In his efforts to drum up support for the team, Mayor John Peyton drew criticism last week after he made a public plea for fans to purchase tickets.

“The viability of this team in our city is critically important. The Jaguars have become a part of the fabric in this city,” Peyton said. “It’s hard to imagine not having this team here. We need to do a better job citywide supporting this team.”  Peyton went on to emphasize the fact that Jacksonville is one of only thirty-two NFL cities in the country, something that he said the city "should never take for granted."

While some applauded the Mayor's remarks, many commenters left messages on the Times-Union's online message board that, in essence, expressed a lack of concern over what the loss of an NFL might mean to Jacksonville.  In fact, many of the commenters seemed to take the stance that the presence of the Jaguars was more trouble than its worth.

While the Jacksonville Jaguars have struggled in the past few years, there was a time in the team's short history when they were all the rage in Northeast Florida.  In 1997, just a few years after the team launched, Jaguar fans were ranked the fifth most supportive fans in the NFL by the Jacksonville Business Journal and its parent, American City Business Journals.  In those first few years, Jacksonville had no problem filling up the stadium, even with the larger capacity.  Attendance did; however, begin to decline after 1998, even during that 14-2 regular season of 1999.  There are many who point to the team of the 90's and argue that they were the difference in garnering the support of Jacksonville and its surrounding counties.  The players were, for the most part, seen as active contributors to the community as a whole, something the team has really struggled with in the last few years.  Most importantly; however, they were winning games.

All that aside, Jacksonville--and indeed Northeast Florida--needs to seriously pause and consider what the loss of the team would mean to the city.  As Peyton said, the team has become an integral part the city's identity.  No longer do people wonder if you mean "Jacksonville, North Carolina" or "Jacksonville, Alabama."  The Jaguars have introduced Jacksonville to the world, even bringing a Super Bowl in 2005 that included PR on a level that most cities could only dream of.

The presence of the Jaguars; however, has meant much more than free publicity for the city.  It's also meant the generous and frequent support of local charities by Wayne and Delores Weaver.  In a 2007 article that highlighted the Weaver's $21 million gift to 38 local non-profits, the Times-Union took note of the fact that the Weaver's had given more than $42 million to local non-profits since bringing the team to Jacksonville.  That support, in a time when the city's public services grants that support non-profits has continued to decline, has been invaluable.  In fact, finding another modern Jacksonville resident who has given as generously as the Weaver's would be a rather daunting task.

And, the Weaver's haven't been the only members of the Jaguars franchise to support Jacksonville charities.  Many of the team's players have made generous donations over the years and Tom Coughlin, the team's former coach, has donated over $2 million to assist young children battling cancer through his Jay Fund.

Mayor Peyton stepped up to challenge the city because he is very well aware that if Jacksonville lost the Jaguars on his watch, that would ultimately be the only thing people remembered about his time in office.  Cities that have lost teams in the past typically spend millions, indeed, hundreds of millions in efforts to woo another team back.  It took St. Louis 7 years and $281 million to attract the Rams.  It took Baltimore 12 years and $200 million to lure the Ravens to town.  And, it took Houston 5 years and $309 million to fill the hole the Oilers had left.  Don't count on Jacksonville winning another team anytime soon.  And, even if that happened to be something in their future, the city doesn't have the hundreds of millions of dollars it would take to do it.  We have, after all, already spent hundreds of millions of dollars over the past several decades trying to lure a team to town.  Why on earth would we be so willing to throw all of that away so quickly?

It's time for the Jacksonville Jaguars to get radical.  It's fairly obvious by now that their current marketing approach isn't working.  It's time to throw it out and start over.  Recast the image of the team.  Stage service days where the community can see the players commitment to the city that offers them a lifestyle many can only dream of.  Acknowledge that the coaching staff isn't getting the job done and make some sweeping changes.  Unload players that aren't getting the job done and start over.  Sell Jacksonville on the Jaguars.  It was done before.  It can be done again.

Of course, it's not just the Jaguars that need to rethink their approach.  Jacksonville needs to share the massive investment the city has put out over the years to win and retain the team.  Educate people on the vested interest the city has in keeping the team in Jacksonville.  Bring in the surrounding communities.  Orange Park needs to be part of the discussion, as does Fernandina Beach, Waycross and St. Johns County.  Each of these cities and counties benefits from the presence of the Jaguars, whether its from the economic impact of the team and the jobs their presence creates or from the support that non-profits receive from the team and its owners.

The psychological impact of losing an NFL team would be almost as devastating on the city as the economic one.  The possibility of losing the team is a discussion that no one should take lightly.

Last night, while running a (slow) three miles on the treadmill in the gym, I saw ESPN's headline pop-up and faintly heard Tony Kornheiser ask the question "In a day of rising unemployment and state deficits, is it fair to pay the coach of a state university $4 million a year?"  Admittedly, after hearing the question, I raged against Tony Kornheiser for the next five minutes---something that probably contributed to my struggle for breath in the last 1/2 mile of my run---and I wasn't able to hear his follow up.  Kornheiser, who is famous for his insults and occasional sloppy research, may have cleared up his previous question by stating the facts, but if he didn't, I'll be presumptive enough to do it for him.

The $4 million a year that has been promised to Urban Meyer for the next six years does not come from state dollars.  The University Athletic Association pays much of Meyer's salary and other parts are covered by sponsorship agreements.  In Gainesville, the UAA is self-supporting.  In fact, it is a revenue contributor to the University.  During the 2007-2008 school year, the UAA brought in revenue in excess of $106 million, ranking it #3 in the country.  While the University of Florida's athletic department does receive revenue from student fees, those fees---at $1.90 per student credit hour---are significantly lower than other Florida's other state universities.  And, in Gainesville, the Athletic Association is giving back, recently contributing $6 million in cash to the University's general fund.

Urban Meyer has earned, and will continue to earn, his salary.  It would be foolish to try to make the case that Florida Athletics would be grossing $106 million if Urban Meyer had not led the football program to two national titles. (Not to mention Billy Donovan's contributions.)  And Florida's not the only program that should be thanking Meyer.  Florida's success likely contributed to the recent $3 billion dollar deal that the SEC recently signed with CBS and ESPN.

Urban Meyer's salary is not being paid by the taxpayers of Florida.  He has demonstrated his worth on the field and he has earned this contract extension.  As Mike Bianchi loves to say, "Make no mistake about it, the University of Florida is an institution of higher learning; the University of Florida football program is an institution of higher earning."

The Florida High School Athletic Association’s decision in late April to save money by cutting high school sports schedules has prompted concern among many parents. But last week, the threat of litigation entered the picture.

A group called Florida Parents for Athletic Equity noted that the cuts, which preserve full funding only for football and cheerleading, disproportionately affect girls. Aside from the fact that the funding enshrines traditional, sexist assignations (go boys, go!), there’s the little fact that competitive cheerleading does not qualify as a sport under Title IX (at least as it is currently set up in Florida).

The parents group — made up of local heavy-hitter lawyers Wayne Hogan, Nancy Hogshead-Makar, Leslie Goller and David Baron — contend the cuts amount to “violations of federal constitutional and statutory law as well as state anti-discrimination laws.” The group urged the FHSAA to rescind its vote at this Friday’s meeting.

“Absent a retraction … expect prompt legal action to protect the rights of Florida’s young women,” the group wrote.

Folio Weekly has provided a copy of the group's letter here.

AP: A federal judge has struck down a Florida campaign law he says unconstitutionally limits political free speech.

U.S. District Judge Stephan P. Mickle ruled Friday. The law requires even nonpolitical organizations to register with the state if they merely mention candidates or issues in publications or through other communications such as Web sites. In October, Mickle granted a preliminary injunction that stopped the state from enforcing the law pending the final ruling in a suit filed by some affected groups.

A spokeswoman for Secretary of State Kurt Browning said Tuesday that he will appeal the decision to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta.

The Florida State Gators?  Seriously?  Four national titles in BCS Football and NCAA Basketball in less than four years and we are the Florida State Gators?  I'd say someone is spending too much time inside the Beltway.

Here's to hoping Bob Graham made a few calls to his nephew on that one...

The state’s unemployment rate hit 9.4 percent in February, up 4.2 percentage points from the same time last year and the highest since April 1976, when the rate also was 9.4 percent, according to the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation.

The unemployment rate in the Jacksonville area was 9.2 percent, ranking it 17th among the 23 metropolitan statistical areas in the state. In Duval County, the 9.5 percent unemplloyment was nearly double the 4.8 percent rate of February 2008. The other counties in Northeast Florida all saw their rates double: Clay to 8.9 percent, Nassau to 9 percent and St. Johns to 8.2 percent.

Given the way the rivalry has turned against their team, you might guess Georgia fans would be ripe for any break in the routine. You’d be wrong. The trek to Jacksonville has become such a part of the UGA experience that the school schedules no classes the Friday before the given Saturday. A day trip to Fulton County wouldn’t quite match the experience of a three- or four-day fall break (with golf at St. Simons, long a Bulldog stronghold, included).

Sixteen times since 1989, the hated Gators have marred a Georgia season. That said, Bulldog backers will give up their autumnal sojourn only when somebody pries a 7-iron from their cold dead fingers. As much as those folks want their team to win, they want their R&R even more.

Football will be here soon!

A River City tradition for more than 80 years, the Florida-Georgia game is only locked in Jacksonville through 2010. The City of Atlanta says it wants to be the next host.

The Atlanta Sports Council has announced its plans to talk with the University of Florida and the University of Georgia about moving the annual rivalry north.

Considered a neutral site, Jacksonville has hosted the game every years since the 1930s.

Memo to Lane Kiffin:  Watch your tongue!

After calling Urban Meyer a "cheater" in an address to Volunteer fans this morning, Kiffin bowed to Florida Athletic Director Jeremy Foley's demands this afternoon that he issue an immediate apology.

Apology accepted, Lane.  If you're still around, we'll continue this conversation on Sept 19.  The coach who actually has a track record to stand on will save up a few timeouts for the end of the game.  Just for you.  See you then.