Funny story 'bout Memphis years ago. My boss used to work the old metro conference (and other NCAA outlets) When Memphis opened "The Pyramid" years ago, ESPN was ready to go live with the basketball game, but Memphis delayed the start of the game because the announcers and scorers who sit at the scorers table had been running late. Memphis A.D. (R.C I think) told my boss (who was working the game at the time) the guys were running late and needed time to eat dinner. My boss was flabbergasted. RC said relax, we do things different 'round here. Meanwhile, ESPN is on the earphone yelling at my now boss that every minute the live broadcast is delayed, will cost you thousands of dollars.

My boss still believes that "slow way of life" is one of the reasons Memphis is not in the Big East. Memphis irritated Louisville, U.C. and others just too much with Memphis' "you aint from around here are you boy" type of attitude.

Memphis was in the Great Midwest Conference when the Pyramid opened in 1991. RC Johnson was not hired until 1996. Charlie Cavagnaro was the previous athletic director.

RC Johnson will officially retire in June of this year.