I just got finished reading Spencer Tillman's column on CBS Sportsline.com and I came away with the feeling that no matter how hard people try, this whole issue of hiring a coach because of his skin color is not going to go away.

I've said it before: I feel badly that coaches like Charlie Strong of Florida aren't running their own programs, but I don't make the decisions either.  Here's an example of what I'm talking about.

If Lloyd Carr steps down at Michigan, the odds on favorite to take the gig is Les Miles of LSU who, by the way, is white. Miles is a Michigan grad, coached under Bo and has a deep passion for that program, so much so that there is an out in his LSU contract which allows him to go to Michigan if that job opened up.  Should Les Miles, who very well could win a BCS championship this year be denied because he's white?

Certainly there will be jobs opening up after this season.  And coaches like Charlie Strong will be considered.  But I am a believer in you have to do the right thing for your program and hire the best coach.  Where would Arizona State be this year had they not hired Dennis Erickson or Kansas had they not hired Mark Mangino.  In Mangino's case, he too was a long term assistant begging for a chance to run his own shop.  He got a chance at Kansas, a program that has traditionally stunk out loud, but has begun to thrive under Mangino.

The truth is, forcing schools to hire black coaches, white coaches or purple coaches is wrong.  A school needs to hire the BEST coach for their institution.  And there are just as many white coordinators waiting for a gig as there are black ones.

Giving extra scholarships to those schools that interview black coaches is a ludicrous notion because then all schools will do is parade in African-Americans and deny them employment in the end just to get scholarships.  What will get blacks hired is the ongoing success of programs run by black coaches who develop successful coordinators. Coordinators become head coaches.  That's why guys like Charlie Strong are talked about.

One other note.  If black coaches want to be head coaches then don't turn down any jobs.  If Baylor or some other crappy program wants you, go.  Don't worry about the money or the culture, take the job and start building your resume.  Guys like Mark Dantonio at Michigan State were willing to start small and work their way up.  Jim Tressel was in Division 1A forever.

Opportunity knocks for those who work hard and have the right connections.  That applies equally to all, white, black, brown, green and purple.  Hiring a coach should be solely the right of an institution based on what's best for them, not what looks good to the media or the NCAA. 

Lightning Round

• The Devil Rays deny they are peddling Carl Crawford to the Cubs.  Quick Kenny, do something!
• In a surprise to no one, the fix is in and so is Rex.  Be careful what you wish for, Bears fans.
• Just when you thought it was safe to dust off your Blackhawks sweater, this happens.  Ah, the inconsistency of youth.
• Nebraska farmers can be a pretty tough crowd!
• Why is it MLB insists on taking our game somewhere else for opening day?  Don't the Japanese have their own players?  How much would we care if the Nippon Ham Fighters opened their season in Cleveland?  Yeah, that's what I thought.
• The Colts are beginning to look like a MASH unit.
• I'm glad Eric Wedge won AL manager of the year, but I can't help[p but think that in the NL, Charlie Manuel got hosed.
• Do we care if two old guys meet at quarterback in a football game?  Apparently if one of them is named Elderly Hillbilly we do.
• C.C. Sabathia wins the CY Young and thus one of his incentives kicks in: Krispy Creame Donuts for life.
• Georgia can't afford to beat up Kentucky too badly, not if they want Kentucky to beat Tennessee.
• Kansas fans are whining over tickets and whining over the lack of BCS love.  Yo, plow boys, a year ago, you wouldn't even be having this conversation, so just lighten the heck up.
• NASCAR's TV ratings are slipping.  Do you want to know why?  Because a lot of the races during the last month or so of the season start too late.  NASCAR is better when it starts early and ends early so you can watch the big football game.  These 3pm CST starts mess up my day.  That and ABC has the worst coverage in the history of the sport.  Too much dirty air there.
• Today's list: Baseball's Ugliest Men (courtesy of Bugs & Cranks)