pablohoney
10-26-2005, 05:21 PM
Fisher DeBerry obviously made an overgeneralization (or at least it certainly reads that way when taking his quotes out of context), but did he really say anything that controversial?
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2204771&CMP=OTC-DT9705204233
DENVER -- The Air Force Academy reprimanded coach Fisher DeBerry on Wednesday for what it called "seriously inappropriate" comments about black athletes, but stopped short of firing him for his second public firestorm in as many years.
The 67-year-old coach, who is suffering through a 3-5 season this year, issued an apology.
"I realize the things I said might have been hurtful to many people and I want everyone to understand that I never intended to offend anyone," he said.
On Tuesday, in discussing last weekend's 48-10 loss to TCU, DeBerry said it was clear TCU "had a lot more African-American players than we did and they ran a lot faster than we did."
"It just seems to me to be that way," he said. "African-American kids can run very well. That doesn't mean that Caucasian kids and other descents can't run, but it's very obvious to me that they run extremely well."
DeBerry first discussed the topic Monday, telling The Gazette of Colorado Springs the academy needed to recruit faster players and noting, "you don't see many minority athletes in our program."
Athletic director Hans Mueh said he told DeBerry his comments were inappropriate. The two went to the home of academy superintendent Lt. Gen. John Regni, who took command on Monday. Regni, who had never met DeBerry, also reprimanded the coach.
Mueh said the coach, now in his 22nd year as head coach with the Falcons, would not lose his job.
"It was a seriously, seriously inappropriate comment," Mueh said. "This was a great first step. This was not Fisher DeBerry, not the man I've known for 25 years. I'd like for us to all just move on from there."
DeBerry also said he had no plans on stepping down after the second embarrassment he's endured in the last 12 months.
Last year, DeBerry was asked to remove a banner from the locker room which displayed the "Competitor's Creed," including the lines "I am a Christian first and last ... I am a member of Team Jesus Christ."
That incident came just before critics began to complain that the school fosters an atmosphere of religious intolerance, particularly against non-Christians. The Air Force recently issued new guidelines directing leaders to be more sensitive to diversity after evangelical Christians were accused of harassing cadets who hold other beliefs.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2204771&CMP=OTC-DT9705204233
DENVER -- The Air Force Academy reprimanded coach Fisher DeBerry on Wednesday for what it called "seriously inappropriate" comments about black athletes, but stopped short of firing him for his second public firestorm in as many years.
The 67-year-old coach, who is suffering through a 3-5 season this year, issued an apology.
"I realize the things I said might have been hurtful to many people and I want everyone to understand that I never intended to offend anyone," he said.
On Tuesday, in discussing last weekend's 48-10 loss to TCU, DeBerry said it was clear TCU "had a lot more African-American players than we did and they ran a lot faster than we did."
"It just seems to me to be that way," he said. "African-American kids can run very well. That doesn't mean that Caucasian kids and other descents can't run, but it's very obvious to me that they run extremely well."
DeBerry first discussed the topic Monday, telling The Gazette of Colorado Springs the academy needed to recruit faster players and noting, "you don't see many minority athletes in our program."
Athletic director Hans Mueh said he told DeBerry his comments were inappropriate. The two went to the home of academy superintendent Lt. Gen. John Regni, who took command on Monday. Regni, who had never met DeBerry, also reprimanded the coach.
Mueh said the coach, now in his 22nd year as head coach with the Falcons, would not lose his job.
"It was a seriously, seriously inappropriate comment," Mueh said. "This was a great first step. This was not Fisher DeBerry, not the man I've known for 25 years. I'd like for us to all just move on from there."
DeBerry also said he had no plans on stepping down after the second embarrassment he's endured in the last 12 months.
Last year, DeBerry was asked to remove a banner from the locker room which displayed the "Competitor's Creed," including the lines "I am a Christian first and last ... I am a member of Team Jesus Christ."
That incident came just before critics began to complain that the school fosters an atmosphere of religious intolerance, particularly against non-Christians. The Air Force recently issued new guidelines directing leaders to be more sensitive to diversity after evangelical Christians were accused of harassing cadets who hold other beliefs.