AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2008 > July > 25 > Entry

It’s time to move SEC Media Days to Atlanta

By Tony Barnhart | Friday, July 25, 2008, 07:59 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Hoover, Ala.-At the beginning of SEC preseason media days on Wednesday, commissioner Mike Slive gave his annual look back at what the conference had accomplished over the past year. Among the highlights were four national championships (LSU football, Tennessee women’s basketball, Georgia women’s gymnastics, and Georgia tennis).

But the thing that makes Slive most proud is the fact that after six years on the job only one sport, Arkansas track, is serving any kind of NCAA probation. Slive, a former judge and attorney, was hired in to reduce some of the excesses that had hurt the reputation of this league. The SEC is far from perfect. No conference is. But by any objective measure, the league is better when it comes to playing by the rules

I had a chance to talk to Slive not long after Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer was hit with a subpoena as he walked into the Wynfrey Hotel. The subpoena called on Fulmer to give a deposition in a lawsuit by a former Alabama booster against the NCAA. It set off a media frenzy that dominated the second day of the meetings, which is what it was designed to do.

To say that the commissioner was miffed would be an understatement. Here’s why:

This is just the kind of knucklehead stuff that Slive has been trying to get rid of in this league since he became commissioner in 2002. There are mechanisms in place to better deal with rules breaking by conference members. There are specific procedures in place when one school thinks another is cheating. This whole episode started years ago because an Alabama booster believed Fulmer was working with the NCAA in its investigation of Alabama. Now a coach can’t do that. There is a chain of command that he has to follow. In fact, it became known as “the Phillip Fulmer rule.”

This episode brings back the mudslinging days that gave the SEC such a bad reputation. And Slive doesn’t like it.

“It’s just not appropriate,” said Slive. “We are here to celebrate the start of another football season. There is a time and a place for everything and this is not the proper time or the proper place for that kind of action.”

I also had a private moment with Fulmer. He was clearly not happy but would not comment any further. In retrospect, Fulmer could have handled this much better. When all the dust had settled it was clear that the lawyers had choreographed the event and given some of the local media the heads up that it was coming. Copies of the subpoena were being passed around radio row at the Wynfrey Hotel just minutes after Fulmer had been served.

He spent the afternoon saying he had not looked at anything and would not comment. Which was accurate. The paper was handed to him, some say dropped in his lap, and Fulmer said he did not look at it. Then after he left Birmingham he conceded that he had received the subpoena but had not read it before he went into the hotel. Then he released a statement. The fact that Fulmer first denied it, and then had to backtrack, just added to the media hype, which reached warp speed.

In fairness maybe any one of us would have done the same thing and not read the document and opened that can of worms until later.

I also spoke with Jeff Hagood, Fulmer’s lawyer, Thursday night. Hagood told me that Fulmer has turned the matter over to him and will have no further comment on the issue.

So what are we to make of this?

Prediction: There will be a legal challenge to the subpoena by Hagood and the Tennessee attorneys who will attempt to get it quashed. There is no way that Fulmer is going to give a deposition on Sept. 25, two days before the Vols play at Auburn.

And here is the bigger question to ponder this morning. This is the second time in four years that the SEC has had to deal with Alabama lawyers threatening to subpoena a coach at football media days. Hagood said that the lawyers “hijacked” one of the SEC’s most popular functions for their own benefit. Hijacked is probably too strong a word but the lawyers certainly used the event and took away from what it is supposed to be.

Is it time to move the SEC’s preseason media days to Atlanta? The SEC football championship game quickly outgrew Birmingham after two years and is now a tremendous success at the Georgia Dome. Given the infrastructure of Atlanta and the growth and popularity of the SEC on a national scale, maybe the time has come to move this event.

This event draws more national media than any preseason event of its kind. And when something like this happens the league gets embarrassed on a national scale. The SEC does not need this kind of silliness. It’s time to move it to Atlanta.

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Comments

By buck b

July 25, 2008 8:24 AM | Link to this

Are you sure it wasnt’t Weight Watchers who put the subpoena on UT Coach Phat Fulmer?

Agreed…move the Media Day to Atlanta…maybe we can then end the drought on Lake Lanier with Coach Urban Renewal’s tears…..

By Mikey in Sav

July 25, 2008 8:25 AM | Link to this

Phat Phil will Phigure out a way to Phinagle his way out of this Phiasco.

By Doug

July 25, 2008 8:26 AM | Link to this

Great idea Tony. The nation’s best football conference holds their Media Days in a shopping center in Birmingham, Alabama?

Other conferences have their’s in Chicago, Los Angeles and even Conference USA has their’s in Orlando. And ours is in Birmingham?

Also time to move the SEC Office out of Birmingham.

By GatorFan

July 25, 2008 8:31 AM | Link to this

First? Yes, it should be in Atl.

By m

July 25, 2008 8:32 AM | Link to this

To say that the SEC is NOW better about abiding by the rules is like saying that Rosie O’donnell is slimmer NOW because she didn’t eat a donut THIS morning. The SEC is (and has been) a win at all costs league. And that has NOT changed. This year the SEC will probably be the first league ever to have had every single player serve jail time for one reason or another. Also, MR. COLLEGE FOOTBALL, why don’t you comment on David Cutcliffe’s comments that the so-called SEC superiority over the ACC in football is mostly hype by homers like you???

By Mirna from smyrna

July 25, 2008 8:44 AM | Link to this

Doug nailed it! The less the rest of us have to do with those BAMA nut jobs the better!

By Frank

July 25, 2008 8:50 AM | Link to this

You can’t spell Phillip Fulmer without 3 “L’s”. Rocky Top you’ll always be…in the middle of the SEC.

By OLD COOT

July 25, 2008 8:52 AM | Link to this

Any bias there MR CFB? Why don’t we just move all the teams to Atlanta, that way the smug and superior residents of the great state of Jawja wouldd never have to leave there boarders.

By OLD COOT

July 25, 2008 8:52 AM | Link to this

Any bias there MR CFB? Why don’t we just move all the teams to Atlanta, that way the smug and superior residents of the great state of Jawja would never have to leave there boarders.

By OLD COOT

July 25, 2008 8:57 AM | Link to this

Hi Mirna, BAMA nut job here, perhaps crawlin out of your hole and realizing that there’s a wide world outside of Smearna would be in order.

By tyler durden

July 25, 2008 9:00 AM | Link to this

clearly there are no lawyers in Atlanta that would do such a thing. look, the bloated one has been avoiding being subpoenaed for years. obviously it was worth 10k for him to avoid being served in ‘04. where were they supposed to serve him?

By No

July 25, 2008 9:08 AM | Link to this

Birmingham is a terrific city. It’s where the league offices are and its centrally located. Take your Atlanta arrogance elsewhere and leave the SEC media days where they are.

I live in Atlanta, by the way and the Wynfrey is fabulous.

By SEC Speed

July 25, 2008 9:12 AM | Link to this

Hey m, Nice bold type. It makes your point much more powerful. Hey, when was the last time an ACC team won the MNC? I’m curious.

By smyrna man

July 25, 2008 9:13 AM | Link to this

The only thing Alabama is good for is dumping toxic waste

By MK

July 25, 2008 9:14 AM | Link to this

Atlanta is not the be all! I love living here however all other cities are deserving. This was a pompous article!

By Anywhere but birmingham

July 25, 2008 9:20 AM | Link to this

I vote for the move. Let it rotate around the SEC. Then maybe Bama fans will realize they screwed up a good thing.

By I llove SEC Football

July 25, 2008 9:23 AM | Link to this

I used to enjoy hearing and reading Tony Barnhart before he was called Mr. College Football. He seemed to have insight and knowledge of SEC football. Now I see him on ESPN, I think, during the season and read these columns and see absolutley no insight. He seems to know UGA and UF well but the depth of his knowledge seems to end there. These media days columns read as if they were written at the bar during a lull in the conversation. If you read the posts the last few days, very few of the comments are a reaction to anything he said. SEC passions are clear to all of us, so can’t we get someone who can share some knowledge!?!? Come on, AJC!

By Robert

July 25, 2008 9:23 AM | Link to this

It is interesting that when the foes of Coach Fulmer attack him and the University of Tennessee they attack Coach Fulmer’s weight. How lame…

By VanDSIRROM

July 25, 2008 9:26 AM | Link to this

Tony—

Usually, you are very accurate with your choice of words. However, this time you said Coach Fulmer had not “looked at” the subpeona. What he said—from the transcript of the news conference—was “I have not seen it”.

We know now that he had “seen” the subpeona but for some unexplained reason chose to lie rather than admit it.

Move SEC Media Days to Nashville, perhaps, but NEVER to Atlanta. The SEC athletes that attend would have to get ‘Georgia carry permits’ for their guns if it were in high crime Atlanta.

By HT

July 25, 2008 9:28 AM | Link to this

Phat Phil, who has more chins than Chinatown, brought this on himself - and the SEC. Why didn’t he show in 2004? Fear of “the subpoena”, and he gladly paid $10,000 to avoid it. What does that tell you? It tells me that $10,000 is more important than truthfully answering some tough questions about how he worked with Roy Kramer and the NCAA to “nail” Alabama. I would call this poetic justice, and personally think it is hilarious - couldn’t happen to a more pompous person. And then to praise Auburn’s undefeated football team? Folks, you’ve got a conceited, “I can get away with it”, egomaniac here, and for him to get his come-uppance in front of a crowd - not that last year’s beating in Tuscaloosa wasn’t some justice either - is funnier than a Johnny Carson monologue. And move it to Atlanta? Nope, doesn’t get my vote. But if I’m a writer for the AJC I would sure be pushing it - for my own self-interests.

By Bob

July 25, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this

I’m a lifelong Georgian, but leave the SEC media days in Birmingham. It’s a city that is much easier to get around in and this keeps other SEC coaches out of Georgia at least for a couple of days.

By gator mike

July 25, 2008 9:32 AM | Link to this

Tony, you are correct in wanting to move the SEC Media Event to Atlanta which is a great city. I firmly believe that Atlanta is much better equiped to prevent events like the classless move against Phil Fulmer by some low class lawyers. I am sure there are some ethical lawyers in our society, but they always seem to get out maneuvered by the dirt bag lawyers. This should be one wild SEC Season. Of course I am not an UGA fan, but it is great having them wear the bull’s eye this year. UGA has a potentially great team, but there are other very good teams in the SEC. The sleeper may be Auburn. Hopefully, the best team will win, and it will not be a fluke. Go Gators!

By JB

July 25, 2008 9:35 AM | Link to this

I’m a Georgia boy, but if I had to choose between Atlanta and Birmingham to live, I’ll take Birmingham. I grew up in Atlanta, And it ain’t what it used to be. If you’ve never been to That part of Birmingham, It would be a great place to live. Excellent quality of life. PS: they don’t care what we think over here. They Don’t want you there anyway.

By Gadawg

July 25, 2008 9:36 AM | Link to this

Move it to ATL, it’s absurd to have our SEC media days kick off in a strip mall. Atlanta is home to CNN and a conglamorate of Media coverage and it could be held in venues where Cow tipping is not the excitement of the week

By Gadawg

July 25, 2008 9:36 AM | Link to this

Move it to ATL, it’s absurd to have our SEC media days kick off in a strip mall. Atlanta is home to CNN and a conglamorate of Media coverage and it could be held in venues where Cow tipping is not the excitement of the week

By Gadawg

July 25, 2008 9:36 AM | Link to this

Move it to ATL, it’s absurd to have our SEC media days kick off in a strip mall. Atlanta is home to CNN and a conglamorate of Media coverage and it could be held in venues where Cow tipping is not the excitement of the week

By Tracey

July 25, 2008 9:43 AM | Link to this

I dont’ care where they have the media days even though I’m from Birmingham, AL, but it does make sense to have the media days near the central office of the league. Just as it makes sense for the Falcons to be near their central headquarters.

Having moved to Georgia six years ago I have come to understand the unabashed, uncontrolled and totally unjustified idea most Atlantans have that they are the CENTER of the universe. Smog, road rage, rudeness and the total inability of most Atlantans to see that there other places to live that are far superior to Atlanta is what makes most people from other states in the southeast HATE to have to come here for almost any reason. It isn’t always that they just HATE the traffic, it’s that they don’t particularily like the inhabitants of our smog laden home that make them hate to come here.

As someone who has lived both places, I see the faults in both, but I gotta say, having so many people here with boundless EGOS seems to intensify all the BAD that is Atlanta.

And, since Phil Fulmer was desperately trying to avoid being subpoened in any way, he got fined 10,000 for avoiding media days so he couldn’t be served, he deserved whatever the heck he got. You got a problem with someone, call them and say, “I know you cheated I’m turning you in to the NCAA.” Don’t be a backstapping SOB and do it in secret and you won’t have to be subpoened. He’s a total jerk and totally classless and if he was embarassed, HOORAY!!!

We, as citizens of the United States, don’t have the right to avoid a subpoena just because we are scared that we have to come out of HIDING.

By ATL Tiger

July 25, 2008 9:44 AM | Link to this

Tony, you got the right idea but didn’t pull the weed out by the roots. Move the ENTIRE SEC OFFICE to Atlanta. It’s time to put in in a more neutral setting, in the media and transportation hub of the south.

As long as the SEC is headquartered in Alabama, we will continue to have substandard administration, leadership and integrity. And don’t get me started about officiating and interpretation of rules!!

By Joe Mac

July 25, 2008 9:45 AM | Link to this

Better yet, let’s have SEC sportswriters fly from school to school each August to meet with players and coaches on their turf. We can call it the SEC Skywriters Tour.

By Gary

July 25, 2008 9:45 AM | Link to this

I agree, move it to Atlanta the hub of the south and the biggest media market in the southeast. All the radio guys are griping about it being in Birmingham as well. Plus I doubt a stunt like this would have happened. I don’t like Phil, but that was ridiculous and something I would expect from Bama boosters, sadly.

Also I find it amusing that an ACC fan would be on here talking trash. Everyone, get this through your heads. These are young men playing this game and are in college. They are prone to making mistakes just like anyone else who is in college will make. I am sure they are not the only ones at UGA, UF, UT, ALA, AUB, LSU, or SC that are getting busted for minor skirmishes. Also that glorious conference we have come to love the ACC is no saint either. FSU, Miami, UNC, Duke, GATech, and that great school where dog killers and thugs congregate too VA Tech have all had their fair share of skirmishes involving student athletes. Lets face it, these are COLLEGE KIDS and they will make mistakes. It happens everywhere. The best thing is that they learn from it and mature. Give me a break already.

By Jim

July 25, 2008 9:47 AM | Link to this

Tony-

I have to say that is one lame reason to move the SEC media days from Birmingham. I would think you would serve us readers better to write about something more relevant to us not your own self serving purpose.

Jim

PS To me it’s all entertainment…whether it’s “Phil and the subpoena” or “the Richt/Myers squabble”. But I guess you only considered the Fulmer thing to be hijacking yet I heard more about the latter. Oh well you’ll always be a Georgia homer.

By stephen

July 25, 2008 9:49 AM | Link to this

Move media days to Nashville. I have lived in Birmingham, have family in Atlanta, and now live in Nashville. Nashville would be the best place to hold the media days.

By Tracey

July 25, 2008 9:49 AM | Link to this

JB,

You are right. The area where the event is held is a great area. High quality of living and great schools. Schools that rank higher than Georgia schools in quality of education and in graduation rates. All this without the lottery.

And again, you are correct when you say that the people over there do not care what Atlantans say or do, because they are quite content with having a better quality of life, less crime, better schools, and nicer people around them than most Atlantans have.

And you are also right when you say they don’t want you over there. Having lived here for a bit, I can understand not wanting Atlantans over there. Rude doesn’t even begin to cover what mosts Atlantans are like.

By David

July 25, 2008 9:50 AM | Link to this

Toney, don’t comment on people when you don’t know the whole story and the facts. They call that shotty journalism. So you and Phil had a conversation and decided he was totally innocent and Alabama was just picking on him? Do yourself a favor, research his involvement with Alabama going on probation. Then whatever bias you have will sound more credible. What the hell do you care where the meeting is held?

By Will

July 25, 2008 9:51 AM | Link to this

I would like to subponea Phat Phill and ask him how he put that beat down on my dawgs last year. Make sure it doesn’t happen again. Of all the games I worry about this year I worry about Tennessee game the most. The D is going to be good and will have a great run game which can shorten the contest and keep it tight. A couple of turnovers and anything can happen at that point.

By PB

July 25, 2008 9:55 AM | Link to this

Fulmer Haters:

Get over it Phil is fat. Great. He isn’t getting any skinnier. Besides if we really need to talk about fat, how about Friegen at Maryland, and Mangino at Kansas. They both ate Phil for breakfast today.

To Frank:

If TN is in the middle, then it’s very ironic how they have won the SEC East 4 of the last 7 seasons! Odd how that can happen if your in the middle right?

As for Media Days in Alabama and in the tide’s favor being so close to Tuscaloosa, we all know it’s at least one thing they win each year, because it’s certainly not the Iron Bowl!

By Former ATL resident

July 25, 2008 9:55 AM | Link to this

While we’re at it, let’s go ahead and move the Masters out of Augusta because it is not a “major media” outlet either! It’s not the location (though Birmingham is a great place to live, work and raise a family), it’s the event itself.

And there will always be kooks who try and hijack the gather media attention to their own cause (remember Martha Burk)!

Believe it or not, there is life, and good life, beyond I-285!

By virtueandvice

July 25, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this

Good thing Fulmer didn’t bring his team with him!

By Me

July 25, 2008 10:03 AM | Link to this

My, my at the ignorance…ATL Tiger proudly displays his, along with his stupidity.

By B

July 25, 2008 10:08 AM | Link to this

Why move to just to ATL? Atlanta already holds the SEC Championship game every year in the GA dome. Plus from a UGA recruiting perspective, you want opposing coaches to have as small a presence in your state as possible. I think it would be a good idea to consider cities like Jacksonville, Memphis, and Birmingham with Atlanta in some kind of rotation. These are traditionally considered neutral ground and expose more fans in the southeast to a personal glimpse into the conference excitement.

By chris

July 25, 2008 10:09 AM | Link to this

This whole episode started years ago because an Alabama booster believed Fulmer was working with the NCAA in its investigation of Alabama. Now a coach can’t do that.

So which is it, Tony? Did the booster believe or did Fulmer do what he could not do now? This national pity party for this lying tub of goo is the thing that stop…not the due process of law.

By gary

July 25, 2008 10:10 AM | Link to this

i agree and we need to get the SEC offices out of Birmingham; much too much bias.

By Katie

July 25, 2008 10:10 AM | Link to this

I think the SEC offices should be moved to Atlanta along with an SEC Hall of Fame. Birmingham is a great city and has been a great host, but the dominance of SEC sports should be celebrated and the time has come to take the step and create this Hall of FAme as well as have media days move to a larger venue. What about the old World of Coke at Underground Atlanta - central location - close to the dome - ready for a tenant…

By Katie

July 25, 2008 10:11 AM | Link to this

I think the SEC offices should be moved to Atlanta along with an SEC Hall of Fame. Birmingham is a great city and has been a great host, but the dominance of SEC sports should be celebrated and the time has come to take the step and create this Hall of FAme as well as have media days move to a larger venue. What about the old World of Coke at Underground Atlanta - central location - close to the dome - ready for a tenant…

By KB

July 25, 2008 10:11 AM | Link to this

I think the SEC offices should be moved to Atlanta along with an SEC Hall of Fame. Birmingham is a great city and has been a great host, but the dominance of SEC sports should be celebrated and the time has come to take the step and create this Hall of FAme as well as have media days move to a larger venue. What about the old World of Coke at Underground Atlanta - central location - close to the dome - ready for a tenant…

By Mark

July 25, 2008 10:17 AM | Link to this

Fullmer is a fat cheat. And screw you Barnhardt, you arrogant jerk. I live here in ATL also and this is THE WORST SPORTS TOWN IN THE COUNTRY. Birmingham is THE college football capital. Atlanta doesnt even support its own teams. Birmingham is the ideal place for anything SEC related. The state of Alabama defines passionate college football fans and deserves to host this event.

By MRJ

July 25, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this

I like Tony, and his points are well taken, but moving to Atlanta will just open another host of issues. No doubt Atlanta has the most to offer of any SEC country city (I’ve been an Atlanta resident since birth). I like Birmingham a lot, but the ridiculousness of the UA community makes media days unenjoyable for many. Further, SEC HQ being in Birmingham simply isn’t good for SEC football. The improprieties of UA athletics and the conference governing body being commingled makes for bad national publicity.

That said, moving it to Atlanta would only move the focus from UA and place it on UGA. Georgia fans can be almost as irrational as Alabama fans, but moreso, UGA already gets sufficient publicity by being the favored team in the biggest southern media market.

If we move media days, why not move it somewhere enjoyable but less favorable to any one school. I think the ACC being in Reynolds Plantation is a wise choice. Certainly we could do something like Reynolds or Destin or even the Peabody (who really cares whether Ole Miss gets a little bump—now whether people would be interested in Memphis, who knows).

By Gary

July 25, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this

PB I agree, Enough of the Phat Phil stuff. It was funny 7 years ago, but enough already. And no I am not a UT fan. I despise them, but they are a good team. Bama boosters and their lawyers showed their class or lack of it this week. Move it to Atlanta or if you would like move it to Nasville. I would definitely go to either one. And I love how everyone talks about how great Birmingham is and how great schools are. Who cares, we are not talking about quality of living, we are talking about media days for a football conference. You can get much more if you move it to Atlanta or even Nashville for that matter.

Also PB, UT has won the SEC East only 3 times in the last 7 years. UGA - 3, UT - 3, and UF -1

By BullDawg Rick

July 25, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this

Move SEC Media daze to the Atl…

The only good thing about the state of Alabama is……

Well, there’s nothing…

By Spike

July 25, 2008 10:24 AM | Link to this

These grandstanding lawyers could have served elsewhere of course, e.g. airport, hotel room etc. But they are lawyers , what do you expect? Fulmer could have avoided all this two years ago and just agreed to give a deposition, tell the truth and let the chips fall where they may. If he had, nobody would have given this another thought.

By hsf

July 25, 2008 10:25 AM | Link to this

Fulmer did Alabama a favor. Without him they might still have Mike DuBose as coach and their slimy, cheating boosters out of control as they were for 50 years.

By WM

July 25, 2008 10:26 AM | Link to this

Poor Tony B, he has to drive two hours down the road, stay in a nice hotel for free and talk about SEC football all day. I really feel sorry for you as I sit at my computer at work.

By Jason

July 25, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this

Those of us who live in GA know that a stunt like the Fulmer subpoena could never happen here, as we don’t have any low-down, classless lawyers in GA.

By the way, you act as if these lawyers distracted us from pure gold spewing forth from the mouths of the SEC coaches. The SEC Media Days does not deliver any sort of new information. So sorry that some lawyers took the spotlight off of some re-run speeches and the egocentric media members.

By Scott

July 25, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this

FYI - This issue started because while Phil Fulmer was a “Secret Witness” for the NCAA against Alabama, he made up stories whole-cloth. One of them being that Mrs. Smith (wife of the plantiff) was having an affair with a member of the Dubose staff.

Perhaps Fulmer needs to start acting like a grown responsible adult before SEC Media Days is moved out of Birmingham. That would seem like the logical move to me.

By bama

July 25, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this

Tony,

Your right, the SEC Media Days is not the right place to hand out subpoenas. However, who f-ing cares about fat Phil Fulmer. Give me a break Tony, Phil Fulmer didn’t follow a chain of command. Bama fans might be a little crazy but they didn’t pull this one out of their a*.

By CB

July 25, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this

I love how you say that “This is the second time in four years that the SEC has had to deal with Alabama lawyers threatening to subpoena a coach at football media days” This makes it sound as if they have been going after multiple coaches and not having to try for 4 years to serve Fulmer with a subpoena. Maybe if Fulmer had just served the deposition instead of hiding out in Tennessee this wouldn’t have had to be a spectacle four years later.

By James

July 25, 2008 10:34 AM | Link to this

Except that THERE ISN’T AN S.E.C. TEAM IN ATLANTA. ATHENS is not ATLANTA - get it?!

By Jason

July 25, 2008 10:36 AM | Link to this

SEC Media Days is BORING! Who cares where it is held????

Why don’t you write about something more worthwhile like rotating the UGA/FL game bi-annually between Jacksonville and the Atlanta? That may actually make sense and would keep UGA from traveling 4x the distance as UF every year.

By Miles

July 25, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this

It’s time to move SEC Media Days to Cabo San Lucas, San Tropez, or Banff.

By T-Bird

July 25, 2008 10:40 AM | Link to this

“When were they supposed to Serve him?”

Gee, i don’t know, how about after the game in Tuscaloosa he plays every other year. He’s been here several times, that was a media stunt.

By T-Bird

July 25, 2008 10:40 AM | Link to this

“When were they supposed to Serve him?”

Gee, i don’t know, how about after the game in Tuscaloosa he plays every other year. He’s been here several times, that was a media stunt.

By DoginTenn

July 25, 2008 10:40 AM | Link to this

Why do people from ATL think that it is the only city in the south. Nashville, New Orleans, Mobile, Biloxi, Charleston, Pensacola, and Lousiville would all be fine places for Media Days. Sea Island hosted the G8 Summit a few years back. If thats not good enough for Tony Barnhart then what is? All they need is a hotel, a few ballrooms, and bunch of food so Fulmer and Tony can eat their fat rear ends off.

By noway

July 25, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this

Atlanta’s “infrastructure” is a positive?That may be the most ridiculous argument I have ever read. Sorry you have to actually drive somewhere Tony, but ATL doesn’t deserve it. The state of Alabama has two teams in the conference, unlike Georgia and unlike lousy Legion Field, the Wynfrey is a very nice setting for this event. The Fulmer thing would have happened anywhere. How many hotels don’t let lawyers in them? And does anybody really feel sorry for him anyway? If the SEC decides to have everything in Atlanta and continue hurting other SEC hotbeds economically, the other 11 schools in the conference should mutiny. Conferences need to hold true to their local fan base, not worry about worldwide expansion, a concept corporations in this county forgot long ago. How is that working out for them lately? Stick to football, Tony.

By The General Feeling

July 25, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this

The focus of the arctile should be on Bama fans and their dillusional attempts at revenge for being caught cheating ten years ago. Coaches Fulmer, Nutt, Spurrier, and Saban all had a hand in revealing the cheating at Alabama. It was Fulmer who had the hard evidence.

Fat jokes are so old, boys. Fulmer’s record against Bama and Georgia is simply rediculous. He ownes you punks and it hurts you so much. Ha, ha, ha.

Everything SEC should move from Birmingham to Atlanta and the sooner the better.

By gatorfan96

July 25, 2008 10:49 AM | Link to this

Jason - do you want some cheese with your whine?

By The General Feeling

July 25, 2008 10:49 AM | Link to this

What Slive is saying is this: if there is cheating in the SEC, then you must come to me first and not the NCAA. Good ole Mike will see to it that a certain amount of cheating is tolerated provided the SEC fills the BCS bowls, annually. Programs like Alabama cannot cheat a little as it is in their blood to cheat and cheat often.

By Monk

July 25, 2008 10:50 AM | Link to this

Doesn’t have to be ATL, Nashville is a nice place for a meetin’. Consider Orlando or Nola or any number of places.

By Brad

July 25, 2008 10:51 AM | Link to this

Blame Alabama! Blame Birmingham! Blame Alabama fans! Followed by personal attacks.

Has anyone considered that it is SEC commissions fault for continually picking a site that is a public place that anyone has access to. This sort of stuff can happen anywhere. While all the other conferences have there meetings at private resorts where you can restrict access.

I hear and read people degrading Alabama and Birmingham regularly. The truth is few if any have spent time there recently. Your opinions are based on stigmas that formed many decades ago. When I meet people who come to Birmingham for the first time, they are always surprised. The reality does not fit it’s outdated reputation.

People are quick to point fingers at Alabama and ignore what’s going on in their own back yard.

By who cares

July 25, 2008 10:53 AM | Link to this

I love sec football, you are correct. TB is a total joke, and to call this clown Mr. College Football shows what a disgrace the AJC is. No other paper would allow this guy and Terrence Moore to write a blog, much less a column in their paper. Hope TB can get a job as the UF beatwriter in the Gainesville Sun, or maybe he could work for the UF athletic dept. and sniff all the Gators joke straps. If that doesn’t work out maybe espn would allow him to drive the gameday crew around in their limo, since he sucks up to Kirk H so much.TB, See you at the swamp for the next tebow worship with the rest of the clowns from espn.

By CHD

July 25, 2008 10:53 AM | Link to this

MOVE IT TO GEORGIA - land of all that is right and just and proper. Maybe the chosen one, Saint Mark, could have his home-state dawgs greet all of the other coaches as they enter with stomping, jumping, barking and other civilized forms of greetings. I’m sure Pope Urban would appreciate it.

By Chris

July 25, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this

Learn to spell, General Feeling…then get back to us.

And I am all for moving the SEC to one of the great crime centers in the country. I-R-O-N-Y.

By B

July 25, 2008 10:59 AM | Link to this

MRJ - Memphis would hold a strong interest in the SEC Media Days. I am a UGA alum living here and I can honestly tell you there are as many UT fans in Memphis as Ole Miss fans. Also MS St., Ark, and Vandy have some representation and a fan base boosted by local media. There are the traditional pockets of fans following Auburn, Bama, UF, LSU and UGA. Really is a neutral city with several nice venues.

By Rotate It

July 25, 2008 11:07 AM | Link to this

I vote for rotating it each year to the city where the SEC school is located. Each SEC town has something unique to offer. A big kickoff media blitz starting in Atlanta would be good for 2009, and then go to each SEC school’s city. This would give each school equal exposure and would put money in the local economy. It would also help each school with recruiting b/c of visibility.

By Greg A.

July 25, 2008 11:14 AM | Link to this

Yes, Tony, the world should revolve around Atlanta. Surely no media days funny business would ever happen in Heav….err, I mean, Atlanta. Maybe we should move all SEC football games to the GA Dome, too. Wait, I’ve got it. Let’s just uproot all the SEC campuses and their stadiums, move them to Atlanta, call it The Atlanta Conference and be done with it. That way, Atlanta residents never have to step outside their comfort zone for games. Besides, the rest of us would hate for you to be reminded that there are other pleasant cities in the South that aren’t constructed entirely out of traffic.

By Old Man

July 25, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this

I woudl be fearful of people going to Atlanta because they might get kidnapped, raped, murdered, or who knows what. Also I would hate for someone like Nick Saban to be hassled for change by the thousands of homeless people.

By Pixie

July 25, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this

In Response to Tracey:

You are just like all the other Alabama fans…you can’t stand that your precious Crimson Tide finally got caught for cheating after years of doing it. If you Alabama fans want to be mad at someone, how about being mad at your idiotic boosters who caused the Bama to be put on probation!!

In Response to BullDawg Rick:

There is one good thing that comes out of Alabama—-I-20—-leading to Atlanta

By Amy

July 25, 2008 11:23 AM | Link to this

PLEASE READ SLOWLY AND REPEAT IF NECESSARY……the lawyers who served Fulmer were not “Alabama” lawyers as Mr. Barnhart put it. They are in no way affiliated with the University or the legal team that represents UofA. They represent an individual, Mr. Smith, who in fact IS NOT AN ALABAMA BOOSTER. He has never given the University a dime or ever been a season ticket holder. He helped out many high school prospects that went to MANY univeristies, in fact, the one involoved in this case went to UT, not UA. He never paid students to go to one particular school and is not affiliated with any particular school. The subpoena was not served by a UA lawyer wearing a goofy “got nick?” shirt. Or by a fan waving a crimson pom pom in the Galleria. To say that the UofA or its fans are to blame is ludicrous (no not the rapper for you ATl’s who don’t realize that it’s an actual word and not spelled as his name is spelled) If you think moving media days to ATL will prevent lawyers from doing something similar in the future you are absolutely idiotic. Birmingham is THE central location in the SEC. So the headquarters and media days should stay in BHAM. A change of venue to somewhere private such as Ross Bridge would allow controlled access and prvent such problems in the future. If held in Atlanta just swap the fans wearing ‘got nick’ shirts for fans barking at each other like fools, swap the 4 lawyers serving Fulmer for 8 with egos the size of Texas, and swap the modestly sized city of BHAM (pop appx 1 mil) for a city overcrowded and overpolluted (pop appx 4 mil). Wow you can cancer from breathing the air, get run over on 285, listen to UGA fans bark, and see Belugas all in one day! Wow lets do it!

Now that being said ATL is a great city with many things BHAM cannot boast and I love to visit and do things you can’t do in BHAM. The High Museum is wonderful and I love the Braves (even when they lose. However the basis many provide for moving the SEC is shaky at best. BHAM is more than adequate in size and scope to provide an ideal environment for Media Days and the SEC offices. And I would love to see one of you tell Slive that UA is highjacking the SC and controlling the officials, leaders, and all of SEC country. He would laugh in your face. Change of city…NO. Change of venue…probably.

By David-ATL14

July 25, 2008 11:24 AM | Link to this

Good call on possibly moving to Atlanta Tony.

How many more black eyes does the SEC have to receive from overzealous, redneck backwood hicks that support the Crimson?

By Stanley in Marietta

July 25, 2008 11:26 AM | Link to this

Tracey,

sounds like you need new friends. I know people in B’ham that love to visit ATL and vice-versa.

By Face 2 Face

July 25, 2008 11:27 AM | Link to this

I see we have a lot of Tennessee haters and basher on this blog but I’m not…. I bleed Orange and what I have to say is stop cheating and you don’t have to worry about someone telling on you. I don’t blame Fulmer for what he did, I think if the shoe was the other foot your coach would have done the same thing. I would love media day moving here to the Atl. Looking to three peat against Georgia Bullpuppies, Train your new pup and hope he don’t use the bathroom on the hedges…. I heard PetSmart has dog obedient training classes.. Hope he brings a good bark before he meets Smokie………..

By Jim

July 25, 2008 11:46 AM | Link to this

I live in Mobile and I could care less if the SEC moves the event out of Birmingham, but Atlanta is not the best place either. As for Fulmer, you need to report the whole sordid story of his experience as the secret witness for the NCAA, which was a violation of the NCAA’s own rules. And you should truthfully cover the lies he told as the secret witness. Fulmer is a low life and is an insult to the SEC.

By Eric1

July 25, 2008 12:08 PM | Link to this

Granted, there are many, many idiots in Alabama. But Alabama does not have a monopoly on stupidity. Anything that can happen in Alabama can happen on a grander scale in Georgia. Atlanta may be a better location for this event because of a better infrastructure, but that’s the only reason. War Damn Eagle!!!

By Cade

July 25, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this

People in ATL do think they are superior, and I don’t know why. These posts confirm that. I live in Birmingham and travel a good bit, and I don’t mind telling you I avoid Atlanta at all costs. In fact the only time I’ve been to Atlanta in the past five years was to visit a friend from college.
Hoover is a nice city. The Wynfrey is a great hotel. That mall and shopping center is not a strip mall. Fullmer is fat hypocrite. Oh, I can’t believe I took the time to write this…

By laundry detergent and toilet paper

July 25, 2008 12:19 PM | Link to this

If Alabama and their fans hate Atlanta so much, why are they rushing to play in the GA Dome?

By Fake Steve Jobs

July 25, 2008 12:27 PM | Link to this

By all means move the SEC Media Days to Atlanta. Fulmer certainly won’t have to worry about subpoenas. However, he most probably will be a victim of a carjacking while stuck in a three hour traffic jam on I-75.

By Dense Dooly

July 25, 2008 12:38 PM | Link to this

It’s absurd to think that “Media Days” has outgrown wherever it’s located. In fact, what’s its purpose? Sounds like another manufactured self-hype fest.

By Old Trafford Man

July 25, 2008 12:48 PM | Link to this

Move the whole SEC out of Birmingham. It’s the only conference that has its headquarters in a Mickey Mouse metropolitan area. Providence, RI looks like paradise in comparison.

By Liger

July 25, 2008 12:54 PM | Link to this

Time to move media days away from the state of AL. This was an extremely childish move and is embarrassing to the state of AL (whether they know it or not) and to the SEC.

Media days should be in ATL…

By John Morse

July 25, 2008 12:55 PM | Link to this

Do they not have courts of law in Atlanta?

By Liger

July 25, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this

Time to move everything affiliated with the SEC out of the state of AL. This is embarrassing and the scary thing is, most folks in AL don’t realize it’s embarrassing. It’s business as usual for them. Sad. as an AU grad, I wish that we could move AU to ATL too.

By Rusty

July 25, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this

Tony…. You are wrong yet again. There are “crazy fans” and lawyers in every town in the south. The event should be held at the Ross Bridge resort and with limited access. Birmingham is the home of the SEC office, not Atlanta.

  • Rusty

http://www.rustybanks.com

By bayoubruce

July 25, 2008 12:59 PM | Link to this

Jeez…move it to Baton Rouge…that way the SEC can save on shipping costs and insurance payments with the BCS Crystals….and SEC Championship Trophies…..

By Gene Mills

July 25, 2008 1:06 PM | Link to this

Again where were they supposed to serve him.W hat the big deal!!!! What makes Atlanta such a great place to have the mediadays. Why bot New Orleans, Jacksonville,knoxville and others.This sec does not revolve around Hotlanta.

By NOTlanta

July 25, 2008 1:09 PM | Link to this

Why in hell would the SEC move media days from Birmingham to an arrogant, traffic-snarled, overcrowded self-important cesspool like Atlanta?

By NOTlanta

July 25, 2008 1:09 PM | Link to this

Why in hell would the SEC move media days from Birmingham to an arrogant, traffic-snarled, overcrowded self-important cesspool like Atlanta?

By rlltde

July 25, 2008 1:15 PM | Link to this

I agree that it should be moved from a shopping mall (FYI this was arguably the most upscale shopping complex in the southeast 15 years ago) to a better venue. But there are far nicer places in Birmingham to hold the event. Birmingham has a ton of upscale, private places for such an event. There are country clubs, lakeside resorts, and luxurious hotels in the area that would be far better suited.

Dont try to turn the blame toward Birmingham for this embarassment. This is the fault of the SEC for allowing the event to be held in a mall. What do you expect when you put all these “superstars of college football” into a public place with no admission restrictions?

This could have happened in any city in the country. The event needs to be held in a private place. College football is alot bigger than it was 15 years ago.

By rlltde

July 25, 2008 1:18 PM | Link to this

Besides…Isnt Atlanta better suited for events like “Freaknic” and an “Outkast” concert?

By PTC DAWG

July 25, 2008 1:19 PM | Link to this

Who cares where they have the SEC Media Days at?

I certainly DO NOT.

By Third

July 25, 2008 1:51 PM | Link to this

I live in Birmingham and I don’t see why they think everybody wants to get stuck on Peachtree or on 285. And by the way, with all the people in Atlanta who are from Birmingham, what would be the difference? You arrogant pr*cks!!!

By smitty

July 25, 2008 1:55 PM | Link to this

“Coincidence? I don’t think so.” Tony I know you folks in the media think Miles is the second coming and all, but do you really beleive he looked into the future and saw the need to prepare for a offense that was not even at Auburn at the beginning of last year? In order for this not to be a coincidence, he would have had to at least start planning while he was still at OK State.

Tony, you are better than that. Get off the bandwagon.

Just on UGA-Fla, I know I am repeating some things, but what does Tebow have to do with the fla d giving up 42 points, and not being able to stop Moreno? Was he going to play D also? Meyer’s ran him up the middle all year, so he can only blame himself. Forever is a long time to hold a grudge, which tells me a lot about Urban. I am glad CMR takes a different approach to life. Urban writes a whiney, know-it-all book to make money, CMR goes to central america and builds homes for the poor.

By dr

July 25, 2008 2:10 PM | Link to this

Fulmer has been dodging this subpoena for years; what exactly were the lawyers supposed to do in their effort to represent their client—- Fold?— if Phil had cooperated this would not have been necessary— think about it.

By WOW

July 25, 2008 2:18 PM | Link to this

I just hope all the recruits that Saban is after with the UA-Clemson game in the Dome read this and see all the Alabama fans slamming on their home town and state.

By Andrew

July 25, 2008 2:24 PM | Link to this

Umm, even if media days did move from B’Ham, there are many better places to put it than Atlanta. Places like Nashville, Memphis, or New Orleans are just as easily accessible (more accessible if you factor in the ATL’s delay-ridden airport), more compact and not swarming with traffic. It may be hard for you to believe, Mr. Barnhart, but Atlanta is not the center of the universe.

By interesting

July 25, 2008 2:25 PM | Link to this

I find it interesting how so many ppl on this blog are making Atlanta out to be such a dangerous city to live in. Yes, Atlanta is ranked 22nd most dangerous city in the nation, but its ranking has been dropping significantly for the last decade plus. The truly interesting thing I have found is that Birmingham is ranked the 6th most dangerous city in the nation with Memphis not far behind at 8th. Got these rankings at www.infoplease.com.

Now insofar about SEC media day needing to be moved, I agree with all the folks that have said that it should rotate between cities. Seems pretty fair for exposure. I personally don’t care if it is held in Atlanta or not.

Oh and for those who believe that Atlantans are smug or arrogant about our city (for the most part it is true) BUT since when was it a sin to be proud about where you come from? I love Atlanta because of what it offers that most other southern cities don’t, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t believe other cities would be good places to live. Yeah Atlanta has smog and traffic, but you could find fault with just about any city. The diversity of Atlanta night life, and simply big city living is what I love most about Atlanta. It all depends on what you’re looking for in a city, and Atlanta has a lot of positives to offer.

By hcjournals

July 25, 2008 2:34 PM | Link to this

It’s time to stop the Fat Fulmer diatribes. If that’s the best the haters have, it’s pretty pathetic. There is a lot of room to criticize Coach Ritcht, and that wouldn’t be productive either. It was bush league to allow anyone to serve a subpeona in this environment, then insist that the coach come to Birmingham 2 days before a game against Auburn. To call a coach fat because of this is laughable and takes away any sense of credibility any person commenting is trying to acheive…..

By Wallacewade04

July 25, 2008 2:38 PM | Link to this

RIGHT because after Bobby Petrino left Atlanta for Arkansas, I’m sure all the sports fans in Atlanta would NEVER cause a scene like this, not never. Oh and Atlanta has such squeaky clean sports figures that would never, I don’t know, slaughter 30 + dogs. Get off your high horse ATL

By J5

July 25, 2008 2:54 PM | Link to this

Wait. That’s your reason for moving SEC Media Days to ATL? Like lawyers wouldn’t do the same thing in Georgia if they had the opportunity? If you want to move it to Atlanta, fine, but don’t do it on that premise. Lawyers will be lawyers.

I personally like the idea of rotating the location to the home state of a SEC program every year. For example: New Orleans, Little Rock, Louisville, Memphis, Charleston, Atlanta, Jacksonville, Birmingham, and Jackson. A tour of the south if you will.

By Bama45

July 25, 2008 3:06 PM | Link to this

I agree with one the above posters that Nashville would certainly be preferable to Atlanta if the convention were to move. Atlanta obviously appeals to a lot of people. I personally find it to be an abhorrent place and an glaring example of all that is wrong with contemperary American megalopilises (White flight, banal new construction, horrid traffic, fuel waste, a glaring absence of regional character, etc.) However, I doubt they will consult me so my personal biases don’t really matter. I live part of the year in Birmingham and, aside from having many good restuarants, find it to be nearly as banal as Atlanta, just not as big & soul-sucking (although it is doing its best to catch up). By the way, Hoover, where media days is held, is the worst of the worst. If you like anytown USA, chain restuarants, big box stores, bad traffic and you hate black people, Hoover is perfect for you. I think the most prudent approach would be to rotate between Birmingham, Atl, Memphis, Nashville & New Orleans. If if were more centrally located New Orleans would obviously be the best choice. New Orleans (by that I mean Orleans Parish, not Metarie, Kenner, Marerro, etc.) is the Anti-Atlanta and truly the greatest city in the U.S. Nonetheless, using Fulmer being served with a depo. subpoena as pretext for changing the venue of SEC media is a bit of a stretch and quite frankly, absurd.

By RxDawg

July 25, 2008 3:21 PM | Link to this

The location is irrelavent. Fulmer would have been served in Atlanta just as well as Birmingham.

By Joe Mac

July 25, 2008 3:31 PM | Link to this

SEC Media Days will be held wherever Dr. Pepper says so

By DawgFan34

July 25, 2008 3:35 PM | Link to this

I couldn’t agree with Tony more. Move the meetings and don’t stop there. Move the SEC offices to Atlanta. Bigger, more main stream, and we had the Olympics while the Birmingham mayor just requested Birmingham be considered for the 2020 Olympics. What a joke of a town. Get over yourself! And to hold the event in a small town shopping mall hotel is even more of a joke. Time for the SEC to step up to the Big Time and start acting like the great conference they are. Let’s get away from these delusional idiots in Birmingham. It’s supposed to be about the teams and upcoming season, not some team and town that hasn’t been relevant in years!

By Rabun Dawg

July 25, 2008 3:41 PM | Link to this

Tony, why not move the media days to a North Ga. resort on Lake Burton, in Rabun County? Yes, that would be Saban’s retreat. It is as large as many resorts are!!

By Dutch

July 25, 2008 3:41 PM | Link to this

Why do we need to move SEC Media Days?

Because Slimebag Fulmer got served?

Maybe you agree with the subpeona or maybe you don’t. But, you don’t move an entire event because of one, isolated occurrence? This article is so self-serving it strips away the credibility I THOUGHT you had.

Tony, please be so kind as to post a link to your article advocating the Olympics or any other similar event (Goodwill Games, etc.) NEVER RETURN to Atlanta due to the Richard Jewell-alleged bombing.

Thanks.

Dutch

By New Orleans Man

July 25, 2008 3:48 PM | Link to this

I have the answer to MR. CF. Move it to New Orleans because of the following reasons. 1st. LSU has won the NC twice in 5 years Alabama- 0 UGA 0 2nd. New Orleans has two of the major bowls played there. Alabama- 0 UGA 0 unless you like chicken

3rd. There is more to do there than in the other two citys. MOVE IT TO NEW ORLEANS

By NIUBAMA

July 25, 2008 4:00 PM | Link to this

Hey why all the anger about this stuff? Now I have been a BAMA fan my whole life i have family that graduated from there. I am now currently at Northern Illinois University(as weird as that is) I am from the south and i now live near Chicago where everyone thinks that southern people are stupid rednecks and they are the best thing since whatever came before sliced bread. Now, there is no doubt that the SEC is the best conference and most consistent in the NCAA. Now Phulmer was going to be served whether he was