How to leave a job

By Stephen Dawkins

Published Sunday, April 5, 2009

After I found out that former managing editor Brent Maze was leaving for the Alexander City Outlook and before he actually left, we had a funny conversation: What if Brent had to address questions about his departure from the community?

With both of us being sports fans in general and college football fans in particular, we figured Brent could have followed one of several precedents set by state college football coaches:

• The Dennis Franchione. Brent would have danced around the question then secretly departed on a plane for Alex City. Upon arrival, though, he would have been bothered to see that Mike Raita was there with a video camera and a microphone.

• The Tommy Tuberville. Brent would have insisted that "they'll have to carry me out of Clanton in a pine box."

• The Nick Saban. Brent would have answered questions angrily. "I am not going to be the Alex City managing editor! A'ight?!"