Heads and tales: Past prezes and future games

hall of fame bowl No bowl left behind: The Your-Corporation-Here Birmingham Bowl needs three things to succeed: right business plan (including title sponsor and TV deal), right date and right matchup. When Birmingham last held a bowl game, only 18 other bowl games were in play. Now, it’s 31. Which means more than half of Division I-A teams will be in a bowl. Since when did a post-season trip become jury duty? The good news: There’s never been another time to open a college, start a football program and see the world.
• Bowl survival [Birmingham News]

Stepping down from Samford: Thomas Corts is retiring this month as president of Samford University after 23 years. His achievements aren’t unlike other longterm college leaders: fund-raising, renovation and construction. But his most notable accomplishment: cutting school ties with the Alabama Baptist Convention in 1994. And he’s not too fond of politics in the pulpit: “Our faith is too precious to be put at risk by politicians and some in the church who want to use it to push narrow political agendas. I don’t back away from the idea that your faith can influence your vote, and should. But the church should not be organizing the vote, endorsing this candidate or slate of candidates. That is dangerous for the democracy, and it’s dangerous for our faith.”

Also stepping down is University of Montevallo president Robert McChesney after 14 years. Like Corts, McChesney favors a new state constitution. In an address to graduates, he said, “My generation has failed to produce even a draft (constitution) to be considered. You must do better. You are limited not by your ability, but by your vision.”
• Corts balanced faith, academics [Birmingham News]

What would Jesus serve?: Dr. John Crawford said he lost $85,000 in a restaurant partnership with chef Arman DeLorenz, then forgave him and lost $100,000 in another restaurant partnership with him. Now, he’s back in the biz with a new partner, taking over the failed Original Joe’s and Prairie Fire Grille near Greystone. Crawford says, “I knew there would be a degree of risk, but God wanted me to right a wrong. I did have a responsibility to the employees and a responsibility to the debt.” He also said God felt he should have been DeLorenz’ mentor, and that God later instructed him to get out of the partnership with DeLorenz after a disagreement over accounting. No wonder He doesn’t answer our prayers — He’s too busy running money-losing upscale eateries.
• Physician heals bad businesses [Birmingham News]

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