Do Dah Day pictures (though not the best) are up!
Yesterday I joined the thousands of people converging on Caldwell and Rhodes Parks in the Highland Park neighborhoods to watch the annual Do Dah Day parade. The pictures taken during the parade and the festivities that followed are available courtesy of the Ramblings’ new photo site. The weather was beautiful and as you can see by some of the images, the pets were out in force. When you get to the site, you will want to look at the Do Dah Day 2006 photos. This year’s proceeds benefited the Greater Birmingham Humane Society as well as other area animal shelters (Do Dah Eve alone raised approximately $12,500). While their site is currently down, there were articles written about the event, including this article in today’s Birmingham News. (Organizers put on the dog for Do Dah Day, The Birmingham News)
The fire keeps getting fueled at Birmingham Southern
I did get one response so far from the first post I put up last week regarding the decision facing Birmingham Southern College’s board of trustees this week. Jason made comments about one issue: the amount of focus placed on those “lower rung” programs in the area. Alabama, Auburn and UAB highlights dominate the sports reports both in print and on television.
I find it interesting since University of Montevallo has just qualified for the NCAA Division II College World Series. There is little coverage of this program in the local paper. Yesterday’ victory qualifying them to play against Incarnate Word for the chance to go to the Series was toward the back of the sports section and it was barely mentioned on area news broadcasts. Currently, BSC is getting some television coverage about winning the Big South Championship in baseball, though it still pales to talk about Alabama getting into the SEC tournament. The Big South story was bumped towards the back as the issue of their division status was pushed towards the front. Reports involving the inductions into the BSC Sports Hall of Fame were prominently covered. The letters published have been mainly against the move to Division III, continuing to make this into a public debate (not that my posts are helping either, though I’m not quite sure I get the same readership or focus J The recent opinion piece in the paper states that things will never be the same again. I’ll reserve judgment on that for about 3-5 years based on the decision.
Would the college still get the same television coverage if it were in Division III? I’ve seen some great stories published about what our area schools do academically and for our surrounding communities. I am one of the biggest sports nuts that I know. I am still aware of the need for an institution of higher learning to accomplish its primary goal: to educate. I’d be interested if you took a poll of all students on the campus and asked them how and if athletics convinced them to attend where it would rank in comparison to the reputation of the school and the ability to get a degree in something that they wanted to. Yes, I am aware that it can be considered a part of student life on campus; but in terms of truly being a factor for their education, I’m not sure. Granted, I’m sharing my opinion the same way that everyone else is sharing theirs. I just wish that people would look at the big picture. It may also be of interest to click here and read the statement by BSC’s athletic director. Note that it includes the phrase, “… and its mission.”
And speaking of Montevallo’s run in the D-II World Series
By the way, in case you’re interested in reading how the Falcons defeated Incarnate Word, click here. (Montevallo scores late to beat Cardinals, 9-8, Abilene Christian University Athletics).
Good luck next week in Montgomery, guys. Maybe if they tell me my knee’s OK, I’ll wander down there for the game.
Cheers.
