Say What?
Cornhuskers learn by tweet that their coach was fired
When Nebraska athletics director Shawn Eichorst fired head football coach Bo Pelini, the players had already left campus for the holiday season. So Eichhorst delivered the news to them by an e-mail letter that began: “Dear Student Athlete.” This process did not set well with some of the players. Josh Mitchell, senior cornerback and a starter, tweeted: “Bro, U sent us an email to tell us you fired our coach. . . WHAT!!??”
Darnell Dockett tweets from the jury box
Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Darnell Dockett sent out a series of tweets while serving in the jury box. One sample from ddocket: “It’s hard for me to sit in jury duty, and make decisions and give my opinions for some one’s actions. It’s crazy to see how this system works.” Another tweet from the big Cardinal: “I wonder if they know I’m tweeting? Oh well, they shouldn’t have selected me.”
Dear Darnell: The system might work a little better if jurors like yourself took their civic duty seriously.
UAB gives up football as too costly
Stating that its football program’s operating budget of $30 million requires UAB to subsidize it with $20 million, the Birmingham, Ala., school announced it will discontinue the sport at the end of this season. UAB is the first major-college football program since Pacific in 1955 to shut down. But there are expected to be more casualties with the Power Five conferences gaining more power and dominance over the smaller programs. The Blazers, 6-6 in the final season, were told the news during a team meeting. Many players broke out in tears.
Police protest the Rams’ protesters
The St. Louis Police Officers Association vigorously protested a protest gesture by five St. Louis Rams players, who entered the field for Sunday’s game against Oakland with arms raised in a “Don’t Shoot” pose. This was their way of protesting the refusal of a grand jury in nearby Ferguson to indict an officer for the killing of black teenager Michael Brown. The five protesters, all pass receivers, were Jared Cook, Tavon Austin, Kenny Britt, Stedman Bailey and Chris Givens. St. Louis Police Chief Jon Belmar sent an e-mail to his staff saying the Rams’ chief operating officer, Kevin Demoff, called him Monday morning “to apologize to our department on behalf of the Rams for the ‘Hands Up’ gesture.” But Demoff responded that he had not apologized for anything the players did. Coach Jeff Fisher said the Rams Five will not be fined for “exercising their right of free speech.”
Eagles say Cowboys’ O-line is ‘OK, not great’
Philadelphia Eagles nose tackle Bennie Logan provided bulletin-board motivation for the Dallas Cowboys by denigrating their highly praised offensive line, in advance of their Thanksgiving Day game. “They’re OK,” he said. “I don’t really know what’s great about them. . . . The running back’s having a good year running, but I don’t see anything spectacular about them.” He backed up his talk when the Eagles won 33-10 and limited star runner DeMarco Murray to season-worst 73 yards. The Eagles especially picked on left guard Ronald Leary as they sacked QB Tony Romo four times. In the locker room after the game, Dallas receiver Dez Bryant had a swollen lip and said the Eagles “were being kinda cheap,” and ‘I promise you we will be ready for the second go-around.”
Belichick, Kraft on witness list for Hernandez trial
No football coach is more distraction-phobic than Bill Belichick, but the New England Patriots coach and the team’s owner, Robert Kraft, face what would be just about the ultimate in distraction, being summoned to testify in the murder trial of one of their former players, this being Aaron Hernandez. Not that their court appearance is necessarily going to happen. They were among a list of more than 300 names submitted by prosecutors as possible witnesses in the upcoming trial.