A Syracuse University professor is blaming his public feud with Bill O'Reilly as the reason he was denied tenure last week, reports Inside Higher Ed.

"In many academic circles, being attacked by Bill O'Reilly might be a badge of honor," writes Inside Higher Ed. "A Syracuse University professor, however, charges that he was denied tenure last week in part because of the fallout over his on-air disputes with the Fox television star."

Boyce Watkins appeared on CNN, among other outlets, several times after O'Reilly's comments about lunching at Sylvia's in Harlem.

Throughout those discussion, Watkins called Fox News contributor Juan Williams an "eternal happy negro" and compared O'Reilly to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (video after the jump). If you search "Boyce Watkins Bill O'Reilly" on YouTube, there are more than 1,000 results, many of which contain links to BoyceWatkins.com.

Last May, Syracuse chancellor Nancy Cantor got an O'Reilly ambush interview about the professor, and later caused the University to release a statement about Watkins.

Watkins is "vowing to sue the university," saying it proves Syracuse University doesn't "tenure black people like me."

Click continued to see one of the Watkins interviews on CNN...