2008 Woodie Awards
Are penalties too harsh?
Razorback Road
Matt Jones
Issue date: 10/29/07 Section: Sports
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The city limit signs surrounding Fayetteville call the city the "Track Capital of the World" and the city has a budget to change the number of national championships every time John McDonnell's teams bring home another. But never has the city had to decrease the number.
Until now.
ESPN did a piece a few years back about the most dominant programs in college history. Among those were UCLA basketball, North Carolina women's soccer and Notre Dame football.
Arkansas' men's track program was nowhere to be found. The reason ESPN gave for omitting the then-42-time national champions was because the titles came in three different sports, not one.
Most didn't notice the omission, however, because no one has truly cared.
It seems it has been that way around here for a long time. While McDonnell's teams have continued to churn out national and conference championships on a yearly - and sometimes tri-yearly - basis, the media and fans continue their fixation with the money-makers.
Will Houston Nutt stay or go? Was Nolan right or wrong? Anything and everything down to who will call games on the radio has been bigger news than the track and field program. This paper shares equal blame.
Track and field has long served as a feel-good story while the rest of the men's programs tank and underachieve. Prior to the NCAA's ruling Thursday (which I'll address a few paragraphs later), Arkansas media guides liked to claim 44 national championships in the school's history.
There's no problem with that, except for the most part it failed to mention 42 came from one coach in a sport seemingly insignificant to most fans. The money-makers - football and basketball - have combined for two in the last 43 years and none since 1994.
So it's unfortunate when McDonnell's biggest news frenzy to-date isn't No. 82 in conference - which the Razorbacks accomplished by winning their 34th-consecutive cross-country championship over the weekend - but the loss of two national titles.
Until now.
ESPN did a piece a few years back about the most dominant programs in college history. Among those were UCLA basketball, North Carolina women's soccer and Notre Dame football.
Arkansas' men's track program was nowhere to be found. The reason ESPN gave for omitting the then-42-time national champions was because the titles came in three different sports, not one.
Most didn't notice the omission, however, because no one has truly cared.
It seems it has been that way around here for a long time. While McDonnell's teams have continued to churn out national and conference championships on a yearly - and sometimes tri-yearly - basis, the media and fans continue their fixation with the money-makers.
Will Houston Nutt stay or go? Was Nolan right or wrong? Anything and everything down to who will call games on the radio has been bigger news than the track and field program. This paper shares equal blame.
Track and field has long served as a feel-good story while the rest of the men's programs tank and underachieve. Prior to the NCAA's ruling Thursday (which I'll address a few paragraphs later), Arkansas media guides liked to claim 44 national championships in the school's history.
There's no problem with that, except for the most part it failed to mention 42 came from one coach in a sport seemingly insignificant to most fans. The money-makers - football and basketball - have combined for two in the last 43 years and none since 1994.
So it's unfortunate when McDonnell's biggest news frenzy to-date isn't No. 82 in conference - which the Razorbacks accomplished by winning their 34th-consecutive cross-country championship over the weekend - but the loss of two national titles.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Roy Smith
posted 10/29/07 @ 10:53 AM CST
The NCAA sanctions are to harsh. If the appeal of the NCAA sanctions is not successful, then chancellor John A. White should reconsider rescinding the self-imposed penalties. (Continued…)
Steve
posted 10/30/07 @ 10:42 AM CST
The NCAA sanctions are just. A coach was busted for multiple rules violations related to enrolling and retaining Tyson Gay, a guy who scored alot of points for Arkansas at NCAA meets. (Continued…)
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