By
Jacob Thorpe
October 28, 2009
When asked about the UW’s recent proposal to renew its men’s basketball rivalry with Gonzaga at
Key Arena, Gonzaga head coach Mark Few told reporters, “The chances of that happening are about the same as Bigfoot having my baby.”
Now, I’m not here to knock on Few’s sexual orientation. What he chooses to do in the privacy of the Pacific Northwest rain forests is his own business. What I am here to do, however, is ridicule his petulant whining, and ridicule I shall.
First off, the first thing Few should have done when he heard about the deal was call up UW athletic director Scott Woodward and thank him breathlessly and repeatedly. Washington doesn’t need this game. Gonzaga needs this game — badly.
Despite the level of success Gonzaga has achieved, it is still a mid-major school, and in this country, when you’re a mid-major, you act like one. You don’t see Pac-10 football teams scheduling home-and-home games with Boise State. Unless you’re Oregon, that is.
Gonzaga should consider itself lucky to have the opportunity to play a school like the UW. This game would give Gonzaga a recruiting boost in the basketball hotbed of western Washington, money from playing a big school on television, and most importantly, an RPI shot in the arm that Gonzaga desperately needs. For a team that plays a conference schedule as weak as Gonzaga’s, to have any chance at a favorable seed, they need to pad their strength of schedule. Furthermore, since Gonzaga has no natural rival, it would bring up the energy around the program considerably.
For all those same reasons, it would be foolish of the UW to play Gonzaga, particularly in the home-and-home situation Few wants. Scheduling Gonzaga only hurts Washington: It helps another Washington team with recruiting, gaining publicity and getting into the tournament. The UW would essentially be propping up Gonzaga’s program for them, at a cost to itself. The game has no benefit for the UW; if they win, it doesn’t matter because Gonzaga is a mid-major with a low RPI anyway. However, if they were to lose, in Gonzaga’s gym while playing against WCC refs, then the UW would lose to a mid-major team.
The bottom line is: Gonzaga needs Washington. Washington doesn’t need Gonzaga. Therefore, let them accommodate the UW. The Huskies play in the Pac-10 Conference: the conference of champions. Their rivals are Washington State because they’re in-state, Arizona because Lorenzo Romar owned Lute Olson, and UCLA because the Bruins have 11 banners and can’t beat the UW in Hec Ed. Those are the UW’s rivals, and it doesn’t need another. That schedule alone is enough to get the UW’s RPI up there. This season, the Huskies also play Georgetown and Texas A&M, and next year they play in the Maui Invitational. So the UW doesn’t need Gonzaga then, either.
What Few and his hairy friend need to realize is that the status quo favors the Huskies right now, and they have no incentive to change it. Few should be begging for this game, and beggars can’t be choosers.
Reach columnist Jacob Thorpe at sports@dailyuw.com.
33 Comments
#1 LLP
on October 27, 2009 at 11:14 p.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
I'm a HUGE husky fan... but let's look at the facts... Gonzaga is arguably the top mid-major in all of college basketball. The structure of the offer was for there to be a game each year for the next three years, all played at Key Arena. Essentially asking a team like Gonzaga to come to our backyard three years in a row is a ridiculous proposition.
And Gonzaga "needs" this game? Last year in the regular season they played Tennessee (twice!), Memphis, UConn, and Arizona, ending their season against the eventual national champs in North Carolina.
Like I say... I'm a HUGE Dawg fan, but this is nothing but a homer article calling that's nothing but name calling and not an analysis of the facts of proposal. (And seriously... the title immediately loses any credibility the article might have.)
I want to see the rivalry restored as much as anyone but first lets look at the facts and make a reasonable offer. Go Dawgs!
#2 FSK
on October 28, 2009 at 8 a.m.(Stony Ridge, OH | Unverified Name)
Could not agree more with the comments above: "And Gonzaga "needs" this game? Last year in the regular season they played Tennessee (twice!), Memphis, UConn, and Arizona, ending their season against the eventual national champs in North Carolina."
I'll take this a step further: this year (09-10) you can add Michigan State, Arizona, Wake Forest, Duke, Memphis, Illinois, and Oklahoma. I think Gonzaga will be more than happy to their chances with these schools until UW makes a reasonable offer.
#3 FuManShoes
on October 28, 2009 at 8:45 a.m.(Redmond, WA | Unverified Name)
Jesus Christ. Are you serious? Have you seen EVEN ONE national basketball writer who thinks Romar and Woody's proposal is fair, wise or based on anything but the same petty foolishness you peddle here? I'm a UW journalism grad and this column is an embarrassment. It relies on the same tired "X Needs Y more than Y needs X" argument that has no basis in fact and no place in sports. You can never prove such a lame argument so why even make it? This series is *needed* by fans, not the schools. Both schools do just fine RPI-wise though I would argue that if the UW turns in a so-so PAC-10 season in what’s predicted to be a down year for the conference, it’s the one who will be wishing it had a marquee win against a strong non-conference opponent on its resume. But the suggestion that Gonzaga is still out there begging for games is pure hogwash. Wake Forest, Michigan State, Memphis, Oklahoma -- all have or are coming to SPOKANE to play games. You mean to tell me the vaunted UW hoops program has more weight to throw around than those programs? Do your homework and quit smoking crack.
#4 MadZag
on October 28, 2009 at 9:40 a.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
Oh wait, aren't the Zags playing in the Maui Invite this year, and have a few times in the past?!?! Weak arguments here.....
#5 quidveritas
on October 28, 2009 at 11:12 a.m.(Milton Freewater, OR | Unverified Name)
JUST TOO BAD
Gonzaga v. University of Washington was always a great game in the past. Would be a great game this year, next year, every year.
The Athletic Directors and Coaches got problems and the fans lose. Gonzaga fans lose. Washington fans lose.
Ya know, I think the AD's lose and the coaches lose too. Are there any winners here?
Put away your hurt feelings, quit the name calling, and have a little respect for each other -- maybe, just maybe we can all enjoy a great event once again.
mjc
#6 bsd987
on October 28, 2009 at 11:52 a.m.(Houston, TX | Unverified Name)
Agree with all the above comments. I've always been a staunch critic of the Rice University newspaper, but at least we don't publish something as unsubstantiated and blatantly wrong as this article. Homerism at its worst. Glad I don't go to the U-Dub.
#7 deep purple
on October 28, 2009 at 12:37 p.m.(Spokane, WA | Unverified Name)
We Huskies need to get a clue. We're acting like real immature idiots regarding this Gonzaga thing
#8 GoZAGsMang
on October 28, 2009 at 12:56 p.m.(Spokane, WA | Unverified Name)
The Zags would love to continue the annual beatdown, however the offer by UW is ridiculous. The only reason Romar made this silly offer was to appease the alums that are growing tired of their buddies calling them "huskitties"
#9 themick
on October 28, 2009 at 1:15 p.m.(Olympia, WA | UW Community)
Time for everyone to take off the rose-tinted glasses. All the column writer is doing is giving a real world perspective. He is not saying that Gonzaga isn't a top program, he is spelling out some harsh realities of big time college sports. It isn't necessarily fair, but it is the truth. As for the UW journalism grad, the embarrassment is that you don't even know the difference between an article (reporting what happened) and a column (a personal opionion). Maybe it has been a years since you took COM 201, crack is kind of an 80's drug.
#10 GladImNotAHuskie
on October 28, 2009 at 1:21 p.m.(None, None | Unverified Name)
This article contains not one single credible thought. I sincerely hope, for the sake of every UW grad and current student, that this article was written as a joke. If not, the logic classes at the University of Washington need some serious overhauling.
#11 themick
on October 28, 2009 at 1:22 p.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name | UW Community)
And Gonzaga's RPI last year was 80. That's not "fine"
#12 Seattle, WA/UW student
on October 28, 2009 at 1:25 p.m.(Snoqualmie, WA | Unverified Name | UW Community)
This is possibly the most unfounded article I have ever read. "Gonzaga should consider itself LUCKY to have the opportunity to play a school like the UW." That comment alone completely defies reality as it has been for at least the last five to seven years, and really, probably ten. Gonzaga consistently has one of the toughest non-conference schedules in all of D-I and consistently finishes in the top in top 25 or very close to. For anybody who knows basketball, Gonzaga is considered as one of the top 25 programs in the country. Moreover, does the UW have a contract with ESPN to televise their games nationally? No, the UW does not, but Gonzaga does and has for the past several years. Consequently, for the writer of this article to portray Gonzaga as some weak, little known school that struggles to find good competition, rational thought has temporarily left his brain.
However, I agree with the sentiment that the cross-state rivalry should be renewed. It would be great for all Washington residents who love college basketball.
#13 UWDAWG FANNN
on October 28, 2009 at 1:33 p.m.(Renton, WA | Unverified Name)
Wow. Freshman much? Your logical arguments are about as shotty as the car I was driving when you were probably first born.
Get off your pedestal, get over your school pride and do some research before you let the accusations fly. I realize this is an opinion article, but your opinion means jack when there's no logic to support it.
And to the editor of The Daily, as a UW alum and booster, this is simply embarrassing.
#14 recordeditor
on October 28, 2009 at 1:33 p.m.(Council, ID | Unverified Name)
"And Gonzaga's RPI last year was 80. That's not "fine""
Uh. Yeah it wasn't. Look again.
#15 FuManShoes
on October 28, 2009 at 1:47 p.m.(Redmond, WA | Unverified Name)
@themick -- I know and appreciate the difference between an article and a column. This could never be mistaken for an article. That said, outlandish opinions don't make for swell columns, either. Just because one has an opinion (the Earth is only 10,000 years old!) doesn't make it valid. Hey, we can disagree on the merits of the UW's proposal -- part of me is like, "just take the bum deal and let's get it on" -- but a columnist really ought to bring some facts or at least some ammo to the table in support of their argument. This writer brought none.
A few select silly opinions that any look at a) the Zags' schedule, b) history and c)kenpom.com would quickly unravel:
--"Gonzaga needs this game — badly."
--"...In this country, when you’re a mid-major, you act like one."
--"This game would give Gonzaga ... an RPI shot in the arm that Gonzaga desperately needs.
--"... if [the Huskies] win, it doesn’t matter because Gonzaga is a mid-major with a low RPI anyway."
--"[WSU, Arizona and UCLA] are the UW’s rivals ... That schedule alone is enough to get the UW’s RPI up there."
#16 Kevin from Pittsburgh
on October 28, 2009 at 1:53 p.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
UW-homer article fluffing a UW-homer proposal to renew the series with UW never leaving home.
Author should take the national temperature on this issue and realize that UW still looks silly on this issue.
#17 Rob
on October 28, 2009 at 2:38 p.m.(Spokane, WA | Unverified Name)
This is a satirical piece, right? Very nuanced humor. I like it. I haven't seen this sophisticated of a shot at the Huskies by any other author yet. Nice job.
#18 cjm720
on October 28, 2009 at 3:24 p.m.(Portland, OR | Unverified Name)
Great article if you're a die-hard Husky fan and super drunk. If Mr. Jacob Thorpe would have done a little research it would have revealed that Romar cancelled the series. As much as I'd like to see the series revived, especially as a huge Zag fan living in Seattle, it would be quite ridiculous and unequitable to have 3 neutral site against a school that lives 5 miles from the arena. The Zags would be forced to travel, sleep in a hotel room, etc. which would be a huge benefit to the Huskies.
Romar needs to man up and play us in Spokane. Until then, we'll continue to play one of the toughest non-conference scheules in the entire country.
Good luck this year, UW. You guys should have one of the better back courts in the country, and will be fun to follow.
Go Zags!!!
#19 Husky Fan
on October 28, 2009 at 3:25 p.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
Jacob Thorpe's a tard.
#20 Troy
on October 28, 2009 at 4:41 p.m.(Spokane, WA | Unverified Name)
Wow. Jacob Thorpe, you could be the biggest idiot I have ever seen.
Gonzaga "needs" this game...yeah.since UW is so much better than the non-conference teams Gonzaga is playing this year: Michigan State, Duke, Wake Forest, Oklahoma,Illinois, and more. This is hilarious
#21 SUPER husky fan
on October 28, 2009 at 4:58 p.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name | UW Community)
Lyke oh mah gosh jacob thorpe. you are totally the biggest tard out there lyke seriously. DUR.
Classy people on this page. ;)
Also, who cares about this subject?
Fight me next.
Losers.
#22 AFZ
on October 28, 2009 at 6:16 p.m.(None, None | Unverified Name)
Fear. This one word says it all.
For UW to offer this sort of deal, the Huskies must really fear Gonzaga. Zag Nation can have a degree of satisfaction from watching a *former* rival fear them so thoroughly that UW would publicly, nationally admit it through such a lopsided deal, rather than play the game.
#23 Sean K.
on October 28, 2009 at 7:17 p.m.(Seattle, WA | UW Community)
You must be kidding. A joke right?
I have two explanations (either of which could be off, but I have to admit this is a head-scratcher).
1) Hard to get gud thinkrs these days.
2) Hard to get gud thinkrs these days, but as an editor of the Daily, anything controversial should bump up the response online....so who really cares what's being said (?)
#24 Supertemp
on October 29, 2009 at 12:25 p.m.(Spokane, WA | Unverified Name)
This article was tongue-in-cheek, right?
#25 bullzag
on October 29, 2009 at 12:54 p.m.(Bethlehem, PA | Unverified Name)
"And Gonzaga's RPI last year was 80. That's not "fine""
Gonzaga was #26 in final RPI last year according to ESPN. Check your facts again
#26 zagman
on October 29, 2009 at 3:15 p.m.(Spokane, WA | Unverified Name)
Besides the blatant falsities in this column, Thorpe seems to be choosing also to ignore the circumstances which led to the series ending a few years ago. When Romar ended the series, Gonzaga had won eight of the last nine meetings between the two programs. The huskies had also gotten in trouble for recruiting violations of eventual Zag Josh Heytvelt. The bad blood from this incident was a major factor in the end of the series. And eight of nine? I don't really think the Zags need this series. We're doing just fine without you guys thank you. We're just sad you had to run away with your tail between your legs.
#27 zagman
on October 29, 2009 at 3:39 p.m.(Spokane, WA | Unverified Name)
Actually come to think of it, we do need this game. With such a tough non-conference schedule it will be nice to have one at least one easy non-conference opponent to count on.
#28 ;)
on October 29, 2009 at 3:48 p.m.(Spokane, WA | Unverified Name)
In my opinion, it was a smart move by Romar to end the yearly engagement, but it wasn't a classy one. It was a good rivalry, but the lopsidedness probably was weighing a little to heavily on Romar's mind when he decided to opt out. I hope they can set up a fair deal and I think Few should have had a little more class as well. Not a great verbal response on his part, a hilarious one, but not a good one.
#29 joe
on October 29, 2009 at 8:01 p.m.(Otis Orchards, WA | Unverified Name)
HAHAHAHAHAHAA. Go Zags
#30 Kristen
on October 30, 2009 at 4:47 p.m.(Spokane, WA | Unverified Name)
Alright, so my only question is- did this guy do ANY research before writing this???
Oh and Mark Few is the man, GO ZAGS!
#31 Removed
on November 3, 2009 at 11:58 p.m.#32 gonzagamaniac
on November 11, 2009 at 12:28 a.m.(Gig Harbor, WA | Unverified Name)
To hear our dear Mr. Thorpe tell it, you'd think UW was practically crucifying itself for the sake of poor old Gonzaga. It just doesn't add up. Let's face it. UW and GU play on an equal footing, despite Washington's nearly 50,000 students to Gonzaga's paltry (but passionate) 7500. We Zags understand, Mr. Thorpe. If we were Huskies, we'd be a little embarrassed too.
#33 gonzagamaniac
on November 11, 2009 at 12:32 a.m.(Gig Harbor, WA | Unverified Name)
Chalk it up to Spitzer-envy.
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