If you were an African-American coach, would you want an interview just because a team HAS to give you one?


And its on that black coach to go in there and blow the doors off that interview. He may not get the job, but he has planted a seed. and maybe the next jobopening, the good ole boy owner tells the next owner, U know "so & so" had a great interview with me. U should look into him.



To me, it is affording someone an opportunity who otherwise wouldnt be given a fair shot.



wanna see un fair hiring practices, go look at NCAA College Football and tell me they dotn need their own "Rooney Rule"

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Originally Posted by GUNNA GET IT

If you were an African-American coach, would you want an interview just because a team HAS to give you one?

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when all of Division 1 football has 4 black head coaches, something has to be done. Its not acceptable at all.




that's just sad

but based off of 4 coaches out of 115+ 1A schools is more of a problem than what the NFL has. I was just talking to a friend about all the BS that SylvesterCroom probably is subjected to even though he is the ACTIVE coach at his school.



I wonder what the stats are for college hoops?

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when all of Division 1 football has 4 black head coaches, something has to be done. Its not acceptable at all.
that really just is absurd

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Imagine this scenario, Texzas A&M, hires Sherman with no interviews of any black candidates. Then all the black kids de-committ, I bet u that would spark change.
We didn't even interview anyone else, not even any white people. Not one single person. After Fran retired, Sherman was hired the next daythat the University was open (that next Monday), leaving only 3 days of vacancy (the University was closed all 3 of those days). It's pretty obvious thatA&M was 100% sure that they were going to hire Sherman. I guess I can kinda see your views and respect them, but in my opinion, if a school is set on whothey want, and don't even interview any other candidates, they shouldn't have to interview a minority. But if they start interviewing more than oneperson, I feel that the "Rooney Rule" is a pretty good idea.

when all of Division 1 football has 4 black head coaches, something has to be done. Its not acceptable at all.

As allen3xis said though, that is pretty absurd.

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Originally Posted by GUNNA GET IT

It is a God-send.

Thank you NFL for actually addressing a glaring problem.



Its more than a token interview. It gets black candidates that would never have gotten a look a foot in the door.

Every Job is about Networking. and if you arent apart of the network, you will never make any head way.



How can black candidates getting an interview, they wouldnt normally get, be a bad thing ?

If you were an African-American coach, would you want an interview just because a team HAS to give you one?

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Originally Posted by tmay407

Imagine this scenario, Texzas A&M, hires Sherman with no interviews of any black candidates. Then all the black kids de-committ, I bet u that would spark change.

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"The Rooney Rule," Edwards said, "was instituted as a prod for granting access that traditionally has been blocked, not always because of racism but because of limited vision.
Why not pull from the best pool possible, instead of setting your sites on only one person?

Calvin Sampson

Kelvin

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Originally Posted by GUNNA GET IT

Yea ur right because none of my sentiments are my own. and my other repls is from where?

Ur trying too hard to be funny Bruh.

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Originally Posted by GUNNA GET IT

kelvin sampson is Native American correct?



are there even any latin or Asian coaches on anyone's staff in DI football or basketball?

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