Q: A recent photo in the AJC shows the Alabama and Tennessee coaches surrounded by at least a dozen state and local cops. Why is there so much heavy security at a football game? What’s the Southeastern Conference policy on that?
—Darryl Weaver, Atlanta
A: Police officers and state troopers provide security and logistical assistance for football coaches throughout the country, not just the SEC.
The SEC doesn’t have a policy regarding security for coaches and their staffs.
“Those determinations are made by the school,” a conference spokesman told Q&A on the News in an email.
Security details are thought to have started with either Alabama’s Bear Bryant or Georgia Tech’s Bobby Dodd in the 1950s, the New York Times reported in 2005.
“I’m there for protection, there’s no doubt about that,” a Texas state trooper who protects Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin told the Bryan-College Station Eagle in 2014. “People treat coaches as celebrities. With that celebrity come good things and bad things.”
Q: Where and when can I get a sample ballot for Gwinnett County for the November election?
—Jean Bulk, Duluth
A: You can go to the "My Voter" page at the Georgia Secretary of State's website (www.mvp.sos.ga.gov/MVP/mvp.do) and enter you're the requested information under "MVP Login."
Or you can contact your local city hall for a sample ballot, according to gwinnettcounty.com.
Andy Johnston with Fast Copy News Service wrote this column. Do you have a question? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
About the Author
