By MATTHEW REYNOLDS

mar032@latech.edu

 

Watching the New Orleans Saints fall to the Chicago Bears over two weeks ago was a hard pill to swallow for Tech linebacker and New Orleans native Terrell Davis, but he couldn’t help but smile knowing this set up a match up of historical significance.

Davis, a sophomore electrical engineering major, said, “I’m a die hard Saints fan, but I am really excited to see two black coaches squaring off against each other in the Super Bowl.”

Lovie Smith, the 48-year-old head coach of the Bears, and Tony Dungy, the 51-year-old head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, were both simultaneously the first African-American coaches to coach in a Super Bowl last Sunday at the National Football Leagues 41st championship game in Miami.

Davis said, “I think this will open more doors for black coaches at every level of football, not just professional.”

Dungy began his coaching career at the University of Minnesota at Minneapolis in 1980 after spending three years as a safety in the National Football League. He then waited 16 years, before the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offered him the head coach position in 1996, when he then hired Smith as an assistant coach.

This is just another interesting fact that had Tech students interested in Super Bowl XLI.

Kevin Carter, a senior business major, said, “It’s certainly interesting that Lovie [Smith] is a disciple of Dungy.”

Carter said this made the match-up even more intriguing knowing that Dungy gave Smith his start.

Along with the important cultural significance of last Sunday’s championship game, Dungy had other storylines surrounding him.

Just 13 months earlier, Dungy’s 18-year-old son, James, committed suicide.

Carter said, “It certainly says a lot about his character and how determined of a person he is to overcome such a tragedy.”

Dungy has often publicly attributed his strength in overcoming this hardship to his devout Christian faith.

To see one of the most single most important figures in the progression of African-American coaches, you can look no further than 10 miles away from Tech campus.

Avery Hooker, a senior biology major, said, “For me it all stems back to ‘Coach’ Eddie Robinson and him paving the way for black coaches.”

Eddie Robinson, the head coach of Grambling State University from 1942 to 1997, compiled over 400 career wins and opened doors for coaches like Dungy and Smith to have the opportunity to be successful in their field.

Hooker said, “It’s a special thing to know that the beginnings of black head football coaching started so close to home.”

It is apparent from the high school ranks all the way up to the professional level, that more and more doors are being opened for African-American coaches.

Hooker said, “It has taken a while for black coaches to show that they deserve to be in that position, but I think now it is pretty undeniable.”

On Sunday it was clear that the Indianapolis Colts won the game, but the real winners were coaches Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith.