Sooner Eclipse
7/25/2007, 10:31 PM
link to OU insider story re: B12 Media Day (http://ouinsider.com/news/story.php?article=194)
Crew Check
Last fall we began working with writers at the Dallas Morning News and the Tulsa World on officiating crews and their assignment to Big 12 games, and the corresponding hometowns and/or alma maters of the officials. We told you we would monitor these crew assignments during the year and submit them to the conference to explain.
If you remember, our publisher cornered former Big 12 Commissioner Kevin Weiberg last summer and asked if new Big 12 Director of Officials Walt Anderson could install a policy to prevent another Lubbock, where the official making the call was in fact an insurance salesman in Lubbock. And to make matters worse, later employed the young man the he ruled in the endzone.
If you recall, Weiberg thought the policy unnecessary and said it would hamper him on assignments, as three of eight crews were basically HQ’d in the Austin area and that would prevent them from working some of the conferences most important games.
That started our joint campaign to change things and we installed a tracking program detailing where every Big 12 crew worked and what if any connection they had to the teams involved.
Apparently, our not-so-subtle tracking paid off, as today we asked and Walt Anderson said the Big 12 now has a policy that prevents hometown officials and former players from working games involving those schools.
Congrats to Walt Anderson. Thank goodness, the weak-kneed Weiberg is gone, as it appears that the policy was adopted either over his objection, or after his departure.
When OUInsider Publisher Brian Bishop asked in the press conference if the new policy would be available for the press to review, Anderson hesitated as Interim Commissioner Dan Beebe cut in from the back of the room and said that the conference would study the possibility of releasing the new policy.
Brian then asked Beebe if that was a Yes or No? When Beebe refused to answer, a rather angry Brian then asked Beebe if he was in fact the re-embodiment of Kevin Weiberg, as that was exactly the kind of bureaucratic answer Weiberg would give while saying nothing.
Beebe sat silent with steam escaping from his ears and giving Brian the stare down, while many members of the media responded with wide grins and a thumbs up sign.
Anderson, an NFL official appeared competent and knowledgeable of the reasons and supportive of the policy. The conference is lucky to have him, and once again, the power of the press has brought about necessary reform.
This sounds great if true, but I would want to read the policy to see that there are not loopholes to allow Austin crews anywhere near the cotton bowl. Also, Beebe sounds as spineless as Weiberg. Does anyone know where his loyalties lie? If he can't wholeheartedly support this, it's the first best reason not to make his "interim" title permanent. Hope it goes in over all the Texas homer's objections.
:pop:
Sorry about the link to insider but it's the only place i've seen the story.
Crew Check
Last fall we began working with writers at the Dallas Morning News and the Tulsa World on officiating crews and their assignment to Big 12 games, and the corresponding hometowns and/or alma maters of the officials. We told you we would monitor these crew assignments during the year and submit them to the conference to explain.
If you remember, our publisher cornered former Big 12 Commissioner Kevin Weiberg last summer and asked if new Big 12 Director of Officials Walt Anderson could install a policy to prevent another Lubbock, where the official making the call was in fact an insurance salesman in Lubbock. And to make matters worse, later employed the young man the he ruled in the endzone.
If you recall, Weiberg thought the policy unnecessary and said it would hamper him on assignments, as three of eight crews were basically HQ’d in the Austin area and that would prevent them from working some of the conferences most important games.
That started our joint campaign to change things and we installed a tracking program detailing where every Big 12 crew worked and what if any connection they had to the teams involved.
Apparently, our not-so-subtle tracking paid off, as today we asked and Walt Anderson said the Big 12 now has a policy that prevents hometown officials and former players from working games involving those schools.
Congrats to Walt Anderson. Thank goodness, the weak-kneed Weiberg is gone, as it appears that the policy was adopted either over his objection, or after his departure.
When OUInsider Publisher Brian Bishop asked in the press conference if the new policy would be available for the press to review, Anderson hesitated as Interim Commissioner Dan Beebe cut in from the back of the room and said that the conference would study the possibility of releasing the new policy.
Brian then asked Beebe if that was a Yes or No? When Beebe refused to answer, a rather angry Brian then asked Beebe if he was in fact the re-embodiment of Kevin Weiberg, as that was exactly the kind of bureaucratic answer Weiberg would give while saying nothing.
Beebe sat silent with steam escaping from his ears and giving Brian the stare down, while many members of the media responded with wide grins and a thumbs up sign.
Anderson, an NFL official appeared competent and knowledgeable of the reasons and supportive of the policy. The conference is lucky to have him, and once again, the power of the press has brought about necessary reform.
This sounds great if true, but I would want to read the policy to see that there are not loopholes to allow Austin crews anywhere near the cotton bowl. Also, Beebe sounds as spineless as Weiberg. Does anyone know where his loyalties lie? If he can't wholeheartedly support this, it's the first best reason not to make his "interim" title permanent. Hope it goes in over all the Texas homer's objections.
:pop:
Sorry about the link to insider but it's the only place i've seen the story.