WKU News & Events

April 04, 2002

'Remember The Titans' Coaches
To Speak At WKU

Bowling Green, Ky. - The coaches of the football team chronicled in the film "Remember the Titans" will be the keynote speakers during a diversity conference next week at Western Kentucky University.

Herman Boone and Bill Yoast will speak at 7 p.m. April 13 at Downing University Center theater as part of the University Diversity Advisory Committee's first Diversity Leadership Conference.

In 1971, when three high schools combined in Alexandria, Va., to form T.C. Williams High School, Boone and Yoast worked together to create a team of black and white players that served as a model of integration on and off the playing field. Boone was the team's head coach and Yoast was his assistant.

"Their story demonstrates how tolerance, discipline, teamwork and a sense of unity healed a community divided by racial intolerance," said Robert Unseld Jr., coordinator for the University Diversity Advisory Committee.

Amid anger and tension, the two coaches were able to put aside their prejudices, unifying their players to form a team with a common vision to respect each other and win football games. The Titans went 13-0 and won the state championship.

Boone and Yoast, both now retired, remain friends and continue to share their story of respect, teamwork and community involvement.

The theme of Western's Diversity Leadership Conference is "Culture, Heritage and Diversity." The conference begins at 5 p.m. April 12 at Downing University Center.

April 13 sessions and workshops begin at 9 a.m. at the Downing University Center. At 11 a.m. SST Communications, a theater-based training company, The group will present "Mosaics," a series of sketches on diversity issues that affect college students.

On April 14, the conference concludes with a 10:30 a.m. devotional at the Baptist Student Center.

For information about the conference, contact Minority Student Support Services at (270) 745-5066.

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