By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY
Salina Post
LINDSBORG -- When the Bethany College football team takes the field this season, they will do so without second-year head coach Curran White.
According to multiple media reports last week, White was fired, though the reason for his dismissal publicly remains a mystery.
The matter came to light last week when the college issued a news release that Tyrone Carter had been named interim head coach and a video surfaced that featured a number of Bethany football players. A player spokesperson in the video said that the team members were willing to play a football season, but they did not agree with White being fired nor did they agree with bringing in someone as interim head coach rather than promote someone from within the organization.
When asked last week by Salina Post about the need for an interim head coach, a Bethany spokesperson responded that "Bethany College is currently in the midst of a personnel change. We have hired an interim coach to see us through the rest of the season."
Salina Post also asked why White was fired just before the start of his second season. On Monday, Bethany College responded with the following.
"At this time, the college cannot comment."
Salina Post has been unable to reach White.
The player video indicated that perhaps White was fired because he, along with the players, stood up for a player who was kicked out of school. The player was later reinstated.
Bethany College, however, told Salina Post that "there is no student suspension related to this event."
When asked by Salina Post what was being done to address the football players' concerns, the college responded, "The athletic director, interim football coach, and assistant coaches are working with the football players to ensure they are supported and able to continue the football season."
About Interim Head Coach Tyrone Carter
Carter is a familiar presence with the Bethany football community. He previously served as the offensive line coach at Bethany from 2017-2018. His previous coaching experience began in 2008 and he has most recently worked at the University of Saint Mary as an offensive line coach/run game coordinator.
"I am delighted that Coach Carter is rejoining the Bethany team. I know from experience that he is a student-centered leader. One of his ideas, the Ascension Program, has helped us retain conditionally admitted students at significantly higher rates compared to students who have not had an opportunity to participate in this program. This is a true collaboration between athletics and academics. We look forward to more opportunities like these now that Coach Carter has rejoined our team,” said Dr. Elizabeth Mauch, Bethany College president.
"I’m happy to be here with these great young men. Some of whom I helped recruit and some of whom are new to me. I’m looking forward to helping them earn their college degrees, be great citizens, and chase championships,” Carter said.
Bethany football getting a later start
Bethany was scheduled to take on The University of Saint Mary on Saturday evening, however the two institutions on Monday announced that the game had been postponed. The joint statement, found on the Bethany College athletics website, included the following.
Bethany College and The University of Saint Mary continue to consider the safety of our students, faculty, staff, and our larger communities our primary concern.
While both institutions believe our mitigation efforts have been largely successful to date, current headlines from other colleges as well as data from the state and our local communities suggest we are at a precarious moment in regards to this pandemic.
With these indicators in mind - and in our effort to best ensure the safety of our communities - we will continue to approach the fall sports season with caution.
As such, both institutions have mutually decided to postpone our football game scheduled for Saturday, September 12, until later in the season.
We sincerely regret any inconvenience or disappointment this re-scheduling may cause. We are eager to see our teams back on the field and to cheer them on. We look forward to returning to play soon.
Keeping the spread of COVID in check will best position us to keep our college communities safe, as well as permit our students to remain in classes' in-person on campus as well as participate in activities and athletics this fall.
The Bethany football team is now scheduled to kick off its season at home on Sept. 19 against Kansas Wesleyan University.