Where is the college version of Title Town

We’ve officially reached the dog days of summer. It’s that time of year when ESPN only has about 46 minutes of highlights to run during an hour-long Sportscenter. The rest of the time is filled by imaginary “news”. In the past it’s been “Who’s Now”. This year it’s “Title Town”.

The Worldwide Leader in Sports is traveling to 20 cities across the fruited plain this month in order to figure out what community can lay claim to being “Title Town, USA”.

Don’t get me wrong, this is a great gig for whoever gets to visit all of these cities. Who could pass up all-expense paid trips to pro-cities like New York, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Green Bay, Los Angeles, and San Francisco? Or college venues like Chapel Hill, Knoxville, Gainesville, Lawrence, Louisville, Palo Alto, Ann Arbor, and Columbus? ESPN will also be checking into Massillon, Oh., Parkersburg, W.V., Valdosta, Ga., and Williamsport, Pa.

Yet, there’s a big difference between a pro-city, a college-town, and the others. Let’s be honest, it’s tough, if not impossible, to measure the NBA, MLB, NFL, and NHL against what the college landscape has to offer.

So for the sake of argument, let’s compare apples to apples. Where is college’s version of “Title Town?” Using the eight college-town’s ESPN will visit, we break it down from worst to first.

College’s “Title Town” has to reside in a place that’s had unparalleled success for the last 15 years in the two sports that have the most eyeballs on them, football and men’s basketball. Just for fun we’ll toss in a wild card sport or accomplishment that could boost a school’s chance of being “Title Town.”

In no particular order, here is what counts in my version of “Title Town”.
1. Football National Championships
2. Outright Football Conference Championships
3. Final Four Appearances
4. NCAA Basketball Championships
5. Extra Point: Any other feature that enhances the school’s track record

8. Stanford
The Cardinal won the Pac-10 in football in 1999. Since then it’s been pretty slim pigskin pickens for the folks out in Palo Alto.

The year before, in 1998, Stanford made it to a Final Four.

Extra Point: 14 straight Directors’ Cup Awards. That’s the title that goes to the school with the most athletic success in the country.

Why They’re No. 8: Would you know what the Directors’ Cup Award was if you didn’t read the previous sentence? Athletic excellence across the board is great. But let’s face it, most big-time schools measure success on the football field and basketball court above everything else. Stanford might be able to beat you at water polo, but I don’t think they can hang with the others where it counts most.

7. Louisville
Louisville was a quasi-football power in a quasi-football league until Bobby Petrino left for the NFL. Now they’re just a quasi-football team. The Cardinals did win Conference USA in 2000, 2001, and 2005. They were the Big East Champs in 2006.

As for the hoops program, Rick Pitino is on the cusp of making a proud program nationally relevant again. The Cardinals advanced to the 2005 Final Four. They were a game away from doing so again this year. Next year looks even better.

Extra Point: Bobby Petrino spent a relative eternity as head coach of the football team (2003-07). Where else has he lasted longer?

Why They’re No. 7: Not enough national prominence, in the allotted time, in either of the big two sports to put them higher on this list. Getting close to the top is fine, but championships are what count.

6. Michigan
In football, the Wolverines won the Big-10 and shared the 1997 National Championship with Nebraska. We’ll give them credit for that. They did all they could do going 12-0. They also took the 2003 Big-10 Title.

The only Final Four Michigan made during the last 15 years has been erased from history. Apparently, most of the 1993 squad took a pay-cut once they turned pro.

Extra Point: A record 112,188 fans saw UM vs. Ohio St. in 2003 at “The Big House”.

Why They’re No. 6: Cheaters never prosper. Yes, the Final Four in ’93 was nice, but was it worth throwing away the next decade-and-a-half of the program? Michigan loses ground for trying to cut corners in their quest for excellence.

5. Kansas
Sorry Jayhawk fans, but your football program has been holding you down for quite a while. Nevermind your run to the Orange Bowl last season, your team hasn’t won its own conference since 1930. After all, it takes titles to be included in Title Town.

As for hoops, the Jayhawks fare much better. They won the 2008 National Championship. Plus, they’ve appeared in four Final Fours since 1993 (1993, 2002, 2003, 2008).

Extra Point: Allen Fieldhouse is among the great venues in all of sports.

Why They’re No. 5: No. 4 has been consistently better in football and basketball for a longer period of time.

4. Tennessee
The Volunteers last SEC Football Championships came in 1997 and 1998. Tennessee won their most recent National Championship 10 years ago, too.

Success of that magnitude on the hardwood is a totally different story. The Vols have never made it past the Sweet Sixteen. You do the math. No Final Fours and no NCAA Titles.

Extra Point: 8 women’s basketball championships under legendary coach Pat Summitt.

Why They’re No. 4: A better showing in men’s basketball would have benefited the Vols. Bottom line, No. 3 has more hoops hardware than Tennessee has football hardware since 1993.

3. UNC
The Tar Heels have made it to seven Final Fours since 1993. They have two National Championships during that time (1993 and 2005).

The gridiron hasn’t been as friendly to UNC though. Carolina hasn’t won an ACC crown in almost 30 years. Obviously, a National Championship is out of the question given those circumstances.

Extra Point: 19 women’s soccer championships with Anson Dorrance at the helm.

Why They’re No. 3: Seven trips to the Final Four and two hoops titles in 15 years is good enough to overcome a lackluster showing on the gridiron during that same time.

2. Ohio St.
The Buckeyes have won a pair of outright Big-10 Football Titles in the last 15 years (2006 and 2007). They also have a National Championship to their credit. They beat Miami in the Fiesta Bowl after the 2002 season.

In basketball, Ohio St. made it to Final Fours in 1999 and 2007.

Extra Point: Former Buckeye Archie Griffin is the only person to win The Heisman Trophy twice (1974 and 1975).

Why They’re No. 2: Because they weren’t able to defeat No. 1 on the football field or the basketball court when it counted most. At least the Buckeyes are in familiar territory, finishing second yet again to…

1. Florida
The University of Florida has won two of the last three NCAA Basketball Championships. In the past 15 years, they’ve made it to a total of four Final Fours (1994, 2000, 2006, and 2007).

As good as they’ve been in basketball, they’ve been even better in football. Florida won National Championships in 1996 and 2006. The Gators owned the SEC in the mid-90’s. Steve Spurrier and Co. won four straight SEC Football Titles from 1993-96. Spurrier won his fifth league crown in 2000. Urban Meyer awoke a sleeping giant to win another SEC Title in 2006 en route to the National Championship.

Extra Point: 17 straight regular season SEC volleyball titles (1991-2007). During that same time frame the Lady Gators have won over 90-percent of their matches, won 12 SEC Tournament titles, and made seven Final Fours.

Why They’re No. 1: Consistency across the board. They are the only school of the eight to win championships in both sports…And they’ve won two in each. They own more football conference titles than anyone else (in our poll)…And they play in the SEC, arguably the best/toughest conference in America. It all adds up to Gainesville owning the collegiate rights to Title Town.