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Anyone get a look at the predictions section today?

It seems at least once a year I look at that section and think, about at least one of the guys, "What the hell did they bring him in for?"

One of the guys said, not once, but twice, that BG v. Big 10(11) team = absolute blowout. He wrote that we were going to get crushed by the Gophers, and then had the nerve to say it again in a prediction for the Akron v. Army game. I believe his words for that one were somewhere along the lines of, "While BG vs a BCS team means a blowout..." Last I checked we've had some damn good and damn close games against BCS teams in recent years.

I understand needing to be able to report from an un-biased perspective, but he passed that checkpoint by a mile.

He then went on to remark about the UT v. Purdue game "Why do we even care?"
Now, I dislike Toledo as much as or more than most, but for any reason, to let that be your lone comment on a game that involves a MAC team with a chance (no matter how big or small) to beat a BCS team is absolutely ridiculous.

So I'll say again, "What the hell did they bring him in for?"

Anyone else see it or have any thoughts on the matter, or am I just looking for a reason to get all riled up in advance of the big game weekend?

Peregrinner wrote:Anyone get a look at the predictions section today?

It seems at least once a year I look at that section and think, about at least one of the guys, "What the hell did they bring him in for?"

One of the guys said, not once, but twice, that BG v. Big 10(11) team = absolute blowout. He wrote that we were going to get crushed by the Gophers, and then had the nerve to say it again in a prediction for the Akron v. Army game. I believe his words for that one were somewhere along the lines of, "While BG vs a BCS team means a blowout..." Last I checked we've had some damn good and damn close games against BCS teams in recent years.

I understand needing to be able to report from an un-biased perspective, but he passed that checkpoint by a mile.

He then went on to remark about the UT v. Purdue game "Why do we even care?"
Now, I dislike Toledo as much as or more than most, but for any reason, to let that be your lone comment on a game that involves a MAC team with a chance (no matter how big or small) to beat a BCS team is absolutely ridiculous.

So I'll say again, "What the hell did they bring him in for?"

Anyone else see it or have any thoughts on the matter, or am I just looking for a reason to get all riled up in advance of the big game weekend?

Terry I saw it and was thinking the same thing

I probably should open this wound but.......

If the Athletic Department wants to create new traditions they should have topped their handout/card with "Gather unconditional support from all student media outlets." It seems the student media either encourages or reflects the attitude of many students. Changing the atttitudes of these leaders on campus needs to be the first step toward increasing campus support of Falcon Athletics.

You have to remember, too, that most J-school students are taught to be "controversial" and "edgy" in order to make a name for themselves. This kind of proselytizing happens at all levels of the media, and it is going to be magnified in student media where the author has not yet learned to cover his or her ass with double speak.

That being said, this kind of garbage is borne of sheer ignorance.

I don't agree with what was said, but those are his opinions about what will happen.

As for unconditional support, we are here to report, not support. Our role is to call it like we see it, not try to make everyone look good. Unconditional support could easily fall outside of the objective approach that we take as writers. No one is telling us to be "edgy" or anything like that. People develop their own styles.

There's no need to get worked up over the pick'em, it's all in good fun.

bgnewser wrote: There's no need to get worked up over the pick'em, it's all in good fun.

Objectivity aside, lines like "BG vs. BCS means a blowout" is plenty to get worked up over for fans like those in here. Pick 'em to lose to Minny, I don't care, and I don't think anyone was asking for total sunshine, but the way it was written (I didn't read it, my copy of the BG News didn't find my doorstep today. ) is a bit of garbage coming from a BG student.

Of course, there's a chance that whoever wrote it wasn't around for the BCS-AZZ whoopin' days of 2001-03, but not looking back half a decade on his own school's tradition is a bit of a shame.

bgnewser wrote:
There's no need to get worked up over the pick'em, it's all in good fun.

You simply don't insult my Alma Mater and my fellow [future] alumni in this manner with impunity, I don't care what the forum might be. You have to be able to understand that this wouldn't be so infuriating if it didn't come from someone within the University. If UT's newspaper printed something akin to this it would make a heck of a lot more sense.

This is something that you, obviously, don't understand now, and it is something that people within the BG News have failed to understand since I first came to BGSU. The first amendment garbage only goes so far when you are dealing with an institution dear to people, and most journalists don't seem to understand that.

bgnewser wrote:I don't agree with what was said, but those are his opinions about what will happen.

As for unconditional support, we are here to report, not support. Our role is to call it like we see it, not try to make everyone look good. Unconditional support could easily fall outside of the objective approach that we take as writers. No one is telling us to be "edgy" or anything like that. People develop their own styles.

There's no need to get worked up over the pick'em, it's all in good fun.

I was hoping I might get some input from someone on the staff, since I've seen you guys post on here before.

Like I said, I definitely understand the need for fair and unbiased reporting. I expect that from any news outlet, big or small. In this case, however, it's not even that it was his opinion about what will happen, he said it's what has happened (if I remember correctly), which simply isn't true. Saying BG v. BCS is and has always been a blowout in the BCS' favor is not fair, nor is it accurate.

I would never say that I expect unconditional support and sunshine from the BG News staff. Hell, I've had my moments of doubt about BG athletics in the past 3 years, too. What I do expect, though, is at least some respect and knowledge of BG and its history, especially when it is as recent as the last 5-7 years.

I only react this way because I expect better out of the BG News Sports staff. I expect you guys to be honest, but fair, because that's what was outlined in the first edition of the BG News this year. I admit, maybe a pick'em section in a college newspaper is nothing to get worked up about, but as many have said before me, when it comes to my University, my peers, and the things I care about, more times than not, I'm going to get worked up.

All that aside, I'd like to say that I do look forward to reading the sports staff's coverage of the upcoming athletic season.

bgnewser wrote:I don't agree with what was said, but those are his opinions about what will happen.

As for unconditional support, we are here to report, not support. Our role is to call it like we see it, not try to make everyone look good. Unconditional support could easily fall outside of the objective approach that we take as writers. No one is telling us to be "edgy" or anything like that. People develop their own styles.

There's no need to get worked up over the pick'em, it's all in good fun.

I don't believe a sports writer in Ann Arbor, Columbus, Bloomington, or any other crazy self-centered large college town would be able to hold onto their job if the suggested Big 10 vs. SEC will be a big blow out even if it ends up being Florida HUGE over Ohio State. Obviously our journalism department needs their writers to work much better on this skill or the won't won't last very long IMO.

Sounds like you all need to start watching BG24 News. The sports staff there is great...I should know, I hand picked them when I was Sports Director last year. If you want all the Falcon coverage you can ask for and un un-biased, yet optimistic, take on the teams, BG24 is what you want to watch. They can be seen on cable channel 6 in BG and all over campus...we did a couple all sports special shows last year that turned out great and we were able to really focus on BG athletics...well, there's my suggestion...ditch the BGNews and watch BG24!!

Bleeding Orange wrote:You have to remember, too, that most J-school students are taught to be "controversial" and "edgy" in order to make a name for themselves.

No, they aren't.

Now it has been a number of years since I have had a writing class. Is the second or third rule of writing not to identify your audience? I thought English 112 would still be a requirement.

Schadenfreude wrote:

Bleeding Orange wrote:You have to remember, too, that most J-school students are taught to be "controversial" and "edgy" in order to make a name for themselves.

No, they aren't.

Mmmm'kay.

Who cares what the kid says? He obviously is clueless to our recent past. Kids like that don't warrant a 2nd look.

I like our chances because of out D...and the depth we have on D. Big plays happen to young Ds. This D gave up just 318 yards a game last year. As long as Sheehan can move the O and put points on the board, I feel we have a great chance. ST's remain to be seen as well but MN has as many, if not more, question marks.

GO FALCONS!!

I hope Sheehan is mobile as they say he is because he is going up against a speedy defensive line.