🏈 Black quarterbacks at Alabama

[PhillyGirl]

So I got into an argument with a friend yesterday. He was trying to make the claim that Alabama does not start, nor recruit, black QBs. I gave him several examples of recent black QBs 'Bama recruited (including some big names), all of the black QBs in the past decade, and all of the starting black QBs. But he insisted that Alabama's alumni board of 'ole boys' doesn't like nor allow African-Americans to start at the QB position.

.. I am just curious what everyone's feelings are on this.

http://www.bqb-site.com/bqboverall.htm (<-- Here is a list of all black QBs in college football; last updated in June 2008, so not up to date)
http://www.tidefans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51758 (<-- interesting discussion from 2006)
http://www.tspnsports.com/forums/showthread.php?55211-Black-QB-at-the-Univ-of-Alabama (<--another from 2007)


I hope this post does not offend anyone, I just meant it as a discussion :tennis:

 

[BAMA JAMMA]

My thoughts on this matter.....don't care what some racist moron has to say. We've had black QB's in the past. Hell we have one NOW. What was he talking about again? Yea...

Yea....Bama is such a racists school . We would NEVER allow a black player to play here, much less a black QB ERMAGHAD!!! (Looks at roster then rolls eyes :icon_lol.

Basically...tell your racist friend to take a hike. :chat_biggrin_BFGL:

 

[planomateo]

First comment, does this friend know anything about Alabama...honestly?

Second comment...Never argue with idiots, people might confuse you with one

 

[UAgrad93]

The first one to play significant snaps was Walter Lewis in the early 80's. He played as a freshman for Coach Bryant and finished under Perkins. The next with significant snaps would be Andrew Zow in the late 90's early 00's. Andrew held a majority of the passing records until Brodie Croyle came along. Others to take snaps and start at various times were Vince Sutton mid 80's, Danny Woodson late 80's early 90's, Star Jackson, Phillip Sims, and Blake Sims.

 

[TerryP]

As mentioned we've had our share of black QB's. With the exception of a few they've lost out on their starting positions.

There are some relevant points in this discussion. One, using Matt's post:

First comment, does this friend know anything about Alabama...honestly?

I can assure you Matt, and you Philly, your friend doesn't know anything about Bama. We are a little more than a decade removed from having a white head coach who exercised what I'd call "reverse racism."

Secondly, make no mistake about this angle being used with players by schools who are recruiting against Bama. Jaboo's father was pitched "he'll never play QB at Bama because they don't play black QB's."

 

[PhillyGirl]

Trust me, I schooled him. I can repost the conversation here if you guys want, but I basically gave him lists of black QB recruits, black starting QBs, black QB stars (Walter Lewis?!) etc etc. He wouldn't hear of it. Just insisted that Alabama and Ole Miss were an 'ole boys club' intent on keeping black players out of the QB role, with Nick Saban and Bear Bryant perpetuating the idea (oh my god, just no. No no no). Despite the fact that a lot of schools from all over the nation have had less black QBs, black QB recruits, etc. So many facts to the contrary but people still can't change their minds ..

 

[PhillyGirl]

He also tried to claim that more deserving black QBs were screwed out of a starting position that AJ got. I don't care what color a man's skin is, as long as he can throw a damn football well, and AJ is the best we have. And I think Saban would agree with me there!

 

[TerryP]

He also tried to claim that more deserving black QBs were screwed out of a starting position that AJ got. I don't care what color a man's skin is, as long as he can throw a damn football well, and AJ is the best we have. And I think Saban would agree with me there!

Send him a link to the site, tell him to register and join the conversation if he feels so strongly about this subject.

Or, ask him how that black QB that was "screwed out of a starting position" did when he transferred to UVA.

I have no clue how Sims is doing at Winston-Salem State.

 

[BAMA JAMMA]

He also tried to claim that more deserving black QBs were screwed out of a starting position that AJ got. I don't care what color a man's skin is, as long as he can throw a damn football well, and AJ is the best we have. And I think Saban would agree with me there!

No offense to any northern Mason Dixon folk on here, including your Philly, but this friend of yours sounds like a yankee.

He also needs to lay off the E:60 shows. Oh and if Star Jackson or Sims (no offense to them) were so much better than GMAC or AJ, where 'dem stats at yo? Better yet....where 'dem rings at?

 

[RollTideRandy]

So why did Bear Bryant pull Walter Lewis for Ken Cooley? :icon_scratch:

Oh, that's right! Because he was trying to win the D*** GAME! :biggrin_blue:

 

[bamaraider]

Why does it matter? I honestly never get this question with others. Why does the color of the QB matter? Why does the color of any player matter? I've gotten the same question and arguments over last few years too and it ends up just showing that they're the ones who are bigots. More than half the team is African American, so I'd say race is definitely in the past for Alabama.

Anyone remember when Danny Woodson was replaced due to a hamstring by Jay Barker back against Tennessee?

 

[PhillyGirl]

No offense to any northern Mason Dixon folk on here, including your Philly, but this friend of yours sounds like a yankee.

He also needs to lay off the E:60 shows. Oh and if Star Jackson or Sims (no offense to them) were so much better than GMAC or AJ, where 'dem stats at yo? Better yet....where 'dem rings at?

No no I agree 100%. Many people up here have a very misinformed view of the south, especially of Alabama (and Mississippi) .. I am sure that is not surprising to hear .. This may not be news to yall either but the north is one of the most racist parts of the country in my opinion. But it is passive aggressive, closeted racism. People don't acknowledge it or talk about it. Heck, Washington, DC (which I count as a northern city, given the huge number of northerners who live there) had the last NFL team to desegregate. People just can't wrap their heads around the fact that racism can exist in ANY region .. or that "traditionally" racist places can change.

Some people just cannot separate the past from the present. They don't see a football team, they see black vs. white. My friend (really, 'friend' is generous, he is more of a Facebook acquaintance) is an idiot and I tried to make him look at the facts but he just kept ranting. It went from "Alabama doesn't recruit black players" to "Alabama doesn't recruit black QBs" to "Alabama doesn't start black QBs" .. with me contradicting him every step of the way haha. I guess some people are set in their ways, even in the face of facts .. :smiley-confused-pur

 

[PhillyGirl]

Why does it matter? I honestly never get this question with others. Why does the color of the QB matter? Why does the color of any player matter? I've gotten the same question and arguments over last few years too and it ends up just showing that they're the ones who are bigots. More than half the team is African American, so I'd say race is definitely in the past for Alabama.

Anyone remember when Danny Woodson was replaced due to a hamstring by Jay Barker back against Tennessee?

I have actually had 2-3 people ask me about it, but only this guy got combative about it.

 

[psychojoe]

Bottom line is that if an HC wants to continue to be a HC, he plays the QB who gives him the best chance to win. If he uses other criteriam chances are his career as a HC will be shortened.

 

[JoshB]

This is and "you dont really have that many championships" are the go to arguments for people who dont have any substance to hate on Bama with... I dont care if a QB is black, purple, white, yellow, or green with orange poka dots if he can win put him out there. If Blake Sims ends up being the starter next year I wonder what that guy will say.

 

[BamaFan334]

The best way to shut up people like this is to stick some knowledge or statistics to them (as you did, thank you for being educated, ). Most big mouths out there are uneducated on half of the topics they attempt to talk about, and it just takes a knowledgeable person to bring them back down to Earth with indisputable facts and statistics. It's something very handy when it comes to issues like this and political crap that people never want to shut up about. Oh, and what a surprise that racism is used in an argument. That usually means they have no leg to stand on and that they simply want to sound intelligent, but come off as ignorant and just plain stupid since that argument is so watered down these days.

 

[bamafan4ever]

PhillyGirl,

I'll preface this by saying I married a "yankee". Born in the Boston metro. All of her family is from either Mass or Maine. I have served in the military with people from all over the US not to exclude the mid-Atlantic and Northeast. I traveled extensively with my job, all over, and have even been to Water St. a few times for some awesome cheese steaks. I lived in St. Louis for almost 4 years in the 90's so what I am saying is, I feel like I have a good grasp on attitudes towards race and southerners and the "whatever'ers".

You must certainly know that it is quite fashionable in your area for people to look down their snoots at southern folk. While they find it ok to "beat up" on "trailer trash" from the south, they become indigent about their own perceived ideas as to how we treat anyone with dark skin. What I find ironic is that when they move to the south (and I find this to be true especially with New Englanders and Mid-Atlantic people), they seem to be more racist than anyone in my social circles almost without exception. I have never understood it but it seems to be more pervasive there than here honestly. The funny thing is, they don't even try to hide their bigotry toward southerners in general but when they move here, they typically stay. Funny how that works.

I tell the story often because my parents raised me correctly but I didn't know I was a "racist" until I joined the Air Force. It was then I was told I was a racist because I had to be because I was from Alabama, of all places! When I tried to explain to people that it would be difficult for me to co-exist in Birmingham, AL, if I truly felt that way, they would typically dismiss what I had to say. They have been spoon fed by the media for years that all Southerners are racists and they believe it. What I do know is stereotypes exist no matter what. It's an impossible thing to overcome but it is totally bred in ignorance. I am not telling you racism doesn't exist in the south because it certainly does and it goes both ways and I hate it! I would suggest also that ignorance and bigotry mixed with a little hypocrisy is alive and well in the north.

Showing my age here but Walter Lewis was the 1st QB that came to mind when you brought this up. He was pretty damn mobile and elusive and I enjoyed watching him play ball. He always seemed to give it his all. He wouldn't have started for Coach Bryant if he wasn't a good football player.

 

[planomateo]

I have actually had 2-3 people ask me about it, but only this guy got combative about it.

Next time you have my permission to kick him in the jewels for being ignorant...

 

[bamaledge]

Matt's post said it all. You really can't argue with idiots. Didn't we also go after Famous Jamis (sp)? Walter Lewis was one of my favorites as well as Zow. As far as all players go, my all time favorite Alabama player was BISCUIT! On other teams, Hershel Walker, Bo Jackson, Dion Sanders, Des Howard and the list goes on and on. Hell, I didn't even think of OJ Simpson as being black when I was growing up. Race doesn't matter, who is the best at their position? What a racist idiot. Give him hell Philly.

 

[PhillyGirl]

PhillyGirl,

I'll preface this by saying I married a "yankee". Born in the Boston metro. All of her family is from either Mass or Maine. I have served in the military with people from all over the US not to exclude the mid-Atlantic and Northeast. I traveled extensively with my job, all over, and have even been to Water St. a few times for some awesome cheese steaks. I lived in St. Louis for almost 4 years in the 90's so what I am saying is, I feel like I have a good grasp on attitudes towards race and southerners and the "whatever'ers".

You must certainly know that it is quite fashionable in your area for people to look down their snoots at southern folk. While they find it ok to "beat up" on "trailer trash" from the south, they become indigent about their own perceived ideas as to how we treat anyone with dark skin. What I find ironic is that when they move to the south (and I find this to be true especially with New Englanders and Mid-Atlantic people), they seem to be more racist than anyone in my social circles almost without exception. I have never understood it but it seems to be more pervasive there than here honestly. The funny thing is, they don't even try to hide their bigotry toward southerners in general but when they move here, they typically stay. Funny how that works.

I tell the story often because my parents raised me correctly but I didn't know I was a "racist" until I joined the Air Force. It was then I was told I was a racist because I had to be because I was from Alabama, of all places! When I tried to explain to people that it would be difficult for me to co-exist in Birmingham, AL, if I truly felt that way, they would typically dismiss what I had to say. They have been spoon fed by the media for years that all Southerners are racists and they believe it. What I do know is stereotypes exist no matter what. It's an impossible thing to overcome but it is totally bred in ignorance. I am not telling you racism doesn't exist in the south because it certainly does and it goes both ways and I hate it! I would suggest also that ignorance and bigotry mixed with a little hypocrisy is alive and well in the north.

Showing my age here but Walter Lewis was the 1st QB that came to mind when you brought this up. He was pretty damn mobile and elusive and I enjoyed watching him play ball. He always seemed to give it his all. He wouldn't have started for Coach Bryant if he wasn't a good football player.

You summed it up perfectly. I'm a northerner but I totally agree! I find folks up here are much more obsessed with race and stereotyping the south. I find the comments insufferable when I tell folks how much I love the state of Alabama and the people and the food and the football etc etc. it's my favorite place and even though I'm a Philly native, I defend it (except Auburn) like I'm Alabama born and bred. My dad's ancestors do hail from the south originally so maybe that's it