Eastern Michigan Athletics
Diversity Milestone: Dr. Derrick Gragg, Ron English, BCA Executive Director, Floyd Keith Mike London and Craig Littlepage
Photo by: Virginia Athletics
Virginia-Eastern Michigan Game Marks Diversity Milestone
10/22/2010 11:17:03 PM | General
Historic game set for Saturday, Oct. 23, in Charlottesville, Va.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (BCASports.com) -- This Saturday, Oct. 23, when Eastern Michigan University and the University of Virginia kickoff for their scheduled football game, another milestone on the landscape of diversity and opportunities for coaches and administrators in intercollegiate athletics will be realized. Not only will this mark the 1,000th game for the Eastern Michigan football program, it will also be a noteworthy day for minority football coaches and athletic directors on the Division I FBS and FCS levels (excluding historically black colleges). Currently, 15 of the 120 FBS football coaches are of color.
Mike London (football coach) and Craig Littlepage (athletic director) of the University of Virginia will host Ron English (football coach) and Dr. Derrick Gragg (athletic director) of Eastern Michigan University. This group will have the distinction of achieving a unique milestone on the landscape of intercollegiate diversity in sport. Although no official NCAA record currently exists, the 2010 Eastern Michigan vs. Virginia football game is believed to be the first football game on the Division I level with the opposing coaches and athletic directors being African-Americans.
University of Virginia athletic director Craig Littlepage released this statement, “This game between Eastern Michigan and the University of Virginia affirms the progress seen in hiring for the highest levels of intercollegiate sport. UVA sends congratulations to EMU's leaders, Dr. Derrick Gragg and Ron English, on the occasion of Eastern Michigan's 1,000th football game.”
Dr. Derrick Gragg added, "College athletics has been a major part of my life for the past 20+ years and I am honored to be able to play a role in this historic event. I have great respect for Craig Littlepage and his contributions to intercollegiate athletics as a coach and athletic administrator. I am certainly looking forward to Saturday's game."
“It is significant that we are experiencing such tangible events as this in intercollegiate athletics today. This event follows a breakthrough year in the hiring of football coaches on the college FBS level,” stated BCA Executive Director, Floyd Keith. “As we move forward into the 2011, I am encouraged that this trend will continue and such meetings will become more common place on our fall Saturday afternoons.”
About the Black Coaches & Administrators
The Black Coaches & Administrators (BCA is a 501 (c) (3) tax exempt non-profit organization whose primary purpose is to foster the growth and development of ethnic minorities at all levels of sports both nationally and internationally. The BCA is committed to creating a positive enlightened environment where issues can be examined closely, debated sincerely and resolved honestly. The BCA's focus involves the concerns of its colleagues in professional sports, NCAA (Division I, II, and III), NAIA (Division I and II), junior college and high school levels.
Mike London (football coach) and Craig Littlepage (athletic director) of the University of Virginia will host Ron English (football coach) and Dr. Derrick Gragg (athletic director) of Eastern Michigan University. This group will have the distinction of achieving a unique milestone on the landscape of intercollegiate diversity in sport. Although no official NCAA record currently exists, the 2010 Eastern Michigan vs. Virginia football game is believed to be the first football game on the Division I level with the opposing coaches and athletic directors being African-Americans.
University of Virginia athletic director Craig Littlepage released this statement, “This game between Eastern Michigan and the University of Virginia affirms the progress seen in hiring for the highest levels of intercollegiate sport. UVA sends congratulations to EMU's leaders, Dr. Derrick Gragg and Ron English, on the occasion of Eastern Michigan's 1,000th football game.”
Dr. Derrick Gragg added, "College athletics has been a major part of my life for the past 20+ years and I am honored to be able to play a role in this historic event. I have great respect for Craig Littlepage and his contributions to intercollegiate athletics as a coach and athletic administrator. I am certainly looking forward to Saturday's game."
“It is significant that we are experiencing such tangible events as this in intercollegiate athletics today. This event follows a breakthrough year in the hiring of football coaches on the college FBS level,” stated BCA Executive Director, Floyd Keith. “As we move forward into the 2011, I am encouraged that this trend will continue and such meetings will become more common place on our fall Saturday afternoons.”
About the Black Coaches & Administrators
The Black Coaches & Administrators (BCA is a 501 (c) (3) tax exempt non-profit organization whose primary purpose is to foster the growth and development of ethnic minorities at all levels of sports both nationally and internationally. The BCA is committed to creating a positive enlightened environment where issues can be examined closely, debated sincerely and resolved honestly. The BCA's focus involves the concerns of its colleagues in professional sports, NCAA (Division I, II, and III), NAIA (Division I and II), junior college and high school levels.
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