Former Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Tony Dungy visited Indiana University this week, but the subtext was larger than promoting his latest book. The Super Bowl winning coach said he hopes his efforts at being an author are not all students will notice.
Dungy said young people should realize their dreams of owning a team or being a part of corporate America is a goal they can achieve recognizing they too can be directors or hold any prominent position desired.
He also hopes young people will notice how the nation’s climate has changed since he was a child. He watched another African-American leader with hope who is playing a pertinent role in history, referring to the inauguration of Barack Obama.
“Just seeing a crowd of 1.5 or 1.8 million people, and the diversity in the crowd. It was young, old, black, white and people from outside the country. Everybody was just excited about the direction the government is going, and the fact it could happen, Barack Obama being president” he said.
He was reminded of the historical impact of the election and remembers as a child, “I was eight years old when Dr. King gave the speech. He had a dream of people being judged by what they could do, by their character, what they brought to the table, and to see that 40 years later really come to fruition, it was really a milestone-had me very emotional.”
Dungy was the Colts’ head coach from 2002-to-2008. He announced his retirement last month.
