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Taelen Wilson

Professor Arnold
UWRT 1101
November, 3, 2015
Ethnography Research
American football is watched across the nation, ranking number one as the
most popular sport in the United States. Many people are already aware of the
positions and their duties such as the quarterback, running back, wide receiver,
linebacker, and kicker. Also viewers may know the rules of football along with the
basic concept. Football has eleven players from each team on the field with an
offense and defense whose goal is to get the ball in the end zone for six points. The
sport is different from many others because of the special teams, which are used for
the opposite team to receive the ball, and during kicking plays. Field goals are an
essential portion to the sport, this is where either team scores an extra three points
by place kicking, or drop kicking the ball. I first, wanted to educate myself on the
sport to have a better understanding with my brothers and boyfriend. My boyfriend
currently plays for the Gardner Webb team. He was able to give me the opportunity
to observe the Gardner Webb football team during a practice. Through research I
have found that more occurs than what is being watched nationwide. Many things
were confusing to a novice in the sport of football, one of the assistants was able to
explain the parts that were incoherent. One thing even the assistants could not
explain was the communication barrier between players. Many players seemed to
be distant towards other players that were a different race; which seemed to allow
tension to rise between the players. I began to use secondary research as an
informational outlet to see if other teams at the collegiate and professional level
endured the same problems.

I watched Forgotten Four on Netflix, which discussed the trials and obstacles
that the first four black men in football faced. Race being one of the biggest
obstacles how it became overlooked in Americans history. Which started the
investigation to see if race and other differences lead to social division inside of the
team, or does the amount of time spent together cause less social division. In 1946
Pro Football was finally integrated allowing blacks to have the opportunity to play
professionally. Very few know the names of the men who allowed this to be a
possibility for those men. Kenny Washington, Woody Strode, Marion Motley, and Bill
Willis they integrated football a year before Jackie Robinson integrated the MLB.
Many inner city black kids found refuge in football since the beginning of the 1940s.
Some, Researchers say due to biological genes that African Americans possess
young athletes rapidly started to make a difference in the sport (NY Times). As black
athletes started increasingly making a difference inside the once white dominated
sport, tension began to rise between the two races.
As a researcher I was able to get the chance to observe the 2014-15 Gardner
Webb University football team during practice, workout sessions, and off the field
activities. The initial observation was within the football team the communication is
filled with jargon, non-verbal communication, and slang that many outsiders would
not have the capability of understanding with little to no knowledge. Even though
football players are an exclusive group themselves, inside the group there is
minorities that seem to be even more exclusive. Communication between these
players occur off the field on different levels. Such as the Gardner Webb group
messages that can vary between the different individuals, these conversations can
range from workout times, game plays, different players, coaches, to heated
debates on racial issues that happen between the black and white players. While on

the field most of the African American and Caucasian players are slightly
segregated not by coaches, but by themselves. In the sport of football, players
segregate themselves without consciously knowing which can be based on class,
skill level, and/or race. By continuing to observe and research the sport and the
politics that are carried within football the thesis can be proved.
Many of the players on Gardner Webbs team experience stereotypical
judgements which can cause the racial issues. When my boyfriend first introduced
me to some of his white teammates I remember one saying You sure shes not your
cousin, you know how it can be sometimes. My boyfriend laughed it off, but I did
not take it so lightly. I later asked my boyfriend why didnt you correct him on
that? he shrugged his shoulders and said its normal babe, I dont let everything
affect me. Thats when I knew I wanted to investigate the racial issues inside the
subculture. Many of the black men on the team hear stereotypes about how they
speak, dress, and their looks. Usually the common stereotypes that most black
people hear you speak well for a black person, youre not even black, Im blacker
than you, and most black people are related, etc. Most stated that when first
joining the team they made it a point to correct them on these issues but as time
passed it became a norm. The Caucasian population also receive stereotypes such
as daddy is rich, every white person is a redneck, etc. My biggest problem with
the team is why it became a norm, both races should want to educate the opposite
race to contain these hysterical stereotypes. The lack of communication to inform
each other will allow for these misconceptions to continue to be talked about. Also,
to mask stereotypes each player in the subculture can examine themselves. Ask
themselves why they feel a certain way towards the other race, or why they have

the misconceptions. That way each race can have a better understanding when
addressing the issues.
In todays professional football 67.98% of the NFL players are African
American, with a small portion of 27.66% of the players being white. Similar
numbers to the NCAA athletes. The big gap may be a factor for the racial tension
and battles between the two. Some researchers disagree and say growing up
around other races, allows for opposites to have the chance to appreciate
differences. Starting in 1963 there was at least one African American on each roster
in the NFL. Rapidly giving black kids across America the courage to have
perseverance and determination to be another person of color on those rosters.
Along with the genetics that some black kids possess it created the advantage to
become increasingly better at the sport than their white counterparts. (NY Times) To
some this created the rise of the black appearance in the before dominated white
sport.
The coaching staff inside the sport is actually the complete opposite the
presence of Caucasian coaches is at 87%, compared to African American coaches at
13%. These statistics are about the same at the collegiate level which can also
maybe lead to hostility between the athletes and their coaches. When viewing
Gardner Webbs coaches and players it did not seem like racism was a problem,
more so that the communication is off between the white head coach and black
athletes. Miscommunication can cause problems down the line between two parties,
some players confided in me as a researcher to discuss the tension in their
relationship between each other. Many feel as if theyre being neglected when
trying to discuss their needs and concerns as a member of the team. For instance,
one player stated its like I dont exist, the college pays for me to play but I cant

be heard. The lack of attention can come from the shortage of useful
communication, some players feel if youre going to be hard on one race knowingly
the other should receive the same attention.
With the great difference in numbers between coaches and the players much
discrimination can take place behind closed doors. For example, when the Gardner
Webb head coach ignores one of the black athletes many feel as if hes
discriminating against them. Discrimination can be composed of many different
elements such as: race, age, and gender. If the head coach shows any type of
favoritism, especially to a white athlete. Many of the black students start to feel
abandoned and unworthy of his attention. Theres many components in racism
some that can seem to be unintentional. Such as discrimination, favoritism can be
given to black or white students. Leaving the other group unsatisfied. Richard
Sherman of the Seattle, Seahawks once discussed in a press conference that racism
and discrimination is also alive in the NFL.
Not every racial issue is brought to the national publics attention, but some
do make it to national news and Americas households. The University of Missouri
and their football team has recently raised attention to the overdue issue. The
controversy was between the black student body and the president, Tim Wolfe.
Many black students felt as if racism was very much alive on campus and would
have liked a plan of action to correct the issues. Many issues occurred, but very little
attention was actually being given to the students of color and their concerns. On
September, 12th student, Payton Head, received racial slurs across the campus with
no deed taken in correcting the problem. On October, 1 st students held a Racism
Lives Here rally to provoke the campus administration to take a stand; nothing was
awarded to the students. October, 24th a swastika was drawn using feces on one of

the walls in a residence hall. These episodes and many more led to a hunger strike
led by Jonathan Butler, who declared unless Tim Wolfe was removed from office he
would starve until death. These students, and some professors felt as if the campus
was unresponsive to the occurring incidents. Which quickly led to the strike of some
black football team members, agreeing they would not play until Wolfe was
removed. As the protest continued the team decided to stick together and all
agreed upon not playing or participating in any team activities unless change was
being made. The coach later tweeted him and the coaching staff stand behind the
team and support their actions. Missouri has a record of 5-7, being the 6 th in the
SEC conference. In this incident the team was able to look past race and take a
stand on institutional racism, but what happens when the problems are inside the
team with little to no concern.
Another national story was the controversy between Richie Incognito and
Jonathan Martin. Richie Incognito was a white veteran on the Miami Dolphins at the
time of the national story. Jonathan Martin was a black rookie who also played for
the Miami Dolphins. Incognito left a voicemail for Martin that consisted of racial
slurs and vulgar language. Incognito is not a stranger to on and off field
altercations, incidents taking place in 2004, and 2009. The Dolphins organization
took a stand and suspended Incognito indefinitely claiming they do not support
that behavior. A few months after the scandal became national, Martin had many
thoughts of attempting suicide. While, Incognito currently plays for the Buffalo Bills.
Some protestors wanted Incognito to be suspended indefinitely from the NFL as a
whole, instead feel as if he was awarded for his behavior. When the stories go public
action seems to be taken in correcting the issues.

Teams should take action even when the story does not go viral. I imagine
theres teams across the nation at the collegiate and professional level who
experience racial issues. If those teams can address the issues and use
communication to tear down barriers some of the problems can be limited. Try
educate each race on stereotypes and how they are hurtful to the other race. Limit
discrimination to none so other players or races can not have the opportunity to feel
abandoned or ignored. When observing the football team I did not ask why many of
the players felt the need to keep quiet of the issues. When doing my secondary
research that was also something I could not find the answer to. For many different
reasons many people refuse to bring the issues to attention. Maybe due to the
hurtful attention that can be brought among them. Or due to the idea that things
are better kept silent. With the power that lies within these teams many can work
towards better racial differences.
In conclusion, I found many interesting things about football and their
players. I am able to understand now when watching a game, the basic concept has
become easier for me to digest. When I first picked football as my ethnography
topic I would have never imagined what other issues are behind the scenes. Like the
racial issues. When researching I found the racial issues a motivator to look more in
depth in the concerns. I feel race is becoming increasingly more of a social issue in
todays America. As Americas number one sport has the power to address the
issue, but I feel as if very little stride has been made. Like the Missouri football team
taking the time to protest with other students was able to create change. The NCAA
football program is 3.5 billion dollar business, with the movement of teams. The
racial issues inside of the team and outsiders can receive change. Most of the
athletes are the collegiate and professional level are walking advertisements with

much influence among the general population, especially to the children and teens.
When athletes do or promote good, many time unknowingly have children
mimicking them. The issues inside of America can be solved but someone has to
take the time to want to fix it. The athletes of American have that power.

Works Cited:
1. Entine, Jon. "Breaking the Taboo on Race and Sports." Why Do Blacks
Dominate Sports and Why Are We Afraid to Talk about It. New York Times,
2000. Web. 2015.

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