Color Shouldn't Matter, But It Does

​After Notre Dame beat Penn State Thursday night, an ESPN reporter recognized Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman as the first black college football coach to lead his team to a national championship game in football.

She asked him what that meant to him.

I thought it was a beautiful question to close her interview (contrary to some narratives she did NOT lead with this question). I also thought it was a very fitting question since only 14 of 134 major college football coaches are black, yet over 50% of the players are black. I love humans beating the odds stories, whatever their particular odds might be, and be not mistaken, this is Coach Freeman beating the odds.

I was a bit surprised yesterday to wake up and see videos of this interview all over the internet. Surprised, that is, by the way the video was being introduced, not that it was being shared. Like I said, to me it was a beautiful reflection of the human spirit.

Turns out not everyone saw it that way.

Many saw it as race-baiting. For a moment I thought, well, maybe I don't even know what race-baiting means. So I looked up the definition: "The unfair use of statements about race to try to influence the actions or attitudes of a particular group of people." (Britannica)

I went back and watched the video again.

And again.

And again, I walked away feeling like I was in the midst of something beautiful, not something unfair, and certainly not something inaccurate or fabricated. I get emotional watching my brothers and sisters beating the odds; Marcus Freeman was being celebrated for beating the odds.

Additionally, folks on the internet watching the video celebrated Coach Freeman for "not taking the bait." I guess when I don't see bait in a question I can't possibly begin to see "not taking the bait" in an answer. But if you watch the video, you can see the emotion and the honor Coach Freeman felt in the moment, the moment of being recognized as the first black head coach to EVER make it to the national championship game.

What Coach Freeman said was that he never wants an individual honor to take attention away from his team. And anyone who has watched Coach Freeman over the years knows this isn't him avoiding bait, this is who he is.

Call him a great father and he points to his wife.

Call him a great coach and he points to his assistance coaches.

Tell him Notre Dame has been a great college football story and he's going to point to his team. (Quarterback Riley Leonard recently called him out in a press conference for not taking enough credit for the team's success.)

Coach Freeman is one of the greatest examples of humility I've ever witnessed. But look in his eyes when asked the question. Look at his face. He was moved by what he'd accomplished as a black man.

Freeman not taking the microphone and making a speech about race wasn't Marcus Freeman "not taking the bait" - it was Marcus Freeman doing what Marcus Freeman does - sharing the glory of his personal achievement with his team.

I did not and can not see this reporter's question as a means of dividing us. To me there is no more beautiful path to unity than being invited to celebrate each other's achievements. Even achievements that are associated with one's individual race.

Freeman has said this about the honor in a more private setting, "It's a reminder that you are a representative for many others and many of our players who look the same way I do. You know, your color shouldn't matter, and the evidence of your work should, but it takes everybody."

Over 50% of division college football players are black. Only 11% of their coaches look like them. Many players don't have coaches that look like them.

Color shouldn't matter, it's clear to some degree it still does. To change that, as coach Freeman pointed out, it takes all of us.

So, I celebrate. As a huge Notre Dame fan, as a huge Marcus Freeman fan, but mostly, as a fan of human goodness, I celebrate Marcus Freeman going to the national championship game as the first black head coach.

I pray that in my lifetime this reporter's question will be rendered irrelevant. But for now, it's a completely relevant question. I celebrate her for asking it.

And speaking of beating the odds. It's been 35 years since Notre Dame won the national championship in football. Please, Coach Freeman, help us beat those odds next !!!!