Today, I covered Frank Broyles speaking at the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center about racial integration of Arkansas Razorback athletics. Here's my story, along with audio of the coach's complete remarks.
The event was organized by several of Broyles' former black players, but not everyone is on board in praising the long-time football coach and athletic director for his record on race relations. For one thing, Broyles comes off rather badly in a new book about Nolan Richardson. Not only was he documented using the "n" word on several occassions, but the facts of his work to add black players to his teams are somewhat different than what the 85-year-old coach told his Little Rock audience today.
The Arkansas Times blog has a rather spirited discussion going on this issue.
My take? I tend to think Broyles has a selective memory when it comes to these things.
He told the crowd it was the rules (or perhaps some unspoken rules) of the Southwest Conference that delayed his recruiting of black players. But that fails to explain why SMU had its first black varsity player in 1966 and Jon Richardson didn't play for Arkansas until 1970.
During the event, Broyles praised Nolan Richardson to high heaven, saying that his race played absolutely no part in the decision to hire him in 1985 as the first black head basketball coach at a major southern school (something for which Broyles should be recognized). As the coach spoke, I wanted to shout "Then why did you force Nolan out?" After the program, I asked Broyles that very question. He told me that it's hard to say, that both men got bad advice, and that while the two are not friends, Broyles now respects Richardson and hopes the feeling is mutual.
Then I asked coach why he refused to be interviewed for Rus Bradburd's new book about Nolan. Broyles either has a crummy secretary, a very poor memory or he outright lied in response. He told me first he didn't remember being asked for an interview, though Bradburd told me he had asked to speak with Broyles dozens of times over a period of months. Then, in the next breath, coach said he was unfamiliar with the author anyway. So, did he know nothing about any request for an interview, or was it that he was afraid of talking with anyone outside of the loyal, unquestioning Arkansas sports media.
I predict this AP story will be one of the few to even mention any of this, by bringing up the lingering bad taste over the Nolan firing and subsequent lawsuit. Let's see if TV or the Dem-Gaz make any mention of the negatives, or if they just go with a feel-good story about a celebration of 40-years of racial integration of Arkansas sports.
UPDATE: Here's KARK 4's story.
I can't find a KATV 7 story online, but here's KTHV 11's:
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