If you’re following the “media experts” on the wildly popular “Are You Smarter Than a 6^th Grader?” segment of the WEIS Radio End Zone show, I’m about to give you the inside scoop. We’ve got a reality show brewing on the radio.  I’m not exactly sure about my role as a truth-teller;  I’ve been referred to as producer, cohost, sports analyst, broadcaster and “that guy over there”.  (The last is the most accurate.) 

Everyone whiffed on the Ole Miss win over Fresno last weekend, and Post Editor Scott Wright was the only expert to correctly pick Auburn over South Carolina. WEIS sports announcer Nolen Sanford missed on his upset pick of Murray State over Jacksonville State. Here’s a look back at what happened with the picks overall. 

Wright: After going 8-0 the week before and tying with everyone, the Post man delivered for a second week in a row with a stellar 7-1 mark.  (UMS)-Wright picked up his first outright win of the year.  More importantly, Wright is now in a three-way tie with Shannon Fagan HS and our mystery 6^th grader.  The trio are all 31-6 overall. See if you can follow this: It’s no secret that Scott and Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney are friends. Are up picking up on this trail I’m hunting?  Both Wright and Clemson are off to hot starts (Clemson is 5-0 and has beaten the two teams that were picked to play in the ACC Championship, Florida State and Virginia Tech).   I’m just wondering who is playing off whom here (or, is it whom it playing off “who”?)  

Whatever is happening, we may soon read about in “Breathing Life into Death Valley: The Story of the National Champion 2011-12 Clemson Tigers and How I Beat A 6^th Grader” by Douglas Scott Wright.    

Shannon Fagan - Cherokee County Herald Sports Editor (and the anonymous 6^th grader): To date, Shannon has refused to get into a war of words with his media counterparts.  Shannon plays his cards close to the vest and reveals little. I’m getting a little frustrated with him to tell you the truth.  I called him the other day after the show to ask him how he thought things went and this is what he said: “Kurt, I think it was a great show. There were some areas I think we could improve on but were still a young team. Right now we’ve just got to stick with the fundamentals. You know, the ABC’s. You don’t want to get too complicated with these guys. I’m just glad no one got hurt because there is a lot of equipment in there and it is heavy. Plus, you didn’t try to use any three-syllable words. You’re new to this. Don’t try to make the big play. Just take the show as it comes to you. You can’t do it all in one sentence. Stay within yourself and everything will be OK.  As far as myself, I’m just trying to contribute. You know, be a team player. Plus, there is a lot of really good-smelling food at the Gridiron, so you’ve got to stay focused and that isn’t easy.”  

What?   

I do know this: I’m changing all my passwords.  Shannon and the 6^th grader have sported identical records each and every week.  Watch out for the quiet ones.   

Sanford - WEIS Radio sports announcer and co-host of the End Zone Show: Nolen took at shot at Scott Wright in his first-ever column in The Post last week.  It went something like this:  “Space – The Final Frontier. Space - A continuous area or expanse that is free, available, or unoccupied. Space – The void between Scott Wright’s ears.”  Scott texted me back Saturday night with this retort: “Space – The ever-increasing distance between my winning percentage (.838) and Nolen’s (.730).”   

I’m also a little concerned that my association with Mr. Sanford has dried up my contact with JSU. What happened was this: Sanford went into print with the following “I said I never pick against my alma mater, but JSU’s defense has been shaky this season. I hate to do this… Final: Murray State 35 Jacksonville State 24”   Well, the Gamecocks prevailed on the road over the Racers, 38-30.  Now, I’m a little hesitant about calling Media Relations Director Greg Seitz to get updates on Coty Blanchard, Gabriel Chambers, Jake Scott, Robert Gray and the rest of the football team. Will Seitz even take my call? Or will we I be blocked as that guy sitting beside the turncoat? I’m trying hard to believe in Nolen’s strategy, but I’m starting to feel like a Georgia Bulldog fan.  How long can I stay on board the U.S.S. Sanford? He’s a nice guy but when it comes to SEC picks am I going to have to abandon ship? Heck, no! I’m sticking with my wingman … for at least one more week. If I left the Sanford and the Navy I wouldn’t go far. I just finished a marathon with a buddy of mine who retired from the Marine Corps after flying Harriers.  He said he’ll have one warmed up for me if I need to bolt in a hurry. I kind of like the saying he had painted on the tail of the jump jet.  “I may not win but I’ll always be Wright.” 

If you had trouble deciphering the content of this article, helpful references can be found at www.postpaper.com, www.cherokeecountyherald.com and simply by listening to the “media experts” on the WEIS radio End Zone Show, live from the Gridiron Restaurant in Centre every Thursday from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on 990 AM, 100.5 FM and streamed live via the Internet at www.weis990am.com.