What Were They Thinking?

I recently wrote a commentary referring to sports figures such as  Lance Armstrong and Barry Bonds in pointing out that we should all be wary about putting our sports heroes on unrealistic pedestals, and using them as our role models.

Again, many of them do not fit the bill of being good examples, and, sadly, some of them turn out to be nothing more than petty thiefs, thugs and frauds.

The University of Alabama football program was one of the main topics of ESPN's First Take discussion show with Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless Wednesday morning, but unfortunately for Crimson Tide fans, it was not due to the program's current amazing run of championship success or because of another recruiting title for Alabama head coach Nick Saban.

Of course you know by now that the main story involving Crimson Tide football at the moment is the Monday arrests of Tide players Brent Calloway, Dennis "D.J." Pettway, Eddie Williams and Tyler Hayes. Calloway was charged with fraudulent use of a credit card while his three teammates were booked on two counts of second-degree robbery.

Specific details of the various circumstances involving the respective players have been trickling out the past couple of days, but in a nutshell, Williams, on Monday, allegedly physically assaulted two subjects, Caleb Paul and Samuel Jurgens on the UA campus, rendering both of them unconscious. Pettway and Hayes apparently sat in a car while Williams assaulted Paul and then took his wallet containing cash, his ACT card and credit cards. Pettway and Hayes joined Williams with the attack on Jurgens, and then they took his backpack containing clothes, books and a laptop computer. Calloway, meanwhile, apparently used the stolen ACT card, fully aware that it was stolen, to make various purchases.

The UA student newspaper, The Crimson White, had a very detailed summary of the various crimes in its Wednesday edition, which included an interview the CW conducted with Jurgens Tuesday night.

It is disturbing, alarming and frankly a bit eerie to hear the details of those assaults and to hear the recounts from Jurgens and his friends about that night.

These are four student-athletes who not only represent Nick Saban's Crimson Tide football program, a program that has won three of the last four BCS national championships, but they are also supposed to be ambassadors for the University.

As student-athletes, they are given countless advantages and opportunities that most regular UA students can only dream of, while being treated by many as gods on the school's campus. Many of them also have the chance to advance to the next level of football and earn millions of dollars, provided that they work hard, stay clean and avoid roughing up and stealing from their fellow students.

 But in one night, these four "ambassadors" for the University of Alabama were reduced to nothing but common punks and thugs, leaving innocent subjects/students battered, bloody and minus their possessions, sense of security and their dignity.

Four young men who had it all, with the opportunity to attend a quality school and wear the Crimson jersey of the nation's most successful football program. Some of these players might have had the chance to become another Trent Richardson or Courtney Upshaw, but now you have to wonder if they will instead join the ranks of Sherman Williams, Saleem Rasheed, Jimmy Johns and Santonio Beard, former UA players whose professional/athletic careers and legacies have been tainted or even shattered by various troubles and jail time.

The reactions by Smith and Bayless on First Take pretty much match the sentiments I have encountered from pretty much everyone else I have discussed the arrests with, with emotions ranging from bewilderment to outright disgust.

We have not heard much from Saban yet regarding the matter, other than his announcement that the players are indefinitely suspended pending the further compilation of information relative to the events of that night.

While that is fine for now, other people, including yours truly, are not quite as guarded when expressing their opinions about what should happen to Calloway, Pettway, Williams and Hayes.

As a graduate of the University of Alabama, but also as a rational-thinking human being, I find the thought of these four young men having another opportunity to put on a Crimson jersey and representing my alma mater offensive, appalling and totally unacceptable.

Not only should these four criminal offenders be tossed out of Saban's program immediately, but honestly all four of them probably should still be doing jail time for the acts they perpetrated against Paul and Jurgens. Most common citizens probably would still be behind bars, but it's a little different when you are part of one of the nation's high profile college football programs. And then we wonder why these athletes have such a sense of entitlement.

It's ridiculous, and it's also sad.

 I know that Tide fans also hope it is not a sign of things to come again for Saban's program, as really only scandal and a host of off-the-field problems such as this could seemingly put a halt to or hinder the current dynasty being enjoyed by Saban's program. That and a host of major injuries or other sources of attrition.

When Saban first arrived at the Capstone, he dealt with a rash of player arrests, but quickly cleaned the program up thanks to peer intervention groups led by his players and ridding the program of other problem players as well as other in-house disciplinary measures. So perhaps this matter is just one of those rare exceptions that tend to crop up occasionally and not a bad omen, signaling more stormy waters ahead.

Bayless posed the question of whether the apparently-desperate actions of the players, in order to gain items such as money and a laptop, is another testament to the notion that college athletes should be paid.

I don't find myself often agreeing with the sometimes-volatile Smith, but I was right in line with him when he answered Bayless's suggestion/question with an immediate no.

College athletics are becoming corrupt enough as it is without adding money to the equation and making it a farm system for professional sports. Again, although they are treated like gods, college athletes are still students and frankly many students have to deal with financial pressures such as student loans and having to survive on Ramen noodles. It's part of life as a college student as harsh as that might sound.

Most college students, however, do not get the honor, glory and rewards that often come with being a student-athlete and do not enter the University with a system of advisors, counselors and other various structures already in place to make their college stay as easy and smooth as possible. In Saban's organization at UA, athletes are given access to every vehicle necessary to ensure that they are totally successful in every area of life, whether it be academically, physically, or professionally. I also have to believe that there are also counselors/advisors present for these student-athletes to help them deal with their finances as well. If not, then I am sure their coaches would be available for that as they are often mother and father figures for these impressionable young people at times.

But what occurred in this matter goes way beyond the question or proposition of paying players.

To not only steal money and other belongings from these victims, but for physically-massive athletes to batter these people until they are rendered bloody and unconscious does not indicate that they are players or people who might thrive more under a system where college athletes are indeed paid.

Their actions signal to me that these are genuinely mean young men who have little character and even less regard for their fellow students and human beings, many of whom have a fawning respect, support and admiration of the UA football program and the players who are a part of it.

People such as this surely have no place in a society where we all try our best to treat our fellow man with kindness and respect, and there is also definitely no place for this type of individual in the UA football program, a program which has not only excelled on the field in bringing championship glory to the University and to Tuscaloosa, but a program under Saban which has also represented the city and the Crimson Tide Nation with much class.

 

Signing Day 2013: Alabama Brings Top Class Again

Like many of you, and much like other crazed college football fans from around the state and nation, I took advantage of my day off Wednesday to basically fully engulf myself in the all-day coverage of National Signing Day. 

Of course for football-starved fans and observers such as myself who are looking for anything related to pigskin news once the Super Bowl has been played and there is no more actual live football to watch, Signing Day is often termed as a second Christmas, and the nonstop discussion of the day's events, and even sometimes a little drama, does not hurt either. 

Anybody who knows me knows my allegiance lies with the University of Alabama, and I cannot even try to hide or deny that fact as I was born and raised in Tuscaloosa, was raised to be an intense Crimson Tide supporter and attended and graduated from UA where I also wrote for The Crimson White. So of course I was jubilant to see Nick Saban wrap up the nation's No. 1 recruiting class. Of course top-ranked classes under Saban have become a certainty of life, such as death, taxes and horrible Jason Aldean songs. 

 

For a good part of the day, some recruiting services as well as ESPN had Alabama ranked about third nationally behind Florida and Ohio State, but a few late catches for the Tide, including Norcross, Ga. running back Alvin Kamara, once again moved Alabama to the top spot. Of course Alabama had already secured the signatures of highly-rated standouts such as linebacker Reuben Foster, defensive tackle Dee Liner and four-star quarterback Cooper Bateman. 

So it was yet another special day for the two-time defending national champion as the Tide grabbed the nation's top group of recruits for the fifth time in the last six years. It was also another huge year for the Southeastern Conference, who for a large part of Signing Day had 7 of the nation's top 11  classes. This means that the astounding run of SEC dominance is not about to end anytime soon. Sorry to break that news to you, fans of teams from the Big 12 or Big 10. 

 

So again, as an Alabama grad and supporter, I was proud to see another great group of stud athletes ink their names to wear the legendary Crimson jersey, and I very much enjoyed seeing Saban's slight smile as he discussed this year's class,  I also viewed the Signing Day events as a journalist, and in doing so probably exercised a bit more caution than the average fan. 

Like many college fans, I fairly closely follow the recruiting battles which take place each year, especially in terms of how they apply to the respective schools in the SEC. Unlike a lot of those fans, however, I do not worship recruiting in terms of following it year around or subscribing to services which allow me to know which players are hosses even as ninth graders or players that some schools are targeting for two years down the road. I guess I find better things to do with my time than paying real attention to what 16-18-year-old kids are thinking and doing until they actually make it official on Signing Day. 

I think, as I also try to do with most things in life, take a practical and realistic view when it comes to recruiting, and I think you have to do that when you are talking about teenagers who are often undecisive and unpredictable about what they are going to do and how they are going to respond to various situations and responsibilities. 

While many excited Tide fans are no doubt throwing celebrations and mini parades about Alabama claiming another top haul of blue-chip athletes, I think we all have to just slow our roll a bit, take a chill pill and  realize that we really will not know how good this class is until possibly a couple of years down the road, when we know if they actually qualified academically, stayed with the Tide program or actually lived up to their hype and are out on the field helping to lead Saban's team to victory.  

 

 

This is also true for other programs who had strong Signing Day showings, including the aforementioned Ohio State Buckeyes and Florida Gators, as well as Texas A&M, Clemson, Georgia, Notre Dame and Florida State. Gus Malzahn's first class as the coach of the Auburn Tigers was also a significantly good one as many services had Auburn just outside of the Top 10. Malzahn is to be commended for putting together a strong class following a disastrous Auburn season and for also putting together a coaching staff that is comprised of a host of good recruiters. 

There is no doubt that one of the big stories of the day was the historically great class that Hugh Freeze signed at Ole Miss, which included highly-rated standouts Robert Nkemdiche and Laremy Tunsil. Nkemdiche was the nation's top-ranked recruit according to most of the major recruting services. 

                                            Robert Nkemdiche

Rebel fans have every reason to be excited about having a Top 10 class coming off a winning season and bowl win, and I definitely do not want to play Debby Downer or say anything that would disparage their big day or Freeze's recruiting abilities. 

But does anyone really think that even a prolific Signing Day by Ole Miss is going to immediately elevate that program to contention status in the SEC? It may down the road at some point, but at the current time Ole Miss still appears to be no higher than the fourth best team in the SEC West behind Alabama, Texas A & M and LSU. Ole Miss may sneak up to that third spot just because teams such as LSU and Arkansas are simply question marks at the moment. 

But the point is, this is the reason why we have to be still a bit guarded in our giddiness about Signing Day success until these kids prove it on the field two to three years down the road. 

You would expect programs such as Alabama, Florida, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, LSU and Ohio State to have recruiting success on a yearly basis, and they typically do thanks to strong traditions, facilities and other things that can quickly woo impressionable and sometimes immature young student-athletes. 
 

But during the last 5 to 6 years, however, only Saban's program has proven that it can consistently translate strong recruiting performances into major, championship-level success. Other often-hyped coaches such as Oklahoma's Bob Stoops and LSU's Les Milescannot say that, although their programs are always usually good. They just haven't won a lot of actual championships.
 

Coaches such as Will Muschamp at Florida may well be on his way to achieving Saban-like success, but he is certainly not there yet. Urban Meyer is a strong candidate to perhaps gain Bama-like success with his Buckeye program, but will his recruiting, and his health, hold up to allow him to be able to accomplish this?

To put it crudely, but accurately, recruiting can be a crapshoot at times, especially when you are dealing with the high expectations of these major programs and also with youngsters who can create a lot of drama in their own right. I will not hammer on Reuben Foster anymore as he has been hammered plenty by the media and many others, but everyone knows by now the exhaustive and frankly laughable process it took for Bama to finally secure his services. Then there was the bizarre story of Arkansas commitment Alex Collins, whose letter of intent to sign with the Razorbacks was allegedly confiscated by his mother because she was not happy with her son's choice of signing with Bret Bielema's program.  So even the moms can make a program sweat if they're not happy (also note the recruitment of Bama's Landon Collins last year).

                                             Reuben Foster

Foster's recruiting saga also shows the mistake that some youngsters make by tying their choice of a school to a certain coach instead of what the school itself can offer him academically and athletically. Coaches are coming and going with a lot more regularity these days, and these youngsters need to take keen note of that.

 

At the end of the day, I congratulate each young man who signed on Wednesday and I hope their signatures translate into a bright future for him and the school that gained his services.

I also urge the fans of these schools and athletes to be proud and excited about the quality young men who will hopefully soon be wearing their colors and representing them with class and pride on the field.

Along with that pride and happiness, however, I would also urge those same fans to show a little restraint and patience, as the true story of Signing Day 2013 may not be told until two or three years down the line. 

 

Click here to see the full list of Alabama's Signing Day Recruits

Feature Interview: Lauren Sisler

Lauren Sisler joined the CBS 42 sports team in September of 2011.  As a native of Roanoke, Virginia and Giles County, Lauren Sisler was introduced to the Virginia Tech Hokies and Washington Redskins at an early age. Also kin to the Hall of Fame baseball player George Sisler, Lauren quickly learned that sports was part of being a Sisler.

She was enrolled in the sport of gymnastics at the age of 3 at Roanoke Academy and very quickly found out that was "her sport." At the age of 9, she had worked her way up to Level 10 where she competed for 8 years before earning a scholarship to compete for Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. As a Scarlet Knight and co-captain of the gymnastics team, Lauren earned several accolades including the Nobel Award and N4A Wilma Rudolph Student Athlete Achievement Award.

In 2006, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and then the pursuit of a sports broadcasting career began. She decided to learn the television business from the ground up, starting as a freelancer at CNBC, then moving back to her hometown station, WDBJ7, where she was a photographer and editor. From there she signed on with WTAP in Parkersburg, West Virginia where she had the opportunity to cover a multitude of high school and college teams on both sides of the Ohio River.

Editor's Note by Stan J. Griffin: I have quickly gotten to be friends with Channel 42's Lauren Sisler in a very short time, and I cannot thank her enough for the wonderful help she gave me for The Sports Connection. She has a very interesting story to tell about the journey which led her to Birmingham, and her own background in general. Although she loses some points for being a Washington Redskins fan (just kidding!), she does a great job as part of the Channel 42 sports crew, and she obviously put a lot into the interview that I was able to recently complete with her. I have no doubt you will find her story interesting and fun to read. 
 

THE SPORTS CONNECTION: I know that you are a native of Virginia. Talk a little about your journey which eventually led you to Channel 42 in Birmingham.

LAUREN SISLER: I have spent a lot of my adult life jumping around from city to city thanks to this profession. I must say I wouldn't have it any other way!  After I graduated from Rutgers University with a Communications degree in 2006, I was offered a freelance job at CNBC. As a technical associate, I spent a year honing my prompter operating skills for big money names like Maria Bartiromo and Dylan Ratigan. But that was only scratching the surface. It was at CNBC that I was ultimately introduced to the world of television and it just so happened I got a behind the scenes look on the network level. In 2007, I realized it was time to get my hands on a camera and start producing some of my own work. I accepted a position in my hometown of Roanoke, Virginia at WDBJ7. There I spent two years as a photographer and editor and eventually got the opportunity to do some sports reporting. That experience led me to my next job in Parkersburg, West Virginia where I primarily covered local high school sports. I spent two years at WTAP as the weekend sports anchor and reported during the week. Two solid years of that experience landed me here at CBS 42 in Birmingham.

TSC: You also come from some famous bloodlines. Talk about a certain Hall of Famer in your immediate family.

LS: George Harold Sisler, aka "Gorgeous George" is in fact my great great great uncle. My father actually was named after him and had plenty of stories to tell from his childhood including the one when he allowed an autographed wooden game bat given to him by George Sisler to dry rot by the creek (later he always regretted that). I'll never forget the day I was in St. Louis for a gymnastics meet. The day before the competition we took a tour of the city and there I was, admiring Busch Stadium, not paying attention to where I was walking and literally ran right into his statue. From that day on, I understood just how big of a deal my bloodline really was!

TSC: You were also an athlete yourself from a pretty early age. Talk about your early involvement in sports such as gymnastics.

LS: I was practically a gymnast from the day I was born. Once I was old enough to walk and keep my balance, I was bouncing all over the furniture in the house. My mom had had enough of rushing me to the hospital to get stitches. She found the solution.  Gymnastics! I started at the age of 3 at Roanoke Academy, quickly advanced, and by age ten I was a level 10 gymnast competing on the national level. While putting in 20 plus hours a week, I quickly realized my dream was to earn a scholarship and compete on the collegiate level. That is where Chrystal Norton and the Scarlet Knights came into play. When I got the offer I ran with it. I was part of the RU family and it was incredible!  Now like any sport, you always have your wins and losses.  For me personally I also had to deal with some trying times that included a fractured femur, a severe back injury, and several torn ligaments in my ankle but every tear shed and every ounce of pain was absolutely worth it. I was living my dream as a Division 1 scholarship gymnast.  It was an experience of a lifetime (that experience also included a National Championship in our division in 2005) that will be part of who I am forever.

TSC: Talk about the adjustment of getting familiar with sports in Alabama and the intensity of sports fans in the state. Obviously I know you were already familiar with the SEC and the tradition of Alabama football and things such as that.

LS: Let's just say I have experienced something that I haven't seen ANYWHERE else! I spent my college career watching our football team go from a 1-11 record to their first bowl game my senior year. That was truly a neat experience to be part of the rise of the Rutgers football program (don't forget Rutgers played in the first ever college football game back in 1869, now that's history!). Post Rutgers, I spent time covering the ACC between Virginia Tech and UVA and later more Big East with West Virginia. But little did I know my next move would be right into the "sports empire" of the world. The traditions of the SEC speaks for itself. You have to be here right in the middle of it all to really understand it.

TSC: So I guess it would still be safe to say that your main loyalty is with the Washington Redskins that you've always followed and the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers. Do you still keep up with both intensely?

LS: Very safe to say. I grew up in a household that all agreed on one thing, that was sports and the Redskins. Of course, I was born in the 80s and that was when they were in their prime. This season I became a big RG3 fan like the rest of the Redskins nation. As for Rutgers, I wear my Scarlet pride on my sleeve. You know they always say "No cheering in the press box." When Rutgers is playing, I always have that game pulled up on my phone or computer and let's just say I tend to break that rule. Of course, I am the only one cheering (or throwing my hands up on a bad play). Most of the other media folks who know me by now, say "oh Rutgers must be playing!" and I give them an update whether they ask for it or not.

TSC: You started with CBS 42 at a pretty good time in terms of excitement with teams in your viewing area, especially getting an opportunity to help cover national championship teams in several sports and also some major high school championship events here. Talk about that and if that has been overwhelming at all or just really exciting.

LS: I always like to say "I got thrown into the fire" when I started work here at CBS42. Imagine being new and in unfamiliar territory and starting day 1 on September 1st. Yea, that is right in the heart of it all! At that point it was sink or swim, and forget about any life preservers. It was game on, and things really haven't let up since.  After spending a year here, I have gotten acclimated to this area, the geography, and have a better idea of what to expect.  But the saying still stands true here in this business, "always expect the unexpected!"

TSC: What have you enjoyed covering most since you've arrived in Birmingham, or is it just a combination of everything?

LS: It would be really hard to pinpoint a particular sport or team that I have enjoyed covering the most. Of course, having great gymnastics to watch here is a plus, I have always been a "football" girl, and I grew up around racing.  I've been fortunate to cover just about every college and high school in the area and have grown to respect every team. Still waiting on my first National Championship assignment though!

TSC: What have been just your immediate observations about the intense love of college football in this state, and are Alabama and Auburn fans as crazy as you imagined they would be, in a good way of course.

LS: Immediate observation: WOW, these fans are passionate and love their football! It's great though. I absolutely respect it. When you have good football and the talent runs deep, it's hard not to get amped up on game day.  I start my work week on Friday, so for me it's like Monday but I can assure you it doesn't feel like it. I wake up on Friday morning knowing that I am going to be spending the next two days out on the sidelines. That isn't work, that is pure adrenaline!

TSC: Who have been some of your main "go-to" people at the station or maybe just in the city that have helped you get well versed on things that you may not have known about football and other sports in the state.

LS: There are several people that I credit for "taking me under their wing." Really the entire sports department (Patrick Claybon, Alex Corddry, Jim Dunaway, Chris McCulley, BJ Millican) has kept me in check and taught me the x's and o's of sports in the deep south. It's a revolving door and you have to have knowledgeable people and resources to help keep you up on your game each and every day. I will also say that members from other television stations from around Birmingham and all over the state have really been a big help. Despite the thought of constant competition, we really try and work together and help each other out. We all have the same purpose and that is to give the athletes, coaches, and community the recognition they deserve.

TSC: I know there are ups and downs at every job, and I know it's definitely true at a television station when it comes to deadlines and editorial meetings and things such as that, but how would you describe the atmosphere at CBS 42 and specifically with the sports staff. It seems on the air that you guys are a fairly close-knit group.

LS: That is very true. Every work environment comes with its ups and down but I think this is where "team" comes into play. We all strive to produce the best product. When one thing tanks, so does everything else and we are all in it together. We all work very hard every day including tireless hours spent late at night, on the weekends, and on the holidays. It isn't always glamorous but the end product is always rewarding.

TSC: Is there any part of your job that you enjoy the most, whether it be anchoring or actually being there on the sidelines or on the court?

LS: I enjoy different facets of my job for different reasons. I love being on the anchor desk. It allows me to take center stage and give my best shot. But being out in the field is fun too because I get to show a little more personality and soak in the environment. They both come with the adrenaline rush in their own way. The day I lose that I guess will be the day I say it is time to hang it up. I don't see that happening anytime soon!

TSC: Have there been any reporters or sports personalities that have served as main influences/mentors for you, whether it be men or women, and are there a few that you can name that you really enjoy watching today, also whether it be men or women?

LS: I think my closest mentors are the ones that have believed in me from Day 1. I have to start with my parents. They molded me into who I am today and even though their physical presence can't be seen or heard, their spirit lives through me each and every day of my life.  My Aunt Linda and Uncle Mike have kept me afloat.  My brother Allen is my go to guy for everything sports.  Then you have people like Mike Stevens who basically roped me into sports at WDBJ7 and told me that I would go places. My sports director at WTAP, Jim Wharton, showed me how it's done and convinced me it was okay to have a bad day. And then my countless friends have always supported me.  All of the times I had to pass up vacations, weddings, and going out on the weekends, they have been behind me 100%. Nobody has given up on me and nobody has allowed me to give up. Ultimately I have God to thank for all of the blessings in my life.

TSC: There has been a major increase in women sports anchors, reporters and analysts during the past decade or so. Is this something that has surprised you at all, or was it something that maybe you expected to maybe see a lot more of once more women journalists simply got the opportunity to show what they could do?

LS: It doesn't come as a surprise. I think it is the direction society is going. Women have always played an inferior role but now more than ever we have the opportunity to step up and level the playing field. Like anything else, it is a battle, but I think you will find that if you put in the work and build your credibility then people are going to respect that.

TSC: Are you hoping to stay mainly in the reporting/anchoring role for the most part or would you also like to maybe cross over at some point and maybe even do some other things such as writing.

LS: I absolutely love what I do now. I have worked very hard to get here and plan to continue growing and building what I have started. Where the road called "My Life" takes me though has yet to be revealed. I think that is the beauty of it. You don't really know when a door will open and an opportunity will be on the other side. I lost both of my parents at the age of 18 to prescription drug addiction. Unfortunately their pain was far too great and their reliance on medication won the battle. My parents though were two wonderful, loving people that have inspired me to stand up and make a difference. Now almost ten years later, I have a mission to make an impact on the growing problem of prescription drug addiction that our society faces. With that said, I hope to use the skills I have attained throughout my television career to be an active voice and to raise awareness to this devastating epidemic.

TSC: Are you loving life in the sports-crazed state that is Alabama, and maybe just list a few of the highlights you've experienced so far, in terms of events you've been able to cover and maybe even stories you've been able to do.

LS: Life is great here in Alabama. I don't think I could have picked a better place to continue growing my career (or perhaps Birmingham picked me). Some highlights that stand out to me are the 20 hour Saturdays spent covering college football. The trips to different college campuses. The great people and fans I've met along the way. Even the local high school tournaments are a thrill. Watching these young athletes develop and strive to get to that next level is so exciting. I was once there and it is great to see that drive and determination being duplicated by so many talented student-athletes in this area.

TSC: At what age did you know that you wanted to pursue a career in journalism, and has sports always been your main love?

LS: Now it's time to go way back again! I actually grew up with aspirations of being a sports doctor. I always had it in my mind I wanted to work with athletes. That vision never changed. After losing my parents my freshman year in college, I spent a lot of time figuring out who I really was and what I wanted to make of my life. I am outgoing, love being around people, and enjoy telling people stories. My passion for sports came into play, and there it was right in front of me. Sports Broadcasting. Here I am, now nine years later, living my dream!

Feature Interview: Gary Harris

Gary Harris is WVUA's Sports Director. Actually, he is the only Sports Director the station has ever had. Gary joined the station in 1998 when it went on the air as NewsChannel 49. Gary has over 27 years of television experience having started his career at WHMA-TV in Anniston, Alabama in 1982. He has also worked at WDBB-TV in Tuscaloosa, WTZH-TV and WTOK-TV in Meridian, Mississippi and Mississippi News Tonight in Jackson, Mississippi.

In addition to his duties at WVUA-TV, Gary is also the host and narrator for the award winning Crimson Classics DVD series which is produced by the Bryant Museum in cooperation with the UA Center for Public Television and Radio (CPTR). Crimson Classics spotlights the great games in Alabama football history. Gary is also the co-host along with Rodney Orr of Tider Insider TV. TITV has been recognized several times as the top sports program in Alabama by the Associated Press.

Gary is also the producer of the Tommy Wilcox Outdoors Show, which runs every week on WVUA-TV. The hunting and fishing show is hosted by former Alabama All-American Tommy Wilcox and features celebrity guests from the worlds of sports and entertainment.  Gary has won more than 20 Associated Press Broadcast Awards including Best Sportscaster in Mississippi and five consecutive Alabama Best Sportscaster Awards.

During his time at WVUA-TV, Gary has done play-by-play for live and delayed telecasts of Alabama football, men's and women's basketball, baseball, softball and gymnastics. His experience also includes radio play-by-play for high school football and junior college baseball and basketball. "The best thing about living in Tuscaloosa is covering the Crimson Tide and being part of one of the best communities in the country," Harris said. Another highlight for Gary at WVUA is producing and hosting Football Friday, a 30 minute live show featuring high school football in West Alabama. "We do the only television show that is focused on all the great high school football played in West Alabama," said Harris.

Gary is a native of Miami, Florida although he also lived in Michigan, Texas and Alabama while growing up. Gary graduated from Cleburne County High School in Heflin, Alabama and attended Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama. Gary currently resides in Northport.

Editor's Note  by Stan J. Griffin: If you live in or near Tuscaloosa and follow sports on any level, than you are no doubt very familiar with the familiar face and good work of WVUA Sports Director Gary Harris.  He has been a fixture regarding sports coverage in Tuscaloosa and in the state for several years, whether it be during his usual duties of anchoring the station's regular news telecasts or his great work with projects such as Tider Insider TV and Crimson Classics. I recently interviewed Gary on a wide-ranging host of sports topics and he graciously was ready and willing to help us. I appreciate his insights and his help on the interview and I think you will thoroughly enjoy his thoughts. 

THE SPORTS CONNECTION: You recently got to to cover yet another national championship for the University of Alabama football program. Is this beginning to be "old hat" for you, or is it still as exciting as ever getting to cover a team on the biggest stage at all?

GARY HARRIS: It is still  very exciting but I have to admit, having covered three in the last four years I have learned what to expect so the "surprise factor" is gone. I do enjoy it though!

TSC  I know you are from Miami, so was it especially special getting to return to South Florida to cover Alabama's championship game this time around?

GH:  Yes,it's special anytime you can return to the place where you were born.

TSC: What were your general impressions of the overall atmosphere of the title game this time around, how that atmosphere changed fast with Bama jumping to an early big lead with a lot of Notre Dame fans in attendance, and Alabama's performance in the game overall?

GH: Before the game the atmosphere was electric and the Notre Dame fans were as loud and excited as any group of fans I have ever seen. By halftime though, it was like someone let the air out of a balloon...they were deflated!

TSC: With its third championship in four years and second in a row, what are your thoughts about Alabama's current dynasty and how you think it ranks in the annals of college football history?

GH: I think this run by Alabama is as impressive as any in the history of college football when one considers the era in which it is taking place. The way the rules are set up today and with the scholarship reductions, there is no way one team should be dominating the way that the Crimson Tide is right now.

TSC:  What does this title also do for Nick Saban's legacy now?

GH: It earns him a spot among the all-time coaching greats.

TSC:  As far as your station's coverage of the championship event, did you feel that everything went smoothly both in terms of the coverage in Miami and also the coverage back here in Tuscaloosa of the celebration, etc?

GH: Everything went very smoothly and I would put our Championship Game coverage up against anyone.

TSC:  I know the process of covering such a major event is the result of  a lot of planning and a lot of hard work......Describe the thrill of being able to put together such a team effort in regards to covering such an event and I am sure it's probably a little exhausting as well........

GH: Very good question. That is the most gratifying part of something like this. It's a team effort and takes a lot of hard work from everyone on the team! I loved being a part of it.

TSC:  Obviously one of your most popular roles for WVUA is as host of Tider Insider TV, which also features college football insider Rodney Orr. How long do you think conversation about the Tide's latest title will dominate conversation on the show and do you still feel a huge buzz about the title in Tuscaloosa, even a week after the fact?

GH: My guess is that the the latest championship and the anticipation of another next season will dominate the conversation on the show from now until next season.

TSC:  What do you enjoy most about this show, and it seems like you and Rodney have always had a pretty good on-air chemistry... Have you also gained a great enjoyment from narrating the Alabama football greatest games DVDS and things such as that too?

GH: Rodney and I get along very well off the set and talk football all the time. I think that comes through when we are on the air doing the show. Hosting and narrating the "Crimson Classics" DVD series has been one of the most rewarding things I have ever done.

TSC:  You also have worked with former Tide football star Tommy Wilcox on his outdoors show....Discuss that program and working with the former Bama All-American.

GH: Tommy and I are good friends as well and he loves the outdoors. Being able to take what he and the crew video in the field and turning it into a finished product is challenging but enjoyable. Of course, I love hearing Coach Bryant stories from him as well.

TSC:  Although I know you really don't still have much of a chance to rest even after the football season ends, but it is tough for you making the transition from football to other sports such as basketball?

GH: It's not tough at all because I am not just a football fan...I'm a fan of all sports and look forward to covering them all.

TSC: Can you describe a typical workday for you as you get ready to plan shows such as Tider Insider and your daily sports segmentsduring the day as well.......

GH: I usually get in around 1:30 in the afternoon and go home around 11:00 at night. Of course my schedule varies depending on what goes on. Once I get in, I am busy writing, editing and producing the shows.

TSC:  You have been with WVUA since the very beginning and I know you have worked with a variety of people during your time, with some having moved on to other cities and other news jobs. Are you still perfectly happy and content being a key part of the Tuscaloosa sports scene and the Tuscaloosa community overall. Would you still like to be in the same role, say maybe 10 years from now? What do you enjoy most about being the sports anchor in Tuscaloosa, other than obviously being able to cover championship teams on a yearly basis?

GH: I love working at WVUA-TV and living in Tuscaloosa. I don't know if I will be here in ten years from now, but if I am I hope I am still as happy as I am now. The best thing about being a sportscaster here in Tuscaloosa is that people love sports. It isn't a "part time" love either. People love sports "all the time" here...win or lose. It's a great sports town!

TSC:  WVUA is a unique station in that many University of Alabama journalism students gain a great deal of education, and really begin their careers by working at the station. Do you get a lot of joy or satisfaction seeing these students begin to bloom into full-fledged journalists?

GH: I really do. We have former students working all over the country at different stations. It is a very rewarding aspect of my job.

TSC:  Are there any other projects that you would like to be involved with in the future, including other possible DVDS and maybe even books at some point?

GH: I have thought about writing a book. It is something that interests me. I would like to do more play by play in the future as well.

TSC:  Who were some of your main journalist influences, whether it be sports or news, and are there some that you can name now that are some of your favorites, whether it be national or local writers/announcers, in terms of their style or things that really impress you about them?

GH: Growing up, I was a huge fan of Curt Gowdy, Howard Cosell,  Keith Jackson, Jim Simpson and Pat Summerall. While I was in high school, I  enjoyed watching Herb Winches when he was on in Birmingham. Currently, I like watching Jim Nantz and I have always admired Brent Musberger. I also really enjoy listening to Eli Gold call Alabama football on the radio. Eli is a real pro.

TSC:  Early thoughts about an Alabama three-peat?

GH: Right now today, I really like Alabama's chances to make it three in a row. A great program with the best coach in the game. It's a terrific combination!