I’m thankful for Furman Bisher
I delivered these closing remarks at the end of my CBS College Network Show on Tuesday night and wanted to share them with you on Thanksgiving. I added in the note about the great Furman Bisher because I was happy to see his annual “I’m Thankful” column on the editoral pages of this morning’s AJC.
We’ll be back tomorrow with our Fearless Friday Forecast. I am very thankful for all of you and hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your families.
Here we go:
Folks I’ve dedicated all of my professional life—and a big chunk of my personal life—to the sport of college football. I’ve loved it since I went to my first game at the University of Georgia when I was 13 years old. I have never, ever wanted to do anything else for a living other than talk about and write about college football.
But when you cover a story like Cam Newton, you wonder if that love has been misplaced. You wonder if the money has gotten so big and the stakes for winning and losing so high, that coaches, players, parents, fans, and, yes, media have lost sight of what the game is supposed to be.
It’s supposed to be fun, not life and death, and certainly not about shopping players around to the highest bidder. It’s not supposed to be about the back biting that goes on between fans and institutions who are supposed to be adults and are supposed know better.
But every time I cover one of these stories, I try to step back and remember what I’m thankful for in my little world of college football:
**–I’m thankful for Furman Bisher and his “I’m Thankful” column each year. The man can still write circles around all of us.
**–I’m thankful for tailgating. You can’t beat a beautiful Fall afternoon with family and friends on campus. And it’s a lot less stressful than Thanksgiving dinner.
**–I’m thankful for the mascots. From UGA, to Bevo, to Ralphie, to Smokey….to Auburn’s “War Eagle.”
**–I’m thankful when the Ohio State band performs the “Script Ohio.” The first time I saw it in person the hair stood up on my arms. It still does.
**–I’m thankful that I met and got to know Michigan’s Bo Schembechler. He taught me how to sing “The Victors.” Man, I miss that guy.
**–I’m thankful for LSU’s Tiger Stadium on a Saturday night. When LSU is good, like they are now, that place just rocks.
**–I’m thankful for Joe Paterno, Bobby Bowden, Vince Dooley and all the other coaching icons I have had the privilege to know.
**–And finally I am just thankful for the game. While the people who surround it can be flawed, the game itself endures. The game is bigger than us. It is stronger than us.
That is why college football is the greatest game in the world.
Happy Thanksgiving everybody.
Please follow me on Twitter:
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
104 comments Add your comment
Glory Glory
November 25th, 2010
12:44 pm
I’m thankful for nerds to stomp mudholes in.
btgt69
November 25th, 2010
12:45 pm
Tony, I may disagree with some of your columns,, I am sure you would also disagree sometimes with my point of view . SO,we agree to disagree. One thing we do agree upon is the guiding beacon of sports journalism,,, Furman Bisher. Thanks for letting us know his “thankful” column was on the editorial page. Best wishes to you and your family and especially to Furman and his family.
Blackberry Pie
November 25th, 2010
12:49 pm
Future leaders of America(GT) vs Future convicts of America(Thuga)
I am thnkful for the 5-6 mutts and the beatdown GT will serve them.
Go Jackets
Newnan Newton
November 25th, 2010
1:01 pm
another NY Times article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/24/sports/ncaafootball/24newton.html?scp=1&sq=cam%20newton&st=cse
It’s interesting that the NCAA has not requested to see the City of Newnan’s file on the church.
mowreck
November 25th, 2010
1:09 pm
Tony, thanks for all the great articles you have written this year. I’m a GT fan (favorite player, Brent Cunningham), while my daughter attended Tennessee. My cats name “Buzz” my daughters is “Tee”. Another great and TRUE article. They should put all wanta be agents on a kick-off with no pads on defense and footballs players fully dressed on offense and let toe meet leather. Maybe that would straighten them out (put Cams dad as one on defense). Hope you and your family have a GREAT Thanksgiving!
sugarpikegang
November 25th, 2010
1:26 pm
1. I am thankful that I graduated from Georgia Tech.
2. I am thankful that I did not go to the other school in Athens.
3. I am thankful that we can all enjoy the rivalry betwixt them both.
Go Yellow Jackets!
Joe
November 25th, 2010
2:11 pm
Bring up Auburn why? Because they are the reason poeple like Tony B and others question their love for college football. They are bad news for fans. Always seen to be crooked.
lawzoo
November 25th, 2010
2:13 pm
Ever think that love for football is misplaced when love ‘em dawgs and you see ‘em dawgs go to jail in packs? How about if you “wouldn’t blame Coach Spurrier if he walked away from the mess at South Carolina after this season”—–he thens beats ga., shocks Alabama and wins the S.E.C. East?
Beast from the East
November 25th, 2010
2:24 pm
Happy Thanksgiving to all.
GO GATORS!
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2010
2:29 pm
College football is the greatest sports experience in the world.*
*Except for greedy agents, the BCS and its co-conspirators, boosters who break the rules, the NCAA who governs inconsistently, players who accept payments,…and so forth.
Fred
November 25th, 2010
2:38 pm
You nailed it Tony. I also love college football. Every aspect of it. I love the agony when one of my two favorite teams (UGA and OU) is in the crapper like UGA is this year. I love the joy when they are doing great. I love it when an under dog wins. I love it when they don’t. I love the cheerleaders.
I love to argue about which team it better than which team. Which conference is the toughest this year. WHo’s the weakest (Big Easy hands down lol). It’s the only sport I follow.
I follow the Falcons, but I’m not an NFL fan. If the Falcons aren’t playing, I’m not watching. I love the Braves, but if they aren’t playing I’m not watching baseball. But when it come to college football, I’m there baby. I’ll watch every game I possibly can, no matter WHO is playing.
Burgess
November 25th, 2010
2:39 pm
I’m thankful Terrence Moore no longer writes for the AJC.
Fan of the Game
November 25th, 2010
3:04 pm
I am thankful for the parents that I had, I am thankful for the troops that protect us day and day out, I am thankful for all the role models out there in sports that do the right thing, I am thankful for my health, I am thankful for my family and I am thankful for all of you that even though we don’t always agree, we are all Americans that express our selves and stand for what we think is right!
gir know better than you
November 25th, 2010
3:05 pm
and I’m sure Furman is thankful for you, NOT….maybe you will have to as you say MAN UP or LAWYER UP hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
The first person to use “man up” on this blog was referring to Bama playing Ga St on their schedule like the 3 they played last yr, some national champs they are, oh that’s right, I believe I said it
BAMA dude
November 25th, 2010
3:37 pm
The first person to use “man up” on this blog was referring to Bama playing Ga St on their schedule like the 3 they played last yr, some national champs they are, oh that’s right, I believe I said it
They also opened up against Virginia Tech in addition to the SEC schedule, SECCG over #1 ranked UF/Tebow, and BCSCG over Texas. I’d say they earned it.
Tony, can’t share your sentiments regarding Bisher. Being a Bama man, I’m sure you know why. Happy Thanksgiving all!
ARdawg
November 25th, 2010
3:38 pm
Tony is a Gomer
Happy TG Tony
Paddy
November 25th, 2010
4:15 pm
Fred @2:38 Nice post!
Dog Island Gator
November 25th, 2010
4:19 pm
Happy Thanksgiving everyone. College football, just one of my many blessings. Go Gators, Go!
lawzoo
November 25th, 2010
4:21 pm
“Coach Richt has quietly put together a strong offensive line that will put them ahead of Florida in the S.E.C. East”. Carolina? Oh no!
You can’t make this up. Thanks for the laughs Tony.
Tony Geinzer
November 25th, 2010
4:30 pm
I love College Football, too, so much I even made my own pool for 10 out of the Last 11 Years and too, I feel a lot of folks will be happy if Alabama blows out and shuts out Auburn and South Carolina goes to the Sugar Bowl.
SuperB
November 25th, 2010
4:44 pm
I’m also thankful for Furman Bisher– and for you too Tony. You do a great job. I’ve been writing a syndicated column for my company for 43 years, producing “The Original Fearless Forecaster,” weekly since 1968. Furman has always been one the icons I look up to. Thanks to the man from Denton. LH
OkefenokeeDawg
November 25th, 2010
5:38 pm
How to stop Cam Newton’s long runs?
Let an assistant hold a Mac Book just far enough out of reach on the sideline that Cam runs out of bound trying to grab it . . .
jc_atl
November 25th, 2010
6:05 pm
Tony thanks for clarifying your remarks on Newton. There’s a reason you write and I read and not the other way around. Your thoughts on rivalries run amok are well placed. Hope everyone has a fantastic day and weekend. I suspect tomorrow brings an Iron Bowl for the ages.
browndog
November 25th, 2010
6:53 pm
Thanks to all of our military personnel who keep us safe and make it possible for us to enjoy the great game of college football! Happy Thanksgiving to all who serve and may they come home safe.
Paul in RDU
November 25th, 2010
7:19 pm
Tony – Nice column and enjoy your Thanksgiving – Likewise to Mr. Bisher (unfortunately you can’t leave comments on his blog).
Free A.J.
November 25th, 2010
7:58 pm
Amen Tony Barnhart….you and Mr. Bisher give me goose bumps and make me tear up with these columns…..Go Dawgs
Goober
November 25th, 2010
8:37 pm
Tony – you are nothing but class – thanks for your work. War Eagle!
victoria secret
November 25th, 2010
9:51 pm
I’m thankful for my DD’s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1A0NjohCxI&feature=related
The Rest Of The SEC
November 25th, 2010
9:58 pm
I am thankful for Mark Richt.
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2010
9:58 pm
Death to the BCS. Pass it on.
“Alternately brilliant and scary. You will put the book down sweaty, angry and wishing you could do something to change the system.” — Nando DiFino, The Wall Street Journal
“I did not fully appreciate the folly of the BCS until I read Death to the BCS. There is damning material here.” — Michael Rosenberg, Detroit Free Press
Todd Grantham
November 25th, 2010
10:00 pm
I just want to set the record straight, I was giving the choke sign to Aaron Murray.
Wreckmaniac
November 25th, 2010
10:17 pm
Bisher is the Faulkner/Thomas Wolfe/Carl Sandberg/F Scott Fitzgerald of southern sportswriters.
Mike
November 25th, 2010
10:40 pm
I’m thankful for 2 things:
1–This will be Aaron Murray’s last start for Georgia
2–QB phenom leader Christian Lemay will arrive on campus in 35 days!!!
wigman
November 25th, 2010
10:41 pm
I read Furman Bishers column as I always do on Thanksgiving. He is a class act, he and Jim Minter reported with no bias, just facts. Bring back the good days of reporting. The Journal needs to re examine their reporting staff. None are up to standards of the past. I cannot name a single reporter that does not write without bias. Such a shame for a so called major newspaper. In a major market you can do better than we have.
UGA VII
November 25th, 2010
10:43 pm
I am thankful to be on the other side.
I can`t stand the beatdowns anymore. When Kentucky beat us last year it was just too much for a dawg to take. Here we always win and no one wears red panties.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
November 25th, 2010
10:47 pm
See you all at Jordan -Hare West tommorow!! Remember, safety first!.. after AU beats Bama, Bama fans should refrain from punching relatives and small animals..just suck it up and try again next year after Cam leaves for the NFL.
WAR DAMN EAGLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WAR DAMN EAGLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WAR DAMN EAGLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TrishaDishaWarEagle
November 25th, 2010
10:50 pm
P.S
I am thankful for Matt “Matty Ice” Ryan, Coach Smith, And Thomas Dimitroff…3 winning seasons for the Falcons IN A ROW come sunday!!
TrishaDishaWarEagle
November 25th, 2010
10:52 pm
…and the guy who invented shiatsu massage chairs..this thing is better than sex!
wigman
November 25th, 2010
10:56 pm
TrishaDisha, I think I know you.
Ghost of bear bryant
November 25th, 2010
11:04 pm
A tribute to muckraker Furman Bisher after he tried to trash bear bryant and wally butts with a bogus story about them colluding on a football game? Gimme a break.
Furman Bisher has absolutely zero credibility and if he had any journalistic integrity he would have quit the profession long ago after that fictional crap story that he made up about bryant and butts. Shame on you Tony for supporting such a pathetic liar as Furman Bisher,
Ghost of bear bryant
November 25th, 2010
11:09 pm
Trisha,
Very interesting article in the NY Times about how Cecil Newton and his church couldn’t scrape together any money to pay for their church renovations and yet poof! All of a sudden the church came up with the 50k to make the mandated repairs just in time before being closed down. And surprise surprise- the church refused to say where it got the cash from to pay for all these repairs. Where there is smoke there is fire. And if you look at everytime that the FBI has gotten involved in investigations regarding college football the history is that every single time the program ended up on devastating probation- the most recent being USC with 30 lost schollies and a 2 year bowl ban. At least now AU knows what they can look forward to.
wigman
November 25th, 2010
11:15 pm
Ghost of Bear Bryant, your hero was a boozer who died of liver problems. Bisher reported facts, not fiction. Both Wally Butts and Bear Bryant were comrades in crime. I remember this well. I go back that far. Most don’t know what you are referring to, but I do, they were both guilty. Don’t trash Bisher, he is the last great reporter of this era.
Caught Looken
November 25th, 2010
11:33 pm
I enjoy college football too, but i’m REALLY tire of the “College Football is the Best!” line I hear all the time! For the love of God…can’t we all just really enjoy every level without having to have a damn debate! Thank you!
wigman
November 25th, 2010
11:55 pm
Ghost of bear bryant, I am so thankful I do not live in Alabama. You guys deserve all you get. When I fly over your state, for some reason I really get stupid.
Elmo
November 26th, 2010
12:41 am
Thank you Tony for your opinion and hope you and your family have an happy Thanksgiving.
P. Bull Terrier
November 26th, 2010
1:07 am
I’m thankful for the few blog participants who still appreciate a great writer like Furman Bisher.
I’m even more thankful for those who can manage to string together a few intelligent thoughts from time to time (even if they are fans of a different team).
gahillybilly
November 26th, 2010
1:50 am
Why are some people so vicious on these message boards? e.g., Herschel Talker. Good grief. Do unto others as you have them do unto you. Tony, keep up the good work.
THE CATHOLIC HAMMER
November 26th, 2010
7:30 am
Auburn, the dream is finished.
LSU, the Mad Hatter is finally put in his place, by one Bobby Petrino (the best coach in the SEC).
I’m not so sure Oregon survives both Arizona and Oregon State (both could dominate this year’s SEC).
Don’t be surprised if the BCS game is betweem BSU and TCU.
At best, it’s Oregon and BSU.
I’m still praying for a rematch of Alabama and Arkansas in the BCS, which is quite possible.
Gay Blade
November 26th, 2010
7:49 am
Is this the blog still reserved for all of the guys that can’t get a date or find a job and live in their parent’s basement?
Fred
November 26th, 2010
7:57 am
Just a little over 3 hours until kickoff. We have today, tomorrow, next week and then the bowl games until the long yearly drought starts……………
I miss the “good old days” when the bowls were all played by New Years Day. It made for a clean break rather than string us along for a month………
If Georgia beats Tech, I wonder what bowl we’ll get. Probably The Compass bowl. I better watch that Rutgers/Louisville game at 11 to size up our competition if we can pull off a win tomorrow………..