The Clarion-Ledger has done nothing but stir the pot on the Laremy Tunsil story since the incident with his stepdad happened a couple weeks ago, allowing itself to essentially become a mouthpiece for a vengeful Lindsey Miller even when his own accounts seems less than credible.
Rule #1: Always question the veracity of the statements coming from the guy who sells his pictures to TMZ motivated purely by revenge against his stepson.
Rule #2: See Rule #1.
Rule #2: See Rule #1.
Instead of questioning Miller's account, the Clarion-Ledger reported it as news. Then it reported Miller's accusations about NCAA violations as news. The next thing you know (shocker) the NCAA is in town talking to Miller.
The Clarion-Ledger didn't cause Tunsil and Miller to get in a tussle that night two weeks ago, but it has been all too eager to play directly into stepdad's hands, and to what good?
The Clarion-Ledger didn't cause Tunsil and Miller to get in a tussle that night two weeks ago, but it has been all too eager to play directly into stepdad's hands, and to what good?
Current Clarion-Ledger Ole Miss beat writer Riley Blevins, a guy that's not from Mississippi and who has no agenda against Ole Miss, is just a young reporter trying to make a name for himself and get a job at a bigger paper in a bigger city (like every other reporter that has worked for the Clarion-Ledger is recent years). He's looking for his big break, but it's not the responsibility of Ole Miss to be his big break.
Why make his job easier? Seriously, what good comes from having a Clarion-Ledger reporter on campus?
The fact is the Clarion-Ledger, a shrinking newspaper, needs Ole Miss way worse than Ole Miss needs the Clarion-Ledger. Ten years ago, before ESPN, the SEC Network, Facebook and Twitter and the rest of the internet, it made sense to keep the statewide newspaper happy for the publicity. Now much more publicity comes from bigger, friendlier and more effective sources. Frankly, Ole Miss doesn't need the Clarion-Ledger at all.
And by publishing NCAA investigative fodder, the Clarion-Ledger bites the very hand that feeds it. Well, it's time to quit feeding it.
And by publishing NCAA investigative fodder, the Clarion-Ledger bites the very hand that feeds it. Well, it's time to quit feeding it.
Sports writers are in the press box at the leisure of Ole Miss. A reporter doesn't get the chance to even ask a coach a question without a press pass or access granted by Ole Miss media relations staff. By continuing to allow the Clarion-Ledger access Ole Miss is only subjecting itself to more stories by a reporter, be it Blevins, Hugh Kellenberger or the next CL beat writer, looking for his big break at the expense of the entire Ole Miss Athletics program.
It's time to rethink that relationship. If the Clarion-Ledger is going to act like a nemesis, Ole Miss should treat it like one.
There is no rule that I'm aware of that says Ole Miss must allow game or press conference access to the Clarion Ledger.
It's Ross Bjork's job to make Ole Miss Athletics flourish. If the Clarion-Ledger gets in the way of that then why keep it around? If I'm Bjork I'm letting the Clarion-Ledger know today that it can get its game stories from the Associated Press in 2015.
No more press passes. No more interviews.