Pac 12 concedes that cross country is a fringe sport

You are dumb. I hope you don't say these things out loud in real life.

I agree. Was looking forward to watching this.

odds are wrote:

You are dumb. I hope you don't say these things out loud in real life.

what's dumb about OP's concern? Having a big race like that on a Friday morning is dumb.

True. What other sports hold their big events on a Friday morning? Football? Basketball?

Yes and yes, but you knew that right?

C Parker wrote:

odds are wrote:

You are dumb. I hope you don't say these things out loud in real life.

what's dumb about OP's concern? Having a big race like that on a Friday morning is dumb.

He is dumb because of all the accusations and negativity. Yet he clearly states that he doesn't understand why certain decisions were made. That is what dumb people do.

No one conceded anything. He is forcing that word on the Pac12. Being concerned is fine, but all the other stuff isn't. Seriously, "what other conclusion can be drawn...?"? Maybe if you had all of the facts then you would see what other conclusions could be drawn.

I can just imagine how the fans would react if Cal and Stanford decided to hold their annual football clash on a Friday morning, even if heavy weekday commuter traffic wasn't an issue.

Maybe the conference figured that XC fans are sufficiently passionate that they would happily skip class or cut out from work for a couple hours to watch the race. I'll be there. Is there someone you want me to cheer for for you?

Is your course complaint focused on this particular golf course or golf courses in general? If this one is dead flat, that's unfortunate.

Clear view wrote:

The NCAA is finally moving the championship meet from Monday to Saturday this year. For some reason the Pac 12 (and a handful of other conferences) cannot come up with similar logic. My guess is that the host school, Cal, could not reserve the Metropolitan Golf Links for Saturday. Who cares? That very noisy (and pancake flat) golf course is located right at the end of the Oakland Airport runway. There are several much nicer cross country venues in the Bay Area, including some within minutes of the Cal Berkeley campus. What is up with the obsession of running these conference meets on manicured golf courses anyway, especially at the cost of losing spectators?

Cross country is a fringe sport, accept it.

They probably need the golf course on Saturday.

The NCAA meet has been on Saturday the last few weeks and I actually think it has hurt attendance just because it is Thanksgiving week.

It used to be Monday of Thanksgiving break. It gave college kids or people taking Thanksgiving week off a few days to get to Terre Haute or wherever it was if they were driving. With it on a Saturday, people working through Friday or in school on Friday don't have a chance to get there by Saturday.

Last time Cal hosted, the meet was on a Saturday in Golden Gate Park. It was awesome!

Assume it must be host school's (Cal in this case?) decision?

I know it was on Saturday last year when Colorado hosted.

Clear view wrote:

My guess is that the host school, Cal, could not reserve the Metropolitan Golf Links for Saturday. Who cares? That very noisy (and pancake flat) golf course is located right at the end of the Oakland Airport runway.

there's a great park right down the street (doolittle) in San Leandro called Oyster Bay that would be a better XC course for PAC 12's. Check it out if you're down there. too late now, of course, but it could have been held on a Saturday there easily. parking is an issue, but a simple bus system would fix that. and it's convenient to the oakland airport for traveling teams.

also, if you're going to the meet, check out Drakes Brewery. From the golf course, take a right on Doolittle, then a left on Davis St, then hang a right at the bottom of the overpass into the shopping center, and drive to the back. Drakes Brewery is a great place to get an East Bay craft brew.

Oyster Bay trail map (scroll down)

Drakes:

Why is Big Tens on a Sunday?

Clear view wrote:

There are several much nicer cross country venues in the Bay Area, including some within minutes of the Cal Berkeley campus.

You sound full of ideas. Please share them with Cal Assistant AD & Events Manager - Gordon Bayne @ 510-642-6130. Thank you.

Cross country is a fringe sport. Deal with it.

The Pac 12 Networks also aren't televising the races live; instead they're being shown this coming Monday at 6:00 PM PT.

(Don't know if it's an insult it's not being shown live, or a compliment they consider it (near) prime time worthy.)

"Maybe the conference figured that XC fans are sufficiently passionate that they would happily skip class or cut out from work for a couple hours to watch the race"

I doubt if the boss will let them both off at the same time.

All the schools can just follow the UofU's lead and eliminate men's T&F and CC programs altogether...that'll give them room to dump more state money into football. After all, they need to buy special blackout helmets for the blackout game.