TV overstepping boundaries in college athletics
The annual college football coaching carousel is under way. The Speaking Specialists will be presenting a social and new media program for college coaches at the American Football Conference Association next week and among the topics that will certainly arise is the increasing role of bloggers, commentators and websites into the coaching selection process.
The growth of the media over the last 11 years since we first presented a program for the AFCA has seen more "reporters" and "commentators" take an active role in expressing their views on college sports at the sacrifice of actually reporting what is going on.
In the past, the media was generally content to gather and sort out facts regarding the hirings and firings of college football coaches, leaving the speculation to a select group of columnists and "expert" commentators.
But the line between actual reporting and offering opinions has been harder to distinguish. This gray area has been particularly noticeable on the national level where outlets such as ESPN have tremendous reach and often-times influence on decisions that are made in college athletic departments.
Recently former NFL player and current ESPN analyst Mark May took time out from a discussion of the Michigan coaching situation to look directly into the camera and suggest -- a more accurate description would be order -- Pitt Athletic Director Steve Pederson to hire recently fired Wolverine Coach Rich Rodriguez. "Listen and listen good," May said, looking directly into the camera. "You botched up the firing of Dave Wannstedt,...Listen to what I am telling you. Rich Rodriguez is available. If you want to right the ship, you pick up the phone,call his wife, Rita, you bring Rich in, you give him an interview, and you hire him within the next 24 hours."
Lou Holtz, sitting next to May, was even surprised -- and that takes alot to get the former coach surprised. He questioned whether May was serving as agent and consultant to athletic directors.
May has every right to express an opinion, particularly as an alum. What he doesn't have the right to do is use his ESPN pulpit to lobby on someone's behalf to be hired. That is the kind of stuff that belongs in a personal phone call, text message or email to the Pitt athletic department. It is doubtful Pederson would make a move based solely on May's comments but it will likely generate more chatter because of the power of ESPN.
Viewers and readers are having a more difficult time distinguishing the authenticity of comments in a world of blogs, posts, tweets and text messages. Someone catching only a portion of May's outburst might think it was going to happen or it was the position of other Pitt alumni, ESPN or other former players.
Stick to analyzing the games or moves after they are made. That is what journalism is about. Leave the lobbying to someone else, at least publicly.
The growth of the media over the last 11 years since we first presented a program for the AFCA has seen more "reporters" and "commentators" take an active role in expressing their views on college sports at the sacrifice of actually reporting what is going on.
In the past, the media was generally content to gather and sort out facts regarding the hirings and firings of college football coaches, leaving the speculation to a select group of columnists and "expert" commentators.
But the line between actual reporting and offering opinions has been harder to distinguish. This gray area has been particularly noticeable on the national level where outlets such as ESPN have tremendous reach and often-times influence on decisions that are made in college athletic departments.
Recently former NFL player and current ESPN analyst Mark May took time out from a discussion of the Michigan coaching situation to look directly into the camera and suggest -- a more accurate description would be order -- Pitt Athletic Director Steve Pederson to hire recently fired Wolverine Coach Rich Rodriguez. "Listen and listen good," May said, looking directly into the camera. "You botched up the firing of Dave Wannstedt,...Listen to what I am telling you. Rich Rodriguez is available. If you want to right the ship, you pick up the phone,call his wife, Rita, you bring Rich in, you give him an interview, and you hire him within the next 24 hours."
Lou Holtz, sitting next to May, was even surprised -- and that takes alot to get the former coach surprised. He questioned whether May was serving as agent and consultant to athletic directors.
May has every right to express an opinion, particularly as an alum. What he doesn't have the right to do is use his ESPN pulpit to lobby on someone's behalf to be hired. That is the kind of stuff that belongs in a personal phone call, text message or email to the Pitt athletic department. It is doubtful Pederson would make a move based solely on May's comments but it will likely generate more chatter because of the power of ESPN.
Viewers and readers are having a more difficult time distinguishing the authenticity of comments in a world of blogs, posts, tweets and text messages. Someone catching only a portion of May's outburst might think it was going to happen or it was the position of other Pitt alumni, ESPN or other former players.
Stick to analyzing the games or moves after they are made. That is what journalism is about. Leave the lobbying to someone else, at least publicly.
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