POSTED 9:15 a.m. EST, December 9, 2007
HAWAII FANS NOT HAPPY WITH ESPN
We've heard from a few Hawaii fans who aren't happy with the way ESPN presented quarterback Colt Brennan during last night's Heisman Trophy presentation.
Specifically, Chris Fowler's retrospective of Brennan's college career drew complaints. Fowler noted that Brennan began his career at Colorado but was kicked off the team and spent seven days in jail after he was convicted of burglary and trespassing. Brennan later enrolled in junior college and then transferred to Hawaii, where he has excelled on the field and stayed out of trouble off the field.
Some Hawaii fans said they thought it was inappropriate that Fowler would bring up negative parts of Brennan's past on a night when he should be celebrated. One fan we heard from thinks Fowler was attempting to suggest that Colorado (which is Fowler's alma mater) has higher standards of conduct for its football players than Hawaii.
But we side with Fowler on this one. His job Saturday night was to provide ESPN's viewers with a complete look at the four Heisman finalists, and a complete look at Brennan's career needs to mention that he started his career at Colorado and explain how he ended up at Hawaii. If the Downtown Athletic Club wants its Heisman Trophy presentation to provide nothing but positive news, it should make it a private ceremony emceed by someone who gets a check from the Downtown Athletic Club.
As long as the Heisman presentation is emceed by someone who gets a check from ESPN, ESPN's viewers deserve to hear the whole story, even if the whole story includes some negative news.
HAWAII FANS NOT HAPPY WITH ESPN
We've heard from a few Hawaii fans who aren't happy with the way ESPN presented quarterback Colt Brennan during last night's Heisman Trophy presentation.
Specifically, Chris Fowler's retrospective of Brennan's college career drew complaints. Fowler noted that Brennan began his career at Colorado but was kicked off the team and spent seven days in jail after he was convicted of burglary and trespassing. Brennan later enrolled in junior college and then transferred to Hawaii, where he has excelled on the field and stayed out of trouble off the field.
Some Hawaii fans said they thought it was inappropriate that Fowler would bring up negative parts of Brennan's past on a night when he should be celebrated. One fan we heard from thinks Fowler was attempting to suggest that Colorado (which is Fowler's alma mater) has higher standards of conduct for its football players than Hawaii.
But we side with Fowler on this one. His job Saturday night was to provide ESPN's viewers with a complete look at the four Heisman finalists, and a complete look at Brennan's career needs to mention that he started his career at Colorado and explain how he ended up at Hawaii. If the Downtown Athletic Club wants its Heisman Trophy presentation to provide nothing but positive news, it should make it a private ceremony emceed by someone who gets a check from the Downtown Athletic Club.
As long as the Heisman presentation is emceed by someone who gets a check from ESPN, ESPN's viewers deserve to hear the whole story, even if the whole story includes some negative news.