I think Gundy's tirade wasn't directed at Carlson. I think Gundy dislikes anyone who questions his ability as a coach (which is partly reflected in his benching the player in question, Bobby Reid).

College football is completely out of touch with the real world and Gundy is as well. Big-time college athletics needs to disappear and replaced with club sports. I wish our colleges would invest more in their students, faculty, research, and other meaningful cultural activities.

Sent by William Eriksen | 6:04 PM ET | 09-26-2007

Without a doubt, the columnist's gender was a factor in the personal tirade. He would never have gone after a man like that. The whole emphasis on having children or not was because the writer was a woman. That point would never have been made to a male columnist.
More importantly, the coach's behavior was shameful. His behavior is a destructive model for all of us and especially for young people. It is compounded by the fact that he did not want to engage in any further discussion with the columnist about what he alleges was false. It is the civilized, thoughtful and responsible role to take. It's also the role of a university and the press, to discover and report the truth. He owes all of us an explanation.

Sent by S. Senters | 6:58 PM ET | 09-26-2007

Steve Spurrier went off like this once during a press conference back in the 90's. It was at a male columnist, but that was then and this is now. I think Gundy's tirade can be interpreted for what it was, he was pissed and was merely stating that the woman that wrote the article was beyond insensitive towards his player. It probably would have been better to say that "she must not have a heart" instead of going the child route.

Sent by john rambo | 7:59 PM ET | 09-26-2007

Carlson's editorial coll um is pretty mean. Seeing that sort of thing plopped into a newspaper for entertainment and to move the papers would have ticked off anybody personally acquainted with the person it was aimed at. Cattiness sells. Carlson didn't make Imus's stupid blunder - she kept her slurs PC. But, just like Imus, Carlson dug her claws into the first easy target she found.

Sent by Jan | 8:43 PM ET | 09-26-2007

Gundy was mad at the article initially, and his anger at the article is valid.

Once he saw Carlson face to face, he probably tried to be meaner than he otherwise would have, but that is conjecture, obviously.

Most likely he did not like the idea of a person who has never played the game, never worn shoulder-pads or a helmet, and as he mentioned, doesn't have kids to boot, and who is coincidentally female.

But if Carlson "stands by her article," then she should likewise understand any criticism she receives because of what she writes. That's part of journalism, no?

Sent by David Mallard | 8:45 PM ET | 09-26-2007

I am reminded of a saying above the Mahatma Gandhi's work area; "Never lose your temper. If you're right you don't have to and if you're wrong you can't afford to." Who is losing temper? Who is in the right? In the wrong?

Sent by George Veomett | 12:41 AM ET | 09-27-2007

Losing his temper in this public tirade is self-indulgent. And it takes the emphasis off what the writer wrote and puts it on who wrote it rather than the substance of the analysis. Ad hominem (or ad femininem) attacks are always the first refuge of a weak argument.

Sent by julia ann evans | 6:40 AM ET | 09-27-2007

This is all part of the southern and south-western US areas' over-emphasis on football in all its forms.From Pop Warner to Div 1 , the red-neck macho mindset is out of control.

Sent by paul Ipolito | 9:14 AM ET | 09-27-2007

The columnist called Bobby Reid's manhood into question because he was seen eating with his mother after a game, she basicly called him a soft mammas boy. It was character assination and it was repugnant.

Why is it ok for Carlson to call into question the manhood of an amature athlete because he hangs out with his mom, but its somehow seen as out of line for coach Gundy to make inferences about Carlson's character based on similar sterotypes?

Sent by T. Andew | 10:32 AM ET | 09-27-2007

Is the white CB gone for good?
Mark Kriegel
FOXSports.com, Updated 60 minutes ago......

Hey, did race play a role in Mark Kriegel's commentary? I love these kinds of sport's angst debates. Gets everyone's minds off of seriously mundade news topics.

fred call

Sent by fred call | 10:49 AM ET | 09-27-2007

Let me start by saying that I'm a mother. Coach Gundy, I would have said the same things. Jenni Carlson, you were wrong; you should call out the coaches when you have a beef with a coaching decision. You should not attack the player.

The gender of the columnist should not have played any role in the tirade. Good parents (both moms *and* dads) hurt when their children are attacked. And most who are not parents do not know how that is. I did not until I became a parent.

Sent by Shannon D. | 2:51 PM ET | 09-27-2007

I have lived in Oklahoma all of my life, and have been a frequent reader of the Daily Oklahoman, in which this "article" appeared. I have never found Ms. Carlson's "articles" particularly newsworthy, (or even appealing, for that matter). As for the "article" in question, which I did read, her opening paragraph speaks volumes, and I quote: "If you listen to the rumblings and the rumors," She has essentially resorted to tabloid journalism, and of course has not revealed her sources, which I doubt she will. Whatever happened to editorial responsibility?
As of Sept 26th, the mother of the quarterback attacked in the "article" has stated that Ms. Carlson's statement about her "feeding her son fried chicken" were lies. And as for Ms. Carlson's assertion that Coach Gundy launched a personal attack on her because of the "article." I consider her "article" an attack on a decent, hard working young man's character despicable!

Sent by Mike Jacobs | 8:04 AM ET | 09-28-2007

I read the article, then watched the tirade. It's irrelevant what *should* happen in college sports, it is evident that that the boys to who play them are prized, promoted and publicized in a style similar to adult sports, and they will consequently be written about the same way. If it can be said that Jenni Carlson was criticizing an amateaur athelete as though he were a professional, it can also be said the coach derided a professional journalist as though she were a barefoot bumpkin. Carlson's article may have been painful for the coach to read, but it was also perceptive; she was doing her job, and did not deserve his tantrum. If she had that same 'fire in the belly', she would have been on her feet screaming back at Gundy, to remind him he wasn't lecturing one of his players.

Sent by Susan Hickey | 9:33 AM ET | 09-28-2007

And how many Americans died in Iraq that day? How many Iraqi died that day? Like the P Hilton news this is of little importance in the light of our kids fighting and dying.....imho

Sent by randyT | 8:33 PM ET | 09-30-2007

are you serious saying ''How dare that bitch criticize one of my players. She shouldn't be writing about football. She should be home making babies." I didnt see that at all. I saw a coach who cares about his players. I do not think gender had anything to do with it and I think that sounds like someone trying to find someone wrong or something to complain about. Coach did the right thing, its not his fault the article was written by a women. Everyone always talks about race and gender for reasons people do certain things, I think those people look for that or for reasons to promote their own agendas. This has nothing to do with gender what so ever. I have children and I know exactly what he is saying. Great job coach!!!!!

Sent by austin lemieux | 7:00 PM ET | 10-09-2007

another thing, coaches yell at the media ALL THE TIME, have you ever seen a Mike Ditka press confrence or Bill Parcells, i mean come on that is it just someone looking for an excuse, what if it was a man so what...media get yelled at by coaches period, women should not be excluded from this because they are women.

Sent by crisis | 7:06 PM ET | 10-09-2007