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FRITZ POLLARD ALLIANCE REMEMBERS BILL WILLIS

Bill Willis passed away this week. The name might not ring a bell or mean anything to many of you but to me he was a hero and a trailblazer. Mr. Willis was the last of the original 4 African-American football players who re-integrated professional football in 1946. Of that group Mr. Willis and Marion Motley played for the Cleveland Browns of the All-America Football Conference and Woodie Strode and Kenny Washington were signed to play for the Los Angeles Rams in the National Football league. In history books much has been written of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in professional baseball but very little is ever mentioned of those who did the same in professional football a year earlier.

With murder of Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor, Mr. Willis' passing will only earn a slight mention in most national newspapers or media outlets. But every African-American football player who has played professional football should say a prayer and give thanks to Bill Willis and the others who paved the way for those who have played and are now playing the game of football on the professional level.

As a fellow Hall of Famer, I was honored to be in his presence at Hall of Fame activities. As Executive Director of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, I was humbled to be a part of an Organization that honored Mr. Willis (or as my mother would say "gave him his flowers while he could smell them") in February at the Fritz Pollard Alliance NFL Combine reception in Indianapolis. As an African American athlete, I thank Mr. Willis, Mr. Strode, Mr. Washington and Mr. Motley for the sacrifices they knowingly or unknowingly made for players like me that followed them. As a man, I am honored to have shared a seat with him on the bus as we traveled from our hotel to the golf course when we both participated in Mike Ditka's Golf Tournament on August 27th in Chicago. Mr. Willis wanted to know what was happening with the retired players issues. We spent much of that ride talking about those issues. At the end of that ride he encouraged us as retired players to continue the fight for better benefits and pensions for all players.

Rest in Peace Mr. Willis.....

Harry Carson

NFL Head Coaches Applaud NBC'S Imus Firing, Call Upon CBS to Follow Suit.

04/12/2007 - WASHINGTON, DC - (MARKET WIRE) - Yesterday, April 11, 2007, the NFL's six African American head coaches -- Tony Dungy, Lovie Smith, Herman Edwards, Marvin Lewis, Romeo Crennel, and Mike Tomlin -- decided they would collectively stand up in defense of the Rutgers women's basketball team and its coach C. Vivian Stringer in light of the racist and sexist remarks Don Imus and his producer, Bernard McGuirk, directed toward the team's members.

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Fritz Pollard Alliance to Hold Fourth Annual Meeting

The Fritz Pollard Alliance, the affinity group of NFL minority coaches, scouts and front office personnel formed in 2003 will hold its Fourth Annual Meeting/Awards Reception at the Hyatt Regency, Regency Ballroom, Indianapolis, Indiana on Friday, February 23, 2007 from 4:00 pm. to 6:00 p.m. The FPA advocates for policy changes in NFL hiring practices (the “Rooney Rule”) and works in partnership with the NFL to create opportunities for minority candidates.

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News Articles Covering FPA

FPA Applauds Finalist List for NFL Commissioner

Yesterday, the National Football League announced its list of five finalists, competing to be Commissioner of the National Football League. For the first time in the history of major league sports in the United States, there is a minority candidate in the final round of competition for Commissioner, Frederick R. Nance, Managing Partner of the home office of Squire, Sanders & Dempsey.

NFL great, Harry Carson, who will be inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame this Saturday declared "this is a historic moment in major league sports and part of our struggle to break down all racial barriers in the NFL." Carson is the Executive Director of the Fritz Pollard Alliance.

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A Note From The Chairman

There is a rumor floating around that minorities are being favored and allowed to take coaching and front office positions when others are not. This allegation of reverse discrimination is wholly untrue.

The NFL rules say a person who is under contract to his club cannot take an interview or leave the club to take a position with another club, without the permission of his current club, unless he is going as a general manager or a head coach.

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Statement of Fritz Pollard Alliance Executive Director Harry Carson on the FPA

Today marks the day that the Fritz Pollard Alliance launches its website, which can be found at www.fpal.org. The FPA website will serve as an informational and educational resource and will improve internal communications for FPA members. This is also an opportune time to take note of the status of the FPA.

It is with great pride that I have been serving in the capacity of the Executive Director of the Fritz Pollard Alliance the last couple of years. The FPA is an affinity group of minorities serving in front office, coaching and scouting positions in the National Football League. It is unique in major league sports.

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