Obvious Overlooked on 'Outside the Lines'

This week's installment of ESPN's stellar sports journalism program, "Outside the Lines," used one of two feature-length segments Sunday morning to focus college football coaches who have lost their jobs in recent weeks amid acusations that they mistreated players.

It was a fairly well reported and timely piece, although thes show could easily have spent a full half hour on the topic as opposed to just 15 minutes.

Most glaring, though, was what reliable host Bob Ley did not ask.

Among the guests on the show was former college coach and Big Ten Network analyst Gerry DiNardo. As one of three guests asked for comment during the segment, DiNardo brought some credibility to the topic. Additionally, Ley introduced DiNardo as someone who works with a consulting company that helps college coaches find jobs. That was something interesting about DiNardo most viewers would not know.

But, late in the segment, when discussion turned to Tennessee's hiring of Derek Dooley as its coach, DiNardo lauded the decision. Repeatedly. He made a decent case, too.

What Ley did not ask was whether DiNardo or the company for which he works had recommended Dooley or any other candidates for the UT job. Based on the credentials that DiNardo brought to the segment, it was a necessary question.

For a show that ranks as one of the shining lights of sports-related journalism on a weekly basis, it was a rare missed opportunity.