Please Help a Fellow Falcon

Rightupinthere · Post by **Rightupinthere** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 8:20 am

Sorry to hear, Ryan, but have hope. I've known a LOT of people in my life and you're one of those who just finds a way to land on his feet.

People like that piss me off.

No positions open at my company. Can't help you there. You have the wit to go into a corporate marketing or communications role. Like Tech said, jump into a master's program and hone that talent.

Falconfreak90 · Post by **Falconfreak90** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 1:29 pm

Damn that sucks....I will really miss Ryan's writing. He covered BG sports like few could.

Best of luck, Bro!

Ryan Autullo · Post by **Ryan Autullo** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 4:42 pm

No real surprise, but the definitive word came down today that I have been laid off. I’m obviously heartbroken because I love my job, but I have no hard feelings. My bosses and co-workers are great people, and so are my readers. In fact, when one of my bosses informed me of the news this afternoon (again, I knew with 99 percent certainty it was going to happen) she said “Ryan, you have a lot of support.” She was talking about all of you, I’m sure. Again, many thanks for trying to help me out here. Unfortunately, our union doesn’t care what you guys think. This decision was based 100 percent on seniority.

I’ve been getting calls all day from concerned friends and family members. My colleague, Joe Vardon, took me to breakfast, which was awesome. Hey Joe, I’ll treat you to a soup kitchen meal in the near future. I then had lunch with a couple of SIDs at BG. I tried to lighten the mood by cracking some jokes about the situation. Truthfully, I’m fine. I’ve had a pretty easy life so far, and this is nothing more than a stumbling block, and perhaps it’s an opportunity to do something even bigger and better. On my way to breakfast, Greg Christopher called to offer his condolences. That was awesome. Sensing that he was nearing a moment of weakness, I tried to coax him into providing details on the coaching search. No go. I seriously believe he’s keeping his wife in the dark.

A few days ago Louis Orr said he’d keep me in his prayers. Solid, solid guy. I wish him all the best.

Anyway, I’ll be staying on until Dec. 27 before I am officially required to hand over the keys. I doubt I’ll continue to blog simply for the fact I don’t get paid extra to do it, and because I have no real interest in helping The Blade receive Web site hits. That being said, I don’t harbor any hard feelings. No one chose to lay me off. It was something that because of union rules had to be done. It sucks, but that’s the game. Fourteen other people were let go, including my buddies Zach Silka and Elliott Werth. I’ll miss those guys.

Do you enjoy irony? Well, take a look at what I wrote Dec. 3 in my final “End Zone” column. This was the opening paragraph:

This will be the final time we publish this End Zone feature this year. I feel it’s important to emphasize that so when our shiny faces don’t grace your sports page next week, you won’t think we had been fired by Greg Christopher. BGSU’s athletic director isn’t fooling around, is he? On Saturday he handed walking papers to sixth-year football coach Gregg Brandon, hours after the Falcons throttled rival Toledo 38-10. Two days later, Christopher swung the axe at men’s soccer coach Fred Thompson.

Now THAT is funny. I seriously had no idea I’d be losing my job a week later.

I’m sure many of you are wondering how my being let go affects you as BG fans. Truthfully, I don’t know, but I do care. I pray that The Blade doesn’t decide to neglect this beat, and I highly doubt that will happen. But we’re in tough times so I can’t rule anything out.

As for me, I have no idea what I want to do next. I have aspired to be a journalist since my freshman year of high school, and foolishly I put all of my eggs in that basket. I have a Sociology minor and I have strong doubts that I will ever be able to benefit from it. This industry sucks right now, so I’d like to get out of it. We’ll see. I am actually fairly excited to see what life has to offer. I’m a 23-year-old single guy with no kids. I shouldn’t have anything holding me back.

If you want to contact me, my Blade e-mail will obviously be shut down in two weeks so drop me a line at: [email protected]

Thanks again for everything.

Falcon Commander · Post by **Falcon Commander** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 8:39 pm

Hi Ryan

I'm not sure if I've met you or not . . . maybe at Pat's in Mobile at the GMAC Bowl party (many beers and Hurricanes)??

Anyway, I am sorry to hear you will not be writing at the Blade anymore. I have enjoyed reading your articles and especially your Blog (sorry but I gave them a 'hit' tonight to see if you had any gem's about your leaving or our next FB Coach). And in your writing you can feel that you really do love your work.

Glad to hear you are not taking it personal, as it isn't and it sounds as if you've got lot's of good support from family, friends, and of course the BG faithful.

You seem to have a great attitude ('no hard feelings' toward the Blade) and life does have lot's to offer - I hope you find lot's of happiness as you move forward.

Keep in touch.

Dr. Reality · Post by **Dr. Reality** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 9:53 am

Wow, this is a real shocker. Not since Matt Markey has anyone captured the true spirit, the flavor of BGSU athletics like Mark. I don't really understand any of this other than it's a union/seniority decision. To hell with seniority --- when you got talent, hold onto to. If Ryan goes, so will the Blade from this household.

Falconfreak90 · Post by **Falconfreak90** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 1:13 pm

Ryan,

Sounds a lot like the radio business....which I put all my eggs in after BG. When Cheap Channel starting taking over the radio world, well, the writing was on the wall. I know you'll be fine and thanks for giving the Freak a shout out in your blogs from time to time.

Good luck, man, and I'm sure the Good Lord will provide another opportunity soon.

BTW, NOW you can hang with us in tailgate lot on gamedays!! LOL

fredthefalcon · Post by **fredthefalcon** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 3:59 pm

Sorry to hear the news about Ryan. I enjoyed his insight and blogs on the Blade internet site.

The rumor in Detroit is that both the News and the Free Press will halt weekly home delivery in favor of internet usage. They apparently will print papers for the boxes and store sales and then also deliver the Saturday and Sunday Paper. The rumor includes the availability of a PDF file through email. While I periodically check the newspapers web sites mostly for sports info, I will miss having the paper in my hands from the comfort of just walking out to the mail box. I will say that I have been saying for years that the News is shrinking dramatically and that 1/2 of the stuff were things I already knew.

But this is just rumor. However, today's papers indicated that there would be a joint announcement regarding the papers' futures next week with no mention of anything. My bet is the rumors are basically true.

VDub26Falcon · Post by **VDub26Falcon** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 4:07 pm

Ryan, my church hosts hot meals 2 nights a week

TG1996 · Post by **TG1996** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 4:53 pm

fredthefalcon wrote:But this is just rumor. However, today's papers indicated that there would be a joint announcement regarding the papers' futures next week with no mention of anything. My bet is the rumors are basically true.

I think I skimmed an AP story last night that said they were going to deliver 3 days a week, so the first part of your rumor seems likely true, with the number of papers that seem to offer Thurs/Sat/Sun delivery as an option, that may become the only choice.

Ryan Autullo · Post by **Ryan Autullo** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 6:10 pm

VDub26Falcon wrote:Ryan, my church hosts hot meals 2 nights a week

Please tip them off that a bearded man wearing sweats and reeking of stale alcohol will be making a visit soon. If they tell you to be more specific, let them know he'll be wearing a "Unions Suck" t-shirt.

cw08 · Post by **cw08** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 6:41 pm

fredthefalcon wrote:Sorry to hear the news about Ryan. I enjoyed his insight and blogs on the Blade internet site.

The rumor in Detroit is that both the News and the Free Press will halt weekly home delivery in favor of internet usage. They apparently will print papers for the boxes and store sales and then also deliver the Saturday and Sunday Paper. The rumor includes the availability of a PDF file through email. While I periodically check the newspapers web sites mostly for sports info, I will miss having the paper in my hands from the comfort of just walking out to the mail box. I will say that I have been saying for years that the News is shrinking dramatically and that 1/2 of the stuff were things I already knew.

But this is just rumor. However, today's papers indicated that there would be a joint announcement regarding the papers' futures next week with no mention of anything. My bet is the rumors are basically true.

http://lansingsportsrage.com/index.php? ... &Itemid=83

This basically covers what you said. Seems strange and risky to me. But newspapers don't make much money on actual sales, so I can see that point of view. Yet, how do you convince your advertisers to buy when you don't deliver to people?