Nobrainer’s Think Tank

I just ran across this:

“We hold this truth to be self-evident, that all campuses are not created equal, some are rowdy, some are modern, and some are knock-your-socks-off beautiful, the University of Virginia…is all three.” –Sports Illustrated

I don’t believe the statement to be true, so I’m not sure that SI ever published something that erroneous.

If that quote is properly attributed and is meant as some high level compliment, then Clemson is clearly in the upper echelon of universities. Or SI is just a worthless publication.

I have spent long amounts of time on two college campuses. UVA wouldn’t know rowdy if it was synonymous with straight A’s. Furthermore, any major lack of modernity (which is actually rampant) is attributed to tradition. The real perpetrator is of course cheapness and/or incompetence.

I won’t go out of my way to disparage UVA’s appearance. But there is no single sight on this campus that approaches any of the best dozen that Clemson has to offer.

But then again maybe I always hate my employer…

Update Feb. 11, 2006: I finally ran across a reference to the quote on the SI website. It shows up as a result in a search, but the story is special content and thus not accessible.

I should add that I still don’t think UVA is a rowdy school. It has its moments, but it’s not all that great.

The story is dated November 6, 2003. That is before basketball season kicks off, and is before football season is over. What does that 2003 schedule look like? The Hoos started off 4-1 with wins against powerhouses Duke, Wake Forest, UNC, Western Michigan and a loss to perennial uber-major-powerhouse South Carolina. Then they lost at Clemson, to FSU at home, beat Troy, and lost again at NC State on November 1st.

I guess the kids were rowdy during the FSU loss. Otherwise there obviously wasn’t much to be excited about.