Although I officially threw my endorsement/support behind Ed Sack for the vacant Birmingham Roeper AD job in a recent blog post, this is to no way discount Cliff Russell, a Roeper alum from the 1970s and one of its all-time greatest athletes, who is also a candidate and IMO would also be an outstanding selection.

The original blog was more in response to how Sack, after over two decades of loyal and high-quality service to the school and athletic program, was being disrespected in this whole process. Yes, Russell has been affected negatively by it, too and like Ed (not to mention departing AD Ernie Righetti), deserves better considering his long, influential ties to the school and sports program.

Cliff was an all-state basketball player for the Roughriders, a 1974 grad and college hoopster at UTEP for the legendary Don Haskins and then at Wayne State, who has gone onto become a successful businessman, media and political presence in the area in his professional career