http://rockymountainnews.com/drmn/afa/a ... 71,00.html

AIR FORCE ACADEMY - Air Force Academy coach Fisher DeBerry said Tuesday his football program needs more black athletes because "they run extremely well."

Speaking at his weekly media luncheon, DeBerry, in his 22nd season as Air Force football coach, reiterated comments he made Monday about the lack of minority athletes at Air Force.


"I just want to recruit speed; we need to find speed as much as anything," DeBerry, 67, said when asked if he believed there was anything wrong in saying he wanted to recruit more black athletes because they are faster.

"The black athlete, statistically, from program to program, seems to have an edge as far as speed is concerned."

An Air Force Academy spokesman said Tuesday night the academy is aware of "media reports" about DeBerry's comments.

"We cannot comment further until we have a chance to review all the reports, the coach's actual statements and to speak with the coach personally," said Col. Laurent Fox, AFA director of public affairs.

DeBerry kept his staff huddled late Sunday night to discuss Saturday's 48-10 Mountain West Conference loss to Texas Christian. The coaches talked about recruiting and the need to enroll faster players.

"It was very obvious to me the other day that the other team (TCU) had a lot more African-American players than we did and they ran a lot faster than we did," DeBerry said Tuesday. "It just seems to be that way. 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.

"Their (TCU's) defense had 11 African-American kids on their team and they were a very good defensive football team. So that's exactly what I was talking about."

What would you think had he said, "I need more black basketball players, they play really well."

Apparently black people are faster runners, higher jumpers, better dancers, and have bigger cocks.

Now, if he had said what he meant "I need more black kids, but they can't get into the Air Force Academy because they aren't smart enough," well, maybe he would have a problem. This way, he just looks stupid.

I was about to say...

Apparently black people are faster runners, higher jumpers, better dancers, and have bigger cocks...but can they read?

You didn't qualify that with "statistically", so what you're doing is "making a generalization", whereas he...he was just being glib. You don't know statistics, I do.

In my mind it is no different from when Bear Bryant finally realized the he needed black players after his Alabama team got annihilated by USC in a Rose Bowl game.
I think what he said is alot less offensive than coaches who complain about the stringency of recruiting rules and the Prop 48 status, because their school or conference won't allow them to recruit stud athletes that are most likely functionally illiterate. These statements are usually more demeaning to the minority athlete.

When asked about his comments Deberry said, "I'm just calling a spade a spade." And the interviewer responded, "whats that black guy who pals around with Big and Rich have to do with anything?"

Hilar.

This would have been far more entertaining if he attributed the "afro-american" speed advantage to experience running from cops and proceeded to analyze the effect that better access to higher education via Air Force sports scholarships might have on the black crime rate, and thus on the prospect for fast runners for future Air Force teams. Now that would have been good stuff.

We all know the speed advantage is from that extra muscle in their legs...it's on Jimmy the Greek's website

My brother-in-law graduated tops of his class at The Citadel. He can't run for shit. Guess that's where the physically retarded black kids go.

How funny is it that he said this the same week I posted my "BYU scouting report in 3 words or less: white defensive backs"

I basically said the same thing & I as a white person am not offended by my statements

i like the people are still sutpid enough to say stuff like this in public setting, knowing that they will get fired - - particualarly if they are losing coaches.

i like it because it opens discussion.

i mean, my reaction was it's no big deal. ALL great RB's are black. almost all WR's.

but for a long time the only good QB's were white.

so maybe it's just racism that makes coaches say, "ok white guy, you'll be the fullback" from an early age. i dunno. it's possible.

i can't believe this has merited this much discussion. of course it's not racist, just stupid. should he be fired? no, but he had to know it was gonna happen.

"I resemble that remark."

That requirement hasn't seemed to slow down some of the more academically elite schools. Y'know, Miami, Florida St.

Navy has a black quarterback, bitches. Fuck Air Force.

Maybe there's a bit more strenuous requirement to becoming an Air Force Officer than tippin on 44s, or working at Foot Locker, or what have you?

exactly.

Let 'em play in their planes.

i just wish he had said "it ain't x's and o's, it's Jerry's and Joe's". i love it when coaches say that.