I received an email Sunday morning: “BobLee, your and Art’s “Good Sports” pre-game show has become more entertaining than the games.” Ouch! Is that a version of the back-handed compliment re: “you sweat less than any other fat girl I’ve ever danced with…” comparison? I replied, “Thanks, I guess.”

If you missed this past Saturday’s show, opting to watch Jacoby outplay Jameis (for at least a half), you missed Art’s recounting of an encounter he had last week along fabled Franklin Street with “a former UNC-CH Trustee.” In which said former UNC-CH Trustee said…

“Art, is it time to fire Fedora? You can’t blame Butch anymore.”

Art did not identify “the former UNC-CH Trustee” on-air.  The “who” is not that important, despite your ravenous interest. I will say that he was NOT a member of the infamous BOT3 who ramrodded the hiring of the aforementioned “Butcher of Kenan.”

The Trustee’s snarky comment indicated that “the former Trustee” still carries a torch for those halcyon days when the former “special consultant” for the Tampa Bay Bucs prowled the Kenan sidelines alongside John Blake, Marvin Austin, Greg Little, Michael McAdoo, et al. If I recall, even the infamous Julius Nyang’oro had VIP access to those sidelines back then.

Those certainly were memorable days that definitely left their indelible mark upon the rolling deck of the now-embattled Flagship… and provided the career zenith for investigative reporter Dan Kane.

“The former Trustee” is certainly not the only humanoid haunting Franklin Street that yearns for a return to those tumultuous times. “Damn the consequences!” and “Damn the institutional indignities that won’t go away!” All that ever mattered to this former Trustee’s ilk was “Coach, is this hurting recruiting?” No… this was NOT that former Trustee – Barbara Rosser-Hyde.

I won’t presume to speak for Art, but I never “blamed Butch” for what happened. Sure, I thought his “I barely even knew John Blake” defense was hoot-erific, but, hey, it worked with his “eyes on the prize” disciples including this former Trustee, apparently.

Butch was told that if he accepted the BOT3’s generous offer to become Head Coach at UNC that he could “recruit whichever players he needed” to elevate “this sleeping giant” to Big Time College Football. And he was assured that “we have a system in place” to insure their admission and eligibility. Was that “system in place” the mythical Carolina Way?

Butch Davis did what he was assured he could do. Whether or not The BOT3 were speaking officially on behalf of the UNC-CH Administration remains unclear. I guess we must wait for Ken Wainstein’s report to know that. Huh?

Why Dan Kane, or anyone else, has never bothered to interview The BOT3 also remains “a mystery.” So is who killed Suellen Evans in the UNC Arboretum in 1965… the whereabouts of DB Cooper… and how the Druids lifted those Stonehenge stones in place.

As for speculation re: the on-going employment of Larry Fedora… certainly that faction of The Franklin Street Freaks & Goobers who live to bemoan the status of UNC Athletics are in their element with the current dire straits of the Sons of Choo Choo.

This week’s firing of Charlie Weis at Kansas and the death watch ongoing up in Ann Arbor will stoke the fires of Franklin Street’s motley mob. When Madame Guillotine is unleashed she has a ravenous appetite for sure. Will Muschamp is, wisely, shelving plans to replace the countertops in his Gainesville home.

NOTE: Speaking of Ann Arbor….. our longtime amigo “Phineas” Teague now has a “Little Brown Jug” sitting on his AD desk in Golden Gopher Land. Kudos to Norwood for going into The Big House on Saturday and emerging triumphant!

I will steadfastly continue my support for Coach Fedora. Support based on (1) an understanding of the magnitude of his task in rebuilding his roster and (2) my steadfast desire to publicly oppose the asinine mentality of at least one “former Trustee” and them what shares his bandwagon-jumping “Orange Bowl before I die” point-of-view.

As this season moves into October and beyond, I expect those who frantically seek vicarious validation of their self-worth via the fortunes of UNC Football to shift inexorably towards the lynch mob mindset. An Escalade-load of big ol’ mean D-linemen ain’t gonna unload at the Kenan Football Center over the next two months.

… The Good Sports will be there to chronicle that inexorable shift two hours before each week’s kick-off on WCHL 97.9 FM or via the WCHL app. Art and I hope to “see ya” next week.

 

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BobLee has 1600 incredibly insightful opinions on his website www.bobleesays.com. Add a comment here… OR visit his website for lively conversations with BobLee and his buddies.

BobLee also appears with Art Chansky on WCHL’s “The Good Sports” two hours before each Tar Heel Football game.