http://www.cw.ua.edu/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/11/24/3fc190836da60
Auburn newspaper backs away from challenge >From staff reports November 24, 2003 AUBURN - In a move that came as a surprise to almost no Crimson White staff members Saturday, The Auburn Plainsman postponed its flag football game against The CW. The move came a mere 30 minutes before the game, when Plainsman Editor Lindsay Evans called with an assertion that all regular members of The Plainsman's flag football team, with the exception of herself, were either sick or injured. Evans offered to reschedule the game for Tuscaloosa in early to mid-December. CW Editor Chris Sanders accepted the offer in principle. The CW handily won the first Not-Quite Iron Bowl, 26-14, in Tuscaloosa in 2000. The CW's fun-'n'-gun passing attack helped its Crimson Thunder football squad jump out to an early 26-0 lead and cruise to victory. Since then, The Plainsman has either ignored The CW's flag football challenges or backed out of games at the last minute. Sanders, who was set to make his head coaching debut Saturday, said he remains skeptical that the game will happen at all this year. Evans' cell phone was turned off Saturday afternoon, and she did not return messages seeking further comment. The Plainsman's postponement came too late for many CW staffers, who had already made the three-hour trek across Alabama to the Plains. Sports Editor Drew Champlin, one of the few CW staffers with a reason to be in Auburn other than the flag football game, said the last-minute change left him bitter about losing sleep. "Basically, I woke up early this morning for nothing," Champlin said. Student Life Editor Nick Beadle, who was in Auburn for the second time in three weeks, expressed disappointment over the game's cancellation. Most of his comments cannot be printed in a family newspaper. Despite their disappointment, many CW staff members made the best of their situations. Several visited with old high school friends who attend Auburn University, and others obtained sweet deals on Iron Bowl tickets. But others, tired of fighting traffic, getting no cell phone signals and wading through a sea of orange and blue, could not stand to spend a minute more in the purported "loveliest village on the Plains." "Jesus, Auburn sucks," Beadle said. and http://www.cw.ua.edu/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/11/24/3fc1c30334599 When The Plainsman hands you lemons, make lemonade The Short Bus By Charlie Gasner Assistant Sports Editor November 24, 2003 Honestly, I half-expected that from The Auburn Plainsman. Since 2001, I have been a part of Crimson White staffs that have tried to challenge the Auburn weekly newspaper to a flag football game. In 2001 and 2002, they simply declined the challenge ahead of time. This year, they did themselves one better: They asked us to meet them in Auburn at their office. Roughly 10 of us obliged, even though only about four had tickets to the game. Then, upon our arrival, The Plainsman announced that it would not be playing due to a team-wide illness. When one of our editors tried to call one of their editors for a more complete explanation, she was first hung up on. When she called back a minute later, The Plainsman representative had switched her phone to voicemail. Not only were they ducking the game after we had made the trip, they were ducking the explanation and apology for canceling the game in such a last-minute manner. Classy move. [...] kurt ______________________________________________________ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List "Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup!" To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net
