I never really had a favorite NFL team before becoming racially aware.However,I did like the early 90s bills,the colts a decade later,as well as the Patriots when they started becoming dominant.I never cheered for the teams with black qbs,even when I first started watching.Other than that,most of the other teams I was indifferent to.
Most of my life I was an Alabama fan,and of the SEC in general.The first year I watched was 1989 and they started two whites at DB.One at safety and the other at CB.While probably more black than many teams of the time,this would be something unheard of today.Gradually over the years I started noticing the races of players and questioning things.I discovered castefootball around (2004?)and have been reading/lurking off and on for several years.Especially during football season.
Some of the things I noticed were that if a white player (especially at a skill position) was listed on the depth chart,often a black would seemingly pop up out of nowhere and see lots of playing time in his place.And why if a white and black high school player put up similar stats,the black gets a scholarship to a top program,while the white ends up at a div 3 school or walking on.If a white does go to a top school,he often has to wait for 3 years to get any playing time,and even then rarely gets the ball thrown his way.The black,by comparison often gets immediate playing time and targets.Bringing any of this up to friends,co workers,or family,many of the older fans could understand my point.From people 40 and under I usually got two responses-"blacks play because they are the best athletes,you're being racist " or "I dont care what race a player/head coach is,as long as we win".The DWFs have a mindset that I could not comprehend.Many are racially aware on everything else,but for some reason love their affletes.They do not understand that these players do not represent them or their school and could care less about a teams tradition/history.They do not belong on a college campus and are only there in the hopes of making it to the NFL.There's no telling how many seek out white female students as well.
Everything is geared towards recruiting more blacks.A few years ago a friend invited me to a game at another SEC school.It had been several years since I had been to a college game and mainly went out of curiosity.On the way there my friend mentions some black defensive player and it was the typical sob story.No father,raised by grandparents,etc and he would be cheering for him because he "seemed like a good kid"(yeah,sure he is )...Before the game he pointed out a group of teenagers (all black) on the sideline,"theyre recruits" he said.Even I was shocked by the lack of white players in the program.Half of them were k/p/or snapper and only two or three of the rest were on the depth chart.During the timeouts/breaks the sound system played rap/black music.It was very different than the last college game I attended several years before.It was a very eye opening experience and I dont think ill be back.This isnt your dad's SEC.
I no longer cheer for Alabama football and instead only for white players on various teams.Years of coal black defenses and recruiting classes made me lose interest.Mississippi State will start an all black lineup in their bowl game.Not sure if a team has done this before,but dont expect it to be mentioned in the media....I hope all SEC teams lose.
