I can't say I like this

[bellefay1 1]

http://blog.al.com/trackingtigers/2008/05/...ts_your_lo.html

Three weeks ago, I wouldn't have imagined myself doing anything other than spending the remainder of my working years at The Huntsville Times.

But things have changed.

Auburnundercover.com, an ESPN-affiliated web site devoted to Auburn athletics, will go online July 1. I have accepted an offer to be the lead writer. It's an exciting venture. I'll be leaving The Huntsville Times as of June 27. Various other ESPN-affiliated sites are either already in operation or in the works.

I'll still be blogging, but I'll do it at a different place. We'll also be doing lots of other stuff (yes, including recruiting) that I hope Auburn fans or non-Auburn fans will enjoy. There'll be more details about in the coming weeks. It's going to be a lot of fun, but for now, I'm still the Auburn beat writer for The Huntsville Times and I'll be blogging here as always.

[auwallace 6]

http://blog.al.com/trackingtigers/2008/05/...ts_your_lo.html

Three weeks ago, I wouldn't have imagined myself doing anything other than spending the remainder of my working years at The Huntsville Times.

But things have changed.

Auburnundercover.com, an ESPN-affiliated web site devoted to Auburn athletics, will go online July 1. I have accepted an offer to be the lead writer. It's an exciting venture. I'll be leaving The Huntsville Times as of June 27. Various other ESPN-affiliated sites are either already in operation or in the works.

I'll still be blogging, but I'll do it at a different place. We'll also be doing lots of other stuff (yes, including recruiting) that I hope Auburn fans or non-Auburn fans will enjoy. There'll be more details about in the coming weeks. It's going to be a lot of fun, but for now, I'm still the Auburn beat writer for The Huntsville Times and I'll be blogging here as always.

in other words, "you'll now be paying if you want to read my blogs" No thanks pm, i'll stick with the local newspaper beat writers on al.com.

[Hoopie 6]

I trust PM to keep it real wherever he is. I don't trust ESPN. They have too much influence and control. I do however, trust PM to keep it real or to get out of there.

[SouthLink02 8]

I would be careful if I were PM

ESPN is making a huge push for internet forums/sites with GatorCountry.com, WeAreSc.com, BuckNuts.com, and some other sites turned into ESPN Affiliate sites

South Carolina has one too at TheBigSpur.com but I have heard that the lead writer for their site is VERY UNHAPPY with ESPN so far. Apparently they promise a lot and are under-performing to the Admins expectations.

I dunno, maybe ESPN is just going through growing pains as this is their first time at this type of thing

[AUslug 1]

I hope the guy that takes over the Auburn beat is a tell like it is person like Marshall and not a freaking bobo honking homer like Paul Gattis.

[DKW 86 7,874]

As others can verify, PM and the Hsv Times were not getting along for some time now. I really didnt think it would come to this however.

Wish PM the best of luck!

[RunInRed 18,162]

If you go to www.auburnundercover.com here is the disclaimer:

Copyright © 2008 auburnundercover.com. All rights reserved. Auburn Undercover is an unofficial source of news and information and is not associated with the University of Alabama.

Also, in their tag line "Where the eagle soars, the tigers roar, and the plainsman AREN'T so plain" ... am I losing my mind but didn't the originial use AIN'T instead of AREN'T?

Even more interesting, if you look closely (properties), the banner for the site is hosted at crimsonconfidential.com

Looks like they still have a few kinks to work out...

[autigeremt 7,147]

Looks like it!

[WarTiger 4,012]

If you go to www.auburnundercover.com here is the disclaimer:

Copyright © 2008 auburnundercover.com. All rights reserved. Auburn Undercover is an unofficial source of news and information and is not associated with the University of Alabama.

Also, in their tag line "Where the eagle soars, the tigers roar, and the plainsman AREN'T so plain" ... am I losing my mind but didn't the originial use AIN'T instead of AREN'T?

Even more interesting, if you look closely (properties), the banner for the site is hosted at crimsonconfidential.com

Looks like they still have a few kinks to work out...

wow...that's pretty piss poor right there.

[AU alum 2]

Well, it does sound like a good opportunity for Philip, so for that I congratulate him and wish him the best. I really don't want to pay to read his column though.

[WarDamn 0]

at least the website fixed one problem. its no longer associated with uat or Auburn Univerisity

[otterinbham 0]

Well, here's what you do. Get a week's worth of your local newspaper. Then have them vacuum-packed into a large plastic bag.

Then wrap that back up into another bag.

Why? Because in 15-20 years, newspapers will not exist. That roll of newsprint that sits on your front lawn every morning is rapidly becoming obsolete. Circulation and advertising revenue continue to spiral downwards. When I worked for the daily in the early 80s, the Birmingham News had a circulation of 250,000. Now, even with the metro area growing 40%, it has a circulation of around 100,000. The Birmingham Post-Herald had a circulation of 75,000. Now it is defunct. What's more, if you examine the demographics of newspaper readers, you'll see that they're overwhelmingly over the age of 50. That means that the core audience continues to die out.

So, go ahead and preserve your paper, preferably during football season. That way, you'll be able to show your children and grandchildren what a newspaper was like.

[WarTiger 4,012]

Well, here's what you do. Get a week's worth of your local newspaper. Then have them vacuum-packed into a large plastic bag.

Then wrap that back up into another bag.

Why? Because in 15-20 years, newspapers will not exist. That roll of newsprint that sits on your front lawn every morning is rapidly becoming obsolete. Circulation and advertising revenue continue to spiral downwards. When I worked for the daily in the early 80s, the Birmingham News had a circulation of 250,000. Now, even with the metro area growing 40%, it has a circulation of around 100,000. The Birmingham Post-Herald had a circulation of 75,000. Now it is defunct. What's more, if you examine the demographics of newspaper readers, you'll see that they're overwhelmingly over the age of 50. That means that the core audience continues to die out.

So, go ahead and preserve your paper, preferably during football season. That way, you'll be able to show your children and grandchildren what a newspaper was like.

You mean, people actually still do get the paper AND read it. It's even delivered to their home still? Wow. I haven't gotten a newspaper delivered in over 10 years and haven't even picked one up in over 5 years, ok, maybe one..

[SouthLink02 8]

Well, here's what you do. Get a week's worth of your local newspaper. Then have them vacuum-packed into a large plastic bag.

Then wrap that back up into another bag.

Why? Because in 15-20 years, newspapers will not exist. That roll of newsprint that sits on your front lawn every morning is rapidly becoming obsolete. Circulation and advertising revenue continue to spiral downwards. When I worked for the daily in the early 80s, the Birmingham News had a circulation of 250,000. Now, even with the metro area growing 40%, it has a circulation of around 100,000. The Birmingham Post-Herald had a circulation of 75,000. Now it is defunct. What's more, if you examine the demographics of newspaper readers, you'll see that they're overwhelmingly over the age of 50. That means that the core audience continues to die out.

So, go ahead and preserve your paper, preferably during football season. That way, you'll be able to show your children and grandchildren what a newspaper was like.

You mean, people actually still do get the paper AND read it. It's even delivered to their home still? Wow. I haven't gotten a newspaper delivered in over 10 years and haven't even picked one up in over 5 years, ok, maybe one..

Agreed. I get all my news on the TV at night or the internet by day or by emails

Amazing too since even I at the young age of 25 grew up with the newspaper but I have moved on. My parents have not though and the old farts are sticking to the newspaper. Ever since Katrina though, my parents use the Internet a lot more since they were forced to during the storm. I kind of laugh at how neither one used email or anything but now they both email their family every day, etc....

[TitanTiger 21,100]

We get the Sunday paper only, mostly for the sales flyers, comics and coupons. Otherwise we wouldn't bother.

[Proud Tiger 4,261]

As others can verify, PM and the Hsv Times were not getting along for some time now. I really didnt think it would come to this however.

Wish PM the best of luck!

After sports editor Jonh Pruett retired, a new buch of cutsies are now in control. They don't even answer e-mails.The top two are UT grads but Paul Gattis is more their style than PM. I hate to see PM leaving. I doubt the new Auburn beat writer will be as good as he has been.

[SouthLink02 8]

If you go to www.auburnundercover.com here is the disclaimer:

Copyright © 2008 auburnundercover.com. All rights reserved. Auburn Undercover is an unofficial source of news and information and is not associated with the University of Alabama.

Also, in their tag line "Where the eagle soars, the tigers roar, and the plainsman AREN'T so plain" ... am I losing my mind but didn't the originial use AIN'T instead of AREN'T?

Even more interesting, if you look closely (properties), the banner for the site is hosted at crimsonconfidential.com

Looks like they still have a few kinks to work out...

You seen CrimsonConfidential.com?

Crimson Confidential Hires Creg Stephenson

Creg Stephenson has been named the lead writer for CrimsonConfidential.com, an ESPN-affiliated Web site devoted to Alabama athletics. It will debut on June 9.

Stephenson, 34, has been a print and online sportswriter since 1996. He has won numerous state and regional awards for his work.

Since 2004, Stephenson has been the Alabama beat writer for The Anniston Star. Beginning in 2007, he also worked as a correspondent for the Columbus (Ga.) Ledger-Enquirer and as a columnist for BamaMag.com.

Stephenson previously worked as sports editor of The Cullman Times, and as a sportswriter for The (Pascagoula) Mississippi Press and The Meridian (Miss.) Star. He has also written for The Birmingham News, The (Biloxi) Sun-Herald and Bama Magazine, among several other publications.

http://crimsonconfidential.com/

Anyone know if a UGA site is launching for ESPN?

[autiger4life 3]

If you look at the source code for auburnundercover.com you will find it is owned by crimsonconfidential.com.

No thanks.