Unless you’ve been living in a cave, you’ve heard of the sign-stealing allegations against Michigan. They’re pretty serious, and by many accounts, pretty factual and damn near bulletproof. But Michigan alums in the media — namely Desmond Howard and Charles Woodson — can’t be bothered by either of those facts.
Since this column is about being objective and admitting your biases, I feel compelled to tell you I’m an Ohio State fan. So I’m not entirely unbiased in either my view of the scandal or my view on the way a pair of Michigan legends analyzed the happenings. But, to sort of back my claim up, I also don’t think it’s a great look for former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer to be blatantly pro-Buckeyes on social media, either.
To put it frankly and succinctly, both Howard and Woodson acted more like fans than media members or analysts since the scandal broke weeks ago. The thoughts provided by the pair — on ESPN and FOX Sports, respectively — aren’t out of the ordinary from something you’d read on a Michigan message board from a username like GoBlue69420.
When you hold a position like Howard and Woodson do, I know objectivity is going to be difficult to come by. Hell, it might be impossible, especially when viewed through the prism of who you are and where you’re from. Everybody’s from somewhere, but that doesn’t mean it needs to shape your identity and personality for the rest of your days.
Charles Woodson didn’t appear on Big Noon Kickoff last week after brazenly declaring that the “entire situation is bullshit” on national TV.
“Am I mad?,” Woodson asked. “I’m only mad because I think the whole thing is bullshit, right That’s why I’m mad. But other than that, we’re gonna be fine.”
“We’re gonna be fine”? We’re gonna be fine? Is Charles Woodson an analyst or a fan?
Desmond Howard attempted to turn Jim Harbaugh into a martyr for accepting a three-game suspension and insisted the Big Ten was treating his program improperly.
“The (Big Ten) commissioner is actually treating them unfairly,” Howard decried on an episode of Get Up. “He’s circumventing due process by the NCAA. That’s why. You know, Greg (McElroy), this would never happen in the SEC. Are you telling me they would do this to Nick Saban and Alabama? Hell no!”
The problem with the situation is when you get to the level that both Howard and Woodson have reached — deservedly so, by the way — the program should no longer be your team. Objectivity equals credibility in the eyes of your viewers. Having the ability to criticize where you came from makes what you say and do matter. It brings a sense that what you say should be trusted, because if you’re willing to say that about your team, what are you willing to say about my team.
And Chris “Mad Dog” Russo was right when he claimed Desmond Howard and Charles Woodson had “no credibility” on the subject.
It’s a really easy situation to navigate: the school you went to acted improperly. It broke the rules. But that doesn’t make you guilty by association.
And yet, neither Howard nor Woodson were able to separate their on-air responsibilities from their personal ties to their alma mater. I wholly understand we live in a “my team can do no wrong” world, both in sports and in politics. But I don’t — and I hope you don’t, either — want to see sports television devolve into a cable news-like echo chamber of bullshit. I don’t want to see ESPN turn into a Fox News-style presentation where a topic is broached, and then we bring on the least credible, least objective, most biased people to discuss the situation. Nobody benefits from that, and everyone gets dumber.
I don’t believe Desmond Howard and Charles Woodson failed some journalistic ethics test by behaving the way they did. They’re passionate, flawed people like every other college football fan. But when you sit at the perches they sit, a higher level of analysis and expertise should be expected, and they missed the boat.
In retrospect, the two should be embarrassed for their work the past few weeks. Instead of thinking critically and objectively on a topic, they thought passionately and carried the water for a program seemingly guilty of infractions that have angered their peers. And yet, I get the sense that the two Heisman Trophy winners are filled with pride for defending their institutions. However, when you reach the broadcasting heights they’ve reached, there should be a “their” team any longer.
Garrett Searight is Barrett Media’s News Editor, which includes writing bi-weekly industry features and a weekly column. He has previously served as Program Director and Afternoon Co-Host on 93.1 The Fan in Lima, OH, and is the radio play-by-play voice of Northern Michigan University hockey. Reach out to him at Garrett@BarrettMedia.com.
