Mid-Major Madness MVC Preview

[shoxrox]

Out of principle, I don't read anything that has the title mid major in it.

You do cheer for a mid major program do you not?

Our coach's salary is probably comparable to a large chunk of the coaching salaries in the Valley combined.

It depends on what you define "mid-major" as. We have the resources of a major program. The success of a major program. We get picked up by ESPN for non-conference games as if we were a major program. There's a huge gap between programs like WSU, Saint Louis, VCU, etc., and the other programs covered under the "mid-major" label.

If you define it as by conferences, sure, we're mid-major and TCU is major.

I bet your post gets no response from the Bear fan that is now lecturing schools on what mid-major and major means.

I don't know what's going on with Bear fans lately. Just a coincidence I guess.

[TheAsianSensation]

Mid-major is just a moniker the media uses to organize their own coverage.

It is also a sign of what's at stake for the MVC. When the MVC gets lumped in with the bottom 20 conferences in terms of coverage, it's a bad sign. Even though everyone knows we're clearly better than all of them. I would've hoped a final four run would actually keep these media types from keeping us down.

[Haha]

Can someone please confirm that Anthony Beane is still at SIU. He is listed as a departure on this mid major site and I don't recall seeing that anywhere else and don't believe it.

[Red]

Can someone please confirm that Anthony Beane is still at SIU. He is listed as a departure on this mid major site and I don't recall seeing that anywhere else and don't believe it.

What? His dad is a coach there.

[MSUDuo]

Can someone please confirm that Anthony Beane is still at SIU. He is listed as a departure on this mid major site and I don't recall seeing that anywhere else and don't believe it.

He's still listed on the SIU athletics website, so my guess is that he's still a member of the team.

[agrinut]

Out of principle, I don't read anything that has the title mid major in it.

Our coach's salary is probably comparable to a large chunk of the coaching salaries in the Valley combined.

It depends on what you define "mid-major" as. We have the resources of a major program. The success of a major program. We get picked up by ESPN for non-conference games as if we were a major program. There's a huge gap between programs like WSU, Saint Louis, VCU, etc., and the other programs covered under the "mid-major" label.

If you define it as by conferences, sure, we're mid-major and TCU is major.

I bet your post gets no response from the Bear fan that is now lecturing schools on what mid-major and major means.

I don't know what's going on with Bear fans lately. Just a coincidence I guess.

I won't deny that the Shockers are doing everything they can to shed the label but it's not up to them. Until they play in one of the "Big 6" conferences they will always be mid major. George mason had all the attributes you listed above, once the success subsided (and it will go away) all of the glamour went away.

[CaseyGarrisonforPrez]

Not that anyone really asked my opinion but I have never considered the mid-major label to be some sort of insult. I see it as more of a statement of fact. Gonzaga is a mid major, but they certainly have a tremendous program. A much better program than nearby Washington State. But they don't play football and they play in the WCC and not the Pac-12. By the general definition of the media and average sports fans across the nation, Gonzaga is mid-major and Wazzu plays in a major (BCS) conference. That isn't in any way an insult to the Zags. I'm sure they have a bigger basketball budget than Wazzu has in fact. It's just semantics but I've never understood the outrage. ESPN, CBS, Sporting News, and random blogs consider non-BCS football schools to be mid-major. Therefore it is so. Big deal.

[mvcfan]

All I know is that when the national analysts are talking about WSU this offseason, they most often say that they no longer consider us a mid-major. Too many schools in this league have always held themselves back because they look at themselves that way. Coach Marshall, the coaching staff, WSU faithful, and most of the national media don't look at us the same as you look at yourselves.

[mvcfan]

I might add that George Mason shot themselves in the foot and showed their true colors by not stepping up to the plate and signing Jim Larranaga to a long term contract that showed their loyalty to what he had accomplished. They gave him lip service but did nothing and he finally got tired and left. Their basketball program shot down like a unopened parachute. Sexton has stepped up to the plate with Marshall, and we are the benefactors for it.

[shoxrox]

I won't deny that the Shockers are doing everything they can to shed the label but it's not up to them. Until they play in one of the "Big 6" conferences they will always be mid major. George mason had all the attributes you listed above, once the success subsided (and it will go away) all of the glamour went away.

Oh yes. So many strive to be majors like TCU or DePaul or Penn State.

There are exceptions with each category. Come on. Get real.