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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Maybe the SEC should return to the days of the "Sky Writers Tour." Back then, you didn't have to worry about a coach not showing up for preseason football media opportunities.
Until the mid-1980s, media throughout the Southeast boarded a jet and went from one SEC campus to another. At each stop, they would interview coaches and players, then file a story.
The current setup doesn't take as long or cost as much money. And although it's not as much fun, it's more efficient - unless you want a face-to-face meeting with Tennessee football coach Phillip Fulmer.
Fulmer won't make his scheduled appearance here Thursday. He will make a token appearance via teleconference, which should make for one of sports journalism's truly electrifying moments. After all, the guy doesn't exactly light up a press conference in person.
I wish I could tell you why Fulmer isn't attending. Unfortunately, my lawyer hasn't returned my call.
UT athletic director Mike Hamilton, university president John Petersen, and Fulmer have had the benefit of meeting with attorneys. Their conclusion: It's not in the coach's or the university's best interest for Fulmer to attend.
I know what you're thinking: It's not in Fulmer's best interest to play Georgia in Athens this year, but he's still going. Isn't he?
Staying clear of Birmingham isn't a safety issue. UT officials aren't worried about Fulmer being assaulted by Alabama fans, who now have another reason to hate the coach so many of them believe is responsible for Alabama being on NCAA probation. Instead, school officials are concerned about Fulmer being subpoenaed in conjunction with one of the 5,000 or so lawsuits that have been spawned by Alabama's creative football recruiting. The NCAA shares their concern.
Fulmer, who helped the NCAA make its case against Alabama, is an informant. And when your investigative force isn't any bigger than the NCAA's, you dearly need informants.
So the NCAA is willing to go to court to protect the right of its coaches to say whatever they choose about another school or coach with anonymity and without fear of reprisal. And you wonder why we need so many lawyers?
The average fan who doesn't have time to consult his lawyer will see all this quite differently. He will turn a deaf ear to the legalese, see a cowardly coach, and wonder whatever happened to the Volunteer State. Davy Crockett, make way for Phillip Fulmer.
If old Davy had consulted his attorneys about heading West, they would have advised him not to get within 500 miles of the Alamo. And you would have never heard the song about "the man who knew no fear."
Without benefit of legal counsel, the average fan will see a million-dollar coach running scared and charge that the man who preaches, "Pound the rock" would prefer to hide under one.
Think that if you want. As for me, I've got no opinion until my attorney calls back.
Until the mid-1980s, media throughout the Southeast boarded a jet and went from one SEC campus to another. At each stop, they would interview coaches and players, then file a story.
The current setup doesn't take as long or cost as much money. And although it's not as much fun, it's more efficient - unless you want a face-to-face meeting with Tennessee football coach Phillip Fulmer.
Fulmer won't make his scheduled appearance here Thursday. He will make a token appearance via teleconference, which should make for one of sports journalism's truly electrifying moments. After all, the guy doesn't exactly light up a press conference in person.
I wish I could tell you why Fulmer isn't attending. Unfortunately, my lawyer hasn't returned my call.
UT athletic director Mike Hamilton, university president John Petersen, and Fulmer have had the benefit of meeting with attorneys. Their conclusion: It's not in the coach's or the university's best interest for Fulmer to attend.
I know what you're thinking: It's not in Fulmer's best interest to play Georgia in Athens this year, but he's still going. Isn't he?
Staying clear of Birmingham isn't a safety issue. UT officials aren't worried about Fulmer being assaulted by Alabama fans, who now have another reason to hate the coach so many of them believe is responsible for Alabama being on NCAA probation. Instead, school officials are concerned about Fulmer being subpoenaed in conjunction with one of the 5,000 or so lawsuits that have been spawned by Alabama's creative football recruiting. The NCAA shares their concern.
Fulmer, who helped the NCAA make its case against Alabama, is an informant. And when your investigative force isn't any bigger than the NCAA's, you dearly need informants.
So the NCAA is willing to go to court to protect the right of its coaches to say whatever they choose about another school or coach with anonymity and without fear of reprisal. And you wonder why we need so many lawyers?
The average fan who doesn't have time to consult his lawyer will see all this quite differently. He will turn a deaf ear to the legalese, see a cowardly coach, and wonder whatever happened to the Volunteer State. Davy Crockett, make way for Phillip Fulmer.
If old Davy had consulted his attorneys about heading West, they would have advised him not to get within 500 miles of the Alamo. And you would have never heard the song about "the man who knew no fear."
Without benefit of legal counsel, the average fan will see a million-dollar coach running scared and charge that the man who preaches, "Pound the rock" would prefer to hide under one.
Think that if you want. As for me, I've got no opinion until my attorney calls back.
lol:
