Another Flattering Article From "Our" Beatwriter (And Bammer Grad)

AUChizad · « **on:** March 27, 2011, 10:43:43 AM »

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/03/post_204.html

Quote

Column: Chizik's silence does disservice to departing players

Published: Saturday, March 26, 2011, 2:17 PM Updated: Saturday, March 26, 2011, 3:45 PM
By Evan Woodbery/Auburn Bureau, The Birmingham News, Press-Register, and The Huntsville Times

Four players on Auburn's squad last year are no longer listed on the spring roster.
But they're not the four players accused of armed robbery.

No, receivers Derek Winter and Philip Pierre-Louis, offensive lineman Andre Harris and tight end Robert Cooper have moved on for more mundane reasons, part of the normal attrition of college football. But Auburn coach Gene Chizik has refused to even mention their names or acknowledge their departure.

Gene Chizik coaches during practice Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium (Leffie Dailey, Auburn).
Asked Friday whether those players were no longer on the team, Chizik declined to address any individual situation, saying, "We hold our guys to a certain standard. If you don't see them out there, that's not where they're at right now."

Winter has a degree and is moving on with a promising work career. Pierre-Louis and Cooper have battled serious injuries. Harris is likely leaving football or moving to a lower-division program more suited to his talent.

Why couldn't Chizik say that? Or just confirm they're not with the team?
Chizik's quest for secrecy often overrides common sense and makes him look like a bad guy even when he's not trying to be.

To declare those departing players persona non grata essentially lumps players who have done nothing wrong with those who are accused of armed robbery. It also belies the notion of "family" when the many players who don't make it to the finish line of their college career are treated like outcasts in comments to the media.

Of course, I don't think for a moment that Chizik really feels that way. But follow-up questions by more than one reporter gave Chizik a chance to clarify the status of the missing players -- or, barring that, at least mention their names. He chose not to.

That creates a perception that isn't fair to the players, and probably doesn't reflect the reality at Auburn. As spokesman for the program, that responsibility falls on Chizik.

Is it possible that Chizik is tired of having his words twisted so that mountains are made out of molehills? I know I am. Woodberry answers his own question when "our" own beatwriter even criticizes Chizik for not saying enough. He's damned if he does, damned if he doesn't.

Does Saban get this kind of criticism from the bama beatwriter? Does the bama media even dare ask Saban the same question twice? Does the bama media dare ask about players dismissed from the team, or more importantly, those that aren't dismissed from the team, at all?

JR4AU · « **Reply #1 on:** March 27, 2011, 11:20:03 AM »

Media only wants a comment so that the Fbombs of the world can scream "LIAR" to whatever you say, or spin it to mean "they got while the getting was good". Whatever amount of shit that is spewed for silence, it's less, and less damaging than the shit they can twist out of whatever is said about it. Articles like this are baiting for fodder. Chiz isn't that stupid. You can only get so much mileage out of "why won't he say anything". In the off-season, you can twist and spin any statements he issues for weeks. Silence is golden.

The Prowler · « **Reply #2 on:** March 27, 2011, 03:57:34 PM »

I'm hoping that someone knew that woodbammer would "out himself" with basically a hate piece on Coach Chizik.

GH2001 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 28, 2011, 09:31:18 AM »

He's next

djsimp · « **Reply #4 on:** March 28, 2011, 09:34:50 AM »

I just don't understand how he has made it this long being an Auburn columnist.

No Huddle · « **Reply #5 on:** March 28, 2011, 09:41:45 AM »

N2Y will be on him in a second. He does not stand a chance.

GH2001 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 28, 2011, 09:42:26 AM »

Quote from: djsimp41 on March 28, 2011, 09:34:50 AM

I just understand how he has made it this long being an Auburn columnist.

You do?

djsimp · « **Reply #7 on:** March 28, 2011, 10:04:40 AM »

Quote from: GH2001 on March 28, 2011, 09:42:26 AM

You do?

whoops.....fixt.

No Huddle · « **Reply #8 on:** March 28, 2011, 11:11:35 AM »

Another target for the N2Y group.

http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2011/03/28/1515531/guerry-clegg-bama-auburn-football.html

Snaggletiger · « **Reply #9 on:** March 28, 2011, 11:47:20 AM »

Screw Woodberry...however, I have to ask the same questions. If someone like Winter has his degree and doesn't see a future in football and would rather move on...why not comment on him and prop the guy up, thank him for his contributions etc.?

The Prowler · « **Reply #10 on:** March 28, 2011, 11:48:52 AM »

Quote from: No Huddle on March 28, 2011, 11:11:35 AM

Another target for the N2Y group.

http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2011/03/28/1515531/guerry-clegg-bama-auburn-football.html

That's just a bammer beatwriter giving his opinion, albeit wrong and stupid, but it's his opinion.

Buzz Killington · « **Reply #11 on:** March 28, 2011, 11:49:49 AM »

I guess it is hard to really comb for good stories when you can't actually drive to campus anymore.

No Huddle · « **Reply #12 on:** March 28, 2011, 12:30:53 PM »

Quote from: The Prowler on March 28, 2011, 11:48:52 AM

That's just a bammer beatwriter giving his opinion, albeit wrong and stupid, but it's his opinion.

Prowler have you heard what is going on with those guys the writer mentioned? Not trying to start anything just asking if you knew.

The Prowler · « **Reply #13 on:** March 28, 2011, 12:56:20 PM »

Quote from: No Huddle on March 28, 2011, 12:30:53 PM

Prowler have you heard what is going on with those guys the writer mentioned? Not trying to start anything just asking if you knew.

No idea, I'm guessing jail time for the three that entered the house.

No Huddle · « **Reply #14 on:** March 28, 2011, 01:01:18 PM »

Quote from: The Prowler on March 28, 2011, 12:56:20 PM

No idea, I'm guessing jail time for the three that entered the house.

Maybe I did not read the right article but I thought this guy was talking about four other guys not on the team.

Snaggletiger · « **Reply #15 on:** March 28, 2011, 01:11:40 PM »

Quote from: No Huddle on March 28, 2011, 01:01:18 PM

Maybe I did not read the right article but I thought this guy was talking about four other guys not on the team.

That's what it was about. I think Winter is just moving on with his degree but don't know anything about the others. Phlippe Pier Jean Claude Van Louis had a ton of promise coming in but blew out his knee on the opening kickoff of the season in 09' and really hasn't contributed since then.

The Prowler · « **Reply #16 on:** March 28, 2011, 01:18:12 PM »

Quote from: No Huddle on March 28, 2011, 01:01:18 PM

Maybe I did not read the right article but I thought this guy was talking about four other guys not on the team.

Yeah, you misread it. He's talking about the "Trailer Park Bandits" and Eric Smith's Domestic Violence charge. All five have been kicked off the team.

JR4AU · « **Reply #17 on:** March 28, 2011, 01:47:56 PM »

Quote from: No Huddle on March 28, 2011, 01:01:18 PM

Maybe I did not read the right article but I thought this guy was talking about four other guys not on the team.

Winter, got degree, had nice job/internship lined up. Harris, lazy POS that was a project anyway. Frechy, just never fit in the offense, injury he apparently didnt rcover well from. I cant recall the 4th.

djsimp · « **Reply #18 on:** March 28, 2011, 01:55:20 PM »

Quote from: JR4AU on March 28, 2011, 01:47:56 PM

Winter, got degree, had nice job/internship lined up. Harris, lazy POS that was a project anyway. Frechy, just never fit in the offense, injury he apparently didnt rcover well from. I cant recall the 4th.

Here, we'll let NH chew on this for a little bit.

http://www.tigersx.com/forum/war_damn_eagle/2011_spring_football_13111.msg183740.html#msg183740

GH2001 · « **Reply #19 on:** March 28, 2011, 02:25:50 PM »

Quote from: The Prowler on March 28, 2011, 11:48:52 AM

That's just a bammer beatwriter giving his opinion, albeit wrong and stupid, but it's his opinion.

Actually, being from Cols and reading this guy growing up, he was always more pro UGA than anything. But for the most part Clegg was usually as objective as they come. He's an op-ed writer so you have to take the bad with the good. Dude has been around forever and won many awards. I like him aside from a couple of things he's written.