
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 13, 1991                   TAG: 9103130439
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

PARENTS APPEASED/ COACH SUSPECTED OF FAVORING

I AM A 1987 graduate of Cave Spring High School. Throughout high school, I never witnessed racism or sensed racial stigma, either in the classroom or in peer groups. In fact, my predominantly white school deemed two black student/athletes "Knight," our highest honor.

However, times seem to be regressing.

After coming from college last fall, I heard rumors of a Cave Spring football coach moving on to coach at Norfolk State University. He happened to be my stepfather. Cheerfully yet naively, I asked when we were leaving.

He laughed, explaining it was only a joke by some parents claiming he played black athletes instead of white athletes. Soon there was a petition, signed by few, to revamp the coaching staff.

Perhaps two all-district, one all-region and one all-state honors by the black players weren't enough justification for their playing time. Ultimately, this so-called favoritism resulted in my stepfather's dismissal from coaching football.

It seems ludicrous to dismiss an upstanding, proficient and respected teacher/coach to appease a handful of discontented high-school parents. I recall a Patrick Henry coach dismissed for alleged racism; now a Cave Spring coach is dismissed for not succumbing to racism.

Whatever the outcome, I hope people realize there is an intelligent path or an ignorant path to follow. In this case, we are journeying down the latter. AIMEE GRUBBS ROANOKE

by CNB