^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

23 OCT 04: THE OLD COLLEGE TRY

Less than two weeks before the big sales tax vote, we've found out Columbus City Manager Carmen Cavezza has applied for a job at Columbus State University. So it turns out city government might be "LOST" in more ways than one....

Mayor Bob Poydasheff confirmed to WRBL Friday City Manager Carmen Cavezza has applied to lead a new business management center at Columbus State. So is running a government like running a business? That's what Republicans like to say - yet Cavezza supports sales tax increases.

Carmen Cavezza has been City Manager almost exactly as long as I've been in Columbus -- approaching seven-and-a-half years. Mayor Poydasheff suggested Cavezza may think he's "reached a plateau." Then he should go apply in east Tennessee - where the Cumberland Plateau is much bigger.

(There's an alternative for the City Manager reaching a plateau - but the sales tax discussion hasn't included anything about adding more stories on the Government Center.)

The City Manager is refusing to comment on all the stories about applying to work at C.S.U. We could interpret his silence to mean he did it. But then again, maybe he never told his wife about it....

Carmen Cavezza is one of 16 candidates to lead the C.S.U. business management center. The university will NOT comment on who's in the running - so who knows how many Columbus Councilors applied for the job against him.

Let's assume for a moment Carmen Cavezza leaves the City Manager's job for Columbus State. The city has two Deputy City Managers - and dare I mention they have different skin colors?! Will civil rights leaders dare to examine their resumes, before making a recommendation?

Speaking of colleges, did you hear about the big surprise at LaGrange College? The trustees have decided to start a "small college" football program. This could keep most of the LaGrange High players in town - since keeping grades high won't be as big an issue.

LaGrange College plans to start a college football program in 2006. Which means, of course, Auburn will try to schedule it as a homecoming opponent in 2007....

LaGrange College will play home football games at Callaway Stadium, where three Troup County high school teams already play. Well, ESPN has started a new college football tradition - with occasional games on Wednesday nights.

Perhaps the biggest surprise is hidden deep in the announcement of LaGrange College football. The college will help pay to remove the grass at Callaway Stadium, and replace it with artificial turf. How many Auburn horticulture majors will this put out of work?

Don't be surprised if objections are raised about artificial turf at LaGrange's stadium. Haven't the decades shown players seem to become more injured on turf? There are banged-up knees, "turf toes" - and you can't even spike the ball any higher.

So if LaGrange College can have a college football program, why not Columbus State? C.S.U. thought about it a couple of years ago - but let's face it. The closest stadium is at Pacelli High School, and there's not much parking.

Albany State drew more than 11,000 fans per home game this fall, at the new Albany Municipal Coliseum on campus. Maybe a new football field could be built close to C.S.U. - for instance, after the new Wild Fish Bar and Grille goes under,
like two other restaurants in that building have.

THE BIG BLOG QUESTION thus asks you if Columbus State should start a college football program. At the very least, Carmen Cavezza could become an assistant coach there if he doesn't get the business management position....

By the way, I write this as Georgia plays Arkansas in college football - and during a commercial break, the Georgia radio broadcast told me about the fun promotions at Atlanta baseball games this season. These Bulldog fans simply are TOO narrow-minded at this time of year.

So what else can we give free publicity this weekend? Let's see....

+ Which south Georgia radio newscaster just took a job with a top-rated station in Jacksonville - yet his co-workers didn't give him any sort of going-away tribute at all? Are the ratings so bad that everyone else is bailing out, too?

+ Britt David Elementary School held a celebration, to mark being named a "Blue Ribbon School of Excellence." Thankfully no parent thought about bringing any Pabst Blue Ribbon beer.

+ Instant Message to Judge-Elect Bobby Peters: What's going on down there? Did you take the "Greg Countryman for Marshal" signs down from your lawn simply to mow the grass?

COMING SOON: Final showdowns before the November election.... and what to do with old CD's....

To offer a story tip, make a donation or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post a
reply.

If you quote from this in public somewhere, please be polite enough to let me know.

© 2003-04 Richard Burkard, All Rights Reserved.