Was the Northwestern at the Boone speech?

The Northwestern reports today that Herman Boone, the high school football coach played by Denzel Washington in "Remember the Titans," focused his UW Oshkosh speech on the movie.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Many in the audience were drifting off as Boone spoke at length about the importance of Black History Month and said relatively little about the film.

Boone used a Q&A after his prepared remarks to talk about the movie, and that's where he really connected with the audience.

He went into detail into about where the movie deviated from history, provided heartfelt advice about the importance of conveying high expectations for a student who said she hoped to be a coach some day and completely charmed the crowd with his humor and insights.

One possibility is that this is a case where a newspaper produces what is really an advance story, perhaps based on a telephone interview, and then tries to pass it off as eyewitness news.

On the subject of coaching, Boone said that it was important to balance critical words with comforting gestures. After tearing a player apart, he wouldn't let the player leave withuout a hug.

At the end of his presentation, it was announced that Boone would stay behind to meet individually with members of the audience--and provide one of his trademark hugs.

Almost immediately dozens of people lined up to take him up on his offer.

Another problem with the article is that it seeks to put Boone in the same company as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This is really a stretch (and demeaning to the civil rights movement).

King, we should remember, was not merely subjected to slurs and vandalism. Nor did he live to see his dreams achieved.

He was murdered for his beliefs and his courage.