Fans don’t like Updyke appearance in film

Published 12:00 am Thursday, November 10, 2011

Tuesday night, ESPN’s “30-on-30” broadcasted the documentary “Roll Tide/War Eagle,” a film about the intense rivalry in the state of Alabama.

Directed by Martin Khodabakhshian, the film chronicles the heated rivalry that takes place between the University of Alabama and Auburn University.

The Star-News asked its Facebook followers what their reactions were on the film.

Trinity Riley said she watched the documentary with her father, and enjoyed it for the most part.

“It portrayed exactly how it is here in the state of Alabama,” Riley said. “You are either War Eagle or Roll Tide!”

Former players such as Heisman trophy winners Cam Newton, Mark Ingram, Vincent “Bo” Jackson and others were featured in the film.

The Toomers Corner tree poisoning scandal was also a highlight, and the documentary included an interview with Harvey Updyke, the Alabama fan that admitted on Paul Finebaum’s radio show that he poisoned the trees.

Additionally, the one-hour film included several interviews with several horticulturists.

Riley said she didn’t like how they treated Updyke in the film.

“He committed a crime, and is facing serious charges,” she said. “I think that they could have done that part of the documentary differently by not including him.”

Susan Seay agrees with what Riley said.

“I was disappointed that it seemed to make Updyke a good guy rather than the very disturbed man he is, all because of his loyalty to UA football,” Seay said. “That was a truly bad representation of their loyal fans.”