http://espn.go.com/ncb/notebook/_/page/m...-mid-major

Interesting read. I actually had heard another story, earlier than the date cited in this one, that attributed the term to a sportswriter, who, for lack of a better term, called the top 11 D-1 conferences "high-major," the next 11 or so "mid-major," and the final 11 "low-major."

I have no clue if that is true, but it sounds more logical than the other one. Not that it matters, as long as we aren't one.

What's funny is, regardless of origin, the term has NOTHING to do with football. And it's good to see we aren't categorized as mid-major, which at least our conference was, in CUSA.

Yeah the coach's quote sounds like he is referring to someone else's term, rather than inventing it himself on the spot

Good article by Brennan, but this whole mess began with ESPN, Disney/ABC & CBS. I attribute the BigEasts (American-don't think most realize that The American is the old Big East) demise to ESPN & their larger than life persona. Since the early 2000's it all started with the Big East & Miami, VA tech & BCU bolting for the ACC. Then the BigEast, to retain "high major" status, turned to CUSA, which had already been dubbed "mid major" by Espn & literally raped any decent program. & they all, for reasons completely unknowned to this day, ganged up & left Memphis with a mix of the Sun Belt & MAC.

If ESPN wants to diagnose the problem. They need look no further than themselves. & if Memphis wants to diagnose the problem, which I think is beginning to happen, they needn't look any further than their on naive leadership. Coupled with Calipari being dead set against the move, seeing an A-10/UMASS type situation and being able to dominate a dormant league, & then bolt, himself, to a larger program, raping the athletic departments bellwether program even further. A decade of greed & ignorance has left every team in the American on life support & if something doesn't change it will have a shorter life span than the Great Midwest Conference.

(01-28-2014 03:43 AM)BIGDTiger Wrote:  Good article by Brennan, but this whole mess began with ESPN, Disney/ABC & CBS. I attribute the BigEasts (American-don't think most realize that The American is the old Big East) demise to ESPN & their larger than life persona. Since the early 2000's it all started with the Big East & Miami, VA tech & BCU bolting for the ACC. Then the BigEast, to retain "high major" status, turned to CUSA, which had already been dubbed "mid major" by Espn & literally raped any decent program. & they all, for reasons completely unknowned to this day, ganged up & left Memphis with a mix of the Sun Belt & MAC.

If ESPN wants to diagnose the problem. They need look no further than themselves. & if Memphis wants to diagnose the problem, which I think is beginning to happen, they needn't look any further than their on naive leadership. Coupled with Calipari being dead set against the move, seeing an A-10/UMASS type situation and being able to dominate a dormant league, & then bolt, himself, to a larger program, raping the athletic departments bellwether program even further. A decade of greed & ignorance has left every team in the American on life support & if something doesn't change it will have a shorter life span than the Great Midwest Conference.

The situation is not the deep. I don't think there is any reason to panic. CAli Who? Josh played with what he had and is still doing a great Job. You can't stop greed, it's been a part of American culture, since the Europeans came to North America in 1692.

The term "mid-major" was used before ESPN was even founded.

Seton Hall and Providence are basically mid majors that got into a good conference. If it weren't for Patrick Ewing, Georgetown would be one too.

(01-28-2014 08:32 AM)TripleA Wrote:  The term "mid-major" was used before ESPN was even founded.

Yes way back in the early 80s tv announcers were referring to Memphis, Marquette, UNLV etc. as mid majors. Basically anyone who wasn't in a major all sports conference.

(01-28-2014 10:13 AM)Tiger46 Wrote:  

(01-28-2014 08:32 AM)TripleA Wrote:  The term "mid-major" was used before ESPN was even founded.

Yes way back in the early 80s tv announcers were referring to Memphis, Marquette, UNLV etc. as mid majors. Basically anyone who wasn't in a major all sports conference.

I don't think that is accurate. No offense.

Marquette, DePaul and Notre Dame were considered very major programs in the late 1970's and early 1980's. Marquette won the NC in 77. DePaul went to the Elite 8 in 78 and the Final Four in 79. ND went to the Final Four in 78 and the Elite 8 in 79.

Digger Phelps, Al McGwire, and Ray Meyer were all considered legends.

Louisville won the NC in 1980 out of the Metro. The Metro was absolutely considered a major conference in its time.

All of these schools were on national TV regularly...back when being on national TV wasn't a very common thing.

(01-28-2014 08:32 AM)TripleA Wrote:  The term "mid-major" was used before ESPN was even founded.

Yep, I remember that.

Also, in the past, "mid-major" was not used to describe individual schools. It referred to specific basketball conferences.

The term today is used more by fans just to be derogatory of certain schools or conferences, both in basketball and football. Always reminds me that those folks have no clue about its original use, regardless of who coined the phrase.

(01-28-2014 11:10 AM)3601 Wrote:  

(01-28-2014 10:13 AM)Tiger46 Wrote:  

(01-28-2014 08:32 AM)TripleA Wrote:  The term "mid-major" was used before ESPN was even founded.

Yes way back in the early 80s tv announcers were referring to Memphis, Marquette, UNLV etc. as mid majors. Basically anyone who wasn't in a major all sports conference.

I don't think that is accurate. No offense.

Marquette, DePaul and Notre Dame were considered very major programs in the late 1970's and early 1980's. Marquette won the NC in 77. DePaul went to the Elite 8 in 78 and the Final Four in 79. ND went to the Final Four in 78 and the Elite 8 in 79.

Digger Phelps, Al McGwire, and Ray Meyer were all considered legends.

Louisville won the NC in 1980 out of the Metro. The Metro was absolutely considered a major conference in its time.

All of these schools were on national TV regularly...back when being on national TV wasn't a very common thing.

Completely agree. And again, it was conferences, not individual schools, that were termed "mid-major."