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John Harris: Still a turd
Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 9:01 am
by Schadenfreude
I think we all missed this chat session from a couple of months ago:
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dl ... 12/-1/CHAT
Excerpts:
John (Adrian, MI): I've been reading that UT missed its chance to make a move into C-USA. So who would you place the blame on for missing such a wonderful opportunity?
John Harris: (12:40 PM ET ) I don't think it's necessary to place the blame on anyone. The fact is, UT seriously needs to look at moving to another conference in the future, if for no other reason than the fact than the MAC as we now know it may not be around in a few years.
...
Kurt (Bowling Green, OH): Why hasn't BG been looking to get out of the MAC?
John Harris: (12:49 PM ET ) That's a good question. But other than location, BG and UT are viewed differently from other conferences. UT is bigger than BG and closer to the Detroit TV market that leagues like Conference USA covet. Besides, BG may be more comfortable in the MAC and not looking to move.
::puke::
Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 9:42 am
by BGSU Falconz
Ooh, a whole 25 minutes closer to the Detroit market than us. God that guy pisses me off every time I read his articles.
Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 9:47 am
by Warthog
That seems to be the same things John Harris has been saying for quite a while now. Matt Markey was on 'The Ticket' the other afternoon and the Marshall move to C-USA was discussed. Matt pretty much said that, in a few years, he thinks Marshall will regret this move. He said that Marshall always considered the MAC just a stepping stone in some grandious dreams of them joining the SEC or ACC. While Marshall has a good following of fans to the MAC games, he doesn't think that will happen once they are in C-USA. Are these fans going to drive 10-12 hours for games at UTEP? Fly? Ever tried flying in or out of Huntington? It is awful. (And I mean no disrespect to Marshall or anyone when I say this, but it is not all that surprising that a plane crashed going into Huntington and wiped out their football team. It is just a symptom of where the airport is located there in the mountains.) Also, he said that Marshall would have loved/maybe even lobbied for, having Toledo join the C-USA now so that they could at least maintain a rivalry with somebody.
Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 10:17 am
by UK Peregrine
Everyone may have seen this old article but I thought I'd post it anyways since I'm new to the site as may others.
Article published Sunday, May 16, 2004 in Toledo Blade:
As a former commissioner of the Mid-American Conference, I disagree with The Blade's John Harris that the University of Toledo's athletic program would be better served by leaving the MAC and joining Conference USA. Such a move would be a serious mistake.
Conference USA has a short history and a revolving door. Almost on a yearly basis, institutions join and others leave. The MAC has had a stable membership for many years. Many of the members of the MAC have been in the conference for over 50 years, while others have been involved for over 30 years. This type of stability has benefited the MAC in many ways.
Consider rivalries: UT vs. Bowling Green, Ohio vs. Miami, Central Michigan vs. Western Michigan, etc. These games, which excite fans and create great competition, are impossible in a conference whose membership is always changing.
Mr. Harris speaks of the advantages in football and basketball. Conference USA is spread out over three time zones. Even if certain sports were played in divisions, imagine the loss of class time and the cost of sending teams like baseball, softball, volleyball, etc., to Texas and Mississippi. Not to mention Rocket fans traveling long distances to see their teams play.
The debate about the MAC qualifying for membership in Division I-A has been around since the mid 1970s. There is no doubt in my mind that the conference will meet any new standards, as they have done in the past, and remain in Division I-A.
When I was the commissioner of the MAC, a commissioner from one of the major conferences told me, "when it comes to athletic competition, emphasis on academics, and playing by the rules, the Mid-American Conference may be the model for all conferences." That was true then and is still true today.
by JIM LESSIG
John Harris has his own opinion on the matter, which he is entitled too. But man does Harris seem to have something up is butt when it comes to BG and the MAC. Maybe, he'll start to give the MAC a little respect after they beat so-called big conference teams again this year. Kind of doubt it though.
For myself, the loss of Marshall kind of hurts, but was expected ever since they joined the conference. On the otherhand, thank God UCF decided to leave, I've always disliked that program, minus maybe when they weren't in the conferenece yet and Culpepper came to BG to play. Good riddins to UCF. It sure would be icing on the cake if the MAC could steal a bowl or two from C-USA. I mean really, they can't even field decent teams for all of their bowls the way it is now.
The idea of Toledo leaving or any other long-time member would be a big mistake. This conference is finally on the map and will continue to make a great name for itself.
Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 10:36 am
by Schadenfreude
UK Peregrine Fan wrote:John Harris has his own opinion on the matter, which he is entitled too. But man does Harris seem to have something up is butt when it comes to BG and the MAC.
That letter was a nice find, UK.
I suspect John Harris grew up in Texas.
He should go back.
He doesn't understand Ohio.
John Harris is probably the only man in America who thinks anything in Toledo (short of a nuclear explosion) could ever deliver the Detroit market.
Sure, Monroe County residents may attend the University (sic) of Toledo at instate rates. But Monroe County is probably one-fifteth of the Detroit television market.
Arguing the Detroit television market is relevant to UT's potential is like arguing the Toledo television market is relevant to Eastern Michigan's potential.
Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 11:44 am
by Flipper
I've been watching Detroit TV all my life. I was one of the first news carriers in Toledo to deliver the Detroit Free Press when the Toledo Times went belly up back in 1975. I KNOW the Detroit sports market. People in Detroit care about the University of Michigan. Michigan State has made some inroads thanks to Tom Izzo and the basketball program, but they are still an afterthought.
No one in Detroit will care if UT suddenly stops playing the Michigan directionals and starts playing UTEP, ECU, TCU and the rest of the far flung CUSA. They don't care now, they won't care then. Anyone who thinks otherwise is either delusional or spending an extended period of time exposed to paint fumes.
Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 1:05 pm
by NWLB
Harris is an idiot, pure and simple. At what ever point they removed the man's neck, they must have also taken out whatever brains God did not need for any other lower life forms as well.
Even in the Blade, I have never seen anybody as utterly stupid as this human being. It is one thing to know nothing about what you are writing about, it is another to convince yourself otherwise and shut your mind to reality.
Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 8:53 pm
by jacojdm
Schadenfreude wrote:
I suspect John Harris grew up in Texas.
i think that he's from philadephia. in any case, he doesn't understand ohio.
Posted: Sun Aug 22, 2004 8:12 pm
by NY-BG-FAN
Yeah............NIU goes 10-2 with no bowl while C-USA gets 2985792435 bowl teams, some only .500. The MAC is too good a conference that you should have to win your division to go to a bowl, especially since it is the largest in the nation at 14 teams. What a joke. Head to head the MAC would, and will bury Conference USA. I'm tired of the MAC getting no respect.
Posted: Mon Aug 23, 2004 11:22 am
by Falconfreak90
" I'm tired of the MAC getting no respect."
Welcome to the club! And the board.
GO FALCONS!!! BEAT OK!!!
Posted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 9:23 pm
by BGSUfanatUT
"...it is the largest in the nation at 14 teams. What a joke. Head to head the MAC would, and will bury Conference USA. I'm tired of the MAC getting no respect."
welcome to the club indeed. The MAC makes up over 11% of 1-A teams (for the time being anyway). Now even if you give bowls to each conf. based on number of teams, we still would get 3(plus change). It is rediculous that we only get 2, and even with our giant slaying ability widely recognized now, it's not going to make anything better. Its a bunch of BcS, and there is nothing that will make it different. The only change I can see in the future is the NCAA declaring buffalo or kent or someone not a 1-A football program anymore, and taking away a bowl game from the MAC b/c we have less teams now, this would not shock me. But lets also remember that we AREN'T guaranteed that 2nd bowl.....
John Harris.....
wow, what can we really say about him that won;t require an immediate trip to church? UT and Bg so differnt? There are 3 major differences between UT and BG:
1) the population of he city in which they are located.
2) the crime rate of said area and students
3) our mascot doesnt look like a big blue..... well you know where Im going
Saying UT is a bigger school is crap, I go there(unfortunatly) and there is no difference. I think records show a difference of maybe 200 students. So technically John may be correct, but not accurate. And if he's talking geographical area? well thats just dumb.
I really want to say more abotu how J.H. is a pile of garbage, but he's just not worth it.
~Shu