Chase Goodbread of the TUSCALOOSA NEWS reports Monday that the University of Alabama recently announced it has fired a university employee “who played unauthorized music over the Bryant-Denny Stadium public address system prior to Friday’s Iron Bowl.”
(Amateur video below)
The part-time staffer, who was not named in the termination announcement, played “Take the Money and Run,” by The Steve Miller Band, and “Son of a Preacher Man”, recorded by Dusty Springfield in 1968.
The taunting tunes were obviously directed at Auburn quarterback Cam Newton. Newton’s father, who is often identified as a bishop, has been accused of soliciting money during his son’s recruitment.
Alabama claimed in its announcement today that the ousted employee deviated from a previously prepared selection of songs designated to be played over the stadium P.A. while both teams were on the field prior to the game.
“Our processes require that all music and videos played in the stadium prior to and during every game be carefully scripted and approved by a senior administrator in the Athletics Department. The former staff member deviated from the script that had been approved for the game with Auburn, and the University took steps to immediately terminate his contract.”
Here is some amateur video I was sent of the actual scene. You can clearly hear both songs as the Auburn players in dark jogging suits, including Newton, go through their pregame routine.
Later, when Auburn took the field in full pads, Alabama fans reportedly threw monopoly money at Newton.
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Video credit: Michael Casagrande, Alabama beat writer for The Decatur Daily, Florence TimesDaily and Anniston Star.
9:33 pm on November 29th, 2010
That’s hilarious. Very cool. They did not have to fire the guy. weak.
9:39 pm on November 29th, 2010
Stay classy bammer!
11:51 pm on November 29th, 2010
Being on NCAA Probation 4 times in the last 15 years, I find it funny Bama also played a video about NCAA Bylaws. “At Bama we Live it” LOL. What a Joke of a school. “Unnamed part time employee” Who do they really think is going to believe that garbage.
12:18 am on November 30th, 2010
Fire him? That guy should be promoted to VP of Public Relations yesterday!
12:25 am on November 30th, 2010
Yeah, about as much class as I expect out of Bama. I’m sure that guy who was fired did it all by himself with no one able to stop him. Riiiiiiigggght. Maybe unsanctioned, but accepted at the time.
9:52 am on November 30th, 2010
That’s funny! Can’t believe they fired him. It’s a rivalry game, not a gentleman’s duel.
10:19 am on November 30th, 2010
Aww look at the butt hurt Auburn fans out there. If the allegations aren’t true then why get so bent out of shape about it? Honestly I am surprised Auburn is still trying to keep up this act like none of this happened… What will it mean to win a NC, then find out this is all true a few months after, all Auburn is doing right now is pissing on the entire season for everyone else who ISN’T paying for their players. No smoke without fire friends
11:14 am on November 30th, 2010
As an Auburn fan, I laughed a little. But the real story here is that the unpaid female student intern that played the music is the one whose ‘contract was terminated’ while her supervisor, who gave her the play list to ‘execute’ wasn’t even disciplined.
11:18 am on November 30th, 2010
Fuggin bammer turds…
12:25 pm on November 30th, 2010
I think he should have found something to keep the team up and ready to play
12:50 pm on November 30th, 2010
The 2 songs were not on the play list from what is being reported. The intern played songs not on the approved playlist. It’s a rivalry game. It was funny. My Auburn friends even laughed. Confident people can laugh at themselves.
1:03 pm on November 30th, 2010
I don’t know.
funny. yes, picking on one guy no.
I’d fire the bama coach. That makes more sense
1:30 pm on November 30th, 2010
Did Cam need his father to negotiate for illegal purposes. Sometimes parents just get greedy at the expense of thier children.
I say investigate for the truth, and nothing but the truth!
1:47 pm on November 30th, 2010
SO MUCH FOR FREE SPEECH
4:10 pm on November 30th, 2010
Awesome!! can someone get that intern’s name, I wanna hire her!!
PS: Bama rocks……. NOT
11:08 pm on November 30th, 2010
It could have been worse. She could have played “For the Love of Money” by the O’Jays.