Sports Illustrated’s Andy Staples is a writer I admire for a number of reasons. I really became a fan of Staples last fall when he took time out of his day during the football season to talk to me for our Grady Sports social media class. I also really admired his tact during SEC meetings this summer concerning the story below.
Jeffery Simmons: Mississippi St.’s punishment too light
Staples was one of the main writers who went after Mississippi State athletic director Scott Stricklin for the Bulldogs’ decision to only suspend defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons for one game.
His thinking to compare this suspension for beating a woman to the same suspension given for targeting was simply genius. He also did a good job of fairly comparing Simmons’ situation to that of Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon, who was suspended for the entire 2014 season.
Staples also gave Stricklin credit for answering questions when most A.D.s would have cowered behind their desks.
FSU football: Jimbo Fisher urges to help West Virginia flood victims
This was a short but well-done story on Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher helping high school football squads who were flood victims back in his home state.
The part that really jumped out at me was included information about a flood that happened in Fisher’s hometown in 1985. That fact is followed up brilliantly by the quote from Fisher that, “They said that was a once-in-a-hundred-year flood. Well, we just had another one.
This story is informative, but I also think it’s helpful that it ends with a way for readers to help these flood victims by providing an address in case any high school coaches want to donate equipment.