27 OCT 05: HOLTZ FIRE
Auburn University's football coach found himself playing some defense Wednesday. This was surprising, because some alumni might want him to start place-kicking instead.
ESPN Radio personalities let Tommy Tuberville have it, because he told a luncheon the network has too much power over who plays for college football's national championship. I wondered who told Auburn to put Louisiana-Monroe on the schedule this season....
Tommy Tuberville apparently criticized one ESPN analyst in particular. The Auburn coach said former Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz is lobbying for a Southern California-Texas championship game, after he "couldn't win a game in our conference." Well, at least Holtz beat Southern Cal a couple of times - while Tuberville hasn't.
ESPN college football analyst Beano Cook declared Tommy Tuberville was "out of line" for criticizing Lou Holtz. Either it's because Holtz won a national title at Notre Dame, is considered a college football legend - or Cook wanted Tuberville to criticize Terry Bowden first.
Tommy Tuberville explained his comments on ESPN Radio's "Dan Patrick Show." He said many personalities there are his friends, but warned people wearing microphones can sway voters in football polls. Aw c'mon, coach! We all know news reporters never do that in political campaigns....
Tommy Tuberville went on to say college football announcers should not push for particular teams, since there's no playoff to determine a champion. Hopefully Larry Munson got the message, and he'll be neutral this weekend when Georgia faces Florida.
Tommy Tuberville admitted there may be "lazy voters" among college football coaches, who don't follow the top teams and can be swayed by sports announcers. Maybe there's an overlooked answer for this. The "Alabama Graduates for Truth" should buy TV time to run attack ads.
(That's the curious thing about this whole controversy. Auburn has two losses, and is out of the running for a national title - so is Tommy Tuberville saying all this to do a weird "psych job" on the Alabama and Georgia coaches?)
As for Auburn itself, Tommy Tuberville admitted kicker John Vaughn has taken "all kinds of abuse" for missing five field goals against Louisiana State. But the coach added he "doesn't listen to that kind of stuff." Apparently Tuberville delegates that to assistant coaches, who have told him about it.
Once the interview was over, Dan Patrick dismissed the accusations of network favorite-playing. He declared ESPN "doesn't even get the national title game." Huh?! Doesn't ESPN have control over most ABC Sports programming now? Not to mention ESPN establishing the Fort Worth Bowl a few years ago.... [True!]
BLOG UPDATE: Columbus City Manager Isaiah Hugley released a draft report Wednesday on city employee pay. This is NOT the final document. So remember, this could be like a movie trailer -- where all the juicy scenes lure you in, then they're finally left in the garbage.
The draft report by University of Georgia researchers says new Columbus police officers with Associates' degrees should be earning about $30,000 a year. Right now they earn about $25,000. I can see it now: the Fraternal Order of Police "5-K Run."
City Manager Isaiah Hugley says it would cost more than ten million dollars to implement everything in the draft report on city employee pay. Now we almost wonder if he asked for too small a raise several months ago - because eliminating his salary wouldn't cover all of this.
The City Manager reminded Columbus residents higher city employee pay will NOT happen overnight. Well, no - I think the current wait is closer to 1,001 nights....
As the clock runs out for writing, let's check other notes from a "White Sox World Series Winner" Wednesday (as the Chicago announcers called it):
+ Columbus Airport Commission member Don Cook told WRBL United Airlines is interested in beginning local service. If flights actually start from Columbus to United's main airport in Chicago, we want Frank Thomas's picture on the planes.
+ The Occupational Safety and Health Administration proposed a $118,000 fine against the Golden Foundry east of downtown, for unsafe working conditions. Imagine what OSHA might do, if inspectors discover the outside of the foundry isn't golden.
(Golden Foundry has 15 days to respond to the proposed OSHA fine - so we'll see if managers claim the accusations are unfoundried.)
+ Muscogee County School District administrators attended a seminar on "Understanding Poverty." Was this special guest speaker really necessary? After all, some teachers claim they're living IN poverty now.
+ WRBL's evening news interviewed a poultry farmer named Billy Gilley. I'd sing a song of Billy Gilley, but you might find it simply silly -- and I don't want to be called hillbilly....
+ Former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman was indicted on racketeering charges, for the second time in two years. Can the prosecutors arrange a trade - with Siegelman going to Texas, in exchange for Tom DeLay?
+ Instant Message to the Atlanta Hawks: Are you kidding? I mean, with those commercials claiming Friday's appearance in Columbus is a "preseason battle for the ages"?! [CORRECTED] If it doesn't count, will anyone remember it even ONE age from now??
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1ST UPDATE....