SMU/Jacksonville - the difference between journalism and PR

[PonyPride]

I have written both. In journalism, the assignment is to write the facts ... the exact facts ... only the facts ... not lacing a "story" with your opinion. In PR, the assignment is to put a positive spin on things, to cast your team/school/office/company/boss/client/whatever in the best possible light.

Even with that in mind, however, this is absurd. This is the "press release" from today's game on the Jacksonville website. The headline alone makes the release impossible to take seriously:


SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 2011
JU win stolen away by late call at SMU, 63-62

In the most controversial ending in the short history of the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament, SMU was given a 63-62 win in the second round over Jacksonville at Moody Coliseum.

JU (20-12) had rallied from a 21-point first half deficit and trailed by 17 with 11 minutes to go, only to take the lead with 4.8 seconds left on a 3-pointer by Travis Cohn.

With 0.8 left, SMU’s lob inbound pass from midcourt was caught by Papa Dia – who’s attempt to win the game was swatted from behind by Delwan Graham, sending the Dolphins into celebration.

However, the least experienced of the three officials saw something different.

The referee came from out of the shadows from the corner to call a foul on Graham, giving Dia two free throws that he hit as the Mustangs (19-14) received an early Christmas present. The two points finished Dia’s game-high 24 points and eight rebounds for the Ponies.

“I think everyone here today or watched this game knows who won the game,” said JU head coach Cliff Warren. “Our guys have fought all year and today was no different. We were down big, but we didn’t give up and fought hard to win the game.”

The 3-pointer looked like it was going to cap a wild second half for Cohn, who scored all 22 of his team leading points in the second half. After missing just one shot in six minutes in the first half, Cohn torched the Mustangs by hitting 8-of-11 from the floor and 4-of-6 from behind the arc.

The late trey gave JU a 62-61 lead and looked as though it would be the fitting end to an epic comeback.

SMU opened the game by hitting 15 of its first 20 shots and used a 14-0 run midway through the first half to build a 31-10 lead with 6:38 left in the first half.

The Dolphins rally started in the final four minutes of the half, cutting the 21-point margin to 14 at the half thanks to a 10-3 run.

JU picked up right where it left off, with Cohn scoring the nine points to get JU within seven, 38-31, with 16:43 left in the game.

The Mustangs answered with a spurt to push the lead to 17, with Collin Magnrum hitting a 3-pointer that looked to be a dagger in the Dolphins comeback hopes with 11:49 left in the game.

Jacksonville wasn’t going away though.

JU scored the next seven points, with Keith McDougald hitting a 3-pointer with 9:53 left to cut it to 10, 48-38. Then trailing by nine with five minutes to go, the Dolphins put together a 13-3 run to take its first lead of the game with 47 seconds left on a Delwan Graham layup off a steal.

SMU retook the lead with 14 seconds left on a 3-point play by Jeremiah Samarrippas, who scored a career-high 16 points for the Mustangs.

That setup Cohn’s heroic 3-pointer in the face of the defender before seeing the referee rip the game right out of the Dolphins hand.

While SMU was 24-of-38 shooting, JU forced 20 turnovers and scored 27 points off those mistakes – a telling stat in the Dolphins comeback efforts.

Cohn led three Dolphins in double figures, with Delwan Graham adding 11 and Keith McDougald getting 12 off the bench.

The disappointing end to JU’s season comes after the second straight 20-win season for the Dolphins, the first time that has happened since 1974.

“I want to thank my players for all their hard work all season. They have done everything we have asked of them – on and off the floor,” Warren said. “Especially our seniors, who gave us four great years.”

[Peruna88]

I was just about to post this same thing. LOL!

[2ndandlong]

Funny. I think I watched a different game today.

[MrMustang1965]

Did Jacksonville hire someone from that-school-in-Austin-that-shall-remain-nameless-by-me to write their news releases for their sports program?

Third graph. It's 'whose', not 'who's'!

Sour grapes. Go Mustangs!

[RGV Pony]

and that's why Warren is and always will be small time

[Hal]

OMG - that's embarrassing!

I know they're upset their team lost, and maybe they have an argument, but how professional is that? Whoever wrote that should be severely disciplined - at the very least - and possibly fired.

A few years ago, a PR guy at Oklahoma ran a "press release" chastising the Big 12's willingness to give a Player of the Week award to a Texas A&M player when an OU player had "obviously" had a much better week. That guy ended up losing his job, if memory serves.

This is worse - a school official blaming the game officials for the outcome? You have to be kidding. You NEVER do that, especially when you represent a university in a PR capacity. If a coach says what was written there, he gets fined, if not fired. A PR hack should know better - a lot better.

That is shameful. Jacksonville should demand that guy's resignation immediately. Their coach, while disappointed, sounds classy and gracious in defeat. Whoever wrote that clearly doesn't understand what those words mean.

[RGV Pony]

Their coach, while disappointed, sounds classy and gracious in defeat.

really?

“I think everyone here today or watched this game knows who won the game,”

[Hal]

Yeah, I was OK with that statement. He was (is) upset they lost. He thought the refs jobbed his team. But he didn't SAY it, and he damn-sure didn't put it in writing. It's OK to be upset - if he cares about his team, and he clearly does, he SHOULD be upset. But there are ways to express it. Coach Warren, who has a terrific reputation in coaching circles, was probably twisted into knots on the inside, but he didn't say anything too out of line, if you ask me.

[Junior]

Their coach, while disappointed, sounds classy and gracious in defeat.

really?

“I think everyone here today or watched this game knows who won the game,”

Agreed. Their coach was whining all game long.

I guess the writer also missed the part where the JU players tried to start a fight at the end of regulation.

Stole a victory? C'mon. If we had lost, yes a victory would have been stolen. If they wanted to win, thug 21 shouldn't have fouled Papa.

[ponyscott]

You can write him at:

'[email protected]' or leave him a VM @ (904) 256-7409

I sent him an email complementing him on his journalism.....you may want to as well.

[hoopmanx]

Warren having or not having class is irrelevant as his star rises. He's regarded as suave low key guy, that has an interesting resume. Played and coached under Jim Phelan for years, then recruited under Paul Hewitt at Sienna & Ga Tech. He must have been beside himself all game. He's a slickster so all of this is really interesting.

Delwan Graham has always been a punk, though. He was dismissed from LSU, definitely a high major talent in high school/aau. Papa ate him, he was pissed, it got heated. This sorta stuff happens. Classless fans make it even better.

Believe me, Doh won't be a real charmer WHEN we get legitimately good. He's walking billboard material. Who could forget the presser where as UNCs coach, was asked about Duke, and deadpans 'Duke Sucks.' LOL. The man who got onto it w/Mike Davis, and actually out-smacked the Memphis hecklers. In the 70s, Lefty Driesell would razz opposing FT shooters, literally do a hex dance. This sport needs showmen.

Schedule Jacksonville next year, bring them back in!

[Mitch McConnell]

I'm not going to argue against his credentials. And look, he did a great job of getting his kids to keep playing when they trailed by 21. You could argue he outcoached Doherty in the second half.

But does that excuse for the way he and his staff handled his players after the game?

I'm all for intensity. I'm also for coaches making sure their players tow the line.

[hoopmanx]

I'm not going to argue against his credentials. And look, he did a great job of getting his kids to keep playing when they trailed by 21. You could argue he outcoached Doherty in the second half.

But does that excuse for the way he and his staff handled his players after the game?

I'm all for intensity. I'm also for coaches making sure their players tow the line.

I think when you essentially coach at a very good low major, you end up taking the best you can get your hands on. Some of his best probably aren't up for awards in the community, and he's a new generation coach. Not making excuses, it just doesn't surprise me.

[EastStang]

Of course the coach didn't call out his players for leaving our best player unguarded on the inbound pass right underneath the basket. He might have been gracious and said something like, man that was a great play to get Dia open. Tough loss for our kids.

[Junior]

i sent an email, and it was sent back undeliverable.