Public Enemy Number One

Following today’s new regarding Indiana’s basketball program you would assume that public enemy number one would be Kelvin Sampson. The guy is an all out cheat. Was at Oklahoma and is now. However, Mr. Sampson is spared this day.

There is a fine university located in the south. Most specifically from the home of REM, one of the greatest rock acts to come to life in my generation. We’re talking about Athens, Georgia and the University of Georgia. Public enemy number one is ….. Mike Adams. My Michigan fan readers, like Nosh, will probably be happy to know that Dr. Adams holds a degree from Ohio State. Hey, apparently something happens in Columbus …. Clarett, Schlichter, and now this yahoo. I can’t help it.

Adams, if you recall is the jerk who on the day following the BCS Championship Game called for a college football playoff. Albeit, this isn’t an off-the-cuff or terrible idea but a team representing his conference had beaten the Buckeyes the night before for the title. Allowing LSU no time to soak in the glory of being the first team to win two BCS Championships Dr. Adams began his grandstanding to develop a playoff to determine the champion in D-1A football.

Why is this such a big deal you may be pondering? Well, one, Adams felt slighted because his Georgia Bulldogs who could not even win their division in the SEC were leapfrogged by LSU int he final BCS standings and were left out of the championship game. It’s a crybaby reaction to the situation. Hey, Adams, you as President signed off on this wonderful system. Two, just last year after Florida won the national title, again over the Buckeyes, Adams declined to through his support behind a proposal by Florida’s president to develop a playoff in D-1A football. Why the sudden change of heart? Selfishness is clearly the answer.

Some of you are probably saying …. Keith this is old news. I know it is but it is the underlying factor into stories developing in Athens and helps build the foundation for what a real jerk this guy is.

Some of you may know the name Vince Dooley. Dooley was the coach who put UGA football on the map; a legend in his own right compiling an overall record of 201-77-10 during his tenure from 1964-88. Dooley also served as AD at UGA from 1979-2004.

I take very seriously how a school treats their legends as it tends to lend a hand in the character of that school. At the University of Michigan Bo Schembechler has been prominently recognized by the university as have other greats like Fielding Yost and Fritz Crisler. At Ohio State Woody Hayes has been similarly honored. These are just two examples.

At Georgia, under Dr. Adams, it seems honoring a legend is hardly important. In 2004 Dr. Adams essentially fired Vince Dooley from his post as Athletic Director after by denying Dooley’s request for a two-year extension on his contract and promised his retirement afterwards. Hardly an overwhelming request from a man who had served the university for 30 plus years.

Since his ouster in 2004 there have been calls by many to name the football stadium after Dooley; to perhaps even hyphenate the name to Sanford-Dooley Stadium. Dr. Adams’ compromise offer is to place a statue of Dooley on the southern part of campus (the opposite end of campus from the stadium) where the other athletic facilities are located, create a garden area and called the athletic complex area the Vince Dooley Athletic Complex.

People associated with the football program and Dooley don’t feel this is enough and I agree. The football building at U of M is named Schembechler Hall. At Ohio State it is the Hayes Athletic Center. At Michigan State it is the Duffy Daugherty Football Building. Granted Dooley also served as AD and honoring his name on that part of campus is great …. it is only one step in honoring a man who meant so much to athletics at Georgia. Would Michigan fans stand for this blatant disrespect towards Bo? Would Buckeyes in regards to Woody? No! And there is no reason those supporters of Georgia football should tolerate this grandstanding by Adams either.

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