Athletics March for Black Voices

[Total Red]

There will be a rally on campus this evening at 6 p.m. - "Athletics March for Black Voices." Maybe it is just a coincidence but I think that is the exact time the Illinois State at Illinois FB opener was originally scheduled. It got me to thinking. I know this march deals with issues that have been brewing for some time, but is it possible that this movement really got traction when fall sports were cancelled? When the fall football schedule was pushed back to spring (if we're lucky) it frustrated a lot of our football players and left them with unanticipated time on their hands. It provided them with the opportunity to reflect and say, "Hey, what else isn't right around here?" Well, they issued a list of demands and we found out in a big way what they felt wasn't right. This isn't to pass judgement on the movement. Maybe we could have had both a football season and a Black Voices movement but I have my doubts. Extra time equals opportunity. Our players were thinking about Beating Illinois. Now they're thinking about other things.

 

[cicada_jimmy01]

It will be interesting to see what changes. I suspect not much. Its pretty easy to boycott sports when there is no sports.

 

[MadBird]

There will be a rally on campus this evening at 6 p.m. - "Athletics March for Black Voices." Maybe it is just a coincidence but I think that is the exact time the Illinois State at Illinois FB opener was originally scheduled. It got me to thinking. I know this march deals with issues that have been brewing for some time, but is it possible that this movement really got traction when fall sports were cancelled? When the fall football schedule was pushed back to spring (if we're lucky) it frustrated a lot of our football players and left them with unanticipated time on their hands. It provided them with the opportunity to reflect and say, "Hey, what else isn't right around here?" Well, they issued a list of demands and we found out in a big way what they felt wasn't right. This isn't to pass judgement on the movement. Maybe we could have had both a football season and a Black Voices movement but I have my doubts. Extra time equals opportunity. Our players were thinking about Beating Illinois. Now they're thinking about other things.

I'll offer a few thoughts, Red:

I don't necessarily embrace the Black Lives Matter "movement" and some of the tactics we've seen, but I get the basis for it and support the idea that Black lives do matter. If that makes sense.

I'm gonna assume that 99% of our athletes are sincere in their convictions and that this just isn't a case of too much spare time.

What would you think if we HAD a football game and the athletes were so sincere in their convictions that they boycotted the game? That would be way worse.

But I do wonder if the cancellation of the sports seasons bred some of the discontent, or maybe should say that is one of the things that they're unhappy with. Not happy with the athletics administration, maybe the degree to which students were included or not in the decision making.

Peeves me that ISU sports teams get miniscule coverage by the Chicago Tribune, but some controversy gets front page coverage. BS.

Seems to me many, if not most, of our sports teams have pretty diverse coaching staffs. Not so sure about the athletic administration. Any idea?

 

[Total Red]

Seems to me many, if not most, of our sports teams have pretty diverse coaching staffs. Not so sure about the athletic administration. Any idea?

ADMINISTRATION
Larry Lyons	Director of Athletics	lelyons@ilstu.edu	438-3636
Leanna Bordner	Deputy Director of Athletics/SWA	lkbordn@ilstu.edu	438-7143
Dwight Merilatt	Executive Associate Athletics Director/External Affairs	dameril@ilstu.edu	438-0643
Cindy Harris	Senior Associate Athletics Director/Compliance & Student Services	caharri@ilstu.edu	438-2677
Scott Renfro	Associate Athletics Director/Compliance & Student Services	srrenfr@ilstu.edu	438-3512
Sean Johnson	Assistant Athletics Director/Development	sajohns@ilstu.edu	438-1506
Joe Klausner	Assistant Athletics Director/Academics and Life Skills	jaklaus@ilstu.edu	438-3306
John Munn	Assistant Athletics Director/Medical Services	jcmunn@ilstu.edu	438-3110/438-7328
Emily Newsome	Assistant Athletics Director/Business & Personnel	eaforne@ilstu.edu	438-5626
Zach Schroeder	Assistant Athletics Director/Marketing	zrschro@ilstu.edu	438-5000	Z_Schroeder
Mike Williams	Assistant Athletics Director/Communications	mcwilli@ilstu.edu	438-7748	ISU_mcwilli
Travis Williams	Assistant Athletics Director/Golf Course & Turf Sciences	tswill3@ilstu.edu	438-2616
Sarah Bonnett	Director of Athletics Events	slbonne@ilstu.edu	438-3637
Tyler Morgan	Director of Ticket Operations	twmorg1@ilstu.edu	438-3638
Hayden Young	Director of Facilities & Projects

You can go to Athletics Admin page at GoRedbirds and click on the names and look at the bio pics. It's almost all pale. Not a lot of people of color although Tyler Morgan doesn't have a photo yet so we're not sure about him. With the football coaching staff we've always had black coaches but I don't remember any being elevated to the Coordinator position (Off/Def), which can be a springboard to a HC position. So yes, we are due to have more minority Athletic Admins and FB Coaches at higher levels but we shouldn't run out and recruit employees just to fill quotas. These hires need to be merit based. If it's a tossup then maybe you opt for a person of color.
NBA basketball teams are not based on diversity. NBA players are highly compensated and the positions are based on merit - basketball talent. The goal is to win the NBA Championship. Color doesn't matter. If you have an all-Black starting 5 then so be it. Same here. We want the best athletic dept. and the best football coaching staff we can get. We should encourage minorities to apply and maybe they win a tiebreaker but the most important thing is to hire the best applicants .
The color we really want to see succeed is Redbird Red.

 

[TIMMY]

That's a very pasty group TR.
I think whats going on now would have happened regardless of circumstances. There comes a time when people have had enough. I have friends who had "the talk" with their dads when they left home and joined me at ISU. The same guys are now having the same conversation with their grandkids. 40 years. What's changed? Really not a damned thing that I can see. Good for these kids. Stand up!

 

[SoCalRedbird]

That's a very pasty group TR.

Is that all you see? That's a shame...

 

[Bird Friend]

Is that all you see? That's a shame...

Curious. What do you see?

 

[TIMMY]

Is that all you see? That's a shame...

They all look white to me. Did I miss something?

 

[REALBird]

Hopefully coming to a campus near you by Spring 2021. Going to openly encourage all our Black Athletes to not suit up until change is made.

#ItsAMovement #BlackLivesMatter #DietzThenLyonsThenSpack #TimetoGo

Missouri football boycott a reminder of the power of athletes

Sports can make people who otherwise might not care about racial injustice start to pay...

www.houstonchronicle.com

 

[redbirdfan04]

So you are going to tell a group of young athletes that have worked so hard to get a D1 scholarship and live out the dream of playing a sport to not play. Have you spoke to each person individually? Here again is the problem. A general statement about one group, Black Athletes, without actually knowing them is made. If the Missouri football team boycotted playing due to injustice and inequity on campus, good for them, what does that have to do with the athletes at ISU?

So according to you by firing Dietz, Lyons, and Spack will make everything better and then the Black Athletes can play. That is such a terrible argument on so many levels.

ISU sports are not a power 5 school. The University is not making money from the football team playing on Saturday. So let's just say the athletes boycott playing and the university cuts the program. Are you paying the tuition for all the Athletes? See this is not so easy, sure tell young adults to boycott but at the risk of possibly losing a scholarship. I continue to say this give students a voice and listen. They do not need to give up what they love to do in order for change to happen. That is not fair to them. Think about it this way. You want to be treated fairly but in order for that to happen you have to stop doing what you love to do.

Working together is a much better way to go through life. I would love to hear what our Black Athletes say about the experience they are having at ISU. I say this because I am in the middle of fighting for what is right in my own community. I sat with mulitple Black families last week to discuss what their truth is and how we can help make changes in the community. I see the hurt, fear, and anger and wish I could take it all away. I have not spoken to every ISU Black Athlete but as an alumni and donor of the university I hope each and everyone of them knows I stand with them.

 

[gobirds85]

I can speak as to how black athletes are treated by Normal Police and it's pretty pathetic. Numerous times black athletes have been pulled over and harassed by Normal's "not so" finest. A friend of mine has defended ISU athletes and in one case the black athlete was pulled over and not ticketed for any moving violations. He was subsequently ticketed for not having his insurance card in the vehicle. When the case went to court, the judge realizing what was happening, threw the case out within a minute and told the cop to use better discretion in the future. I have heard numerous other cases from my friend regarding random stops for no reason whatsoever. At one time some members of the football teamed called it "dwb", driving while black.
We have reached a "tipping point" in this country regarding race and race relations. Maybe it's a good time to listen, really listen, to their take on what is going on. Hell, who knows, we might even learn something.

 

[CaliRdBrd]

ADMINISTRATION
Larry Lyons	Director of Athletics	lelyons@ilstu.edu	438-3636
Leanna Bordner	Deputy Director of Athletics/SWA	lkbordn@ilstu.edu	438-7143
Dwight Merilatt	Executive Associate Athletics Director/External Affairs	dameril@ilstu.edu	438-0643
Cindy Harris	Senior Associate Athletics Director/Compliance & Student Services	caharri@ilstu.edu	438-2677
Scott Renfro	Associate Athletics Director/Compliance & Student Services	srrenfr@ilstu.edu	438-3512
Sean Johnson	Assistant Athletics Director/Development	sajohns@ilstu.edu	438-1506
Joe Klausner	Assistant Athletics Director/Academics and Life Skills	jaklaus@ilstu.edu	438-3306
John Munn	Assistant Athletics Director/Medical Services	jcmunn@ilstu.edu	438-3110/438-7328
Emily Newsome	Assistant Athletics Director/Business & Personnel	eaforne@ilstu.edu	438-5626
Zach Schroeder	Assistant Athletics Director/Marketing	zrschro@ilstu.edu	438-5000	Z_Schroeder
Mike Williams	Assistant Athletics Director/Communications	mcwilli@ilstu.edu	438-7748	ISU_mcwilli
Travis Williams	Assistant Athletics Director/Golf Course & Turf Sciences	tswill3@ilstu.edu	438-2616
Sarah Bonnett	Director of Athletics Events	slbonne@ilstu.edu	438-3637
Tyler Morgan	Director of Ticket Operations	twmorg1@ilstu.edu	438-3638
Hayden Young	Director of Facilities & Projects

You can go to Athletics Admin page at GoRedbirds and click on the names and look at the bio pics. It's almost all pale. Not a lot of people of color although Tyler Morgan doesn't have a photo yet so we're not sure about him. With the football coaching staff we've always had black coaches but I don't remember any being elevated to the Coordinator position (Off/Def), which can be a springboard to a HC position. So yes, we are due to have more minority Athletic Admins and FB Coaches at higher levels but we shouldn't run out and recruit employees just to fill quotas. These hires need to be merit based. If it's a tossup then maybe you opt for a person of color.
NBA basketball teams are not based on diversity. NBA players are highly compensated and the positions are based on merit - basketball talent. The goal is to win the NBA Championship. Color doesn't matter. If you have an all-Black starting 5 then so be it. Same here. We want the best athletic dept. and the best football coaching staff we can get. We should encourage minorities to apply and maybe they win a tiebreaker but the most important thing is to hire the best applicants .
The color we really want to see succeed is Redbird Red.

Maybe we should simply try to hire the most qualified candidates instead?

 

[Total Red]

Maybe we should simply try to hire the most qualified candidates instead?

If you read my post you know I somewhat agree but not completely. There is this thing known as a long shameful history of racial discrimination, particularly when it comes to hiring. Depending on the color of your skin that may or may not be a big deal to you.

 

[CaliRdBrd]

It's not really a big deal to me because it was in the past and has been addressed over and over again. I know this thread is likely to get locked, so I'll just say my piece and then I'm done....
There is not a single country in the world that has done more to advance social justice, and eliminate racism, than the United States. To fret over what happened in this country 50+ years ago, and to attempt to make amends for those wrongdoing/injustices, is not only futile and unnecessary, but also divisive. Every country in the history of the world has a sketchy/dark history.
No one on my family history ever owned slaves.
My mom's grandparents were coal miners working 12 hours/day, 6 days/ week, with no vacation. My grandpa dies in WWII when my mom was 4 years old. For Christmas they got an orange and a new pair shoes.
My dad never knew his parents and was born into the worst circumstances possible and bounced from abusive foster home to abusive foster, was tossed out of high school, joined the army and eventually received his GED. He went on to get a college diploma while raising three boys and working multiple jobs.
So, yeah, I have very little empathy for those using false narratives as an excuse for their current shortcomings. Hire the best person for the job and be done with it.

 

[Total Red]

To fret over what happened in this country 50+ years ago,

Nothing in the last 50 years???? We disagree.

 

[Birdland]

@CaliRdBrd to hint that racism has been eliminated within the past 50 years is a major part of the problem.

 

[fourthandshort]

It's not really a big deal to me because it was in the past and has been addressed over and over again. I know this thread is likely to get locked, so I'll just say my piece and then I'm done....
There is not a single country in the world that has done more to advance social justice, and eliminate racism, than the United States. To fret over what happened in this country 50+ years ago, and to attempt to make amends for those wrongdoing/injustices, is not only futile and unnecessary, but also divisive. Every country in the history of the world has a sketchy/dark history.
No one on my family history ever owned slaves.
My mom's grandparents were coal miners working 12 hours/day, 6 days/ week, with no vacation. My grandpa dies in WWII when my mom was 4 years old. For Christmas they got an orange and a new pair shoes.
My dad never knew his parents and was born into the worst circumstances possible and bounced from abusive foster home to abusive foster, was tossed out of high school, joined the army and eventually received his GED. He went on to get a college diploma while raising three boys and working multiple jobs.
So, yeah, I have very little empathy for those using false narratives as an excuse for their current shortcomings. Hire the best person for the job and be done with it.

Sorry, but this is not about whether your family ever owned slaves or whether you think it still impacts blacks today. And if you think racism isnt still alive and well, and still impacting blacks today .. well then youre just refusing to see it.

It all started to deteriorate when Obama got elected and then reelected. Is it any wonder this led to Trump and the resurgence of racism ... it is now ok again to let racist views be known publicly. This country has been set back 50 years in race relations.

The point of Black Lives Matter is for this reason. And it does not mean Only Black Lives Matter. It meant Black Lives Matter, just like all others. But this does not permit other groups to borrow the phrase.

 

[fourthandshort]

Maybe we should simply try to hire the most qualified candidates instead?

So how would you know if ISU even did this? And how is it possible there is possibly no one of color.

I go back to my earlier comment. Some people see what they want and interpret similarly.

 

[Bird Friend]

Dietz needs to have some balls on the replacement. Maybe hire someone of color. Maybe hire someone without balls. JMO.

 

[TIMMY]

Dietz needs to have some balls on the replacement. Maybe hire someone of color. Maybe hire someone without balls. JMO.

The Board of Trustees is a very diverse group I'm happy to say. Time to step up!