Rogers voices opinion on auto bailout

By Joe McAdory

Got this note Wednesday evening from Mike Rogers’ folks up in Washington regarding the auto finance bill. Figured I’d pass it along.

Congressman Mike Rogers released the following statement today following passage of the Auto Finance Bill in the House.

“While no one wants any company to fail or any person to lose their job, I could not in good faith support this bailout. These proud companies are in dire straits because of their own mistakes and questionable management decisions and need a long-term solution to help them return to prosperity, not the short-term funding included in this legislation.  Better proposals that do not put the taxpayer at risk, or possible bankruptcy reorganization, could have been better options than what passed the House.

Our country is facing increasingly grim economic times. But I do not believe this legislation answered why the Federal Government should bail out these individual companies, while ignoring others that are in the same or worse shape here in East Alabama and across the country,” Rogers said.

The bill, H.R. 7321, passed the House tonight 237 to 170 with one voting present, and is expected to be taken up in the Senate at a later date.

Gipper’s in the lead

By Joe McAdory

After weeks of primaries and polls, the Opelika-Auburn News all-time presidential poll is reaching a conclusion. In this final week that pairs nine presidents who won primaries, Ronald Reagan is clearly the man to beat. This is surprising to me because I thought FDR would at least give him a run for his money.

As it stands, Reagan is blowing away the field with 91 votes. FDR is a distant second with 27. Abe Lincoln and Bill Clinton have 26 votes each. I still can’t believe Andrew Johnson won one of our primaries.

Cast your vote at http://www.oanow.com

Of Olive, hospitality and beef meximelts

By Joe McAdory

God bless Olive Tuberville. She is a sweet woman. Never heard a bad word about her. Don’t expect to either.

Wednesday night, she answered the door at Tommy Tuberville’s Auburn home and let me inside. The coach was not there, at least not yet. She was very welcoming as we walked toward the living room where we chatted for a while. The family dog, a white maltese, can’t remember its name, wagged its tail and was receptive to this stranger’s petting.

Mrs. Tuberville answered questions and defended her son. She seemed at peace with her son’s near future, which does not include the trials of coaching college football, though she was adamant that he did not resign. Instead, she said he was fired, as quoted in my story. The university issued a statement regarding Tuberville’s resignation earlier that afternoon.

Moments later, Suzanne Tuberville and friends came home. Olive said Suzanne had been shopping.

At about 7 p.m., Tommy walked through the front door and proceeded into a back room. I don’t know if it was a bedroom or an office. I don’t suppose what type of room really matters anyway. He didn’t acknowledge anyone as he walked in. Obviously, it was a rough day. I don’t blame him.

Family friends suggested I come back another time. I don’t blame them either. I was an outsider in the Tubervilles’ living room. But you know, they made me feel welcome regardless of the circumstances and I thank them for that.

Yes, Olive Tuberville said her son was fired. I’ll take that to my grave. What does ‘fired’ mean these days? What does ‘resigned’ mean these days? Sometimes the two can intertwine. Sometimes they do not. What do you think?

On another note ... I tracked down Patriots fullback Heath Evans, a former Auburn standout under Tuberville, for his thoughts on the change atop the AU football program. He’s an outspoken dude. But one thing that amazed me during the interview, via his cellphone, was a new voice on the other end.

Heath: Hold on a second, I’m about to place an order.

Joe: OK

New voice: Welcome to Taco Bell, may I take your order.

Heath: I’d like a beef meximelt.

Wow. The dude’s in the NFL and he’s ordering off of the 99 cent menu at Taco Bell. He said he was on his way to a Boston Celtics game and didn’t like the food there. I don’t blame him. I make a run for the border every now and then too.

Tide fans soak up the SEC atmosphere

By Joe McAdory

Had the opportunity to spend Saturday morning meeting a handful of Alabama fans attending the SEC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome. I strolled the grass lot outside the Dome to watch ESPN GameDay for a while before walking a half-mile to the RV lot, where fans grilled, chatted, watched television and kept warm with butane heaters.

To the Blakes from Montgomery—thanks for the chicken wings and hospitality. These folks can cook!

Included in this entry are a few shots taken on this bone-chilling morning. And for this native Floridian, it felt like Siberia.

Pictured above, Josh Sahib, of Tuscaloosa, speaks his mind Saturday morning outside the Georgia Dome near the ESPN GameDay set.
Below, John and Charlotte Blake, of Montgomery, grill chicken wings and prepare lunch for friends and family in the RV lot adjacent to the Georgia World Congress Center Saturday morning.
Father and son Bob and Dwight Blake, attended their first Alabama game together in the 1960s when Joe Namath was quarterback.
Plush dolls of Alabama’s 2008 victims hang along the awning of Dwight Blake’s RV outside the Georgia Dome.

Here’s my short list

By Joe McAdory

If I were Auburn, who would I consider as its next head football coach? I’ll throw out five names, just off the top of my head. Some of these may have already been reportedly given consideration. Some or none may not. I really don’t know. Here it goes:

Steve Spurrier, South Carolina: Why not? That’s instant national credibility. His recent track record isn’t great, but perhaps in a different locale ...

Brian Kelly, Cincinnati: He’s won everyone he’s been, so there’s no reason to think he can’t win in the SEC.

Gary Patterson, TCU: Built Horned Frogs into powerhouse. Took what Dennis Franchione left behind and improved the program.

Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech: Hard to lure a man away so early into his tenure at Tech, but the power brand of football he preaches fits right in on the Plains.

Steve Spurrier, South Carolina: Yes, he’s mentioned above. But if he says no the first time you can always try again.

Mood song for the night since I’m still awake at this ungodly hour: Sound of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel