Charlie Strong's hiring over the weekend went off without a snag. His exit from Louisville was handled with grace and aplomb. Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich was appreciative of what Strong accomplished in four years there as head coach and Strong informed his team and staff like a true professional instead of leaving everyone in the cold. However, the Dallas Morning News stubbed their toe handling the coverage of his hiring. On Sunday, the paper's Twitter page tweeted out a headline that read, "Why He's Not A Hip-Hop Coach."
Contrary to what's been reported, that's not what the actual headline of the list, posted on the online site. It was actually the "Top 10 Things You Don't Know About Charlie Strong".
The social media editor was responsible for tweeting out the viral hip-hop coach headline. Was someone who has posted pieces on social media, I understand what they were trying to do by using an excerpt as the teaser.
The four-year-old quote is actually attributed to Lou Holtz discussing his former defensive coordinator. “He’s great with players … but he’s not a hip-hop coach. He really, truly could have coached for (Ohio State’s old-school taskmaster) Woody Hayes with no problem whatsoever.” Unfortunately, the witty headline backfired. It also played into assumptions about how we perceive Texas. This tweet coming from the Dallas Morning News' twitter feed in reference to a black coach didn't help race relations in the deep south. However, it didn't exactly set it back 50 years.
Ultimately, it's a benign quote from a 79-year-old man who hasn't displayed an inkling of bigotry throughout his four decades in the public limelight. Hip-hop culture is just something he doesn't understand. It's a ambiguous quote which makes no sense without Holtz's translation. Chalk it up to things older people say when they start losing touch with culture. He's probably just jealous of hip-hop culture because he doesn't have a hip anymore. He's right to a degree though.
Charlie Strong isn't a hip-hop coach. If I had to take a guess at what exactly a hip-hop coach in 2013 was, I've got a few theories. Holtz introduced hip-hop culture into the national lexicon, so the least we could do is do the legwork and identify a few real-life examples.
He'd be a coach that dresses in nothing but leather pants on the sidelines and velvet suits in the postgame. Strong's pregame threads are some of the freshest in the nation so I understad how Holtz could be confused. However, he's Wall Street fresh, not hip-hop phresh.
Every time he has his quarterback line up in the shotgun or pistol formation, defenses would hit the deck.
He'd pull a Rick Ross and lie about his background to gain a little more street cred in his profession. George O'Leary was one of the original 21st century hip-hop coaches.
If Strong was a hip hop coach, staff meetings would be held inside of a Houston strip club. While there, he might find love. Mike Price was the T-Pain of hip-hop coaches.
He wouldn't snitch to the authorities. Jim Tressel is the Cam'Ron of hip-hop coaches. Gucci sweater vests are popping up on shelves in 3,2,1…
Drake would hop on his championship DVD as the narrator. John Calipari is a hip-hop coach.
He'd treat practice like a recording session. Chip Kelly is a hip-hop coach.
A hip-hop coach is what Diddy would spend 12 weeks on Revolt TV air looking for if he ever followed through on his dream of becoming the majority owner of an NFL franchise.
He'd instigate on-field violence. Wait, Woody Hayes was a hip-hop coach?
Besides, Strong is a 53-year-old man who runs a slow-tempo offense. If anything, he's a slow jams R&B coach.
Strong may not be a hip-hop coach, but this may change his mind.
The entire saga is actually quite comical and Twitter treated it with the comedy it deserved.
#HipHopCoach RT @BCzar_OneDeep: @jemelehill this still takes the cake!!! lol pic.twitter.com/DrM5PEXMjf
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) January 6, 2014
"These penalties gonna make me feel some type of way" – #HipHopCoach
— SMedium Mario (@Mah_ree_oh4) January 5, 2014
It’s up to you whether being a #HipHopCoach is good or bad, but Les Miles sure could use a giant clock around his neck.
— cuppycup (@cuppycup) January 5, 2014
Wears hoodies. Has huge Ego. Don't trust the media. Got him a White girl… Bill Bellicheck is the GOAT #HiphopCoach!
— Black Canseco (@BlackCanseco) January 5, 2014
@Lizzs_Lockeroom Insane like a runaway train i'm in your lane Like it's only 3 seconds to score to win the game #hiphopcoach
— Dade County Lou (@genzer128) January 6, 2014
Like Ray-J, Steve Spurrier has a sex tape out. #Hiphopcoach http://t.co/djzS7oetPR
— DJ RedHerring Dunson (@CerebralSportex) January 6, 2014
THIS is a #hiphopcoach: Mizzou Coach Busts a Move After Cotton Bowl Victory http://t.co/94W50zIrT9
— Daniel (@Dx_Sports) January 6, 2014
Tom "H-to-the" Izzo #hiphopcoaches
— Alex Potash (@Alex_Potash) January 5, 2014
Project Pat Riley #HipHopCoaches
— CDG (@ceonelly) January 5, 2014
#hiphopcoaches Steve Sark Eazy-E n
— tony (@WenzelDashingtn) January 5, 2014
Bushwick Bill Belichick #hiphopcoaches
— Trill Belichick (@connorvandrwyst) January 5, 2014
Quest Lovie Smith #hiphopcoaches @djwallysparks
— SirEdwin (@enjoiSirEdwin) January 5, 2014
