It's always interesting how people can get so much time off from their jobs in order to film a reality show.  According to The Biggest Loser trainer Bob Harper, that show has a longer shooting schedule than any other reality show.  Even after contestants leave the show, they often spend their days working out and doing interviews instead of heading to a 9-5 job in order to prepare for the show's live finale.  Unfortunately for season 5 contestant Roger Shultz, his employer couldn't allow him to miss out on any more work and gave him a pink slip.

Shultz worked for Jacksonville State University as their associate athletic director up until he was recently fired.  Jim Fuller, the university's athletic director, released a statement this week explaining the school's decision.  "Roger was hired to enhance our marketing and fundraising effort, but after just a few months on the job he chose to go on sick leave to be a part of a television reality show," he said. "I feel like we did everything possible to allow this to happen for him, but there came a time and point that we need to move forward in our marketing and fundraising area."

The Biggest Loser contestant quickly responded to the statement, which was released yesterday, and spoke to The Birmingham Press to admit his shortcomings. "I put them in a bad position," he said. "I started my job there in May and they were excited about getting things going and I was excited about being there.  I hate it happened to Jacksonville State. They had to do something. They were good enough to hang with me as long as they did."

Shultz started season 5 of The Biggest Loser with his former college teammate, Trent Patterson.  Though Patterson has been eliminated, Schultz still remains in the game and is one of only five players left in the game.  To date on the show, he has lost a total of 127 pounds.


- Gina Scarpa, BuddyTV Staff Writer
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
(Image courtesy of NBC)