Bob O’Leary

Maybe this is not the worst sports column I have ever read. Heck, I even wrote some bad ones myself. But I was never this bad or ignorant.

So-called Orlando Sentinel columnist Andrea Adelson shows her complete lack of college football knowledge when she suggests that Michigan try to hire Florida coach Urban Meyer. First, it will never happen. Adelson even admits that. If Notre Dame couldn’t land him, do you really think Michigan has a chance?

Let me count the reasons why this is so ridiculous:

• Yes, Michigan has a nice program and a great football tradition. But what has it done lately, except lose to Ohio State – the same school Meyer’s Gators creamed in the national championship game.
• Florida’s weather is definitely a factor. There is a reason why Big Ten football is “three yards and a cloud of dust.” It’s hard to run Meyer’s spread offense in snow and ice. It’s also easier to land a recruit when it’s 70 degrees in January.
• Florida recruits well nationally, but it has much more talent within the state than Michigan could ever have. Consider Florida’s big three (UF, FSU, and Miami) have won 9 national championships in the past 25 years. Most of that talent comes within the state’s borders. Michigan has to raid Ohio for much of its talent.
• Michigan could never compete in a bidding war with Florida. Meyer is already well compensated. Michigan may have money, but Gator boosters have very deep pockets.
• Florida AD Jeremy Foley is one of the best in the country. Why do you think Billy Donavan stays?
• Tim Tebow is only a sophomore. By the way, Adelson once said that Tebow would be a washout.
• Adelson points out the tradition and national recognition. If those really were a factor, Meyer would already be coaching Notre Dame.

If Adelson wrote this to get a reaction like talk radio jocks do, she succeeded. By day’s end, she had more than 100 comments. Most questioned her capabilities as a sports writer. Many were quite chauvinistic about women sportswriters in general, which was unfair. There are many compentent female sportswriters. Adelson is definitely not one of them.

But Adelson works for a newspaper, not a radio station. Even a sports column is supposed to make sense. If she even tried to call in on a sports talk show with her arguments, most radio jocks would hang up on her.

A quick writing tip, Andrea. If half your column refutes your main point, you need to trash the column. If you want to engage in a battle of wits with your readers, don’t come into battle empty-handed.