Unable to find enough teachers, Ga. district cancels school

What happens to Georgia education?

Tired of struggling to find enough teachers to staff its classrooms on the Friday before the annual Georgia-Florida football game, the Clarke County (Ga.) School District -- which includes Athens, home of the University of Georgia -- decided to cancel school altogether, ESPN reported.

According to area media reports, 137 teachers last year called in sick the day before the big game, and the district was able to find only 113 substitutes.

School administrators studied the absences over the years and found a pattern -- almost twice as many teachers call in sick the Friday before the annual game in Jacksonville, Fla., about 360 miles away, than on an average school day.

So the district decided to call off school the Friday before the game. And Clarke County is not alone; the schools in nearby Madison and Oglethorpe counties also are taking the day off.

Although some parents and teachers are questioning whether the day off places too much emphasis on football over academics, at least one school administrator believes it's a wise move on the district's part.

"I've heard parents say that it's ridiculous, but the reality of the situation is, if there are so many people in this system and this community that go to the game -- if that's a reality -- it's irresponsible [to have school on that day] if that really is our community," said Barrow Elementary School principal Tad MacMillan, according to the Athens Banner-Herald. "I think the school system is wise to factor that in when they plan the calendar."

By the way, no teacher deficiency problems are reported by the Alachua County School District.

Source: ESPN.com

Hi, I'm Phil Fulmer and I approve this message

Hi, Phil! For your convenience, I borrowed a script from Coach Willingham for you. Feel free to use this!

I'll make a statement, regarding my future as the head football coach at the University of Tennessee. Mike Hamilton and I have met over a series of days, and we have come to a decision that at the end of the 2008 football season, they are going to move in another direction with the head football coach of this university. It is my desire to complete and finish the football season and do that in the manner that I have done it, unwavering in my approach and commitment to our young men and to the goals that we have set for them. I am hoping that this announcement will allow the volunteer family to come together and eliminate all of the speculation and all of the negativity that has surrounded the program and unite so that this football team and these young men can do the things necessary to be successful both on and off the field. Thank you.

Meanwhile, ESPN reported Phillip Fulmer spent a lot of time Tuesday defending himself and dismissing speculation about his job security.

Source: ESPN.com

15 players test positive for drugs at North Texas

Fifteen North Texas players failed drug tests conducted this fall at the request of coach Todd Dodge.  Coach Dodge couldn't specify the types of drugs, but later referred to them generally as "street drugs."

Going 0-8, we know the Mean Green stinks. Now they even smell weed.

Source: ESPN.com

Replay official did not know the rule

ESPN reported that Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany said a replay official mistakenly awarded Michigan a touchdown during its game against Michigan State on Oct. 25, 2008.

"You can understand a mistake of judgment on the field, and you can even understand possibly not getting the standard right because we want indisputable video evidence that a play is wrong. But to apply the wrong rule to a situation is not acceptable to me."

The bottom line is the reply official did not know the rule that an airborne player who touches a pylon is considered out of bounds.

Here is an interesting posting found on the ESPN message board:

"Apparently the replay official was Dick Honig, a 1963 U of M graduate who coached at U of M for ten years and has kept his association with U of M alive all of these years. This was reported today in the Detroit Free Press on their web site. No wonder he made up a new rule."

Source: ESPN.com

Thank YOU, Mr. Two Bits!

Mr. Two-Bits - otherwise known as 86-year-old St. Petersburg insurance man George Edmondson - walked onto Florida Field 20 minutes before the Gators' Homecoming game Saturday to be acknowledged for the 60 years he has dedicated to Florida football.

What began in 1949 as a young man leading five or six Gator fans in a cheer is now a University of Florida tradition, and the man who started it is a legend.



Two bits, four bits, six bits, a dollar!
All for the gators, stand up and holler!

Source: Gainesville.com

BCS Standings (October 19, 2008)

BCS Standings (October 19, 2008)

1. Texas 7-0
2. Alabama 7-0
3. Penn State 8-0
4. Oklahoma 6-1
5. USC 5-1
6. Oklahoma State 7-0
7. Georgia 6-1
8. Texas Tech 7-0
9. Ohio State 7-1
10. Florida 5-1
11. Utah 8-0
12. Boise State 6-0
13. LSU 5-1
14. TCU 7-1
15. Missouri 5-2
16. South Florida 6-1
17. Pitt 5-1
18. Georgia Tech 6-1
19. Tulsa 7-0
20. Ball State 7-0
21. BYU 6-1
22. Northwestern 6-1
23. Kansas 5-2
24. Minnesota 6-1
25. Florida State 5-1

SEC Referee tackles South Carolina QB

Former Kentucky linebacker Wilbur Hackett Jr.’s latest hit may be his most popular of all.

The former Wildcat standout and current Southeastern Conference official collides with South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia during the second quarter Saturday.



Source: ESPN.com

Bowden out at Clemson

Clemson ousted football coach Tommy Bowden on Monday, four days after the Tigers, who were the favorites to win the ACC championship, lost to Wake Forest and fell to 3-3.

Bowden informed his assistant coaches of his ouster Monday morning. Assistant head coach/wide receivers coach Dabo Swinney has been named interim coach for the final six regular-season games and potential bowl game. Clemson offensive coordinator Rob Spence also has been ousted, a source close to the situation said.

Bowden will be paid through the end of the season, then get $3.5 million as a buyout negotiated in the contract extension the two sides agreed to in December 2007. Clemson's season started with a big thud, a 24-point loss to then-No. 24 Alabama that senior quarterback Cullen Harper said "really hurt our confidence."

Harper, who was benched after the Tigers' loss to Wake Forest and replaced by highly regarded sophomore Willy Korn, said the program needed to cut ties with Bowden.

"It's what he deserved," Harper said. "Dabo Swinney is a fine man and will do an excellent job."

Source: ESPN.com

No.4 LSU 21, No.11 Florida 51 Gator Bait

No.4 LSU 21, No.11 Florida 51 (October 11, 2008)

Two passing touchdowns, three rushing touchdowns, and one interception return for a touchdown. LSU has allowed 50 or more points just five times in its long history of SEC play. Saturday night's debacle in Gainesville, however, marked the third time Florida has been the culprit.

LSU Allowing 50+ Points Since Formation of SEC (1933)

• 1996 13-56 Florida
• 1980 31-55 Miss. St.
• 1993 3-53 Florida
• 2007 48-50 Arkansas
• 2008 21-51 Florida

Source: ESPN.com

The Express (2008)

The true story of Ernie Davis, two-time All-American running back for Syracuse University who led his team to the national championship in 1960. In 1961, he became the first black man to win the Heisman Trophy. Later that year, he was the first pick in the NFL draft.