Earlier, I posted a story from Noell Barnidge, a reporter with the Savannah Morning News with whom I took a slight issue on usage of the “historically black” designation. Click here for his response, and my apology.
But we’re fortunate that Barnidge didn’t stop there. He’s since blogged about the maddening ambiguity of the MEAC leadership on Savannah State’s application to join the conference, and overall poor relations with media and fans.
Conferences throughout the nation put out press releases every day that inform their followers of the goings-on and issues being discussed, debated and voted upon. Thomas and his crew need to take a field trip to conferences like the SEC, ACC or even Southern Conference and learn how to communicate. People who still care about the MEAC are sick and tired of being kept in the dark.
That is among the most lenient statements in the blog post, which by the way, are all accurate and capture what many media members and fans think about the conference. But truthfully, there’s nothing anyone can do to make Thomas and Company budge on his stonewalling media relations strategy. So that means going to a higher authority.
Maybe it’s time to start holding the MEAC council of presidents accountable for what is wrong with the conference office. Decisions are frequently made, rescinded and planned without the knowledge of the fans who ardently support the product. And none of the presidents seem the wiser.
Want to see Thomas and the MEAC disclose more info? Call and write your presidents and athletic directors. And if you aren’t satisfied with their responses, stop attending tournaments and classics. It may hurt your school pride, but we all deserve better than what we’re getting.

Noell 10:03 pm on December 11, 2009 Permalink
JC, I agree with you. To me, Dennis Thomas is nothing more than a puppet for the MEAC’s council of presidents. I like your idea that fans should stop attending tournaments and games. Perhaps such a move will wake up (and shake up) the MEAC. Fans deserve to be informed, especially when member institutions are asking said fans to make financial contributions. The MEAC should view it as a partnership. Sadly, the conference fails miserably to grasp this concept.
MSU93 10:58 pm on December 11, 2009 Permalink
Unfortunately, many die hard fans of their perspective intitutions probably wont be able to stop attending events. It seems to me the MEAC does business in this manner simply because they can. Unless the governing body changes their mind set or maybe a change in leadership things will probably remain the same. Personally I don’t understand in todays society where information and communication is key to any enterprise why the MEAC does business in this manner. Whats the advantage?