Blanket Coverage

I sometimes have a hard time processing how big sports have become and how closely they’re followed.

I noticed a wire service story today detailing how former Alabama quarterback Kenny Stabler would not being retained as a Crimson Tide radio color analyst.

The last line of the story said this: “No permanent replacement has been named. Former Cleveland Browns general manager Phil Savage is handling color duties for Saturday’s spring game.”

Excuse me?

Color analyst. For the SPRING game?

Then I checked with the Utes. Sure enough, they’re broadcasting their spring game, this year, as well.

Things change.

I remember an article in the Daily Utah Chronicle, years ago, in which the late, great writer Richard Barnum-Reece had been assigned to cover the Utes’ spring game. But he didn’t show up, mainly because he didn’t get the message until it was too late. But he still wrote a story. To paraphrase, he said he didn’t need to be there to chronicle the Red vs. White. The real story was the Utes stunk and they would always stink.

Turned out he was wrong.

Nevertheless, his story was a great read.

But still, to think there was a time when the student paper didn’t even attend the Ute spring game. Now they not only have newspaper and radio coverage, they even have color commentators.

***

Another interesting story appeared, this week, explaining that Oklahoma tight end Jermaine Gresham had been arrested for failure to pay a seatbelt citation.

Gresham, an all-conference player, was released after posting a $349 bond.

Moral to the story: When Jazz TV announcer Craig Bolerjack says, “Buckle up!” as the game gets tight, be sure you do.

Otherwise, it could cost you.