02-13-2010, 08:57 AM
As most of you know, I know everything about sports and that is something of a modest statement.
So I was at a sports trivia challenge in Pittsburgh last week where one of the questions was "What conference is Belmont in?"
And NOBODY IN THE PLACE BUT I KNEW!
This should show you all you need to know about the perception of the A-Sun. There were a few there that knew- "Belmont- don't they play good basketball?" but the guy there that was picking up my tab upon meeting me (a common occurance for me in Pittsburgh, a real city where I am respected and beloved instead of hideous Johnson City, where small minded people resent my intelligence and wit) was of the opinion they were located in Kentucky.
The topic here is perception. While I'm sure that even the most popular team in the Southern Conference, and for that matter the Atlantic 10, won't have as many people who have heard of them as, say, ACC schools- there would likely be fewer who wouldn't know ASU and Davidson are in North Carolina, if for no other reason because they have been so successful recently in football and basketball.
One thing about our A-Sun vs. SoCon debate is that my hopes for ETSU actually take them beyond the SoCon.
But the fact is people have heard of most of the Southern Conference schools, whereas even with the success Belmont has had in this conference they are still a mystery to the rest of the country because of the level of competition they play.
So I was at a sports trivia challenge in Pittsburgh last week where one of the questions was "What conference is Belmont in?"
And NOBODY IN THE PLACE BUT I KNEW!
This should show you all you need to know about the perception of the A-Sun. There were a few there that knew- "Belmont- don't they play good basketball?" but the guy there that was picking up my tab upon meeting me (a common occurance for me in Pittsburgh, a real city where I am respected and beloved instead of hideous Johnson City, where small minded people resent my intelligence and wit) was of the opinion they were located in Kentucky.
The topic here is perception. While I'm sure that even the most popular team in the Southern Conference, and for that matter the Atlantic 10, won't have as many people who have heard of them as, say, ACC schools- there would likely be fewer who wouldn't know ASU and Davidson are in North Carolina, if for no other reason because they have been so successful recently in football and basketball.
One thing about our A-Sun vs. SoCon debate is that my hopes for ETSU actually take them beyond the SoCon.
But the fact is people have heard of most of the Southern Conference schools, whereas even with the success Belmont has had in this conference they are still a mystery to the rest of the country because of the level of competition they play.