The institute’s research serves the lobster industry throughout New England and parts of Canada, but since its inception it has relied mostly on annual contributions. The University of Maine has provided support as well, mainly in the form of office space, laboratory access and part of employees’ salaries.

Cathy Billings, assistant director for communications and development at the Lobster Institute, said the new Cooperation, Outreach, Research and Education, or C.O.R.E., campaign will create two new positions at the institute and endow the director’s position. According to Billings, whoever replaces current director Robert Bayer will have big shoes to fill.

“When it’s time for him to retire, we want to ensure there’s always an opportunity for someone of that caliber to come in,” Billings said. Bayer has been researching lobsters for 30 years.

The campaign would create a lobster health researcher position at the institute, as well as a product development position to benefit the lobster industry. Billings said both positions would start as graduate student positions, so the campaign aims to establish scholarship funds to pay for both.

The C.O.R.E. campaign is named for what Billings called the institute’s core functions. “What we’re trying to do is secure the lobster resource, and at the same time ensure that there’s always a vital fishery,” Billings explained. “We feel they don’t have to be counter to one another.”

In October, the institute received a boost toward their goal in the form of a $100,000 challenge grant from Riverdale Mills, a Massachusetts-based manufacturer of PVC-coated wire mesh used to make lobster traps.

The challenge grant means that once the institute raises $100,000, Riverdale will kick in an additional $100,000. The goal is to convince others to donate money to the institute, knowing that Riverdale would match any donations.

Darden Restaurants, owners of Red Lobster, The Olive Garden and other casual dining establishments, previously gave the institute a two-to-one challenge grant. When the Lobster Institute raised $150,000 from other donors, Darden gave them an additional $75,000.

Riverdale Mills president and founder James Knott has supported the Lobster Institute since its inception in 1987. Knott is the inventor of the wire lobster trap. “I put the first one in the water in 1957,” Knott said. “By about 30 years, 99 percent of the traps in New England were made out of wire.”

Knott said support for the Lobster Institute could be called an investment for those in the lobster industry thanks to the research they’ve done. Before the institute, there was “so much mythology out there,” he said. “People really didn’t know what was going on at the bottom of the ocean.”

Myths and superstitions still dominate the lobster industry, according to Knott. In Canada, he said, many lobstermen believe that wire traps “sing,” scaring away lobsters with sounds inaudible to humans. Because of this, he said, wooden traps are still widely used in places like Newfoundland.

Knott is still licensed by the state of Massachusetts to catch lobsters, but he said he only gets out 10 to 12 times per season. In May, Knott received an honorary doctorate of science from UMaine for his support of the Lobster Institute, and even now is calling other potential donors for the C.O.R.E. campaign.

Knott said of the challenge grant that he was “delighted to get something going.”

“I’m grateful for what the lobster institute has done for the industry,” Knott said.

Johnson was awarded several distinguished service medals and Awards over his highly decorated career. He credits much of his success to the four years he spent at UMaine, saying “it taught him a lot of important lessons.”

When Johnson attended UMaine, he was a member of the R.O.T.C. Program. To honor him, members of the Navy and Army R.O.T.C were in attendance to meet and greet both the speaker and visitors.

Many prominent members of the university were in attendance, including President Robert Kennedy, who introduced Johnson, saying that it was his pleasure “to introduce the return of such a distinguished graduate back to the University of Maine.”

Dressed in a dark suit and red tie, Johnson took the stage and thanked the 100 or so people in attendance for joining him, and called UMaine “the most important education institute in the state of Maine.”

Johnson spoke about his experience with war, particularly in Bosnia and the Balkans area. Johnson mentioned that once he became a commissioned officer after graduating from Aviation Officer Candidate School in 1969, he was soon assigned to numerous sea duty operations. Johnson was first assigned to flying an A-7E Corsair II, then deployed with the USS Independence and served aboard the USS Nimitz as an executive officer.

He gained military experience in the 1990s when he served with the Joint Chiefs of Staff as head of the European Command and Central Command Branch of the Joint Operations Division.

It was during that time that Johnson traveled to the Balkans. “We are reaching the 11th anniversary when the peace treaty was signed in Kosovo,” Johnson said. “And hopefully the violence in the Balkans is winding down.”

When speaking about Bosnia and the Balkans, Johnson touched on the idea of rebuilding communities after war, how the “economic development of a country is very important after a war.” When Johnson served in Bosnia, he experienced firsthand the level of violence and bloodshed that occurs during war. He compared this violence to the conflict in Afghanistan, saying that “Afghanistan is a test for us. We will see how we do.”

Johnson went on to talk about how many other conflicts still occur around the world. “There is violence in Sudan, in places in Africa, and there is still the ongoing conflict in the Middle East,” Johnson added.

Before leaving, Johnson answered questions from the audience about his take on world issues and questions about his contribution to the military.

After working in the Balkans, Johnson came back to the United States. In 1999, he was appointed to the position of senior military assistant to Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen. In 2001, Johnson assumed the duties as commander of U.S. Naval Forces. He is now retired, but still gives lectures to various groups across the United States, especially the University of Maine.

Johnson’s visit to UMaine and his lecture were sponsored by the William S. Cohen Center for International Policy and Commerce with the assistance of the Buchanan Alumni House.

1. What problems do you think are the most important to students on campus?

2. What specific plans do you have to correct these problems?

3. What kind of personal experience will you bring to the office?

Kevin Ballew

Fourth-year

Information systems

1 The pressing issue for students is the disconnected relationship between themselves and their monetary distributive governing body: Student Government. I argue that it is because of this clouded representation of students’ interests that students today have no outlet for their criticism, no recourse for grievances and no single unified presence from which to voice their minds. For all matters, whether it be a parking issue, dining issue, or housing issue, all can have effective change done unto them if the student body chooses to do so.

2 Reconnection of students to their respective senators is key. Each senator, representing their college, already has the groundwork laid in place to be a voice for their colleagues. All that is needed is a plan that will solidify the link. As president, I would push for each senator to hold regularly scheduled open forums where members of their college could come and have their voices heard. I would further push that colleges make known to their undergraduate body the names of their representing senators, completing the link between senate and the students. The goal, ultimately, is to make Student Government for the students once again.

3 If elected president, I would bring the knowledge and experience of various student groups which I have served in some capacity over my years so far here at UMaine.

My experience as a Hall Governing Board president assures my understanding of what it is like to live on campus and the issues dorm residents face. Having been a senator for the engineering college, and the engineering college caucus chair, assures that I am familiar with governmental procedures and practices. Furthermore, having served on the Executive Budgetary Committee, I am knowledgeable about how monies are spent within the government, and the practices that go along with them. Finally, being involved with Greek life, and recently serving as president to the Inter-Fraternity Council, assures to all that I have the capacity to lead, while remaining vigilant to the concerns of the persons who installed me into office.

Priyanth Chandrasekar

Fourth-year

Electrical engineering

1 Improving the facilities offered to students: keychain MaineCards, more hours for the library and for dining in the Maine Marketplace. I’d like to convert unused meals to money usable at the Marketplace and convenience stores. Changing the academic calendar to be more student, staff and faculty friendly, and providing one extra move-out day in residence halls are other ideas I’d like to implement.

Transportation has been a key issue for off-campus students. I intend to introduce two new BAT bus pickups at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Also, for commuters I would like to market an off-campus housing guide to help students planning to live off campus to compare rates and locations. For parking, I’m looking into the possibility of creating more temporary (20 minute) slots, and a lottery system for permits. I’d also like to see discounts for students at movies, restaurants and bars in the Old Town and Orono areas.

2 Correcting complicated problems requires dedication, hard work, and most importantly, networking skills. Being an RA has taught me to build relationships and this goes a long way in networking. I am a well-networked student and intend to use these resources to benefit the student body. I am very easygoing and easy to talk to, and many people feel that this is my biggest advantage.

3 Individual accountability, delegation, and collective responsibility form the pillars of my leadership style. I became an active member of the UMaine community in my freshman year. I was a senator in my third month at UMaine and this led to various other officer positions, like president of the International Students Association and becoming a Senior Skull.

Being a new member in the executive body will add fresh blood and new ideas. I have worked with a variety of organizations on campus and held numerous leadership positions. These experiences, coupled with my passion and love for the University of Maine, qualify me to serve as your next president. I intend to bring back the “student” in Student Government. It’s not my platform. It’s your platform and your voice. How do you want to be heard?

Derek Mitchell

Third-year

Journalism & political science

1 Students are most impacted by the costs associated with attendance at the University of Maine. Ever-increasing tuition, rising costs of food and textbooks, and the cost of living in the UMaine community challenge students to innovate new ways to afford an education.

2 If elected, I will work with the faculty and administrators to assure that students have access to professor evaluation data. Students should not need to rely on http://.ratemyprofessor.com to make critical course selection decisions; whether a professor is ‘hot’ has little bearing on your success in the course. College is a major investment, and like the stock market, it would not be wise to invest without investigating and examining the stock.

If elected, I will also create a student lobby day in Augusta. Legislators hear too often from administrators – and not enough from students directly impacted by decisions to allocate funds to the university system. Students will interact directly with those making critical funding decisions -decisions having a significant impact on student bills each year.

3 After serving as student senator for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and a term as vice president for Student Entertainment, my understanding of Student Government is thorough and firsthand. Collaborating through challenging times and through times of great success, my experience has given me an opportunity to learn the strengths of Student Government, and the areas in need of improvement.

William Pomerleau

Third-year

History & secondary education

1 Issues involving the rising costs of dining and tuition – any issue where students are facing rising increases and are being forced to pay more money out of their pockets.

2 Work with Derek Mitchell to sit down with campus administrators to negotiate more reasonable prices, and get members of Student Government down to Augusta to speak with legislators about important issues affecting students at the University of Maine.

3 Two years of experience as a Student Senator, where I participated in lobbying legislators in Augusta, talking with many campus administrators about policy, as well as helping to direct policy for Student Government. Serving a year as the GSS president pro tempore where I’ve had to chair meetings of the senate coinciding, with a membership in the National Association of Parliamentarians from my studies on parliamentary procedure.

Sean Rankin

Second-year

Business

1 I feel the largest concerns I have heard and share with students are the rising tuition costs, inadequate dining services, and frustrating parking issues. Many students have great concerns with these issues, but the worst of it is they do not feel anyone is working to solve these problems, especially Student Government.

2 At the present moment I am working with several state representatives to lower in-state tuition in the UMaine System. On Nov. 23, State Representative Gary Moore and myself submitted concept legislation to the Reviser of Statutes in Augusta that would in fact serve to lower tuition costs. On Dec. 5, I have been invited by Rep. Moore to address his caucus and discuss solutions.

3 I came into senate this year a student who wanted to fix student problems. To accomplish this I quickly realized that senate needed to be changed; it needed to add the students’ interests back onto its agenda. I have been a UMaine student a lot longer than I have been a UMaine senator. If elected, I will be a student fighting for students’ interests on senate, not a senator deciding what the students’ interests are.

Turner visited the campus earlier this month and was interviewed by the search committee, which later interviewed Maddy. The search committee was appointed by Provost Edna Mora Szymanski, and is charged with the task of finding the most qualified candidate for the Cooperative Extension position. Many of the committee’s members work in the Cooperative Extension office. Others, such as Daniel Sandweiss, hold positions at the University of Maine, but outside of the Cooperative Extension office. Sandweiss, director of Graduate Studies, is also chair of the search committee.

“Both candidates are very well-qualified individuals and are very highly ranked,” Sandweiss said. He also said that the committee has been working for months to find the proper candidates, and that about “20 applicants applied before narrowing the field down to six.”

The committee conducted phone interviews and chose three candidates, one of whom dropped out – leaving two viable candidates, Turner and Maddy, as the remaining choices.

“The committee will make their decision and then recommend a specific candidate to the Provost, who has the final decision,” Sandweiss said.

Wanda Legere, who works in the Provost’s office, provided and gathered the information and biographies of both candidates. She said she feels “both candidates are well qualified.”

Turner is currently the interim vice provost and director of extension at the University of Missouri-Columbia. She has over 28 years of experience working in a college setting and holds three degrees from the University of Missouri-Columbia, where she lives with her family.

Maddy is currently the assistant director at the Oregon State University Extension Service. She has worked at numerous Cooperative Extension offices, including Cornell University and Ohio State University, and has been involved in various 4-H programs throughout her career. Both candidates are interested in having the chance to work at the University of Maine and the Cooperative Extension Office.

For more information on either of the candidates, contact Wanda Legere at the UMaine Provost’s Office or Daniel Sandweiss at Alumni Hall.

“I think that students need an escape sometimes from rural Maine,” said Matthew Bennett, vice president for programming in ROC. “While I think that we live and go to school in a great place, a change of scenery can be an exciting experience and makes you have a new appreciation for things.”

Bennett has organized both trips, although this year’s Quebec trip will be his last. Securing funding for them remains the hardest part, with costs for Boston at a low $1,500 compared to the $40,000 price tag for Quebec. Close to half of the funding comes from ROC itself, while General Student Senate foots around the same amount. Ticket sales are also an important factor. Tickets sold for Quebec this year will raise approximately $17,000 and will be used to cover part of the lodging costs.

Travelers will be staying at the Delta Quebec Hotel. According to its Web site, “The Quebec City hotel is located right downtown, steps away from Old Quebec, in the heart of North America’s only walled city.”

Besides lodging and travel, students must pay for their other expenses. Tickets will cost $65 for on-campus students and $85 for off-campus students, and will go on sale Thursday, Dec. 2 in front of the ROC office in the basement of Memorial Union.

Many in ROC feel that these trips are successful mainly due to positive student feedback after each one.

“I haven’t heard a single negative comment from anyone about either of the trips,” Justin Labonte, vice president of ROC, said. “They’re the most exceptionally successful trips that any student organization on this campus offers to students.”

As for the future of such trips, it depends on several factors, including student interest and, in the case of Quebec, conversion rates and passport law. This January, it will be necessary for U.S. citizens to have a passport to cross into Canada by air. The same rule will take effect for land travel next January.

On Nov. 19 at 12:48 a.m. an officer on patrol around Kennebec Hall heard voices across the field in the vicinity of Lengyel gymnasium. The officer noticed five individuals standing against the building and could hear the distinct noise of a spray can rattling. He also observed one of the individuals standing closer to the building than the other four. Additional officers were called to converge on the scene. When they arrived and the subjects noticed them, the subjects threw an object behind the bleachers near the building. Officers located the subjects a short distance away from the building and determined that six out of the eight were students. Officers found that there was graffiti on the side of Lengyel gym. Robert Miller, 18, of Wilton admitted to the graffiti and was issued a summons for criminal mischief.

Beer breath

On Nov. 17 at 9:06 p.m. an officer was entering Cumberland Hall. While coming through the doorway, a male asked the officer to hold the door for him. The officer stood by and let the male pass. As the male came through the doorway, the officer could smell alcohol. The officer recognized the individual as Justin Brown, 18, and issued him a summons for possession of alcohol by a minor by consumption.

Beer found in bag

On Nov. 19 at 12:29 a.m. a security officer on patrol called Public Safety to report that there was a group of people drinking behind a generator at Barrows Hall. The security officer hollered to the group and they ran in scattered directions. Behind the generator a backpack with open beer containers was found. The group was ordered to stop. One of them did, because he tripped and fell. He was identified as Timothy Berrigan, 19. Alcohol could be smelled on his breath and he had a backpack with seven beers inside of it. Berrigan was issued a summons for possession of alcohol by a minor.

Beer in jacket

On Nov. 18 at 7:30 p.m. an East Side Market employee reported a male with a mohawk had stolen a 16 ounce can of Moxie energy drink. Later that night, an officer located a man fitting the description in Cumberland Hall. He was identified as Devin Guimont, 18, of Dorchester, Mass. Upon being questioned Guimont asked, “Is this about the Moxie that I stole?” The man appeared to be intoxicated and proceeded to inform the officer that did not have enough money to pay for the drink, so he decided to steal it. The officer found an opened can of Pabst Blue Ribbon in Guimont’s front jacket pocket. He was issued a summons for theft and for possession of alcohol by a minor.

Hosting a Responsible Party

A Brown Bag seminar, part of “Commuters Count: Celebrating Commuter Students” week. Begins at 11 a.m. in the FFA Room of Memorial Union. Sponsored by Commuter and Nontraditional Student Programs. Contact Barbara Smith at 581-1734.

Wellness/Managing Stress

A Brown Bag seminar, part of “Commuters Count: Celebrating Commuter Students” week. 12:15 p.m. in the FFA Room of Memorial Union. Sponsored by Commuter and Nontraditional Student Programs. Contact Barbara Smith at 581-1734.

“Rent” lecture

“Everything is ‘Rent’: The Musical, the World It Came From and the World It Calls For.” Lecture by Isaac Curtis, UMaine alumnus and Ph.D. student in history at the University of Pittsburgh, part of the Socialist and Marxist Studies Series. 12:30 p.m. in the Bangor Room of Memorial Union. Contact Brenda Collamore at 581-3866.

Philosophy Colloquium

“The Element of Everyday Life: Three Lessons from Ancient Greece” by John Russon, associate professor of philosophy, University of Guelph, and author of “Human Experience: Philosophy, Neurosis and the Elements of Everyday Life.” 4 p.m. in the Levinson Room in the Maples. Part of the Philosophy Colloquium Series. Contact Brenda Collamore at 581-3866.

Friday

Bagel Social

First Friday Bagel Social, part of “Commuters Count: Celebrating Commuter Students” week. Held at 8 a.m. in the Commuter Lounge of Memorial Union. Contact Barbara Smith at 581-1734.

Free massages

Part of “Commuters Count: Celebrating Commuter Students” week. From 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Commuter Lounge of Memorial Union. Contact Barbara Smith at 581-1734.

Tenants’ rights

Tenant’s Rights lecture by Brett Baber. Part of “Commuters Count: Celebrating Commuter Students” week. 11 a.m. in the Bumps Room of Memorial Union. Contact Barbara Smith at 581-1734.

Holiday Party

Old Fashioned Holiday Party including trimming the tree, singing carols, making ornaments and decorating gingerbread cookies. Refreshments available. 6 p.m. at the Page Farm and Home Museum. Contact Patricia Henner at 581-4100.

Submitting information

Submissions for The Maine Campus Community Calendar are free and can be sent on FirstClass to Brian Sylvester or dropped off in The Maine Campus office located in the basement of Memorial Union. Please include all the important information about your event. Deadlines for submissions are 9 a.m. Sunday for Monday publication and 9 a.m. Wednesday for Thursday publication.

Landis earned a Ph.D. in civil engineering in 1993 from Northwestern University and became a faculty member at UMaine in 1994. In 2004, he received the Distinguished Maine Professor Award, presented annually by the Alumni Association. Landis teaches several courses at the University of Maine including materials, structural analysis, experimental mechanics, and fracture mechanics. Through these classes, he helps students ranging from first-year to advanced graduate level.

His other accomplishments include more than 75 scholarly publications, the 1996 UMaine Civil Engineering Professor of the Year Award, National Science Foundation CAREER Award in 1998, and UMaine’s Presidential Outstanding Teaching Award in 2002. Landis’ studies focus on the relationship between material microstructure and the engineering properties of concrete and other materials.

“I am excited, obviously,” Landis said of receiving the award. “Quality teaching is important to me, and I appreciate the recognition for the efforts of myself and my colleagues.”

Landis jokingly characterized his students’ reaction to the award: “Him? Are you kidding?” Still, he said he wouldn’t be where he is if not for his passion to help them. “There is a tightness [at UMaine] between students and faculty unlike any place I have ever been,” he said. “We can have heated debates during class in the morning, and have pizza together at Pat’s [Pizza] in the evening.”

According to Pam Russell, who works for CASE, competition for the U.S. Professors of the Year takes place in several stages, passing through multiple panels and meeting strict criteria. Winners are selected based on outstanding teaching, commitment to undergrad students and influence on teaching.

“Every day presents new challenges,” Landis said about being a professor. “Teachers need to be creative in order to reach a broad range of students. The most rewarding thing is seeing the ‘light bulb’ go on when a student suddenly understands something.”

For a complete list of winners and information on CASE and the Professor of the Year awards go to http://usprofessorsoftheyear.org.

Presidential candidates Priyanth Chandrasekar, Kevin Ballew and Derek Mitchell debated in the second half of the program. They discussed rising financial burdens on students, the importance of leadership skills and diversity on campus and in the senate. The candidates did not significantly disagree on many issues, focusing instead on their different traits and leadership styles.

Chandrasekar discussed his work with the International Students Association, emphasizing his communication and networking skills. “It’s important for somebody like the student body president to reach out,” he said.

Mitchell spoke about rising tuition costs and the need for Student Government to be more open to the student body. Drawing on his experience as vice president of Student Entertainment, Mitchell promised to work to promote senate visibility.

“What we do is crucial,” Mitchell said. “An open door policy is crucial.”

Ballew said the biggest problem facing the senate is the gap between students and senators.

“Student Government is viewed by the general student as a resume-building club,” he said, noting that he wanted to change this perception. “I will make it my principal goal to reconnect students to senators.”

All the candidates agreed it was important to make Student Government more accessible, more diverse, and to represent student interests over personal beliefs.

Mitchell said he would encourage the administration to lower student expenses. “I think they need . to take every cost-cutting measure they can,” he said. He promised to start a fund to finance campus beautification projects using money from student parking tickets.

“Students come to UMaine because it’s affordable,” Mitchell said. “We need to maintain that.”

Ballew and Chandrasekar echoed this sentiment. Chandrasekar mentioned that he had been meeting with Muhammad Ali and Kathy Kittridge of Dining Services in an attempt to address rising food costs.

Chandrasekar spoke about the need for increased diversity in the senate. “We definitely have a lack of participation from certain groups,” he said.

Responding to a question about their qualifications, the candidates listed a number of extracurricular activities and leadership positions they have held. Ballew served as an RA, president of the Interfraternity Council, and the budgetary committee of student senate. Mitchell is currently vice president of Student Entertainment and an active member of Sigma Phi Epsilon. Chandrasekar is the president of the International Students Association and has served as an RA for three years.

Before the presidential debate, vice presidential candidates, senators William Pomerleau and Sean Rankin, discussed ideas for improving senate visibility, parliamentary procedure, and the importance of experience in senate.

“Student Government is like a workers union,” Pomerleau said. “Without workers, there is no union, and without students there is no student government.” Pomerleau discussed his platform for addressing student concerns like rising dining costs, parking problems on campus, and making professor evaluations available to students.

Rankin hopes to bring new ideas and fresh energy to the senate. After joining senate, he said, “I quickly realized . senate needs to be changed.”

“If elected, I promise to fight for student needs,” Rankin said. He talked about his work with Maine state senators trying to lower tuition costs for UMaine students.

Both candidates discussed the need for students and senators to work more closely together. “Students need to be more involved in senate,” Rankin said. Pomerleau outlined a plan to have periodical statements from the senate to the student body and events to bring senators and students together socially.

Pomerleau stressed the need for the administration to address rising costs. “Whenever we have to pay more of this,” he said, holding a dollar bill aloft, “it’s a problem.”

Rankin echoed his sentiments, stressing the need for a change in leadership. “This change can only happen by electing a new leader,” Rankin said.

Elections for student government will be held Dec. 4. Students may submit their ballots via FirstClass or in person Memorial Union.

The debate was moderated by Kyle Webster and sponsored by the Fair Elections and Practices Committee.

However, a good deal of controversy has recently found its way to the sidelines, and the bad call came courtesy of National Football League executives.

A handful of NFL coaches, the most visible among them San Francisco 49ers boss Mike Nolan, have decided to pay their respects to the origins of football by dressing in a suit and tie on the sidelines a la Vince Lombardi and Nolan’s own father, former 49ers head coach Dick Nolan.

Is there a problem with that? Is there anything wrong with wanting to pay respects to previous generations and bring a little class to a game that has been consistently tarnished by substance abuse and felony charges?

Apparently, the NFL thinks the answer is yes.

It seems that the powers that be in the NFL have decided against allowing coaches like Nolan and Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio to wear suits on the sidelines. The reason lies buried in the politics of the NFL, deep among marketing strategies and contract negotiations. There lies the reason that Bill Belichick is allowed to wander around Gillette Stadium looking like a vagabond in a tattered sweatshirt and windpants, but completely out of the question for Nolan and Del Rio to look sharp in a nice suit.

It seems that the NFL has inked deals with Nike, Under Armour, and most prominently, a $250 million contract with Reebok. Because Reebok does not make suits and ties, coaches are strictly prohibited from wearing them. No coach or player can wear any brand of apparel other than those approved by the NFL. Earlier in the year, superstar running back Reggie Bush was fined $10,000 for wearing Adidas cleats. The irony is overwhelming, as Adidas now owns Reebok.

Is this really the sort of thing the NFL needs to be arguing about? First-year commissioner Roger Goodell desperately needs to start off his tenure on the right foot. Does he really need to focus his energy on the dress code? The NFL is so obsessed with appearances. Everything has to look right. Michael Vick was once fined for wearing the wrong socks with his uniform. It’s all completely ridiculous.

Maybe instead of worrying about putting on their own little fashion show every Sunday, they should be worried about the hulking linemen pumping HGH or the mellowed-out running back smoking reefer to “combat social anxiety.” The NFL needs to crack down on the true offenders, the guys that are really breaking the law.

Alas, they’d rather focus on draining the excitement out of football with Chad Johnson rules and merchandise contracts.

There is a good reason for it, I suppose. Money from the Reebok deal serves to create a higher salary cap, which means teams can spend more money on talent, but really, this is too idiotic for words. I can’t imagine penalizing someone for wanting to show a little bit of respect. It’s not like it’s a major distraction. The NFL has made some changes in its policy and Reebok has announced that it will be meeting with coaches like Mike Nolan to design something a little more stylish. Coaches are also allowed to wear a suit and tie – manufactured by Reebok – for two games a year.

Nolan and Del Rio have sported the look once each and both of them came out with a victory. I’m just saying, maybe the Pats might have been able to save face against the Broncos and the Jets if Belichick had donned a little bit more dignified garb. And think of how the Steelers might have done if Cowher had stood on the sidelines poking his chin out over some tasteful threads. The suit is certainly a force to be reckoned with in the NFL.