E. Gordon Gee (President West Virginia U.)

[Jake]

On top of making fun of himself, Gee also sent a personal check to the Little Sisters of the Poor House in Oregon, Ohio. Mike and Mike in the Morning just took back the bad things they said about him, and said that he is a true class act.

I saw Greenberg go off yesterday and what struck me wasn't that he (Northwestern guy) criticized Ohio State, but the emotion with which he expressed it. It reminded me of Fowler's snide remarks the other day, a Colorado grad. Why are these guys so emotionally invested in Boise State/TCU? That's what kills me. Criticizing either of them is taken as a personal affront by some of the talking heads at ESPN, who do nothing but defend them (except Cowherd, who has called them frauds all season).

Of course, Gee rose above those clowns and showed he's the better man. Their headline on the website only affirmed the adolescence of ESPN.

 

[Gatorubet]

If wearing hot air balloon suspenders is wrong....

 

[RB07OSU]

Gee should have said exactly what he said.

Agreed...wasn't Nevada's 1 loss to the Sisters of the Poor? Boise...orange and blew it.

 

[ORD_Buckeye]

I saw Greenberg go off yesterday and what struck me wasn't that he (Northwestern guy) criticized Ohio State, but the emotion with which he expressed it. It reminded me of Fowler's snide remarks the other day, a Colorado grad. Why are these guys so emotionally invested in Boise State/TCU? That's what kills me. Criticizing either of them is taken as a personal affront by some of the talking heads at ESPN, who do nothing but defend them (except Cowherd, who has called them frauds all season).

Of course, Gee rose above those clowns and showed he's the better man. Their headline on the website only affirmed the adolescence of ESPN.

The reality is that Gee is a national leader on many fronts: reforming college athletics, the drinking age debate, funding of public higher education, reforming the tenure process. All of which are why TIME named him the best university president in America. His comments regarding the BCS are a tiny part of what the guy represents. The ESPN guys' lives revolve around reporting on children's games that most will forget about shortly after hearing the score. In the larger scheme of things, they are insignificant and will leave behind no lasting legacy.

 

[ORD_Buckeye]

I will say that Nevada is a legit top 15 team this year--probably a 2-3 loss Big Ten team. While I think their coach was being needlessly foolish with his remarks about Ohio State losing to both Nevada and truck driver u, he's entitled to his opinion. Nevada, however, is tough--certainly on offense and their defense showed some grit against boysee. I'd like to seem them match up with a solid BCS team in a bowl.

 

[buckeyesin07]

I saw Greenberg go off yesterday and what struck me wasn't that he (Northwestern guy) criticized Ohio State, but the emotion with which he expressed it. It reminded me of Fowler's snide remarks the other day, a Colorado grad. Why are these guys so emotionally invested in Boise State/TCU? That's what kills me. Criticizing either of them is taken as a personal affront by some of the talking heads at ESPN, who do nothing but defend them (except Cowherd, who has called them frauds all season).

Of course, Gee rose above those clowns and showed he's the better man. Their headline on the website only affirmed the adolescence of ESPN.

Because it's become that fashionable to stick up for the little guy. They arrogantly assume they're better people because they're fighting the good fight for the little school who can't defend itself.

 

[ORD_Buckeye]

Because it's become that fashionable to stick up for the little guy. They arrogantly assume they're better people because they're fighting the good fight for the little school who can't defend itself.

I also think the bean counters at espn have sent word down that a playoff is in the financial interests of the network, which would go a long way in explaining the immediate, knee jerk and venomous reaction to Gee's quote.

And quite frankly, the minute the boysee president decided to publicly big time the university of idaho, boysee lost ALL claim to being the little guy.

 

[buckeyesin07]

While I think their coach was being needlessly foolish with his remarks about Ohio State losing to both Nevada and truck driver u, he's entitled to his opinion.

I suppose. But someone needs to tell that clown that instead of trashing OSU, his time probably would be better spent devising a gameplan that actually could beat Hawaii.

 

[Dryden]

While I think their coach was being needlessly foolish with his remarks about Ohio State losing to both Nevada and truck driver u, he's entitled to his opinion.

I think the problem for Chris Ault at Nevada was that Gee's "Little Sisters of the Poor" refers to him, and he's the same coach that welcomed JT and the staff two years ago to study his system and the pistol formation. Most head coaches on Murderer's Row got their start taking their lumps as a Little Sister of the Poor.

I suspect Ault, June Jones, Pat Hill, &c all took Gee's comment personally.

 

[BigWoof31]

I think the problem for Chris Ault at Nevada was that Gee's "Little Sisters of the Poor" refers to him, and he's the same coach that welcomed JT and the staff two years ago to study his system and the pistol formation. Most head coaches on Murderer's Row got their start taking their lumps as a Little Sister of the Poor.

I suspect Ault, June Jones, Pat Hill, &c all took Gee's comment personally.

This is why I have so much respect for the administration and staff at TCU. They didn't respond at all to the Gee comments.

And rather than fuss about it and stomp their feet - they quietly did something about it. Sure, nobody would say the Big East is an amazing conference, but its an AQ and there is something to be said for that.

TCU handled their business the right way, all while quietly trying to better themselves. I appreciate that.

 

[buckeyesin07]

This is why I have so much respect for the administration and staff at TCU. They didn't respond at all to the Gee comments.

And rather than fuss about it and stomp their feet - they quietly did something about it. Sure, nobody would say the Big East is an amazing conference, but its an AQ and there is something to be said for that.

TCU handled their business the right way, all while quietly trying to better themselves. I appreciate that.

I agree. While you can argue about whether Gee's comments were well-thought out, the BSU president came off like a child on a playground throwing a fit when he got picked last for the kickball game. At least Gee was professional and mature enough to come out and admit that he was wrong. I'm not holding my breath on the BSU president doing the same.

 

[Gatorubet]

On top of making fun of himself, Gee also sent a personal check to the Little Sisters of the Poor House in Oregon, Ohio. Mike and Mike in the Morning just took back the bad things they said about him, and said that he is a true class act.

[ESPN] And Gee sent the check to Oregon, Ohio, just to piss off Boise State and remind everyone that Oregon is going to the BCSCG and Boise is not. That Gee guy is a total dick!!" [/ESPN]

 

[scarletmike]

This is why I have so much respect for the administration and staff at TCU. They didn't respond at all to the Gee comments.

And rather than fuss about it and stomp their feet - they quietly did something about it. Sure, nobody would say the Big East is an amazing conference, but its an AQ and there is something to be said for that.

TCU handled their business the right way, all while quietly trying to better themselves. I appreciate that.

Excactly why I don't have nearly as much of an issue with TCU, and now that they're in an AQ, Boise will be the only non-AQ with the intent of being a "BCS Buster."

 

[Tlangs]

Right now on the front page of espn.com under "Headlines" it says the following:

"Lesson learned: Ohio St. head shuts up on BCS"

Thanks, ESPN, for reminding me how unprofessional you are and why I should not visit your website.

a few articles below that is this gem "4 Mountain West Teams accept bowl bids"

Why is this news....oh yeah, because ESPN somehow thinks it makes Gee look even worse. I wish there was a headline last year that said "Ohio State beat 5 ten win teams this past season"

 

[ORD_Buckeye]

I think the problem for Chris Ault at Nevada was that Gee's "Little Sisters of the Poor" refers to him, and he's the same coach that welcomed JT and the staff two years ago to study his system and the pistol formation. Most head coaches on Murderer's Row got their start taking their lumps as a Little Sister of the Poor.

I suspect Ault, June Jones, Pat Hill, &c all took Gee's comment personally.

Very good point and one that I hadn't considered. I certainly think Gee has come to regret some of his wording. While I supported his underlying contention, I didn't like the little sister's of the poor phrase and cringed at the murderer's row phrase.

What I think Gee was truly getting at with his comments about going back to the bowl system is that the mid-majors (and their chorus at espn) are screaming to the rafters demanding a playoff as if no one else is entitled to an opinion or an interest in the matter. The Big Ten, Pac 10, Rose Bowl and others are just supposed to shut up and give them what THEY want. I think the subtext to Gee's remarks--and the basis for my hypothetical "what he should have said" post--were that they're free to go off and have "their" playoff, but are out of line in demanding that we come along. Of course, the reality is that "their" playoff without us would essentially generate the same interest as the old 1-AA playoffs did.

Had Gee's statement been more direct along these lines, rather than getting bogged down in the minutia of strength of schedule, they would have been much more forceful and constructive.