The real question at OSU
In case you missed it on my video commentary …
Mike Gundy has a conundrum on his hands.
Sure, there’s the question of Bobby Reid or Zac Robinson, the quarterback quandary that surfaced suddenly last weekend. But really, at the heart of that is a bigger, tougher question.
How can you sit an athlete like Bobby Reid?
The junior is an elite athlete. He’s big. He’s strong. He’s fast. He has every bit of athletic ability that you could want.
Football coaches work to find ways to get guys like him onto the field.
How, then, is Gundy supposed to sit him? It goes against every coaching fiber in his body. Hey, I understand that there are other considerations in this Reid-Robinson question. Reid has been solid for two years, so one rough stretch is not exactly a fireable offense. Being so quick on the trigger isn’t a good way to manage quarterbacks, anyway.
Of course, Reid’s continuing inconsistency at this point in his career would be enough to drive me crazy if I was Gundy.
By the way, yours truly is one of the biggest Bobby Reid fans around. He’s a super kid and a stellar athlete. Heck, a year ago, I wrote that I thought he had a chance to be the second coming of Vince Young.
And frankly, Sir Vincent is likely one of the reasons Gundy is struggling with what to do about his quarterbacks. Young battled inconsistency the first two years of his career, too. But when he put it all together — man, oh man, he was spectacular. A big-time athlete who finally figured it out.
That’s exactly what Gundy hopes to get from Reid. And if he replaces him with Robinson, he’ll always wonder “What if?” What if Reid was only a week away from putting it all together? What if Robinson turned out to be a good quarterback but Reid could’ve been a great one? What if Bobby Reid could have been Vince Young?
When you have an athlete as good as Reid, putting him on the bench is a gut-wrenching decision for the coach.
The question, then, isn’t “Reid or Robinson?”
It’s “How long will Gundy allow Reid’s potential to go unrealized?”
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Comments
I’ve just never bought into this Bobby Reid as savior belief. Why do they compare him to Vince Young? Simple, both are black, they tend to run when pressed, and neither could be considered great throwers, although Young is definately better than Reid. I remember watching the HS championship game Reid played in as a senior. I thought the opposing QB had a much better arm, and that Reid wasn’t all that impressive. The big problem at OSU is that many recruits in football and basketball, tend to get overblown. When they have to put up or shut up, just like the teams, they come up short. XLK? What did he have? 10 tackles over a career? Byron Eaton? Good God, probably the biggest disappointment ever. That whole recruiting class? A HUGE diasappointment. The 1988 football team? Probably the best OSU team ever. As usual, fell short at OU and NU. That game with NU was hyped to the max. From the start of the game we fell behind 42 or 48-0 before we managed to score. On national TV, no less. I think OSU will probably never climb to the top in either sport, but always fall short. OU fans, try to feel good about your start, and refrain from the usual crowing. It’s easy to make fun of someone when they’re down, but does it really make you feel better about yourself?
Jenni,
Any thoughts as to the stock market? Your about as qualified to comment on that as your are sports.
Is Yellow Journalism a qualification for your job? You certainly abused your position as a journalist, unless of course, you can substantiate what you said in the article; or are you going to hide behind your position and not reveal such information.
Wow, I assume that your “chicken” article was a desperate bid for attention. I just can’t believe that you won’t reveal your sources throughout the entire article. You deserve every bit of criticism that comes your way. Sure, A 21 year old should probably not be fed chicken by his mother in public, but the fact that you introduced that information into the media is despicable. Leave family information out of the media. As a professional journalist (i.e. Not the Insider, Current Affair, or Inside Edition) you should have more class than what you’ve displayed. Overall, it was an interesting article, but used juvenile methods of information. The coddling remark is unnecessary and makes you sound like a real bitch.
“By the way, yours truly is one of the biggest Bobby Reid fans around. He’s a super kid and a stellar athlete.”
Yeah, good one. . . Jenni
Jenni,
This is what’s wrong with female journalists-period! Plus, why don’t you give OSU a little bit of time to get him back on the field? Some players with more potential just don’t pan out but you wouldn’t know that! This entire paper lives and breathes OU football and always has. Just enjoy your Sooners and try to be fair when reporting on OSU-that’s for your entire Oklahoman staff!
And for our Stan friend on the thread, how about two final fours, a final eight, etc. for your short basketball memory-you probably didn’t even graduate from OU which is the case with most of you band wagon idiots. The OSU faithful are graduates regardless of our woes we’ve all contributed along the way and received our dipoma from our proud institution! If it were my wish, I could care less if OU wins another game in anything due to the quality of your fans!
Thanks,
Jenni-
The absolute beauty in this whole situation will soon reveal its “ugly” head. Let’s assume you were actually quoting “OSU” inside sources…those sources are now gone. Let’s assume will will stay employed and continue to write editorials about OSU sports…they will not be read. Let’s assume you travel to Stillwater for any type of sports coverage…you will be heckled and cursed. So at the end of the day, when you weigh your decision to write this article and use such a ridiculous example of how Reid is “soft”…it truly has backfired on you. You are being laughed at by your peers and the overwhelming majority of the public. As the old saying goes…you can either be happy or right. I guess your ego has won the coin toss…
The “eating chicken” comments were despicable. You seem to be somewhat educated. How couldn’t you equate that those comments may appear just a little racist? It plays into the stereotypes that all black people eat fried chicken. Why should Gundy clarify with your inaccuracies? He’s been hired to coach. Not address reckless reporting. I saw your response on TV and you still dont get it. You werent’t contrite in the least. You even admitted in a prior blog that you feel the need to do a little better as a female. Dont resort to tabloid tactics in an effort to compete in a competitive field. Coach was right. You are garbage.
You made Rush Limbaugh!! What a great Day for you. Can we expect an apology anytime soon, or are you going to have kids next???
The last time I checked Newspaper Reporters had to verify Sources. Reporting only unbiased facts. You based the story on “what you heard all week.” You were wrong and have no place reporting on sports you have no history of playing.
You and others like you..wannabe counselors at large…talk in circles. You don’t know anything if all you know is history…feminist jargon…why are you so jealous of men….we beat you at every turn when you attempt to think like a man and if men thought like women, you would never win. You blow smoke in the wind when you attempt to criticise like your male counterparts wish they could. Write to the banditos of the world. Jealously needs company.
The real question…
Jenni – I saw the tirade clip, and the clip of you and your editor. And read Mr. Griffith’s [of FWAA fame] defense of your column…. and yes I read your column.
Your defenders should be ashamed, but then again Ive hardly ever heard such behavior or “attitude” from a journalist. For example this from an AP writer – Football Writers Association of America president Mike Griffith called Gundy’s behavior “completely inappropriate” and suggested the matter “could have been handled in a more private and appropriate matter.” – couldnt be more clear. Yes, journalists get to trash in public but “deserve” to have their opinions, thoughts and professionalism treated in an appropriate manner… in private. This is why journalism has so quickly achieved the professional “admiration” usually reserved for lawyers. As a whole, journalists & news organizations have earned their reputation as low class, unprofessional and in general liberally ignorant and emotionally-female in psyche.
Your column on Reid demonstrated you to be of low class and character. The “column” sounded more like a whiny high-school girl, the kind whom any adult can see within the catty wheels of an emotionally immature girl whirling around like a high pitched Barbie bobble head.
You were right to standby the facts of your story; there were so few stating such too zero moral or ethical courage.
Why dont you do the proper thing and apologize for being so unprofessional.
Surely you at one time had hopes of being a professional journalist of some sort; even if only a commentator on the adventures of Martha Stewart and Brittany.
Your choice is one of character or of none; it’s your ball dear….. but I dont think you know how to run with one. On or off the field.
After a great game and being a OU fan mainly but also supporting any Okla team..As a journalist you definately should report the facts etc…and some opinions although Gundy may not have handled it totally correct i think more of the outrage is for the Sarcasms in the story 1)his mother feeding him chicken is a bad look that really has no bearing on the story..that in turn to a college athlete and anyone for that matter indirectly makes them to be looked at a certain way “soft”.. 2)thats a moment between parent and kid who knows what they may have talked about maybe she was helping him to better deal with the situation of being benched,demoted or whatever …all in all som things were put in the story that just didnt have to be there …just my opinion..i still think your a good writer etc..hopefully everyone handles situations better down the road
Jenni
You have your 15 minutes of fame and the fact that i am writing this is proof. I am a Michigan fan and OSU is Ohio State University until your pathetic attempt at sports reporting. Have you ever had to go through a practice of any kind other than typing? Have you ever laid it all on the line and not measure up to what others thought you should have? Oh, and all before your 24th birthday? I seriously doubt it. You should get out of sports, PERIOD. I have not been a fan of women reporting on football ever, they just don’t know. While I will also admit that there are a number of male sports reporters that should get out as well, where’s Keith Jackson when we need him?
As I stated I am a Michigan fan and when I listened to the stupid @#$@ remarks that reporters were making about a team I was furious, these are kids, but you well, you have taken it to another level picking on an indifidual. Nice job, I hope you can live with yourself, but your kind always manages to blame others
Rick
Please just apologize. You messed up and you know it.
Good for Mike and college sports.
Bad for you.
I read Jenni’s comments after Gundy’s remarks. My observations have been that newspeople have a hard time with the truth and integrity. It seems that Jenni has the “Dan Rather Complex.” I am not a Gundy fan but he was correct on this one. If Jenni had been a lady of integrity, she would have said, “I’m sorry and I erred” and then would have moved on. It seems that Colleges of Communications are putting out reporters that don’t value the 9th commandment….thou shalt not lie.
As a mother of a college athlete I find you terribly offensive & you should apologize publicly for your actions. How dare you blast personal moments of this fine young man and his mother all over the front page, but then you are NOT a mother yourself. How about sticking to what you do know & staying away from what you obviously don’t. You are pathetic.
One less subscriber to this paper. All because of your blatant ignorance.
I’ve stayed away from your articles in the past due to their simplicity and, frankly, ignorance of sports in general. Now I will stay away from the paper completely.
You will soon find that the reading public matters very much in your day-to-day life. Once you are gone, perhaps some of the subscribers who have jumped will come back.
Bet you’ll think twice before you go down this road again, young lady. Best of luck!
Dictionary.com defines dignity as follows:
1. bearing, conduct, or speech indicative of self-respect or appreciation of the formality or gravity of an occasion or situation.
“appreciation of the formality or gravity of an occasion or situation”.
Got dignity? Then apologize.
No apology? Then no appreciation of the gravity of the situation….then no dignity…then no self-respect.
I cannot believe this…As a former journalist myself, I find it so incredibly unethical to label Reid as a mommy’s boy. Not only that, but as an educated Caucasian woman, I am FLOORED that the comment of “eating chicken” would come up…what does that have to do with anything? As a journalist, and columnist you do reserve the right to your own opinion, but ethically why would you say something that referred to what African Americans already believe to be racist issue? I am done with the Oklahoman. I will never read it again.
Terrible comment from Jenni – be sorry for your words.
Eat your words when you are a parent yourself. Someone will be watching when you feed your child anything!!! We will all see the picture of that in the paper (NOT).
You need to apologize.
Go Jenni!!!! Dont listen to these idiots…You are a great journalists …..I guess they have never of freedom of the press out in Oklahoma…..Gundy sounded like an uneducated, idiot.
Hey Jenni! If you want to know what part of your article was correct from Coach Gundy then why don’t you tell who your sources are so we can ask them what was said. Seems only fair to me.
Mike Gundy looked like a blabbering idiot. That’s not passion, that’s just a guy who can’t control his emotions losing control. I recommend counseling. Was he picked on as a child? Was dad a little to rough on him. Is he still trying to please mom? What a jerk. It didn’t matter what she said or wrote. A class act would have called her aside and had a one-on-one confrontation if he had a problem. Could you see a real winner like a John Wooden acting like this clown. He’s a poor man’s Bobby Knight.
Pathetic.
Jenni gave Oaktree grief about the noose at one of their holes that is extremely difficult and stated that the noose was racist, which in fact it wasn’t. It was just a hole that was so hard that after you played it, you wanted to hang yourself. And then she goes off and gives Reid a hard time about getting fed chicken from his momma, and as most people would agree that there are stereotypes that black men like chicken and are close to their mothers. I find it ironic to say the least.
I personally usually enjoy Jenni’s columns, and I’d hate to see her leave the Oklahoman. If she chooses to stay here in the Sooner state, then she needs to apologize. She was out of line. Some people probably still will hate her and won’t forgive her, but most Oklahomans will.
As a college prof, I deal with people Reid’s age every day. Some are amazing, confident, hardworking kids. But they’re still kids. I’ve learned to be careful about calling a student lazy until I know what’s going on. If I criticize a student for not getting their work done, then find out they’ve got a learning disability, are working 30 hours a week, and taking care of an invalid parent, I’ve screwed up.
Moral of the story–find out why the kid is unsuccessful before you beat on them, don’t assume you know. Coaches don’t always want to tell the extent of an athlete’s injury, or sometimes it’s just puzzingly slow to heal. Did you ask, Ms. Carlson? Or would that have ruined the pleasure you took in writing a snarky column?
You are the typical problem with reporters. Freedom of the press allows you to trash people in public and expect them to handle it. You trash this kids credibility but then you want someone to talk with you in private? A double standard that has become all to familiar. What gets me more is that now media types will try to basically go after Gundy because he dared speak up. And this is responsible journalism? Sad. I say its time for this country to start looking into some type of independent oversight of the media- its clear they cant do that themselves. Your a joke and your editor is one for backing you.
You are garbage and should be fired. You must have some serious self confidence issues to attack someone like that. The best part is the “invisible” sources. Do your imaginary fiends have names? Your life would be a whole lot easier if they did. This is going to follow you for a long time.
You are a complete joke! The fact that you purport to know the first thing about football is laughable – trying to win a Pulitzer off the back of a college student is trifling as hell and speaks to your lack of talent. I proudly join the legions of supporters for Gundy. As for you, maybe you can find a job writing ads for a local chicken shack, since you like chicken so much. And pleased don’t think that astute readers failed to pick up on your foul little reference to chicken – every closed eye ain’t sleep, honey. So I know what you meant, and you should be ashamed. Glad I’m not forced to put up with your crappy journalism on a daily basis – i feel sorry for your paper’s readers.
Disgusting. Why would you ever single out one player who, day after day follows his coach, leads his team, and actually means something to a lot of people, only to make yourself feel better? He is a college student, and an athlete, and you smearing him across the newspapers is if nothing else, the epitome of what you and your profession has become. It brings out one significant fact that you will never change- that your articles are nothing more than the rants of a poor girl who will never see the inside of a football stadium, baseball stadium, chess stadium, or even a pee wee field from the inside of a helmet. THAT would require that you put something on the line, that you have integrity, and that you actually have something to lose. It takes absolutely no courage to talk about someone without confronting them. Only cowards do that, and you, by writing this article, have clearly made your case as to where you belong. Its no wonder you write articles like these from behind a little cubicle, hiding behind your computer. You truly are one of those cold and timid souls who will know neither victory or defeat.
“…… if I were Gundy……” it should be, because, of course, you’re not.