Football not worthy of race card

By Joe McAdory

I have seen comments from the outside suggesting that race played a part in Chris Todd being named Auburn’s starting quarterback this year. It’s sad when the race card must be played for everything. There are many instances when the race card deservedly should be played, but when it becomes a constant drum beat then things that really matter in life get overshadowed.

Why is Todd the QB? From what I’ve seen over the past two years, he has a greater grasp of the offense than Kodi Burns and his passes have been more accurate than Burns. His passes the last two games were well off the mark, however. No arguing that. I thought Burns had his audition last year and he impressed me more when he ran than when he passed. The dude’s got wheels. He could be a dual threat if his accuracy was better, like Steve Young or Michael Vick. It seemed that Burns overthrows receivers. He’s got a cannon for an arm, that’s for sure. One thing I like about watching Burns is it appears he’s really having fun on the football field, much like Carnell Williams. He loves the game.

I don’t believe either quarterback is All-SEC caliber and quarterback play has been an issue since Brandon Cox’s senior year.

But the race card? Last I checked, Auburn has an outstanding record of black quarterbacks. Pat Washington helped Auburn to the Cotton Bowl in 1985. Reggie Slack was outstanding from 1988-89 and helped the Tigers to two SEC titles. Remember Dameyune Craig? Probably the best dual-threat QB on the Plains. He quarterbacked Auburn to the SEC crown in 1997 with monster numbers. Jason Campbell was a work in progress, but once he took charge and proved to the world that he could be the man behind center, the job was his for three years.

And then there’s Tyrick Rollison, the redshirt freshman. If race is an issue at Auburn, then the coaches would not have made such a recruiting push for him last winter. He appears to be the program’s quarterback of the future. At least it appears he’s being molded as such.

Football coaches want to win games, period. They do not care if a quarterback is black, white, purple or green with yellow polka dots. They will play the QB they believe gives them the best chance to win. They know their jobs are on the line. If they play the wrong quarterback, then I would say that fault lies more on a poor judge of talent rather than anything else.

Play the race card for something meaningful in life like unfair taxation or job discrimination. Football is a game.

Navy Daymare just doesn’t work folks

By Joe McAdory

Let me re-emphasize my eye-rolling feeling for Auburn’s Navy Nightmare promotion for its Halloween game against Ole Miss.

THE GAME WILL KICK OFF AT 11:21 A.M.

That’s right. A nightmare under the sun.

There’s still time to re-launch this gimmick with a new, fun one. Since it’s Halloween, why not encourage fans—namely the kids—to wear their costumes to the game and dub the event Jordan-Scare Stadium? Why not a pre-game costume contest with the top three presented on the Jumbo Tron for the final voting to be made by fan applause? Oh well. I’m not a marketing guru. I just work at the O-A News.

I also wonder how many Halloween-ish puns or catch phrases will be over-used in Sunday morning game stories from sports writers and folks making headlines. I look forward to seeing them.

Mother Nature is a cold witch

By Joe McAdory

The press box at Jordan-Hare Stadium during tonight’s AU-Kentucky game is enclosed for the first time I can remember. It’s kind of an antiseptic feeling. Less crowd noise. Less energy.

Less cold—and that makes it worthwhile.

Did I mention it was cold? 48 degrees and windy at 5:45 p.m. according to the folks at the National Weather Service. That’s really freaky cuz it’s Oct. 17. It was summer just, like, yesterday. And now we’re playing football in an ice box.

Oh well, it wouldn’t be an Auburn football game if Mother Nature wasn’t involved. The West Virginia game saw Biblical rainfall. The Ball State game saw a lightning storm. Tonight, it’s Siberia. Maybe the Ole Miss game on Halloween will bring a volcanic eruption.

Anyway, this has got to be the COLDEST October game I can remember. I believe Auburn played Arkansas in the snow back in 1993 in Fayetteville, Ark., but I wasn’t there so I can’t vouch for it.

So what are the coldest Auburn football games I’ve covered? I’ll try to spit out a few off the top of my head.

* 1996 AU-Georgia was brutal. The game lasted four overtimes after regulation, so 87,000 folks suffered hypothermia together.

* 2000 AU at Alabama brought sleet, wind, rain, and 38 degree temps at kickoff. I had to write my stories from the Bryant-Denny Stadium press box kitchen to keep warm.

* 2002 AU-Georgia wasn’t as cold as 1996, but the darn wind made it feel like it. It’s hard to take notes when you can’t move your fingers.

* 1995 AU-Alabama. Huddled with strangers near the sideline at the end.

I probably missed one or two. But all of the cold games were in November, like they should be. Tonight’s Arctic blast, however, is freaky. I ain’t standing on the sidelines at the end of tonight’s game. No, sir. I’m headed straight to the warmth of the interview room. If something meaningful happens, I’ll see it on the TVs there.

Navy Nightmare?

By Joe McAdory

Navy Nightmare?

I suppose the gimmick urging Auburn fans to don navy colors to the Oct. 31 game against Ole Miss another way to foster school spirit (and purchase navy Auburn shirts solely for this game), but I’ve got a raised eyebrow. Ole Miss colors are navy and red. I suppose the Rebel fans could get lost in the sea of navy, but what if they choose to wear red?

Nightmare? I can assume this game will be played under the lights, but that announcement has not yet been made. What if it’s a daytime game? Then the nightmare gimmick is lost. Since it’s a pretty big game, I do believe, however, it will be played at night.

And since the game is on Halloween (wouldn’t orange be a more appropriate Halloween color?), why not a more fun promotion? Why not encourage fans to dress in a more seasonal garb, wearing masks, costumes, etc., and call the event Jordan-Scare Stadium (with no offense to Cliff Hare)? It could be a four-hour costume party. Maybe AU defensive coordinator Ted Roof will disguise coverage schemes. My kid will wear a mask because he said he wants to. AU is not imposing its will upon that little monster.

Mike Thomas made baseball in Opelika better

By Joe McAdory

It was sad to hear the other day that Mike Thomas, who has served as President and Director of Baseball for Opelika Dixie Youth Baseball has announced his desire to step down from that position, effective immediately. Thomas has been a fixture at the fields in Opelika and his hard work and genuine care for youth baseball has allowed this program to prosper. Serving in this capactiy can become a cumbersome task—particularly when you serve as a volunteer.

Mike Thomas will be difficult to replace. Below is the full text of his letter sent to friends and colleagues within the program:

Dear Dixie Youth Family,

I am letting you know that as of Wednesday night October 7, 2009, I have stepped down as President and Director of Baseball for Opelika Dixie Youth Baseball. It was not a decision that I made hastily but one that has been very difficult for me. I have served the ODYB program for 40 years, and times and people are changing and if has been difficult for me to change my way of looking at youth baseball.

There have been many people who have contributed to the success of the Opelika Dixie Youth Program, a number of which are included in the address line of this email. I hesitate to list names but there are a few that I must mention; Guy Rhodes has been by my side for 30 years and his guidance of the Minor League program has been invaluable. Alberta Boyd has given 10 years to the program and never had a child participate in the league; her organizational skills and financial professionalism have served the organization well.

Bill Harrelson, Sam Bailey, and the Parks and Recreation Board have been supportive of all our activities and needs. Keith Edwards was a key part of our West Ridge Park operational group. In the early years Bruno Prince, and now with ESG Melvin Thomas, have been indispensable because of their care and pride that they have in the grounds and facilities at West Ridge Park.

All of the past and present board members, team moms, and exchange club members deserve our graduated for time spent with the youth of Opelika. Last and most important the coaches and players that have come through Opelika Dixie Youth; without these two groups there would have been no need for the rest of us.

My hope is that in my tenure with the league that we created an atmosphere of fun, sportsmanship, model behavior, and fair dealings with each child that was entrusted to us. It is my sincere desire that the league will prosper and grow and that the past and present participants will look back on our time as a wonderful and growing experience.

This has reminded me of one of the many lessons that my father taught me. He said, “Success is leaving something in better shape than when you found it.”

I believe that my tenure in Opelika Dixie Youth Baseball, and service to the youth of Opelika, the city that I call home, has been a success.   

My sincere thanks and graditude to you all.

Yours in service to our youth,

Mike