What many of you folks are completely forgetting is the following. The big,
established meets in the US, such as Mt. SAC, Penn and Drake will take
serious hits and could be hurt in a disastrous fashion. What motivation
under this system would Arkansas have to travel to Mt. SAC each year?
Similarly, why would UCLA want to go to Penn? In point of fact, the Big 12
has already scheduled their conference meet for 2002 for the last weekend in
April. No big 12 schools at Drake?? That will certainly enhance the Drake
Relays, won't it. Give me a break. Most of those schools have competed at
Drake for over 70 tears. And, that means no Texas, as an example, at Penn.
Another big help. And it means no Colorado at Mt. SAC; they come out every
year. The other point is that the conference meets will no longer mean
anything. They will all be backed up a week and the value of a conferecne
title will be diminished somewhat since people will now have to concentrate
on the regional meet. In other words, many people will simply skip the
conference meet.
Most D1 coaches that I have spoken with, which number many, are adamantley
against this new approach. It seems to me to be a real bad idea and when I
put my Mt. SAC hat on, I can see nothing but problems and a serious blow to
our meet.
Scott Davis
Director - Mt. SAC Relays
