Originally posted by cdtm
https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2019/09/03/a-coachs-reported-disapproval-of-dreadlocks-stirs-a-fuss-at-ua-fort-smithConsider me conflicted.
Did the coach deserve everything he had coming to him? I'd say yes. He had no business dictating hair style.
The thing that conflicts me, is this justified backlash only seems to have taken root on the basis of race. I realize it's common parlance for racists to say "Blacks have special rights that whites don't", but in this case I really do think the coach has no busimsss telling ANY student to cut their hair, but that there would be no action against him has he not attacked a student who could file a discrimination lawsuit on the basis of race.
That's a bit of a problem, when the only effective defense against such a man is to be capable of leveraging anti discrimination laws.
There's a legit reason why football coaches do not want players with dreadlocks and they should be cut:
https://trudreadz.com/2018/09/08/nfl-dreadlock-tackles-should-the-hair-tackling-rule-be-revised/
Hair Tackles are permitted in the NFL and the NFL debated making a rule against long hair and dreadlocks so that the nameplates and jersey numbers would not be obstructed from view while playing. They ultimately did not go through with the ruling.
But hair-pulling tackles are still allowed in the NFL since 2003.
Also, the NCAA does not prohibit hair-pull tackles. So hair tackles do not count as illegal tackles and they do not count as a horse-collar tackle, as well.
The coach is right to tell his players to make their hair short especially for offensive leaders who will get the ball quite often.
It should read, "I don't care about your preferred hairstyle. You're not models. You're physical performers. Keep your hair completely inside your helmet at all times. No exceptions."