5 out of 119 ... still appalling

This won't quiet the Floyd Keith and the Black Coaches and Administrators, but the timing is interesting. Just one day after announcing it was building a case to potentially bring litigation against colleges and universities who appear to keep passing on black coaches in favor of white coaches, Eastern Michigan is set to announce Ron English as its next head coach.

By hiring English, the number of black head coaches is still an appalling five out of 119 at Football Bowl Subdivision schools.

This is a great move by the Eagles. English, who is 40, was an outstanding defensive coordinator under Lloyd Carr at the University of Michigan, before spending this past season at Louisville. He did well at first with the Cardinals, but injuries ravaged his defensive unit down the stretch and UL was torched by West Virginia (35-21) and Rutgers (63-14).

Eastern Michigan gets a hard-working coach who should be able to recruit the state well and get EMU to a competitive level in the Mid-American Conference. As I mentioned yesterday, this is a great opportunity for English to build the program and enhance his reputation before looking for the big-time job.

Now it's time for others institutions to recognize other qualified black candidates and give them a chance.

Will it really help?

I was ready to write about HBO's new documentary, "Breaking the Huddle: The Integration of College Football," which premiered earlier this week. The hour-long special is a gritty look at the challenges African-Americans faced getting accepted into college football--especially in the South.

Not that I consider myself an expert on the history of racism in college athletics, but I was shocked at how much I learned while watching it the other night. Following the episode I felt more enlightened and proud of the progress that has been made.

Then came today's news. Floyd Keith, the executive director of the Black Coaches and Administrators, is building a Civil Rights violation case against all of the colleges and universities who are still slow to hire African Americans as head football coaches.

Keith told The Associated Press: "I think someone is going to get tired of listening to the excuses. We're giving them (the coaches) every opportunity, but we can't select the individuals. The individuals have to bring this forward. We are looking very strongly at every case, and we're taking it on an individual basis."

But will it really work? Or help?

Seems Keith and the BCA need a sacrificial lamb to take the lead. A black coach who is willing to give up his dream so others can successfully follow. The BCA has said it needs someone like Curt Flood in the 1960s who challenged Major League Baseball. While Floyd was ostracized by management his fight led to free agency.

But who will step up? Turner Gill? Don't count on it. Gill is still in line to be one of the hot coaches in 2009. Others possibilities? Michigan OC Calvin Magee, Florida DC Charlie Strong or Ole Miss DC Tyrone Nix. Probably not since all are well-paid coordinators with much to lose. It will take someone who's not on the coaching radar with a lot less to lose.

The BCA recently opened a national telephone hotline that offers legal advice to coaches, a move the organization believes could eventually lead to a landmark case against universities under civil rights legislation.

One bit of advice that could be useful is something I read by Kansas City Star columnist Jason Whitlock. His theory on how to be a successful coach is for, "Top-flight black BCS assistant coaches should be targeting mid-major head-coaching jobs. The MAC, Sun Belt, Mountain West and Conference USA are good proving grounds for future BCS coaches."

It has worked for Gill and could work for many more. Guiding coaches to the right job is something the BCA has tried to do. Now they just need more ADs willing to take a chance on these proven, African American coaches.

The time is right for more drastic measures. Just wish it didn't have to involve the legal system. Guess there's still hope.