Originally Posted by Marmel
Long term, if this plays out into the 4x16 super conferences, then this was a bad move for the Big10, probably in response to the ACC getting a foothold with Notre Dame. The Big10 figures if the ACC is going to invade our territory then we'll take a shot back at them and steal Maryland. Now, this move did shake up the ACC confidence a bit in the very short term, but looking big picture, nobody in the ACC cares that Maryland is leaving. The Big10 ends up with 2 crap sports programs but some good markets. The ACC still has the advantage with Notre Dame.
In a 4x16 scenario, the 3 obvious locks are Pac10, Big10 and SEC. But where is the PAC10 going to pull its teams from? The only obvious answer is the Big 12. The ACC will be the 4th Super Conference in this scenario. In a 4x16, Notre Dame cannot stay independant, so they end up in the ACC. The big score will be if the ACC can get Texas or OK in the future. The other going to the Pac10. The Big 10 would have been better served to wait and get some better pickings from the Big12 instead of taking Rutgers, who they can have anytime they want in the future. They jumped too quick here as a reactionary move to Notre Dame's move.
Personally, I think this is all horseshit. I am for an all-inclusive system where conferences are based on geography and long standing rivalries. The more conference movement that occurs, the less and less interest I have in college football. In my world, basketball is king, and I despise these super conferences. What fun is it seeing the same teams over and over and over again in the title games? How does it make any sense that Alabama gets the bid last year for the title game because they have the 'best' loss, but this year they get the nod because they have the hardest schedule (and Oregon has the 'best' lost at least by the BCS standings)? Yes, I know the SEC always has some great teams, give me the NFL's parody anyday.
I am really not looking forward to playing Duke, Virginia, GTech, etc. (no offense to those fine schools) when I love playing Uconn, Rutgers, Georgetown, Villanova, etc. I can't imagine Maryland or Rutgers fans are really excited to play Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, etc... Again, all great schools with good teams, but really of no interest to (former) big East teams. I am sure the Clemsons of the world could give two shits about Syracuse as well as OSU and Michigan playing Maryland or Rutgers. It is just stupid.
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