When does ESPN cross into the realm of blatant slander?

[Rip Rap]

From their article on Petrino: "Sources familiar with the situation say Notre Dame never actually offered Petrino the job."

We didn't offer Hawkins, we didn't talk with Tedford, and even Meyer claims there was no job offer. ESPN is looking like a grocery-store tabloid with their juvenile rants about Notre Dame's coaching search. Kansas' Mangino? They're just trying too hard now. We've already passed up on guys like Petrino and Hawkins, and their resigning for a meager half-million a year is proof.

I know something is probably in the works already. But ESPN is blatantly attempting to destroy Notre Dame as an institution, and they should be embarassed. Every day there is a new article about who Notre Dame has 'lost,' and I haven't seen one bit about Washington, Stanford, BYU, etc. ESPN is still a joke.

 

[Rip Rap]

And yet Sports Illustrated has been very professional.

 

[Guest]

ESPN has acted childish.

 

[TMossND]

Rip Rap-
I couldn't agree more. Just about 5 minutes ago, ESPN had a special on all the coaches who would "rather stay put than coach the Irish". I think the past week has been their favorite in a long time, because it gives them a cause to rake ND over the coals. I think the scheme is to mention any coaches name in order to get them to say they aren't interested. I think the ESPN people think that is the way to further embarrass Notre Dame. I also almost had a stroke when I heard Mangino's name mentioned- it is getting almost laughable how this is being portrayed

I do hope something is in the works. Even I am starting to panic. Two top recruits dropping today is a bad sign and something needs to happen soon.

 

[Irish Envy]

This isn't just a Notre Dame thing. ESPN loves to really take shots are fallen teams. Look at how they've covered the Bulls since the dynasty downfall, the Cowboys after the Big Three left and so on.

It gives them something to try and use to cover up their piss poor journalism.

 

[irishgo8]

Well i wrote them in one of their chat and asked them y they were saying Willingham being fired was unjust when Florida did the same thing and had a bettter year than ND and ESPN said nothing of it. They ignored me.

 

[timm3117]

All i hear on espn is "So and So turned down the ND job". None of these guy have even been offered the job. ESPN is a joke. but like CBS if theres no news, make your own.

 

[Rip Rap]

Does anybody know when the next 3-hour special on why Notre Dame is irrelevant will begin?

 

[irishtexan]

half of espn's commentators who couldnt make it in the pros after college, so of course they are pissed off at the world. and bob davie bashing the irish, this bastard needs to shut up, hes just pissed because he found out he sucked at coaching. espn's PTI every day bashes the irish and that fat f*** wilbon eats it up, just because he went to crappy ass northwestern. i wrote them too and asked them if they enjoyed the cheap shots they were gettin in. i despise their "journalism" thus far into the notre dame situation.

 

[Guest]

half of espn's commentators who couldnt make it in the pros after college, so of course they are pissed off at the world. and bob davie bashing the irish, this bastard needs to shut up, hes just pissed because he found out he sucked at coaching. espn's PTI every day bashes the irish and that fat f*** wilbon eats it up, just because he went to crappy ass northwestern. i wrote them too and asked them if they enjoyed the cheap shots they were gettin in. i despise their "journalism" thus far into the notre dame situation.

I stopped watching PTI. I feel like breaking my tv after that show.

 

[NDLyght37]

Wow...haters in the house.

I have no problem at all with ESPN's coverage. Have they been over-zealous, yes. But it's our own fault. We over-estimated our place in college football in 2004. We threw Willingham to the curb before having Meyer locked down. We have bumbled the last two coaching searches like a roto-geek trying to get his starting pitching rotation together.

Besides, we're Notre dame...we don't get to whine & moan. If we want them to shut up, we have to do it on the field. No one's going to give us sympathy, and we shouldn't be looking for it.

Instead of complaining, we need to get a great coach signed and make our haters our motivators.

Also Rip, yes SI has been proffessional...but they only come out once a week. If they had 24 hours of reporting to do (like ESPN1, ESPN2, & ESPN News), they'd be bashing ND too.

 

[Guest]

ESPN keeps saying how were done, and no one cares about ND football anymore, yet they talk about us all the friggin time.

 

[Rip Rap]

Also Rip, yes SI has been proffessional...but they only come out once a week. If they had 24 hours of reporting to do (like ESPN1, ESPN2, & ESPN News), they'd be bashing ND too.

However, my comments were in reference to their website, which is part of CNN.

 

[seIRISH]

Dont foget espn is abc. Which competes with nbc on sat. Their bashing was great today. They said Notre Dame was done and the could not get any impact players. The very next sentance was how great of a game that rookie julis jones had with the cowboys monday night

 

[NDLyght37]

However, my comments were in reference to their website, which is part of CNN.

Cool.

But I think that we're forgetting that only a small portion of ESPN is actually "news". Most of their programs (PTI, Around The Horn, Cold Pizza, Jim Rome, Sports Reporters, and apparently 75% of SportsCenter) are shows devoted to commentary & opinion. Of course those guys (and even people like Golic & theisman) are going to criticize & analyze. But I don't think anyone is going out of their way to "slander" the University.

And again, a good portion of this is a self-inflicted wound.

 

[timm3117]

Outside the Lines, tonight a ND bashfest. Opening statement "after firing Ty Willingham, ND is still without a coach" What, its been a week, this is driving me crazy. My hair is falling out. Another thing said was "With all the coaches who have turned this job down, How will they find a coach?" Who? Has ND offered the job to anyone? Did I miss something? Just because they call a guy doesnt mean they offered the job.

 

[Rip Rap]

I have heard of nobody that was offered the job. Meyer claims he wasn't, Petrino claims he wasn't, Hawkins wasn't even contacted, and neither was Tedford to my knowledge. Mooch might have been contacted, but he declined if he was; and same with Ferentz (though he is openly consulting). We are in far more control of the situation than ESPN would like to have people believe, but then, they've got a product to sell. This is the basis of my complaint.

 

[andfan1]

I want to announce that I am no longer a candidate as a sports anchor on espn. I have just signed for an addtional 4 years to my current contract. I am turning espn down for family considerations.

 

[NDLyght37]

I have heard of nobody that was offered the job. Meyer claims he wasn't, Petrino claims he wasn't, Hawkins wasn't even contacted, and neither was Tedford to my knowledge. Mooch might have been contacted, but he declined if he was; and same with Ferentz (though he is openly consulting). We are in far more control of the situation than ESPN would like to have people believe, but then, they've got a product to sell. This is the basis of my complaint.

Fair point, but I do think that ND has botched the situation. Maybe it's not as bad as 3 years ago, but they had to know how this would play. It's just common sense...I don't quit a job without having another offer on the table. Like the saying goes, "a bird in the hand is better than two in the bush".

And it is very telling that this job has become so de-valued. When the coach at Louisville doesn't want to come to Notre Dame, that should tell us that there is something inherently wrong with the job.

As for the Outside The Lines, it was a good program, IMO. Granted the set-up piece was overly dramatic...but it's television people. The actual "meat" of the show was very fair...and it's always good to see big CZ again.

 

[TSullyND]

Dont Forget how big ND is as far as ratings... ESPN and other sports outlets drool when something is going on at ND that will raise eyebrows...BIG ratings equal $$$... Let them bash all they want !! It shows a sign of jealousy ... We Will be Back with whomever it is...

 

[jiggafini19]

The fact that guys from Louisville, Cal and Boise State should also bring up the point that parity is slowly coming around in college football. On the field, money, etc. Louisville beats FSU two years ago and hangs in there with Miami this year....Troy beats Mizzou. The playing field is getting more and more even.

16 team playoff, anyone?

 

[Rip Rap]

What makes you think the guys from Cal, Louisville, and Boise State were even on our radar?

 

[NDLyght37]

Hell, the way things are going, we'll take anybody.

White will jump on the next coach that walks into his office like white on rice on a paper plate in a glass of milk in the middle of a snowstorm.

 

[timm3117]

Take your Prozac NDLyght. You sound as bad as the people in the media. Its been 2 weeks. And yes a bunch of guys turned ND down, too bad they weren't offered the job. Sometimes its ok to admit the Admin at ND are smarter then you, they have a plan, and they will share it with you as soon as they tell the rest of the world. The new coach will be Tom Clements or Charlie Weis, both good choices. But with them both being in a playoff race there kinda bizzy.

 

[Rip Rap]

Weis or Clements would certainly be acceptable. I see no reason to think anybody ever received an offer.

 

[NDLyght37]

Take your Prozac NDLyght. You sound as bad as the people in the media. Its been 2 weeks. And yes a bunch of guys turned ND down, too bad they weren't offered the job. Sometimes its ok to admit the Admin at ND are smarter then you, they have a plan, and they will share it with you as soon as they tell the rest of the world. The new coach will be Tom Clements or Charlie Weis, both good choices. But with them both being in a playoff race there kinda bizzy.

lol...that was a Major Payne reference (am I the only one that loves that movie???).

Seriously, I have no problem admitting that the Admin know what they're doing, but the impression that they give to the fans are that they are idiots. Any working stiff knows that you don't quit a job before you have one. So anyone hiring should know that you don't fire a guy until you have a guy set. The way ND looks now is that they're on the verge of being desperate. It's not as bad as 3 years ago, but it's getting there my friend.

 

[Rip Rap]

Not so sure about that. And don't isolate this to Willingham. On some level, this is the BoT cleaning house, including both the ouster of Monk and the fixing of the mess Boob Davies created. I still wouldn't be suprised if Kevin White also got canned before this is over.

 

[Rip Rap]

There are preliminary indications that we will be making an announcement shortly. I am interested in how ESPN in particular handles three things that I suspect will become apparent:

1.) ND was in control of the situation and had numerous choices from the get-go.
2.) We chose one of the most coveted and recommended names in football.
3.) We never offered Hawkins, Petrino, etc. because they were our C-listers.

 

[NDLyght37]

There are preliminary indications that we will be making an announcement shortly. I am interested in how ESPN in particular handles three things that I suspect will become apparent:

1.) ND was in control of the situation and had numerous choices from the get-go.
2.) We chose one of the most coveted and recommended names in football.
3.) We never offered Hawkins, Petrino, etc. because they were our C-listers.

2 outta 3 ain't bad.

Even if we had control, we certainly didn't present it that way to the public. And perception becomes reality. Also, we should have had a coach in place, signed/sealed/delivered before the firing.

Finally, while I liked Clements over Weiss, I'm happy with the selection. Let's just hope that we can be patient with this coach and not throw him under the train in 3 years.

 

[Rip Rap]

Even if we had control, we certainly didn't present it that way to the public. And perception becomes reality. Also, we should have had a coach in place, signed/sealed/delivered before the firing.

Why? The Meyer incident gave all appearances of being a fiasco, but if we weren't going to engage in a comprehensive search, it was for the best. Following Meyer, we displayed all the appearances of a deliberate and patient search. Petrino and Hawkins were dismissed early (if Meyer was ever even offered a job) because they felt they had better candidates. Charging toward one candidate strikes me as exactly the wrong thing to do. Instead, they made a patient search for a quality candidate and came up with a winner.

I suspect the list of coaches we were actually looking at was fairly prestigious. I'm sure they contacted Shannahan, Mariucci, and Gruden for good measure as NFL coaches; Clements, Weis, and Blache as NFL coordinators; and Hawkins, Tedford, Alvarez, and Petrino as college coaches. Guys like Solich and apparently Marv Levy (?!?!?!?) wanted the job, but we were sitting pretty with the 10 choices we had first selected, all of whom likely showed either some appreciation they were considered or some interest. This was a great hiring process.

My point in starting this thread was that ESPN created a perception that differed from the reality, precisely because they had an agenda. And they still do.