| ‘Boro places 150th on ‘sports city’ list |
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By: DAVID HUNTER, Post Contributor
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Posted: Thursday, October 13, 2011 12:00 am
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In the latest issue of the Sporting News, the magazine published its yearly “Best Sports City” rankings that ranked the top 271 sports cities in North America.
Dallas-Fort Worth earned the top spot, while Nashville was 16th. Other cities of note include Knoxville at 79th and Johnson City at 133. Fellow Sun Belt conference city Jonesboro, Ark. placed 142, and Denton, Texas was named twice on the list at 148 and 168.
As for this great city we were 150th, which is its worst rank since 2008.
Last year’s ranking was 104. However, it only factors MTSU football and basketball since those are the only two sports that the monthly magazine covers.
But I know we are better than that.
According to the magazine, the ranking was based on point values in several categories including won-lost records, postseason appearances, power rankings and number of teams and attendance.
The stats were only from summer 2010 to summer 2011, so it is not a poll trying to select the best sports city of all-time, just last year.
Last year was another great year for the city at many different levels other than the two sports mentioned and even they had success last year.
Of course, you remember all of the attention that the football team was getting during the pre-season last year.
Those early hopes were dashed when, right before the first game against Minnesota, the starting quarterback, Dwight Dasher got in trouble by the NCAA. To give them all credit due, the Blue Raiders made a great comeback at the end of the season to get into the Godaddy.com Bowl.
In hte last game of the season, MTSU fell to Miami (Ohio) by two touchdowns and finished 6-7.
The basketball teams also shared success and tragedy last season.
The Blue Raiders women’s team won another SBC regular season title, but the death of player Tina Stewart before the conference tournament put a damper on the season.
MTSU lost in the tournament, but its body of work was good enough that the NCAA selection committee gave them an at-large berth into the tournament where they were knocked out in the first round.
Considering what they went through during those couple of weeks, it was still a great season.
The men also reached the postseason for the first time since 1989, whey they gained a berth into the CollegeInsider.com postseason tournament. The Blue Raiders also clinched a share of the SBC East Division title.
This city also is known for a lot more than what happens on MTSU’s campus.
Last year was another banner year for high school sports in the ‘Boro. Some of the highlights include Riverdale making the finals of the girls state basketball tournament and several other teams in the city advanced and placed well in its respective state tournament in many sports.
Individual athletes also did well at the high school level.
Several state champions were crowned included Blackman’s Eric Feuerbacher winning a state title in wrestling.
Most of the success came in track and field; Riverdale won the 4x200 girls relay at the state meet. Also, Oakland’s Kody Brown led a citywide 1-2-3 sweep in the boy’s high jump.
But none of the high school success in factored into the final Sporting News rankings.
When asked about factoring in high schools in the list, a representative from the magazine said was it is hard to compare high school football in this state to say high school basketball in Indiana and even high school rodeo in Wyoming.
I think that is too bad, but I understand were he is coming from in terms of trying to compare each state’s high school sports.
So, don’t worry about what a magazine says about our city.
I just know we are better than that. |
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