By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Columnist

At the University of Hawai'i, we have a quarterback controversy.

At the University of Alabama, they have a cheerleader controversy.

Silly us.

While some folks here got worked up over who should start at quarterback for the Warriors, they're in a real lather in Alabama over the firing of a Crimson Tide cheerleader.

We are told it has been the No. 1 topic of Alabama call-in radio shows and fan Web sites. It topped the Tuscaloosa News Web site yesterday.

And it wasn't like the offending cheerleader, Christopher Bailey, chanted an obscene slogan or racist epithet. Although that might not have gotten him in such hot water.

His dastardly deed was that he did a reportedly half-hearted, "War Eagle," when asked by an ESPN sideline reporter.

A "War Eagle!" folks at Auburn say, is their signature chant, something apparently along the lines of "Go Bows!" Alabama's version is "Roll Tide!"

Never mind that Auburn's mascot is a Tiger and Alabama's is an elephant.

Bailey had been a cheerleader at Auburn before transferring to Alabama to purse an accounting degree, take part in competitive cheerleading (which Auburn doesn't offer) and be closer to his girlfriend, thus giving him a rare perspective on this rivalry.

Because TV sideline reporters often have very little to offer in the way of news other than injury updates, this one thought it would be instructive to ask Bailey to demonstrate both yells for the benefit of the national television audience that might not know a "War Eagle!" from a bald eagle, or a "Roll Tide!" from a roll of Charmin.

Anyway, Bailey apparently "eagled" when he should have just "rolled" and, to quote the Tuscaloosa News, the interview sent "Internet message boards buzzing."

Possibly not since the Dukes of Hazzard was taken off the air has there been such an uproar.

Of course, the real problem here was that The Tide lost to its rival, again, and apparently somebody was going to have to pay for it. Even if it was a cheerleader.

So, after the Alabama cheerleader coordinator and athletic director met, not a spine evident among them, Bailey was stripped of his pompoms through this spring, effectively fired since he is a senior. The AD didn't even get rid of Mike Price that fast.

No date has yet been announced for the tar and feathering.

It is too bad Bailey won't be in Hawai'i this week, where free speech is a right. Even on a football sideline.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.