My husband (4th Row) wrote into the station about this.
Here's the email he sent...I'm so proud of him
Norm,
I understand your station's choice to shun coverage of the two local Division IA college programs, the UT Rockets and BGSU Falcons, in favor of the cash cow in Columbus. Ohio State coverage is where the money is, and I can respect that business decision. As such, I can also understand you taking the opportunity to host a couple of national sports personalities on your show to discuss the upcoming Ohio State-Michigan game, as you did on Wednesday with Jay Crawford and Dana Jacobson from ESPN's "Cold Pizza."
However, where I begin to have an issue with such a segment is when one of said national personalities is a product of one of the local Division IA institutions (in this case, Bowling Green State University) who nevertheless chooses to get down on his knees and verbally fellate the Ohio State program at the expense of his own alma mater. As an alumnus of BGSU myself, I found Crawford's performance on your show to be insulting and degrading to the BGSU athletic program and to Falcon fans everywhere. I was particularly irked by the fact that his appearance on your show took place on a day when BGSU's football team had a home game, which was being televised on an ESPN network, and not one mention of it was made.
Had even a token mention been made of the BGSU-Miami matchup taking place at the Doyt on Wednesday evening, the interview probably would have been more bearable, Crawford's otherwise disgusting attitude aside. Granted, I only have a chance to listen from 5:00 to 5:30 as I drive home from work, so I realize it's possible that the BGSU game was mentioned at some other point during the show. Given Crawford's history, however, I think you were amiss not to bring it up during the interview.
As a huge fan of college sports, there are a number of teams that I respect, admire, follow, even like, but I am a Falcon first and foremost--no matter the sport, no matter the record, no matter the opponent. To cheer for a competing program at the expense of one's own alma mater seems treacherous to me.
All of this being said, I want to make it clear that I..'m not going to stop listening to your show, boycott your station, or anything like that. I enjoy the Front Row very much, and I appreciate the coverage you do give to BG and UT, particularly your interviews with Coaches Brandon and Dakich (when I can catch them). I just wanted to let you know that there are people in your audience who are just as passionate about the Falcons and Rockets as anyone is about the Buckeyes and Wolverines. Disrespecting those local teams (even by neglecting to mention them when an opportunity arises) does a disservice to their fans and to the respective athletic departments.
Thanks for your time.
