Writers like stories that fit in a neat little box. That’s why they love to call every team that doesn’t play in a BCS Conference (football league) a “mid major.” However, one size doesn’t fit all and sometimes the shoe doesn’t fit. Now there are teams and leagues taking umbrage to such name calling.

In fact this past week Xavier declined an opporutnity to take part in an article being written by ESPN The Magazine titled “Eight things you didn’t know about a mid-major.” They don’t view themselves as a mid major. Nor should they. Just because they don’t have a football team does not make them less of a basketball program than say Northwestern or Michigan. I have been in the new Cintas Center and I can tell you it is one of the nicest college basketball arenas in the country. It might be the nicest. Their set up is second to none. For comparison sake, it is much nicer than Michigan or Northwestern’s home court. Travel budgets are equal and more importantly, their track record is better.

Xavier has been to the NCAA tournament 16 of the past 21 years. That is a better record than over half of the teams in the so called high major conferences. Also, the league that they play in should never be labeled as mid major as it is by some writers. Lazy writers who don’t know basketball history are the guilty parties. The Atlantic 10 has sent more teams to the NCAA tournament with only one loss since 1988 than any other conference. Oh yeah, St. Joe’s was ranked #1 in the country in 2004. When was the last time Miss. Sate, Oregon State, Baylor, Purdue ranked #1 in the country?

Also, these so called mid major teams are paying just as much for a home game as teams in the Big 12 and SEC. Money talks!!

Two other teams that should never be considered mid major. Creighton has been in the top five of attendance and has been to more consecutive NCAA tournaments than over half of the Big 12. And you know what, I am not even going to mention what Gonzaga has done.

So next time you start talking about this team or that team being a mid major, stop and take a closer look. Don’t just repeat what some lazy writer has said in an attempt to wrap everything with nice, neat bow.

SUTTON UPDATE
Has not won a game at San Francisco and is still 2 wins shy of 900.