Spurrier slams Columbia writer

Because the desk guys, the guys on other beats and the guys operating the press had all been laid off?

 

Isn't it possible Spurrier was just heated at Morris for writing this column that ran a week ago today?

http://www.thestate.com/2011/10/05/1997267/morris-in-the-end-spurrier-coached.html

Why else would he call out the writer several months after the fact?

 

My first reaction was sympathy for Spurrier. Then I noticed this column was written in March -- March! -- and we're supposed to believe that on the day he kicked his quarterback off the team (again) that this seven-month-old column -- and not the fact that his QB's career just ended in a stupid way -- is what's weighing on him.

Nope. As much as I like to see coaches stand up to reporters who do unethical things, this is not an example. This is simply a coach trying to deflect from the real story of the day.

 

Without my going through and actually reading stories written this week in SC, did anyone suggest in print (er, writing) that Spurrier was deflecting because of the QB?

 

Well, not local, but Tony Barnhart does:

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/story/15725218/spurriers-ban-of-writer-after-axing-garcia-fails-smell-test

 

I might have missed it linked on this thread, but I believe this is the column

http://www.thestate.com/2011/03/27/1752773/time-for-usc-fans-to-support-horn.html

EDIT: linked the wrong one at first.

 

Couple of things:

1.) I was surprised The State didn't have an opinion piece on this. I didn't really expect Morris to write something, but I was surprised an editorial or column wasn't written on the Opinions page.
2.) Loved Bianchi's take, but I also like most of what Bianch writes. I did not like this line: "My stance has always been that it’s part of my job to get under the skin of coaches." Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think that's true. I think it's a sports columnist's job to tell stories and offer strong opinion columns. Ticking off coaches shouldn't be part of the job. If it's a byproduct, that's fine. But part of the job? I don't think so.
3.) The only paper to do an opinion piece in S.C., to my knowledge, was the (Charleston) Post and Courier. Here's Gene Sapakoff's piece. http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2011/oct/12/spurriers-rant-cant-mask-problemsgene-header-here/
4.) Not surprisingly, South Carolina fans are ripping Morris left and right and defending Spurrier. Morris' graduation from Clemson (If that's true; I have no idea -- plus, I don't think that has any bearing on what Morris writes) and an assortment of other stuff is all over story comments and message boards. In the end, the media can chastise Spurrier, but he's going to come up smelling like a rose in Columbia.

 

I can tell you with absolutely certainty that Morris did not attend Clemson. As for the other stuff...when I was in south carolina, a person emailed in saying we should investigate whether the Garcia family had green cards or were in the country illegally, so take that into account when you mention gamecock fan boards.

 

Cool, I didn't know if Morris went to Clemson. I didn't think it mattered in the first place. And yes, I'm well aware there are idiots on message boards and story comments. I'm not supporting what fans are saying on the board; I'm only saying that the vast majority of South Carolina fans support Spurrier in this whole debacle. The only people mad at Spurrier are journalists.

 

If there has ever been a group of college sports fans that supported a reporter over a coach, there surely hasn't been one in the 21st century.

Also, we have a lot of people here who have spent time as college beat writers in the Internet age. Have any of you NOT been accused of being a graduate of the rival school?

 

I sometimes got crap because I'd report negative (as in, bad news) things or write critical columns of Colorado State from fans, but never players or coaches.

The main Colorado State reporters from different dailies in CO are graduates of CU-Boulder, but only one receives any flak for it, as far as I could tell.