That really got out of hand fast! Granted, no one was stabbed by a trident, there were no horses and as far as I can tell no one named Brick killed a guy. Anchormen and reporters did, however, lose their minds and it it very well could have led to that.
Gordon Gee retired. Yes, what he said was ill-advised. I think most can agree he made what was, for lack of a better term, a questionable judgment call. Of course, who would think that statements made at an event attended by pro-OSU folks where pro-OSU jokes were told would end up imploding a guy recently named as the best University president by Time Magazine?
He has kind of downplayed the role that the snafu played in his retirement, as I would expect to be the case. It’s Tressel-like, really. Remember his retirement? It felt a lot like this. It was a rather unceremonious end to what had developed into a 3 ring circus. I don’t think that the BOT or many OSU alums necessarily wanted this outcome, either, but I think many can understand why it happened. Gee has had a habit of putting his foot in his mouth and it became a liability to a University who has taken a massive beating where image to outsiders is concerned.
Sure, he says what a lot of others may be thinking (fans from other B1G schools actually even supported him, which was weird to see), but a University President just can’t do that. They need a filter many of us may not have. They need to toe the PC line and they have to keep the image of a University sparkly, shiny and clean.
I’ve read the comments, I’ve heard the speech, and I think it got blown way out of proportion after both digesting what was said and hearing it in context. I’m in the camp of “meh” in terms of what was said. Of course, I’m neither Catholic or from Kentucky, nor have I ever resided in SEC territory. I’ve talked to a few who fit those categories, however, and most of them were pretty “meh” too. What has given me pause is what was the final straw? Was it the Catholic thing? Was it the Louisville or Kentucky thing? Nah, I don’t think it was.
I honestly think it was the comments about the SEC. I think that is why the audio, which was taped way back in December, came to light in the first place.
I know that some eye-rolling just occurred from those that aren’t all-in on the Major Sports Media not named the BTN/SEC vs OSU/B1G conspiracies. Bear with me, though, because this time I have some reason to toss fuel onto the long-burning fire. It begins and ends with University of Alabama System Chancellor Robert Witt.
Robert Witt was the President at the University of Alabama when he made a few remarks about segregation, Fraternities and Sororities that were, well, ill-advised.
“It is appropriate that all our sororities and fraternities – traditionally African-American, traditionally white and multicultural – determine their membership,” Witt said. Effectively, he said that it is acceptable for organizations who build houses on University land, in some cases with University bonds, to continue to disqualify certain students from membership because of their race.
Oh, dear.
The Crimson White, the student newspaper at Bama, obviously took him to task. Statements of the “oh geez, that’s not what he meant” variety were released by the University of Alabama and nothing really happened. Oh, wait, something did happen. He was promoted to Chancellor of the whole damn University system. They did hire a woman to take his old job, so, hey look at Bama being progressive!
There’s one big thing about that snafu that I found interesting. I didn’t hear about it until yesterday. I only heard about it as someone Tweeted the article I had linked to basically say “hey, uh, isn’t this worse or something?” Look at the date of The Crimson White article. It’s September 19th 2011. That was about a year and a half ago and I’d heard nothing? That seems weird as I watch a lot of sports programming, read a lot of blogs, browse Social Media regularly and generally try to stay as informed about stuff like this as humanly possible.
If sports media was consistent, I would think that the President of the University with the premier football team in a football-rich conference would be called out on the mat to answer for such ridiculously ill-advised statements, right?
But, no, that didn’t happen. I’m sure the reason it didn’t happen is because said media would hate to stop their glowing praise of all things Bama and SEC. It was probably considered a non-story at the time. But, boy, make a few ill-advised jokes and sign Degrees from THE Ohio State University and watch the sparks fly.
So, what is the trigger? When do we, as a Nation, get offended? Is it when religion is attacked? Is it when we toss stereotypes about? Is it when race is made an issue? What about sexual orientation, is it that? Or does it simply matter who is saying those things and who their employer is? Can we get some much needed consistency around this, please? I want to make sure that I don’t accidentally offend someone. It seems rather complicated at this point and, apparently, just not being a dick isn’t an option.
I understand why what happened to Gee happened. I’m just trying to determine when the things a President of a Major University say become an issue worthy of a massive media witch hunt and when it’s no big deal.
I’m reasonable, however, so if someone can successfully argue that Gee’s comments were worse than Witt’s, I’ll listen. If you can tell me why Gee’s comments (made in ill-advised jest) were worthy of dismissal and a collective head explosion and Witt’s (made in all seriousness) are no biggie, I will certainly entertain your notions. I’ll hang up and listen.
