KoolAid
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Stemming from a debate on here a couple of weeks ago, I don't think a College football program located in the same city as a pro team can achieve ultimate success.
Now there are a number of reasons why this program struggles (weather, fanbase, commitment from university, etc), but I think this argument is a valid one. For now, I'll save WHY it's a valid argument and simply lay out the pro towns.
The specifics are - A college program located within the SAME CITY as a pro team will achieve limited success.
Looking across the pro football landscape, we have these 31 cities:
Baltimore – No big time football programs in Baltimore. University of Maryland is relatively close. They are, however, rarely good
Cincinnati – University of Cincy. Had a couple good years under Brian Kelly, but have never been close to being a powerhouse
Cleveland – No major program operates in or near Cleveland. The powerhouse of college football that does operate in Ohio (Ohio State) is far from both Cleveland and Cincy.
Pittsburgh – The University of Pittsburgh is right there. Definitely not a powerhouse and very comparable to the Gophers. At their very best, they’re still not that relevant or good.
Houston – University of Houston. Traditionally decent program. Definitely had some good year’s way back when, but still not a powerhouse (currently). This city, Dallas and Miami will be exceptions to the rule because of their fertile recruiting.
Indianapolis – Bloomington is pretty close (Indiana University) and they’re certainly not that good. The powerhouse that does reside in Indiana (Notre Dame) is nowhere near Indianapolis. ND is much closer to Chicago.
Jacksonville – Newer Pro football franchise. No major college program operates near or in the city. There’s a couple decent programs in the state, however.
Nashville – Vanderbilt. Not a powerhouse. University of Tennessee is a traditional powerhouse, but Knoxville is a couple hundred miles away from Nashville.
Buffalo – University of Buffalo. Not that good. Syracuse is a couple hundred miles away, but they aren’t that good traditionally, either. Except when McNabb makes it rain.
Miami – The University of Miami. The true exception. This school will probably always be good just because all the athletes they need to recruit are within city limits. I think at one point, Jimmy Johnson only recruited 3-5 different counties. They’re fans are never really that into it, but they’re good nonetheless.
Boston – Boston College! Clusterf*ck city. When they were in the Big East, they’d be somewhat competitive, but they get tossed around in the ACC.
New York – Rutgers. Not a powerhouse.
Denver – No big time programs in Denver. Boulder and Fort Collins are to the north and AFA is south, but nothing close to city limits. Boulder had some time in the National spotlight, but aren’t a traditional powerhouse.
Kansas City – No big time programs in Kansas City, but the University of Kansas is pretty close. They’re garbage though. The university of Missouri has generally been better, but they’re located conveniently right between KC and St. Louis.
Oakland – No big time programs in Oakland, although Stanford is actually pretty close. My guess is that no Stanford graduates live in Oakland or care to root for the Raiders. Stanford has been good in the past and is good now. They operate on their own laws.
San Diego – San Diego State is very close to Qualcomm stadium. Yet, they’re always garbage. Lot’s of good players come out of San Diego every year, you’d think they could field a better program.
Chicago – Northwestern is right in city limits. They suck. The University of Illinois has had some good years, but Champaign isn’t close to Chicago at all. They should be better than they are, being able to draw from Chicago, Indianapolis and St. Louis. Notre Dame is the closest program to Chicago and they have been very successful. Their success stems from a lot of other reasons though.
Detroit – No programs in Detroit. The University of Michigan is not too far from Detroit, however. Having built a powerhouse long before professional football was popular, they are considered a powerhouse. Michigan State isn’t near Detroit.
Green Bay – No big time program in Green Bay. University of Wisconsin is far away and located in the state’s capital. People are drunk regardless.
Minneapolis – The University of Minnesota is located pretty darn close to the ThunderDome. Was a powerhouse before pro football became popular. If you don’t want someone going for two on you – don’t let them in your endzone.
Atlanta – Georgia Tech is right there and they’ve certainly had their ups and downs. Much easier to field a competitive team in the south.
Charlotte – No major program in Charlotte that I can think of off the top of my head. Duke, UNC and NC State are all located a couple hundred miles away. None of them are dominant anyway.
New Orleans – Tulane is right in city limits. They’re garbage. Traditional powerhouse LSU is about a hundred miles away.
Tampa Bay – I’m not even sure where Florida’s directional schools are located, but UF, FSU and Miami aren’t located in Tampa.
Dallas – TCU (Fort Worth) and SMU are both located within city limits. SMU already had it’s day and TCU appears to be having it’s day right now. They would both fall into the same category as Miami – being able to field a (very) competitive team simply off of local talent. A recent study often referenced on GH said that the Dallas/Fort Worth area produces the most division 1 talent every year. Texas’ traditional power University of Texas resides a couple hundred miles away from the metroplex.
Philadelphia – Temple is right there, so is Princeton. Neither is very good. Penn state is good, but not located near Philly.
Washington DC – See Baltimore
Arizona – Arizona State is right there, but they’re not a traditional big boy. Nobody really give a f*ck about the Cardinals anway.
San Francisco – See Oakland
Seattle – U of Washington is right there. They’ve been decent before, but nothing fantastic. At best, the Gophers can achieve similar success.
St. Louis – Nothing in city limits.
Now there are a number of reasons why this program struggles (weather, fanbase, commitment from university, etc), but I think this argument is a valid one. For now, I'll save WHY it's a valid argument and simply lay out the pro towns.
The specifics are - A college program located within the SAME CITY as a pro team will achieve limited success.
Looking across the pro football landscape, we have these 31 cities:
Baltimore – No big time football programs in Baltimore. University of Maryland is relatively close. They are, however, rarely good
Cincinnati – University of Cincy. Had a couple good years under Brian Kelly, but have never been close to being a powerhouse
Cleveland – No major program operates in or near Cleveland. The powerhouse of college football that does operate in Ohio (Ohio State) is far from both Cleveland and Cincy.
Pittsburgh – The University of Pittsburgh is right there. Definitely not a powerhouse and very comparable to the Gophers. At their very best, they’re still not that relevant or good.
Houston – University of Houston. Traditionally decent program. Definitely had some good year’s way back when, but still not a powerhouse (currently). This city, Dallas and Miami will be exceptions to the rule because of their fertile recruiting.
Indianapolis – Bloomington is pretty close (Indiana University) and they’re certainly not that good. The powerhouse that does reside in Indiana (Notre Dame) is nowhere near Indianapolis. ND is much closer to Chicago.
Jacksonville – Newer Pro football franchise. No major college program operates near or in the city. There’s a couple decent programs in the state, however.
Nashville – Vanderbilt. Not a powerhouse. University of Tennessee is a traditional powerhouse, but Knoxville is a couple hundred miles away from Nashville.
Buffalo – University of Buffalo. Not that good. Syracuse is a couple hundred miles away, but they aren’t that good traditionally, either. Except when McNabb makes it rain.
Miami – The University of Miami. The true exception. This school will probably always be good just because all the athletes they need to recruit are within city limits. I think at one point, Jimmy Johnson only recruited 3-5 different counties. They’re fans are never really that into it, but they’re good nonetheless.
Boston – Boston College! Clusterf*ck city. When they were in the Big East, they’d be somewhat competitive, but they get tossed around in the ACC.
New York – Rutgers. Not a powerhouse.
Denver – No big time programs in Denver. Boulder and Fort Collins are to the north and AFA is south, but nothing close to city limits. Boulder had some time in the National spotlight, but aren’t a traditional powerhouse.
Kansas City – No big time programs in Kansas City, but the University of Kansas is pretty close. They’re garbage though. The university of Missouri has generally been better, but they’re located conveniently right between KC and St. Louis.
Oakland – No big time programs in Oakland, although Stanford is actually pretty close. My guess is that no Stanford graduates live in Oakland or care to root for the Raiders. Stanford has been good in the past and is good now. They operate on their own laws.
San Diego – San Diego State is very close to Qualcomm stadium. Yet, they’re always garbage. Lot’s of good players come out of San Diego every year, you’d think they could field a better program.
Chicago – Northwestern is right in city limits. They suck. The University of Illinois has had some good years, but Champaign isn’t close to Chicago at all. They should be better than they are, being able to draw from Chicago, Indianapolis and St. Louis. Notre Dame is the closest program to Chicago and they have been very successful. Their success stems from a lot of other reasons though.
Detroit – No programs in Detroit. The University of Michigan is not too far from Detroit, however. Having built a powerhouse long before professional football was popular, they are considered a powerhouse. Michigan State isn’t near Detroit.
Green Bay – No big time program in Green Bay. University of Wisconsin is far away and located in the state’s capital. People are drunk regardless.
Minneapolis – The University of Minnesota is located pretty darn close to the ThunderDome. Was a powerhouse before pro football became popular. If you don’t want someone going for two on you – don’t let them in your endzone.
Atlanta – Georgia Tech is right there and they’ve certainly had their ups and downs. Much easier to field a competitive team in the south.
Charlotte – No major program in Charlotte that I can think of off the top of my head. Duke, UNC and NC State are all located a couple hundred miles away. None of them are dominant anyway.
New Orleans – Tulane is right in city limits. They’re garbage. Traditional powerhouse LSU is about a hundred miles away.
Tampa Bay – I’m not even sure where Florida’s directional schools are located, but UF, FSU and Miami aren’t located in Tampa.
Dallas – TCU (Fort Worth) and SMU are both located within city limits. SMU already had it’s day and TCU appears to be having it’s day right now. They would both fall into the same category as Miami – being able to field a (very) competitive team simply off of local talent. A recent study often referenced on GH said that the Dallas/Fort Worth area produces the most division 1 talent every year. Texas’ traditional power University of Texas resides a couple hundred miles away from the metroplex.
Philadelphia – Temple is right there, so is Princeton. Neither is very good. Penn state is good, but not located near Philly.
Washington DC – See Baltimore
Arizona – Arizona State is right there, but they’re not a traditional big boy. Nobody really give a f*ck about the Cardinals anway.
San Francisco – See Oakland
Seattle – U of Washington is right there. They’ve been decent before, but nothing fantastic. At best, the Gophers can achieve similar success.
St. Louis – Nothing in city limits.
