September 7, 200521 yr http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/foot...6/alberts.espn/ ESPN fired Trev Alberts on Sunday after the college football analyst failed to show up for work at ESPN's studios in Bristol, Conn. "He phoned and said that he wasn't going to show up," Mark Shapiro, ESPN's Vice President of Programming and Production, told SI.com on Tuesday night, "and when he didn't, he was in breach of his contract and we terminated him." Alberts, a former All-American defensive end at Nebraska and member of the NFL's Indianapolis Colts, was embarking on his fourth season as part of ESPN's popular College Football Scoreboard and College Football Gameday team. But on Sunday morning, in the midst of college football's first big weekend of the season, Alberts phoned ESPN's coordinating producer of college football, Ed Placey, and voiced his discontent. "He phoned us and told us that he was unhappy with his role on College GameDay," said Shapiro. "He felt that he was playing second fiddle." As the day wore on, according to both Shapiro and Alberts, there were several conversations between Alberts and ESPN senior vice presidents Jed Drake and Norby Williamson. Finally, Alberts announced that he would not be reporting for work that afternoon (ESPN and ESPN2 aired three college football games between 3:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.). Once Alberts failed to appear for his studio show assignment with host Rece Davis and fellow analyst Mark May, he was fired. "They first wanted me to resign," Alberts said on Tuesday night from his Atlanta home. "Then they fired me. I obviously have a serious problem with the word 'breach', but that's something my attorney will work out." Alberts joined ESPN's studio show in 2002 after five years of working in a similar capacity at CNN/SI. Cantankerous, passionate and opinionated, Alberts often feuded with May about issues relating to the sport, but the feud never turned (or even appeared to seem) personal. Davis played the role of genial arbitrator to a tee. "We were just trying to be three guys in a frat house talking football," said Alberts. As far as his discontent and the phone calls to management, Alberts said that both began long before Sunday. "It wasn't just this weekend," he said. "There were conversations for awhile. I fully understood the privilege of the seat I sat in. And it was never about wanting to be part of the GameDay crew. But no matter what business you're in, if you're not respected internally, you're going to have a hard time being respected externally." Alberts declined to elaborate. The GameDay crew, with Chris Fowler as host and sidekicks Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit, has evolved into a wildly popular cult phenomenon. Each Saturday the trio's visit to a college campus is cause for pre-game pandemonium among the tailgating set. Alberts claims that he never aspired to that, nor does he begrudge Fowler, Corso and Herbstreit their widening popularity. "The GameDay guys have earned that," Alberts said. "Mark, Rece and I, we had searched for something we could call ours. All we wanted was something we could take ownership of. We felt like the midnight wrap-up show was ours, but as the season began I could see that we'd be more of a support crew for [Fowler, Corso and Herbstreit]. "Never once did I say, Why aren't I on commercials? Why aren't I making more money? I'm a huge fan of all these people who work at ESPN, including Mark [shapiro]. It's just a matter of not wanting to be marginalized." Shapiro concurred that the ESPN stable may have had a few too many thoroughbreds. "Over the years there's been some discomfort over how to integrate the two teams," he said on Tuesday. "But, it's like a coach who has a lot of good backs and receivers. Everyone has a role to play." Everyone except Alberts. He has been dismissed from the team. Shapiro said that in the short term a replacement will come from in-house, but as for a full-time replacement for Alberts, "essentially, we're open for business."
September 7, 200521 yr I heard this.....glad he's gone. He isn't as knowledge as some of the guys on ESPN and he was a huge bust in the NFL.
September 7, 200521 yr Thank God. He's a bitter dumbass. Still part of my favorite quote ever. Trev: "FSU went into the 93 National Championship game all cocky and they were #2. We were #1 and they were favored. They were the ones on TV the whole time. They got all the respect." Mark May: "Who won that game?" Trev: "Yeah, but....!" *Cuts to commercial*
September 7, 200521 yr Thank God. He's a bitter dumbass. Still part of my favorite quote ever. Trev: "FSU went into the 93 National Championship game all cocky and they were #2. We were #1 and they were favored. They were the ones on TV the whole time. They got all the respect." Mark May: "Who won that game?" Trev: "Yeah, but....!" *Cuts to commercial* 933785[/snapback] :lol :lol :notworthy
September 7, 200521 yr glad he is gone.. guy was horrible now if only they would fire sean salisbury i would be happy
September 7, 200521 yr They need to fire Stuart Scott while they've still got the firing juices flowing.
September 7, 200521 yr Trev was jealous of Kirk. OF COURSE Alberts/May are going to play second fiddle to Herbstreit/Corso. *puts on Buckeye head* DUH!
September 7, 200521 yr Thank god, basically just played the role of the good ole boy former player, not exactly hard to find a replacement there.
September 7, 200521 yr Firing Sean Salisbury and Stu Scott would be great moves by ESPN. Along with firing the jackass that came up with 50 States in 50 Days.
September 7, 200521 yr Firing Sean Salisbury and Stu Scott would be great moves by ESPN. Along with firing the jackass that came up with 50 States in 50 Days. 933935[/snapback] Probably Kenny Mayne. Hater! I like Mayne. I wish he'd go back to Sports Center.
September 8, 200521 yr Along with firing the jackass that came up with 50 States in 50 Days. 933935[/snapback] Life is an open road for me :plain Merril Hodge needs to go as well, the dude can't call himself an expert when he predicted against the eagles in I believe, all but one game last year. I'm no fan of TO but whenever he talks about him, he is totally unprofessional. They have some real solid anchors on ESPNews, most notably Michelle Bonner and Anthony Aimee(sp?), both are great and it's a shame they're relegated to News while complete assclowns like Stu Scott and whatever that white dude's name is, that is trapped in a black man's body.
September 8, 200521 yr Author Hey Rune, IMO the reason they put the good anchors on ESPNEWS is because they know the real sports fans like yourself and I are watching ESPNEWS more, and therefore want it to be more professional, while the casual fan checks out Sportscenter and wants some dope to yell at them.
September 8, 200521 yr Was this the idiot who predicted the Marlins would win Game 1 of the WS but have not shot at winning the Series? Are we talking about the blonde idiot?
September 8, 200521 yr Along with firing the jackass that came up with 50 States in 50 Days. 933935[/snapback] Life is an open road for me :plain Merril Hodge needs to go as well, the dude can't call himself an expert when he predicted against the eagles in I believe, all but one game last year. I'm no fan of TO but whenever he talks about him, he is totally unprofessional. They have some real solid anchors on ESPNews, most notably Michelle Bonner and Anthony Aimee(sp?), both are great and it's a shame they're relegated to News while complete assclowns like Stu Scott and whatever that white dude's name is, that is trapped in a black man's body. 934260[/snapback] Scott Van Pelt. Also, you can't decide to "fire people" because of bad picks. Ca-mon! Just because they went "against" the Marlins doesn't mean they want them to burn eternally in hell.
September 8, 200521 yr Trev Alberts down... Stepehn A. Smith Chris Berman Stuart Scott Merrill Hoge Mark Schlereth To go...
September 8, 200521 yr Trev Alberts down... Stepehn A. Smith Chris Berman Stuart Scott Merrill Hoge Mark Schlereth To go... 934783[/snapback] You know, there's one guy NO ONE has mentioned yet. One of the worst announcers, I'd dare say, EVER. You've all forgotten him. So, I'll remind you in picture form because I dare not say his name...
September 8, 200521 yr Scott Van Pelt is the man, he would be the only reason Id watch Sportscenter. Trev was an ass clown...
September 8, 200521 yr Good riddance to Trev Alberts. Although it was amusing to see how my fellow Buckeyes fans would overreact when he kept hating all of 2002 and 2003. I just don't think he's very good. I like Scott Van Pelt, but I don't watch Sportscenter anymore anyway.
September 8, 200521 yr Trev Alberts down... Stepehn A. Smith Chris Berman Stuart Scott Merrill Hoge Mark Schlereth To go... 934783[/snapback] You know, there's one guy NO ONE has mentioned yet. One of the worst announcers, I'd dare say, EVER. You've all forgotten him. So, I'll remind you in picture form because I dare not say his name... 934789[/snapback] hugg would sob uncontrollably for days if that ever occured.
September 8, 200521 yr Not many Big Ten/Big 12 guys left on that show anymore. Atleast Herby is still around. Obviously I liked Trev because he always talked highly of the Hawks. Trev gone sucks. He said the way he felt and made shows like these watchable. TV would suck if everyone said what you wanted to hear.
September 8, 200521 yr Not many Big Ten/Big 12 guys left on that show anymore. Atleast Herby is still around. Obviously I liked Trev because he always talked highly of the Hawks. Trev gone sucks. He said the way he felt and made shows like these watchable. TV would suck if everyone said what you wanted to hear. 934926[/snapback] Dont forget Indiana's own Lee Corso... :plain
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