You've guessed it. Ron is an African American. I told our squad in 1991 that, if I had been him I would have been angry. I would have been frustrated, not because I wasn't a head coach, but because I had so little hope of becoming one. You take hope away from a man and he is left with anger. I can proudly state that Ron's obvious talents were eventually recognized when he was appointed head coach at Temple University --but there are many who went before him who never had a deserved opportunity.
Forgiveness and Reconciliation
UI at Urbana-Champaign has provided me with a very unique educational tool. I have four to five years with each player to have an impact on his thoughts regarding racial harmony. I am involved in a laboratory for two hours every day on the practice field with an environment that is 50-percent Black and 50-percent white. This is unlike any course on diversity or racial harmony that has ever been offered.
Our players must promise to open their arms (and minds) to the opposite race or they cannot accept a scholarship. Everyone enters our program knowing that all others have made that commitment. We house them interracially and seat them so that nearly every other seat is filled with a person of a different race. In addition, we have a constant flow of speakers who speak on racial issues. You cannot be a part of this program and not be highly sensitive to your brothers of another color.
We have made it a priority in our program because we believe it is the right thing to do.
LOU TEPPER, Head Football Coach, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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