Should Urban Meyer apologize to Auburn?
Once again it’s Fearless Friday where no subject is off limits. Here’s what is catching my eye today. What about you?
Should Urban Meyer apologize to Auburn? Florida coach Urban Meyer caused quite a stir this week when he was asked about Auburn’s recruiting limo.
In case you missed it, Auburn’s coaching staff used a white stretch limo with school flags and stickers to visit high schools around the state. No recruits, we have been told, rode in the limo.
Gainesville Sun columnist Pat Dooley asked Meyer whether or not the NCAA should look into the practice. Dooley told me last night that he had read my note last Friday on the limo and mistakenly thought that recruits were getting rides. It was in that context that Dooley asked the question.
When asked about the NCAA stepping in, Meyer said: “I think it should. We’re trying to sell graduation rates and academics…..The Florida coaching staff will not be riding around in limos and ripping off our shirts.”
Boy, Meyer got a twofer on that answer. He not only addressed Auburn’s limo, but he got in a shot at the Tennessee staff of Lane Kiffin, which has been known to rip off its shirts to get the attention of recruits.
At least one columnist, Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel, has called on Meyer to apologize to Auburn because of his comments the way Kiffin was forced to apologize for publicly accusing Meyer of cheating during recruiting. Both claims, Bianchi said, were based on bad information and “What’s good for the Goose is good for the Gator.”
I don’t see it an apology in Meyer’s future.
No. 1, Meyer was responding to a question from a reporter and simply said that the NCAA should look into the issue. He did not directly charge Auburn with cheating, which is the SEC rule that Kiffin broke. Kiffin was talking to a booster club when he threw the out the cheating claim as red meat to his audience. It won’t surprise me if the NCAA, which has been trying to put some sanity back into the recruiting process, looks into the limo issue and bans the practice the way it banned other excesses.
No. 2, the question gave Meyer a free shot at Tennessee and he took it. Again, he didn’t accuse Tennessee of cheating, which is the rule in question. Yeah, his comment may have come across as a little smug but it just makes the Sept. 19 game in Gainesville with the Vols that much more compelling.
A political stunt from the Utah AG: Utah attorney general Mark Shurtleff said this week that he is going to sue the BCS, even if Congress does nothing. Congress held hearings with BCS officials last Friday and did some chest-thumping. But it is not clear if any legislation will be forthcoming.
Shurtleff, who (Surprise! Surprise!) plans a run for the Senate next year or for Governor in 2012, held a fundraiser with Utah coach Kyle Whittingham on April 28 where he charged $300 a head. So Shurtleff is using the BCS issue to build his political war chest and, if necessary, is prepared to spend millions of taxpayer dollars from the citizens of Utah to file a lawsuit about college football. They must have plenty of money in Utah.
Kiffin taking a calculated risk with Hood: I am not here to criticize Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin for signing Daniel Hood who, at the age of 13, participated in the kidnapping and rape of a 14-year-old cousin. It appears that Kiffin has done his due diligence and that the kid is truly remorseful. It also appears that the victim has forgiven Hood and has written a letter supporting his intention to enroll at Tennessee.
But I will say two things:
1) I wouldn’t have signed the kid. I would have helped him find a place to play and go to school where the spotlight is not so glaring. I would wish him well and help him any way that I could if I was convinced he was truly remorseful. But if I’m the coach at a high-profile program like Tennessee, I don’t sign him.
2) From this point forward, Daniel Hood must be as pure as the driven snow. If he misses curfew or gets suspended for any reason, the press reaction will be brutal.
It sounds like the young man has turned his life around. For his sake and for the sake of the University of Tennessee, I hope it all works out.
Makeup, please
Parts of the movie have already been shot on the Georgia Tech campus. When I saw Tuberville he was on his way to Atlanta to shoot some scenes.
“It’s something a little different,” said Tuberville, who is sitting out this season after being let go at Auburn last year. “I’m kind of anxious to see what the other coaches do.”
FYI. Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw play Oher’s adoptive parents, Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy. The movie will be released in November.
Don’t forget to call your momma: A million years ago when I was in college, my roommates and I used to watch all of the coaches Sunday football shows which were shown, I believe, during the early days of Ted Turner’s first Atlanta station. The one I always enjoyed most was Alabama’s Bear Bryant and his co-host, Charley Thornton, the long-time Alabama publicist.
Coach Bryant would drink his Coca-Cola and eat his Golden Flake potato chips and talk about the game all the mommas and daddies he had seen the day before.
He would often end the show this way:
“And don’t forget to call your momma. I wish I could call mine.”
I’m happy to report that my momma is still going strong and that we’re going to have lunch on Sunday in Madison. If it wasn’t for her teaching me to love reading and writing I don’t know where I’d be today. I sure wouldn’t have the best job in the world, which is writing and talking about college football.
So if your momma is still with us, make sure you remind her on Sunday how important she is. Trust me. She never gets tired of hearing it.
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211 comments Add your comment
m
May 8th, 2009
8:48 am
Me & the rest of the bees are totally psyched about going to the new Star Trek movie tonight. I’m even gonna wear my Vulcan ears, but I’m not gonna pay $4.75 for a box of Milk Duds. You people suck.
T
May 8th, 2009
8:52 am
Tony.. do you only cover the SEC nowadays?
NGB
May 8th, 2009
8:59 am
BINGO Charlie,that was a “goodie”,who was that?
Tony Barnhart
May 8th, 2009
9:00 am
T,
Thanks for writing. Next week we are going to break down every team in the ACC. This blog tends to be news driven and most of the news this week, as you can see from today’s blog, involved SEC schools.
If you have a good news story coming out of the ACC, please share it with me.
TB
MonVol
May 8th, 2009
9:03 am
Are you kidding Tony? Mike Slive is so far in Meyer and Foley’s pockets, he’ll be making Auburn issue a formal apology for using the Hummers. Slive will be so mad at Auburn, that he’ll make Lane Kiffin apologize again.
Glad to see you include the information that Hood’s victim wrote to the school to support them signing him. Not enough people know that. He will be on a one strike and you’re done policy. I am admittedly biased in the issue, but the university did their due dilligence in the matter, and if Hood goes through UT without slipping, it would make a tremendous story about the power of forgiveness and redemption.
Happy Mothers Day, Mom…and everybody else’s moms.
AUtiger
May 8th, 2009
9:03 am
I really don’t care about Urban’s comments about the limo. The dude is just a jerk..
PMC
May 8th, 2009
9:08 am
No, as much as I dislike Urban for some other things he’s done. Absolutley not. He owes them nothing. I’m not seeing what he said that was even remotely offensive.
PMC
May 8th, 2009
9:10 am
Utah suing… just makes them look THAT much more irrellevant
Johnny Fontane
May 8th, 2009
9:11 am
I think Ol’ Bear had some Jack in that Coke he was drinking on his show.
Nuggs
May 8th, 2009
9:16 am
Slive is in Urban’s pocket? What a dumb statement. Typical delusiVOL.
Urban was asked a question and he answered it. Much Much different from Kiffin’s loudmouth antics.
People think Meyer is a jerk because he wins at a school they dislike. It’s grasping at straws to try and make yourselves feel better about a team you hate winning like they have lately. It’s pathetic. Trust me you would LOVE to have a coach who others thought was a jerk if he won like that at your school.
Barnhart’s Friday Free-For-All | MrSEC.com
May 8th, 2009
9:20 am
[...] Barnhart of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution sounds off on a number of topics in his final blog of the week… among them:* Urban Meyer probably won’t be apologizing [...]
Otto
May 8th, 2009
9:25 am
The SEC needs to trade the MWC Ark or Miss St for Utah for 4 years and then maybe Utah would shut up. A lawsuit?… What a waste they play a 2nd class schedule and won 2nd place
WTF???
May 8th, 2009
9:35 am
But they sure drummed those damned Elephants in the Sugar Bowl huh? LOL!!!!
Hollywould
May 8th, 2009
9:36 am
Tony, we don’t need no stinkin’ apology. We have beat them the last 2 times we played. I think he is still peeved about the kicker doing the
gator chomp twice after his so-called timeout.
m
May 8th, 2009
9:36 am
Otto…your idiocy is showing.
The only thing second rate that Utah played was a sec west champion alabammmer…and they beat the living crap out of them…in the south…in the beloved sugar bowl.
You sec tools make me laugh at your total stupidity.
jkownit
May 8th, 2009
9:36 am
“Trust me you would LOVE to have a coach who others thought was a jerk if he won like that at your school.”
^^you are dead on, my friend. I heart Coach Saban, and you don’t have to go far (on this site) to see how many people loathe him. RTR
Nuggs
May 8th, 2009
9:38 am
M
How was Utah abused by the BCS? LOOK AT THEIR SCHEDULE.
Weber State, Utah State, San Jose State, Air Force, UNLV, New Mexico, Colorado State and a 3 win Michigan team. That’s A LOT of patsies…
WTF???
May 8th, 2009
9:38 am
m, your momma told me she wants a new son for Mothers Day.
m
May 8th, 2009
9:39 am
Nuggs….you left out the biggest patsie they played….sec west champ alabammmer.
Kenny Powers
May 8th, 2009
9:40 am
M, you are a bonafide dumbsh!t. Playoffs give us the “arizona cardinals” of college football playing in the big dance; when you play cupcake teams all year, you are not as beat up and deserving to get a shot at a title….plus, in these economic times they are suing the BCS with taxpayer money…oh, and they think having multiple wives are a good idea too.
please stop blogging and realize you are not awesome like everyting else in the south, thank you and that is all.
Kenny Powers
May 8th, 2009
9:41 am
And if you hate the BCS so much, create your own NCAA and give yourself your own playoff title each year, GEE I am so awesome.
RxDawg
May 8th, 2009
9:42 am
Hmm, lots of fuel for a fire today. This should be good!
/popcorn
MonVol
May 8th, 2009
9:42 am
Hey Nuggs, we already have a coach that people hate. Now, we’re just waiting on the impending winning. It’ll take about three years. We can wait.
To the alleged JC (that took nerve), it does matter that Hood was 13 when it happened. Most people don’t consider a person a finished product at 13, as was made clear by the punishment the justice system gave him in comparison to what the 17 yr. old got.
The victim forgave him and went to bat for him or Hood would have never gotten the opportunity to even be considered. Her feelings are the ones that matter most. Not Hood’s, Kiffin’s, mine, yours, Tony’s or anyone else’s. She forgave and moved on and was able to know whether or not he was trying to become a better person and make up for the horrific act he committed six years ago. If he slips up in any way, even a traffic ticket, he’ll be gone.
m
May 8th, 2009
9:43 am
No one plays more cupcakes than you sec wannabees. Last year the entire sec was patsies.
Otto
May 8th, 2009
9:43 am
m, you’re the one getting flamed.
Urban Warfare
May 8th, 2009
9:49 am
Haters, don’t hate the winner, hate that YOU’RE NOT!!! They used to REALLY hate Spurrier too, but now that he’s not winning as much, he’s kindof become the legendary cuddly “‘Ol Ball Coach”. Even a Bulldawg friend of mine stated last year “you know, I kindof like ‘ol Spurrier now, I actually always thought he was pretty funny, especially that UT/Citrus Bowl thing.” Yeah, but you didn’t think he was so funny when he was beating your butts every year!! Also about the apology to Auburn, nothing was really said there, no accusations were made. And as far as the shirt ripping comment, I think after the ACCUSATION and some of the things Kiffin has said and after he laughed about getting Nukey Richardson to lie to Meyer and even his own home town/high school (now thats class!), I think Mr Meyer has been extremely restrained! Well, that is until Sept 19!
n
May 8th, 2009
9:52 am
I’m jealous of m.
Mikey
May 8th, 2009
9:53 am
M, Calling Tony an idiot will get you banned from posting, so please keep doing it.
Mikey
May 8th, 2009
9:54 am
I am no fan of the Vols
I am no fan of the Gator
But I sure will be watching on September 19…
WTF???
May 8th, 2009
9:55 am
There is only one SEC coach that I truly dislike, Les Miles. Lame Kitten is walking a thin line. I hate Florida, but I gotta give Urban Cryer props.. The sumbitch can coach football.
Tech Knowlogic
May 8th, 2009
9:56 am
WARNING WARNING m(oron) on the loose! HE DOES NOT REPRESENT US! I REPEAT, HE DOES NOT REPRESENT US!
uga_b
May 8th, 2009
9:59 am
I think the BCS needs to add an evening wear competition to the pageantry of Team Football Champion USA. Maybe we could get Perez Hilton on at the Harris Pole.
FL DAWG
May 8th, 2009
10:00 am
m
Why use tax payer money to sue??? Everyone these days is sue happy. They system does not need to change because Senators and Representatives don’t have better and more important things to attend to or because some guy wants a publicity stunt as he raises money to run for office. It will eventually change. It has been moving in that direction for years. Slowly, yes, but moving. It use to be bowls would just pick who they wanted with no regards to who played who, now we have the BCS, not perfect but does a better job of getting the best teams to play for it. Now we are talking about a plus one, and when that happens it will be a small playoff. It will eventually evolve into 8 teams, but probably not 16 teams. The downfall is that the cost for watching your team will increase per game with the play off system. It is the law of unintended consequences.
Kenny Powers
May 8th, 2009
10:01 am
Monvol, you suck worse than m; your team enables and supports rapists i don’t care what age he was. I was 13 once and comfortably managed not to rape my cousin. He is a headcase and should be institutionalized along with kiffin and his shirt.
Tony Barnhart, please slap the pi$$ out of m and monvol please. And keep writing about the SEC.
BurningRedBleedingBlack
May 8th, 2009
10:02 am
Good stuff TB as always! I feel that all the drama created between all these SEC teams is really going to equal some great football next season. Would be a great time for UGA to fly under the radar and kick some butt! Especially now that the spot light is off us and UF got there revenge on us already for are “end zone dance”. Tony do you feel Tennessee could possibly upset the gators this year? Thanks for the info on the movie sounds like a great movie. How will the SEC fare against the ACC in the rival games this year? And one last question Tony how many games do you have the Bulldawgs winning next year? Keep up the good material your the best! Happy mother day
WTF???
May 8th, 2009
10:07 am
Tony, whats the status of Branden Smith & Orson Charles? They going to have the scores to enroll or are they Hargrave bound?
JB
May 8th, 2009
10:11 am
I don’t know Urban Meyers heart. I know he a great football coach and seems to be a good dad. I do not care for his actions on the sidelines. In the 2007 Fla/Ga game he met his punter 10 yards out on the field and screamed at him ” What the F are you doing, and followed him all the way to the bench screaming at him. It that’ s what it takes to win ( they lost that day), It’s not good for college football. If I was that Boy’s dad, I would not let that slide
Tidefan
May 8th, 2009
10:14 am
Jesus Christ,
First of all it disturbs me that you chose to use that screen name, especially when your words and statements in no way reflect the attitude and teachings of Jesus Christ. In the Bible he teaches us to forgive. We don’t have to condone or justify the actions of a person but we should forgive. The woman at the well was caught in the act of adultery but Jesus said “You without sin cast the first stone”. Now I’m not saying you or anyone else on here has committed such a heinous act but we have all done things in the past that we are not proud of. It was a terrible, terrible thing he did but he has gone through what our justice system has considered his punishment and paid for his crime. Maybe, in this young man’s case, the justice system actually worked.
Being a Bama fan, I normally jump at the chance to slam the Vols and Lane Kiffen about anything. And, like Tony, if I really thought the kid had reformed, I would have probably helped him find a mid-major team, and kept the spotlight off my team. But, I do commend Kiffen for not automatically throwing the kid away because of a bad decision he made when he was 13. It appears he thoroughly researched the situation and is willing to give the kid a chance. I hope it works out for him.
Otto
May 8th, 2009
10:16 am
So many reason not to like Urban above all the man has no class.
http://blog.al.com/kevin-scarbinsky/2009/05/despite_his_two_rings_urban_me.html
GeoffDawg
May 8th, 2009
10:19 am
The Hood case is certainly a touchy subject. As another poster alluded to earlier, you can bet that future recruits and their parents are going to know the type of players on the UT squad regardless if that perception is accurate or not. 13 year old kids are by far old enough to know that committing such a horrific crime is pure evil but are probably young enough to eventually deserve a second chance. However, that doesn’t mean it has to come from Kiffin. He may be sacrificing future talent to satisfy his short term demand.
Jesus Christ
May 8th, 2009
10:22 am
MonVol, your attempt to justify this scholarship is disgusting. People aren’t a finished product at 18 either, or 25, or 40, or 60. But one thing is constant. When you’re the type of person who would tie up a family member and watch while your friend rapes her your time on earth should come to an end.
And I go by Jesus Christ because there are too many people on this and every other blog who profess to know what “God” wants. I’m silently mocking them and every other moron who thinks that their religion is the right religion.
Dorsey Hill
May 8th, 2009
10:25 am
Coach Bryant’s suggestion is a reminder of how much has changed since I began watching college football. Back in the day coaches, in the South in particular, Bobby Dodd, Vince Dooley, Bear Bryant and many many others, comported themselves, at least publicly, as gentleman who were to be respected and not only for their ability as coaches. I remember when:
Their team lost and it was always the coaches fault for not getting the team prepared.
Their team won, and all credit went to the players.
When playing any opponent, even an objectively inferior one, these coaches stressed how much they respected the other team and how difficult it was going to be to beat them.
When they beat that team 50-0, they expressed how fortunate they were to get the win against a very tough opponent.
I understand that this approach could be boring and it could be awfully repetitive. However, you can’t convince me that it wasn’t the right way to act.
Since Spurrier’s arrival as a coach in 1990 things have devolved considerably. For a region that is so obsessed with college football it is sad to think that these current coaches serve as examples to millions of what is appropriate behavior. Likewise, I am so glad that we have the Coach that we have and I hope we have him for a long, long time.
Chris
May 8th, 2009
10:26 am
Tony,
Thank you for the great memory. Watching the bear hawking Golden Flake potato chips and mumble at the videotape like your grandfather who’s not really paying attention,,,’mmmm, don’t block anybody here’
Am I mistaken or did he wear that hat when filming the show?
Saint Nick
May 8th, 2009
10:27 am
For everyone defending Kiffin!!! You WOULD NOT let this kid date you daughter, BUT he can play football for your team….RIIIIIIGGGGGHHHHHTTTT!!!!!!!!!
Gator Growl
May 8th, 2009
10:30 am
BurningRedBleedingBlack…Let me try to answer one of those questions for you … Tennessee CAN beat Florida this year IF…somehow ALL of Floridas starters AND backups get injured on the very first play of the game. In another words, a Gatorade truck would have to accidentally plow thru the stadium and drive straight down the Florida sideline. But WAIT!!!..IT’S A BIRD! IT’S A PLANE! NO, IT’S TIM TEBOW! AND WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT WAYWARD TRUCK??!! IT’S GATORADE FOR EVERYBODY!!!…So to answer your question…no.
Pitbull
May 8th, 2009
10:32 am
With regard to the kid the Kitten signed at Tennessee:
It is commendable when a coach gives a recruit with a troubled past a chance to put the past behind them and turn their life around. I think many of them take advantage of the opportunity and go on to live productive lives.
However there are the handfull in many programs (and Lord knows that we have had some in ours) that do not take advantage of it as an opportunity to change thier lives and regress into their self destructive behavior. They make the school look bad for giving them the opportunity and they make themselves look bad too.
It is a shame that their behavior drives college programs to be gun shy about taking kids in the future that might use the opportunity to change their lives. I do not know if it is too late for a kid to change by the time he is 18 or not. I used to think anyone could change if they put their mind to it, but I have seen kids that really put the screws to their schools and coaches with their behavior.
Maybe they are not worth the risk anymore. Anyone care to offer their opinions?
whitx2
May 8th, 2009
10:34 am
m
What was the score of GT’s bowl game last year? Did GT play one of those SEC patsies? As much as you bring up the bama,utah game, we should start calling you the Babbling Wreck from UTE-TECH.
CT_Jacket
May 8th, 2009
10:35 am
You don’t get to be AG of a state being stupid. He will only take this to court and spend “millions of taxpayer dollars” if he thinks that he can win. Right now, he is trying to get some concessions from the BCS for more money and/or greater access to the BCS bowls. It only helps him politically if he accomplishes something.
In regards to the Utah schedule, there isn’t much that they can do about the conference that they are in. So they try to schedule good BCS schools as much as the BCS schools are willing to play them. (I’m sure that Michigan wasn’t a three win school when the game was contracted.) You also left out that they played good TCU and Oregon State teams.
GeoffDawg
May 8th, 2009
10:42 am
CT_Jacket – you’re right that most state AGs aren’t stupid. You’re wrong though that he only benefits politically if he wins a court case against the BCS or gains significant concessions. If he’s planning on running for Senator or Governor in the next few years, he’s going to want the citizens of Utah thinking of him as somebody who will go to bat for their interests regardless if it’s a losing battle or not. In politics, perception is reality.
Tidefan
May 8th, 2009
10:43 am
Pitbull, Good post and I agree. I have too seen it go both ways with kids with troubled pasts. And I have also seen kids that didn’t have troubled pasts before blow an opportunity that was provided them. But do we just throw them all away or do we try to help them? I realize it is a fine line and taking a chance on a kid could come back and bite you. But I would rather know that I gave a kid a chance to turn his life around than know that I gave him no chance at all.
AJ Arizona
May 8th, 2009
10:44 am
To all the Einstein’s posting here, the problem with the BCS isn’t whether or not there is a playoff system, or whether the bowls are kept intact.
The issue here is the fact that the “BCS is in violation of long established Anti-Trust laws”. It is a cartel, which shuts out 50% of College Football Division 1 schools. Don’t tell us with a straight face that a Duke, Vanderbilt, Iowa State, Cincinatti, Louisville, Rutgers, Washington St, Baylor, etc. are more worthy of the annual automatic multi-million dollar payouts than is a BYU, Utah, TCU, Boise ST. etc..
IT”S ILLEGAL!!
It’s about time somebody brought this to the courts, where it will be slapped down. Don’t be distracted with the “Number!” argument.
That was the distraction in Roy Kramer’s shell game, to get people to argue the irrelevent points instead of the legal ones.
Keep the bowls and rankings as they are. So what. It’s mythical and always has been.
THIS IS NOT THE ISSUE, IT’S ABOUT THE ILLEGAL CORNERING OF THE MARKET, YOU CAN’T DO THIS IS ANY OTHER BUSINESS!
The only exception to the Anti-Trust laws, is Baseball, by an act of Congress.
Get educated you losers and then get a clue or two.
AJ Arizona
Rational Citizen
May 8th, 2009
10:45 am
I’m back this week to once again implore all of you to support the legalization, regulation, and taxation of marijuana. With Gov. Schwarzenneger’s commendable decision to invite debate about the pros and cons and legalization, hopefully this will open the door for other politicians to encourage a rational discussion of its pros and cons.
Alphatiger93
May 8th, 2009
10:47 am
RE: Meyer/Auburn, don’t waste time waiting for apologies. Settle it on the football field. RE: Hood/UT, I wouldn’t have signed this kid either. While I’m a firm believe that everyone deserves a second chance, this kid didn’t shoplift a candy bar from a convenience store. He raped his own cousin. There’s no way to put that genie back in the bottle even if his cousin did write a letter to UT on his behalf.
Left to Right
May 8th, 2009
10:48 am
Tony-
Doesn’t Dooley owe Myer and Auburn an apology? This is probably the last time Myer accepts at face value something reported to him by Pat Dooley.
Gen Neyland
May 8th, 2009
10:48 am
If no rule was broken, no apology is necessary from UM. It was said in the same vein as coaches are known to do from Pee-Wees to the pros. No big deal unless one has thin skin…The Daniel Hood Experiment : Like you TB, I would have offered him up to say, Carson-Newman. Hood was looking to Ole Miss, UT and C-N. Daniel Hood was told by a good friend of his that he should go as far west as possible. To Hood’s credit, he decided to stay close to home, not leave his troubles behind and to face them every waking day. I think he knows the risks of staying nearer to home. Kiffin signing the kid shows me he’ll take a chance in more ways than one. I’ll wager CLK won’t be satisfied with 3 yards and a cloud of dust that 2008 brought Atop Rocky.
My Mom is deceased. I try to live as she taught me to. After all, my life is partly her legacy.
WTF???
May 8th, 2009
10:49 am
Rational Citezen… Go pack your bowl brother. We’re talking about football, not reefer.
Old School
May 8th, 2009
10:49 am
Chris:
Coach Bryant never wore his hat on the show or indoors anywhere, even in the Sugar Bowl-LA Superdome.
Older generation always removed their hats indoors.
Sid
May 8th, 2009
10:51 am
Me thinks not Nuggs!! Paul “Bear” Bryant could have said what he liked but not Sub(Urban)Meyer, the S(hi-)Head !!
Boss Hogg
May 8th, 2009
10:53 am
Chris: Coach Bryant did not wear a hat on his show. He would not wear his hat at the Superdome when the Sugar Bowl moved there. He said his mama taught him to never wear a hat inside.
MonVol
May 8th, 2009
10:53 am
NotJC and St. Nick, I won’t justify what Hood did. It is indefensible. I would ask you two, and anyone else to take a few minutes to read the whole story in the Knoxville papers concentrating on the fact that the victim, his cousin, feels that he has done a good enough job at trying to make amends for his horrific actions that she, again, the victim, felt comfortable in recommending that UT give him a chance.
Maybe this guy is just a tremendously clever career criminal that has fooled his family, his friends, his teachers, his coaches, and everyone else into thinking he’s trying to deserve a second chance. If so, he’s been able to do this for six years without slipping.
Honestly, the guy is lucky another family member didn’t kill him for his actions. Maybe Hood knows this, and maybe these people around him have seen that he is honestly sorry for what he did and is trying to make amends.
Honestly, I don’t care if he ever plays a down for UT. It’s not about that for me, but I’ll grant you that some only want him to play because he can help the team. If he slips, I’ll be the first to say cut him loose and we made a mistake. With everything I’ve read on the subject, especially how he’s been since, and her going to bat for him, I’m open to giving him one chance.
Rational Citizen
May 8th, 2009
10:54 am
WTF: “m, your momma told me she wants a new son for Mothers Day.”
And that’s football-related, how exactly?
murfdawg
May 8th, 2009
10:54 am
I guess the gators are getting better. They have repalced arrogance with smugness. Once Meyer leaves the talent rich state of Florida, he will become a mediocre coach, just like SOS.
Urban Warfare
May 8th, 2009
10:57 am
TideFan…some great posts. Yes, I don’t care for Kiffin or his games, but this is about the kid, not about Kiffin. And I have to agree that Hood does deserve a second chance if in fact Tennessee has done their due diligence and monitors this kid like a hawk. Because of his age at the time and the fact that he may have been overly influenced by the 17 year old, I think are mitigating factors. Also that the victim has approved as well has great bearing on my opinion. It will be Tennesses obligation henceforth to make sure that this kids progress is maintained and that the kid also does some public speaking to others about the situation and try to turn things into a positive.
Rebel Rouser
May 8th, 2009
10:58 am
Urban Meyer and Lane Kiffen are both consumed with their own ego….Urban Meyer for all the success he has had, has been and will continue to be, caught up in his own self importance…..Lane Kiffen on the other hand, hasn’t even won a game yet in the SEC and struts around like he’s god’s gift to football…both have a lot of growing up to do. The Florida fans imulate Meyer in their day to day actions and they way they talk down about other programs….I feel sorry for them…because when they start down everyone and their uncle is going to kick them as hard as they can….In Floridas case its just a total lack of class…in Tennessee’s case, their fans still have time to come together and act like they’ve been their before.
Kendawg
May 8th, 2009
11:03 am
I wonder how the other members of UT’s team will feel about playing alongside a convicted rapist. Many kids keep their noses clean and deserve better.
WTF???
May 8th, 2009
11:04 am
Pothead – Go get a job.
Tide rising
May 8th, 2009
11:05 am
In regards to the kid who committed the crime no one seems to be mentioning that he was with a 17 year old who probably exerted a lot of influence over him. I also really doubt that this kid had a stable family life with a father in the house either. At 13 you are old enough to know the difference between wrong and right but even then there are a lot of extenuating circumstances such as this kids upbringing, probably no father figure around, etc.
I’m all for giving him a 2nd chance since the victim forgave him publicly and there are numerous adults who are vouching for him and stating that he is a changed kid. At 13 there is still plenty of time to change your life around and I agree with the poster who started you are nowhere near a finished product as a complete person at 13. While I think Kiffin is immature, a big mouth, and a poor choice of a coach to lead such a big time football program like Tenn. I won’t criticize him for giving this kid a chance.
This aint Willie Williams. Anybody remember him? He was highly recruited by everyone and then it was leaked that he had been arrested more than 10 times as a teenager for crimes like burglary, theft, etc. This kid was just a bad kid to the core who had been pampered all his life because of his athletic prowess and was given chance after chance. Anyway, Miami accepted him after a meeting with Donna Shalala the school prez who told him if he screwed up once he was gone. Well, he screwed up and got kicked out, when to another school, got kicked out there, and so on.
I do disagree with Tony’s idea that Tenn. shouldn’t have taken him and should have helped him to a lesser program like a mid major. If you think his bad publicity is a problem then all you are doing is shifting the problem to someone else. What sense does that make?
WTF???
May 8th, 2009
11:05 am
Tony, please ban the pothead. If my children were to frequent this site & decided to take up recreational marijuana use I would sue you. He is a liability.
El Camino
May 8th, 2009
11:08 am
THE ANSWER : A University of Alabama Football fan and… a maggot.
=============
THE QUESTION : Name two things that can live off a dead BEAR for over 25 years.
-
RedEyedDawg
May 8th, 2009
11:09 am
Rational Citizen, wanna match?? I got that haze!
Rational Citizen
May 8th, 2009
11:09 am
WTF: obviously you are not a lawyer. As far as getting a job, what type of profession are you in that allows you to sit on your ass all day writing on TB’s blog? I am a graduate student, in law school no less, who has recently finished exams. I have nothing else I need to be doing. Can you say the same?
Please explain which cause of action you would have against TB, the AJC or any other entity you claim you “would sue”.
You got caught being a hypocrite, and now you want to whine about it. WTF is that about?
shane#1
May 8th, 2009
11:11 am
1- Meyer doesn’t owe anyone an apology. When you start performing these publicity stunts you set yourslf up to be lampooned. 2-The Utah AG doesn’t care how the court case turns out. He is running for office so he just wants to be sre the papers spell his name right. 3-I don’t care. Any touching story today becomes an instant movie of the week. 4- Bear did a Mothers Day commercial for the phone company once using the closing line from his show. His Mom had passed away shortly before the ad was filmed. Bear stared into the camera and growled “call your Momma!” Then he spoke off the cuff and said “I wish I could call Mine.” The ad company left the ad lib in and it made the commercial.
WheredidtheOlinego
May 8th, 2009
11:13 am
Tony, shouldn’t you at least own a victory over a team before you say anything about them? Just askin’, aight!
Gator Growl
May 8th, 2009
11:16 am
Rebel Rouser…you admonished Florida fans and call them classless because you say they talk down other programs but what did you just do??!! Better go look in that mirror and practice what you preach, son.
Tide rising
May 8th, 2009
11:17 am
Jesus Christ
“And I go by Jesus Christ because there are too many people on this and every other blog who profess to know what “God” wants. I’m silently mocking them and every other moron who thinks that their religion is the right religion.”
Sounds like you’re one of those people that for whatever reason just has a real problem with religion and people who believe in God? Why? With the exception of a few posts last Friday I don’t see a lot of posters who get on here and start preaching on a sports blog so I don’t understand why you feel the need to mock people’s religion. Sure, some people are will quote that the bible teaches forgiveness and that the UT recruit has and should be forgiven but I don’t think anyone on here has a real problem with that other than maybe you.
If someone thinks their religion is the “right” religion so what. Let them think that way and be on your merry way.
Lets leave religion in general out of the sports blog for the day but lets also leave the religion hating out as well. Agreed?
Slow Freddie
May 8th, 2009
11:19 am
AJ Arizone, all the football conferences have the same opportunity to form their own “BCS” if they like and have their own bowls and their own MNC. The NCAA doesn’t run the bowls or the BCS. The specific conferences that got together and set up their BCS did so because they thought it would increase the payouts (it did) and they would consider the team that won the BCS their version of a MNC. You sound like a typical liberal. You don’t want equal opportunity. You want equal results, just like those anal orifices in the White House.
Bamafan
May 8th, 2009
11:20 am
I really hope the kid that UT signed does fly right and goes on to have a good life. As for the Utah
guy trying to make a name for himself, Bama really messed things up losing to the Utes and if Bama
had played like they wanted to play the game, we would not be having this discussion. Bear Bryant
was the best coach ever in college football and Alabama was lucky to have him for 25 years as a coach. All the moms have a nice day on sunday and a BIG ROLL TIDE TO MY MOM!!
Tide rising
May 8th, 2009
11:25 am
El Camino,
The people that get the most mileage out of the Bear are usually fans of another school like yourself who always harp about Bama fans “living in the past”. We moved on 26 years ago when Bear died. I suggest you do the same. Funny but I, like most Bama fans would rather talk about Saban, the upcoming season, basically the future then talk about games played 30 something years ago.
One would have to be in the 40s pretty much to even remember the Bear so about half the Bama fan base doesn’t even have vivid memories of the man. Get over it and move on my friend. We already did.
FRED
May 8th, 2009
11:28 am
I ALWAYS TREATED MY MOMMA LIKE A QUEEN. NOW SHE IS GONE AND I NEVER HAVE TO LOOK BACK AND WISH THAT I HAD. LET ME TELL YOU YOUNG ONES YOU ONLY GOT ONE MOMMA TREAT HER RIGHT AND YOU WILL NEVER HAVE A RESTLESS NIGHT.
Miles
May 8th, 2009
11:29 am
Kiffin made a HUGE mistake signing the rapist!
gatordawg
May 8th, 2009
11:32 am
At least UF never cancelled to play FSU auburn fans
WTF???
May 8th, 2009
11:37 am
You dumbass, if someone can sue Home Depot because a customer put superglue on the toilet seat & some idiot got his nut sack secured to the throne I believe I can sue AJC for my kids smoking pot because losers like you posting Pro-Marijuana jargon on their site.
And obviously you are not a lawyer either, considering you just finished taking exams. Good luck passing the Bar exam, pot head.
GT
May 8th, 2009
11:38 am
What is with all these empty apologies demanded by people? We would get a lot farther in this world if we didn’t window dress everything. If that coach wants to ride around in a limo that’s his business. Dooley should have checked his sources before taking it into a q & a session, but these things happen all the time. You ever heard a reporter apology about anything? And if they have it was half hearted. They are like the prosecutor that sends one of those rape suspects up the river only to find out five years later the DNA doesn’t match and then refuses to apologize because he knows the public loves seeing an uppity kind of person get what they think is coming to him, whether he desires it or not. Coaches need to start playing the same game and play to their audience and stop worrying about some mousey reporter. It would stop a lot of what we are seeing in this sensational news reporting and let us get back to xs and os. This poor kid at Tennessee needs to grow a couple too. I often thought how great it would have been when they asked Clinton about having sex in the Whitehouse if he had thrown it right back in their face and started describing the cigar scene like he was in a locker room and how great it was. Reporters ask questions all the time contemplating they won’t be answered or answered honestly. It would put some of them out of business if they started getting straight answers and make a lot of lives better for it.
Saint Nick
May 8th, 2009
11:40 am
Tide Rising,
I agree 200% with that!!!! The people who bring up Bryant are the fans of other schools that are jealous that he didn’t coach at their school!!! It doesn’t which school in the ACC, SEC or whatever else conference, if he won 6 NC at your school, YOU WOULD BE PIMPING HIM AND GETTING AS MUCH MILEAGE AS YOU COULD OFF HIS NAME!!!!!!
Tide's Levi's Rising
May 8th, 2009
11:43 am
Tide Rising –
Go crawl back on your sister and crush her cigarettes, you ignorant, racist, bed-wetting piece of trash.
ROLL, INBREEDS!
Doc 54
May 8th, 2009
11:45 am
AJ Arizona:
While you do make a good point about the legal issues involved, the other issue is using tax dollars to file a lawsuit which will position the Utah AG for a political run. This is shaping up to be like the DA who prosecuted the Duke lacrosse players on flimsy evidence in order to stir public opinion and assist his reelection campaign. Utah has many for pressing issues for its AG to be addressing, especially when tax dollars are being seized by force from the citizens to pay for this action.
Rational Citizen
May 8th, 2009
11:47 am
Oh, WTF. You still haven’t explained which cause of action you could bring against anybody as a result of your horrible parenting skills causing your children to resort to drug use. You also haven’t told us what minimum-wage job you have, if you have one at all, that allows you sit on a computer and write moronic comments on this blog.
And when did I ever say that I smoked marijuana? The only thing I’ve ever said is that America needs to re-think its outdated prohibition laws on marijuana. Assume much?
WTF???
May 8th, 2009
11:47 am
Well, the most important time of my workday has arrived. Where should I go for lunch? Citizen, meet me at the Micky D’s & we’ll burn one.
You know, for a pot head you sure are high strung. No wake & bake this morning?
MegaT
May 8th, 2009
11:49 am
Kiffen made a mistake in calling Urban a cheater, Urban took offense and Slive reprimanded him for it. Kiffin did the right thing and apologized for it. Now, Urban spouts off about a couple of schools and Slive is silent and people seem to think that Urban did nothing wrong. Whatever happened to Slives “we don’t attack each other” philosophy? Seems to me that even though Urban’s words were not as serious as Kiffins, they were still out of bounds (according to Slive’s mentality). Personally, I don’t have a real problem with it. My problem is that Slive has a double standard! I say “thanks for the TV contract, now it’s time for you to move back to Yankee land.
As for Hood, it’s a touch issue to call. I am siding with the victim. She was the one wronged. But since she has forgiven him and has written a letter on his behalf to UT, I’ll hold my judgment. He has paid his dues according to the court system and the victim is satisfied with it. However, if the young man slips us in any way, Kiffin had better release him asap. And one more things, why don’t we give the victim a free education as well? That would be a pretty good jesture!
WTF???
May 8th, 2009
11:50 am
Why would you advocate for the legalization of marijuana if you don’t smoke it? As far as my profession? I guess you could say I’m a bit of an analyst. I’m not going to go into detail, as my superiors may stumble their way upon this web page & figure out how much company time I’ve been wasting.
Vols_1
May 8th, 2009
11:51 am
The guideline that Slive established several years ago is that coaches aren’t supposed to comment on other programs. To say the NCAA should investigate Auburn isn’t that much different than what Kiffin said regarding Florida. Of course, UF is the cash cow in the conference and are untouchable. The good news is that we won’t have to see yet another press conference with Urban crying and blubbering like a baby.
Tide rising
May 8th, 2009
11:51 am
Tide’s Levi’s Rising,
Thanks for adding a new level of intellectual discourse to the blog. Do you have any more posts to add that are equally as witty and intelligent as your last post?
Gene
May 8th, 2009
11:51 am
There were times when “Bear” had something in the Coke bottle besides Coke that caused him to become incoherent–particularly after that 17-16 loss to Auburn.
WTF???
May 8th, 2009
11:51 am
I’m going for fajitas. Later pothead
Tide rising
May 8th, 2009
11:56 am
The Auburn limo? Who cares? I’m an Alabama fan and it doesn’t bother me one iota. Good for Auburn if they came up with a somewhat original idea even if some of us think its tacky or that it sends the wrong message.
Urban just thinks maybe its a bit much and that the NCAA should probably stop it. That’s his opinion and the NCAA may or may not agree with him on the limo and hummer deal. Anyway, aint no biggie.
Rational Citizen
May 8th, 2009
11:57 am
WTF: and by analyst you mean you are unemployed and sit around all day analyzing the posts on this blog.
Old School
May 8th, 2009
11:58 am
Gene
Coach Bryant was 19-6 vs “the cow college”.
Chris
May 8th, 2009
11:58 am
WTF? You would sue Tony and the AJC if your kids decided to take up recreational marijuana? Like your children might read the rational citizen and think ‘aw yeah, that sounds great, let’s go down to MLK blvd right now’? That’s hilarious.
Tony presented Friday as a forum to rant on any subject. Last Friday the guy posted a measured opinion as to why pot should be considered for legalization,,,nothing more. Alcohol and tobacco are far more dangerous to an individual’s health and society in general. There are hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars tied up in misdemeanor court cases. If a kid fails a drug test, the talking heads in sports media vent with the same moral outrage as if the kid had been involved with a far more dangerous street drug such as cocaine.
It’s most maddening that it’s not even open to a credible discussion. Is it because there’s some 1960’s stigma attached to it,,the whole ‘down with the man’ sentiment?
Tide rising
May 8th, 2009
11:59 am
Gene,
Bear did like his bourbon on occasion but he was by no means a drunken alcoholic. As for the mumbling and bumbling I’m old enough to remember those shows and the golden flake and coke and all that. He just seemed to mumble no matter what the older he got. To us bama fans though we like to think of more as a low growl than a mumble.
jonnyboy007
May 8th, 2009
12:06 pm
Only when you apologize for what you and the AJC calls journalism.
When will you people of the SEC learn that ALL of the coaches are the same. It’s like the pot calling the kettle black. SEC= See Everyone Cheats.