CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Last week a reader sent a message about the three freshman football players who were charged with attempted armed robbery.
His point: The story of the 2 a.m. misadventures of these University of Tennessee Volunteers did not deserve the front page. And the headline -- "Orange Crushed" -- was in poor taste.
When it comes to football, particularly UT Big Orange football, fairness goes out the window and the value of the news, one assumes, is based on interceptions and yards returned, not on personal behavior.
For the Southeastern Conference, the season began by hand wrestling over access to news, pictures and other information produced by member schools. At one time it was suggested that fans could be summarily removed from the stadium for taking cell phone photos and sharing them with others. The commissioner of the SEC talks about his premier conference, the removal of "asterisks" and the amount of money that flows to the SEC from lucrative television and Internet contracts.
Griscom is publisher and executive editor of the Chattanooga Times Free-Press. Continue reading at the Chattanooga Times Free-Press.
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Comments » 10
VOLFORLIFE writes:
I know I'm going to get bashed for doing so, but I'm going to have to agree with the message this article conveys. There is more to college football than the x's and o's, and there's more to the college experience than what some young people, maybe especially college athletes, garner from it. I really believe that the actions, or inaction, of this coaching staff from here forward will define it in the minds of us as Vols fans, and in the minds of the general public.
Having said that, let me also state unequivocally that I am completely on board with this coaching staff, and if you cut me I will always bleed orange. I just think there are lessons, as the writer pointed out, that need to be taught by coaches as well as those on the academic side that go far beyond what happens on the practice field or on Saturday afternoons.
Okay, I'm ready. Have at it.
GO VOLS!!!
JUGHEAD
vol98champ writes:
I assume the 2 not ready for prime time robbers are no longer at UT and are back home. Hopefully, they are not treated as heroes, but as examples of how to potentially ruin your life. Freshman year at college is probably one of the most difficult years of life for some. There are so many freedoms to be explored. I skipped freshman classes at UT, but finally graduated with a 3.5 average and made Who's Who at another college. How I wish I had had someone on my but every day up there making me go to class and study.
rockytopatl writes:
They are out on bond and face a court hearing next week. By the terms of their bond, they aren't allowed to leave the state.
mamabob writes:
This guy could have made his point without sounding like a douche.
Volnauburn writes:
I agree with the article and to answer the question @ the end I feel the university and CLK made the right decision to expell 2 of the 3 young men. Go Vols!!!
oldvolsfan writes:
can we expell the referees we had yesterday
tractoronthepole writes:
Why can't the KNS write something with a message or challenge to learn from? Good article, maybe the KNS could lure some of their writers. For KNS its not news without a mugshot.
lahvolman2 writes:
one only has to walk up Cumberland before a game and down it after a game to see all the temptations these young me are faced with every day of the week. Hell, I'm 64 years old and can only imagine what these kids must think when they get to campus. Coaches are not babysitters and can't be expected to follow every step of every 18 year old they have on their team. Not just here, but every university in the country is faced with thr same delima. These issues didn't just start this year or last year or any year. It's big business folks. No more or less than what goes on in corporate America every day. Ours just gets played out on national tv every weekend during the fall and is left to the pundits to either glamorize or condemn,
carlsusanellis#574472 writes:
I would like to see the press be fair in reporting news about the athletic department at UT, so I think the story about Crompton and Lincoln being saved and baptized should get equal space and time in the news paper and TV.
vol4gzus writes:
Didn't hear that . Praise the Lord! I agree would be nice to hear the good news of student/athletes doing the right thing as opposed to always hearing negative info on the Vols. That being said Go VOLS!!! beat the cats!!
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