Big 10 Expansion Thread -Big Ten ready for a playoff .. finally?

[MJ4H]

Good, it's time to move forward, not hold on to silly things like that. Texas did the same crap with Arkansas and lo and behold, we found out it didn't really bother us that much. Spite is not a pretty thing to see.

[Scarecrow]

Originally Posted by Izulde

This Mountain West/C-USA merger is one of the stupidest ideas I've ever heard and I have a bad feeling isn't not going to be enough to keep Boise State, who is the real crown jewel in terms of AQ status.

So instead of being a small, shitty conference, it's going to be a giant, shitty conference.

What would be smart for Boise would be to stand pat, wait for the Big East to implode, and then press for this new MWC/C-USA Conference to get the Big East's BCS auto-birth.

[JeeberDMack]

Originally Posted by timmynausea

Yep. And now that I've really thought it over, I do think all of the expansion options make a lot of sense for potential TV appeal as well:

UCF - Orlando is the number #19 market
Houston - #10 market
SMU - #5 market
Temple - #4 market
Boise State - #112 market
Air Force - #91 market
Navy - not in the top 200 markets

Boise isn't a great market, but they solidify the BCS AQ, which is obviously the #1 priority, and bring a quality program that will compete immediately. The military academies have big followings and have enough clout to have their own TV deal with CBS as it is. SMU and Houston both have winning programs with good coaches in gigantic markets and at least some level of football tradition. It sounds like Temple will get blocked by Villanova, so I assume the other 6 are in, but their program has improved greatly, and their market has great potential.

In any case, 6 of those replacing two teams that were below .500 combined in their BE conference history:

Syracuse - #81 market
Pittsburgh - #23 market

It's not exactly the SEC, but it's probably an improvement in every way outside of basketball.

Neither SMU nor Houston draw worth shit, you can hardly say they'll bring the TV market they're in. DFW is a UT market and Houston is a pro sports market.

That being said, hopefully both schools realize that the BE is going down and that they, along with Boise, decide to give this "merger" a try. We need the strength of their programs to give it any sort of legitimacy...

[timmynausea]

Originally Posted by JeeberDMack

Neither SMU nor Houston draw worth shit, you can hardly say they'll bring the TV market they're in. DFW is a UT market and Houston is a pro sports market.

That being said, hopefully both schools realize that the BE is going down and that they, along with Boise, decide to give this "merger" a try. We need the strength of their programs to give it any sort of legitimacy...

Expansion is about potential. If/when SMU and Houston play BCS football, more people will care and watch. It didn't take long for Louisville, Cincinnati and USF to find themselves in the top 10 and playing in highly rated prime time games on ESPN after joining the BE.

[Izulde]

Originally Posted by Scarecrow

What would be smart for Boise would be to stand pat, wait for the Big East to implode, and then press for this new MWC/C-USA Conference to get the Big East's BCS auto-birth.

I'm hearing both Boise and Air Force are now staying put, so good for that. I just don't see this merger lasting any more than five years before it breaks up. Nor do I have faith in Hauck's ability to have UNLV's program built up by the time it disintegrates.

That's actually the most frustrating thing about the whole thing. UNLV and Las Vegas in general would be fanatical if the football team was any decent. Shit, the basketball team has gotten fantastic support even in the down years so if the football team could just get good, the school could be a lot more attractive, overall academics aside (but that's another rant).

Then maybe we could finally get that on-campus stadium too that's been talked about off and on.

[General Mike]

Boise and Air Force are coming, and they are gonna like it.

[Izulde]

The Big East needs to just die as a football conference already. Let it rock socks as a hoops conference, but it's a gridiron sham.

[timmynausea]

Pete Thamel tweet:

My read on the Boise president's comments is that they're willing to go to the Big East. No denials or disinterest there.

He also said that the Big East invites won't be issued until after Monday's vote to increase the exit fee.

And here's an AP tweet:

Boise president Kustra to AP's @arniestapleton:"it seems like our responsibility is to get as close as we can to AQ status."

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Oh geez, I just laughed way too loud again:

I love these - and their platform seems relevant to this thread - Occupy Herbstreit | Occupy Herbstreit movement - Our 13 Demands

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Sounds like Mizzou is on target to move at roughly same pace as A&M move. A&M took 17 days to give B12 official notice they were leaving the Big 12. They were accepted as members of SEC within a week.

This Friday will be 17 days for Mizzou. Local radio reporting that Board of Curators will meet later this week and vote to leave the Big 12.

[molson]

So those Big East invites must have gotten lost in the mail I guess.

[MacroGuru]

BYU AD officially came out and made a statement in an interview before the Oregon State game.

There has yet to be an offer from the Big 12, there is still a lot of negotiating going on...The world knows what BYU's stance on Sunday play is, and as far as BYUtv, those who watched saw the production of the game from the University on Saturday (BYU vs Oregon State)....Tom did say it's a non factor or something of it's like in the interview.

So basically, they are hashing things out, I think if Mizzou does leave...you see it become more than hashing things out.

[Scarecrow]

Originally Posted by MacroGuru

BYU AD officially came out and made a statement in an interview before the Oregon State game.

There has yet to be an offer from the Big 12, there is still a lot of negotiating going on...The world knows what BYU's stance on Sunday play is, and as far as BYUtv, those who watched saw the production of the game from the University on Saturday (BYU vs Oregon State)....Tom did say it's a non factor or something of it's like in the interview.

So basically, they are hashing things out, I think if Mizzou does leave...you see it become more than hashing things out.

In my unsupported belief, the BYU/Big XII (non)agreement has more to do with BYUtv than it does Sunday gameplay. Hell, the Big XII members are still arguing over the Longhorn Network, and now they want to add another network?

Off the top of my head, the only game on Sunday is a game-of-the-week type thing in Men's basketball.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by Scarecrow

Off the top of my head, the only game on Sunday is a game-of-the-week type thing in Men's basketball.

Yeah, there's not much Sunday scheduling in football or basketball. Even the conference basketball tourney now runs Wed-Sat, so no issues if they were to get to the final. No Sunday games is easily resolved through scheduling.

[SirFozzie]

no, the networks want the Sunday option for Basketball tournament, etc..

[timmynausea]

Originally Posted by molson

So those Big East invites must have gotten lost in the mail I guess.

Over the weekend NYT writer Pete Thamel, among others, tweeted that the Big East invites wouldn't go out until after Monday's vote to up the exit fee.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Missouri Moves Closer to Joining SEC - NYTimes.com

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

dola

Looks like Alabama is helping decide where Mizzou lands.....

Alabama would support adding Missouri if those Tigers, not Auburn, play in the East | al.com

[Solecismic]

It does seem that West Virginia and Missouri are by far the best choices for the SEC, barring Oklahoma suddenly having a change of heart and leaving the Big XII without its State. Hard to recommend one all that much over the other. There are pros and cons to each choice.

As far the automatic BCS qualifications go...

1) The current format *only* applies to slots for the next two years (bowls in 2012-13 and 2013-14).

2) No league can lose its spot for the next two years. The Big East is safe (and the only one of the top six leagues that wouldn't automatically qualify under the current rules).

3) It's based on conference membership as of December of this year. So no change today would affect anything.

4) The only conference that could "move up" is the Mountain West. Barring an historic collapse from Boise State in conference play, the Mountain West will be in a position where it will not gain automatic promotion, but will gain the right to petition the executive committee for an automatic bid. However, because the Mountain West is losing TCU, I don't see how the committee could rule in its favor.

5) Presumably, a new BCS agreement will take shape in 2014 reflecting the new landscape. I see the USA/Mountain merger as designed to have an influence on that arrangement. I don't think there's anything the Big East can do to preserve its influence. Last year's Oklahoma/Connecticut blowout didn't leave many warm fuzzies. The system should not produce a BCS team that's not even in the top 25.

6) But that would leave more slots open for a top team to gain an at-large spot. Maybe pigs will fly and we'll get that long-awaited playoff.

[bronconick]

That merged league has too much dead weight to get consideration from the BCS. There are a handful of teams that have MAC level attendance, and your BCS "score" is going to be destroyed by a 22 team conference multiplier.

Honestly, I think the best shot at a playoff would be this season. Get Alabama/LSU and Oklahoma undefeated. Stanford and Wisconsin run the table. Suddenly, the two conferences most against a playoff get to eat their words of always preferring a Rose Bowl over a national title shot.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Solecismic

6) But that would leave more slots open for a top team to gain an at-large spot. Maybe pigs will fly and we'll get that long-awaited playoff.

Let me stop laughing long enough to remind you that they were already wanting to drop the "only two teams from any conference" BCS rule so it'll just go to the 3rd SEC or Big Ten team in a given year

SI

[Solecismic]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

Let me stop laughing long enough to remind you that they were already wanting to drop the "only two teams from any conference" BCS rule so it'll just go to the 3rd SEC or Big Ten team in a given year

SI

The fact remains that they've allowed the political pressure to enact a rule that gives a good, but not great, mid-major team a path to a BCS bowl. We see how those schedules help the mid-majors with Utah making that jump this year. 42-10 the last four years, the most favorable schedule possible (five home games in-conference, and no Oregon or Stanford), and the Utes are still winless in the Pac Twelve.

So we know the last thing they want is conference rematches in the bowls. They just want to avoid a repeat of UConn last season.

[kcchief19]

Originally Posted by Scarecrow

In my unsupported belief, the BYU/Big XII (non)agreement has more to do with BYUtv than it does Sunday gameplay. Hell, the Big XII members are still arguing over the Longhorn Network, and now they want to add another network?

Off the top of my head, the only game on Sunday is a game-of-the-week type thing in Men's basketball.

I think it's both, but I'm buying that Sunday play is a huge issue -- and it has little if anything to do with football and men's basketball.

It does impact almost every other sport. The Big 12 schedules a lot of Olympic sports on Sundays -- weekend tournaments, soccer games and especially baseball. Plus, now you have to eliminate Sunday from all post season tournaments. This year alone the Big 12 has eight post-season tournaments playing on Sunday, which means you have to move all those tournaments up a day to accommodate BYU, and that will cut into attendance and exposure.

It's not necessarily a deal breaker, but I can understand some schools may not want to bend to the will of BYU and change the conference scheduling -- Baylor chief among them.

If Steve Young could play in the NFL on Sundays, why can't BYU's tennis and baseball team?

[MacroGuru]

Originally Posted by kcchief19

If Steve Young could play in the NFL on Sundays, why can't BYU's tennis and baseball team?

One is a personal choice, the other is deemed a no go by a LDS Church Owned University.

[Abe Sargent]

Originally Posted by kcchief19

If Steve Young could play in the NFL on Sundays, why can't BYU's tennis and baseball team?

Why do some Republicans get abortions? People aren't robots. Just because a group they belong to says something doesn't mean they have to.

[kcchief19]

My point is that If the great great great grandson of Brigham Young can play on Sundays and the school has no problem with that, why can't the school's baseball team play on Sunday? I've never see the school or BYU condemn Steve Young for playing on Sundays.

I agree, it's a personal choice. If BYU doesn't want to play on Sundays, it can choose not to apply for the Big 12. If they join the Big 12, an athlete can choose not to play baseball or can choose to attend another school.

I don't see why the an entire conference should change its schedule and procedures ... And I say is as someone who thinks BYU would be a great addition to the Big 12 and would like to see it happen.

[MacroGuru]

Originally Posted by kcchief19

My point is that If the great great great grandson of Brigham Young can play on Sundays and the school has no problem with that, why can't the school's baseball team play on Sunday? I've never see the school or BYU condemn Steve Young for playing on Sundays.

I agree, it's a personal choice. If BYU doesn't want to play on Sundays, it can choose not to apply for the Big 12. If they join the Big 12, an athlete can choose not to play baseball or can choose to attend another school.

I don't see why the an entire conference should change its schedule and procedures ... And I say is as someone who thinks BYU would be a great addition to the Big 12 and would like to see it happen.

Of course the school wouldn't have a problem with it, it brings in recruits...the church honestly has no problem with it because it is his job. Although they encourage people to not accept jobs or positions that force them to work on Sunday.

An example of the other way is..

Eli Herring was an OL from BYU who was a projected 1st - 3nd round pick for the NFL. He declared before the draft that he wasn't going to play on Sundays due to religious reasons. The Raiders drafted him in the 6th round of the 95 draft.

He applauded and lambasted in Utah for his decision and it really brought up the rhetoric of how much should the church control your life in the media there. He is the seminary teacher at Mountain View High School and A football coach there.

But BYU would join if there was Sunday play, just know if they were scheduled on Sunday it would be a forfeit which doesn't bode well for ratings....see BYU womens rugby team

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

PowerMizzou.com - Moving day approaches

[Toddzilla]

I'm getting a Maximum sense of deja-vu from this thread

[SackAttack]

Originally Posted by Toddzilla

I'm getting a Maximum sense of deja-vu from this thread

It's a glitch in the Matrix.

[Ksyrup]

Teel Time: ACC commissioner John Swofford closes door on partial Notre Dame membership - dailypress.com

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Texas A&M president opens up about how Texas was looking to exit conference over two years ago while blaming other schools who left after that for the demise of the conference.............

http://www.12thmanfoundation.com/mem...d-article.aspx

Discussion on today's MU BOC meeting..........

PowerMizzou.com - Conference closure coming soon?

Article concerning MU and A&M's future in the SEC.

Why Missouri and Texas A&M Football Will Thrive In the SEC : Outkick The Coverage

[Swaggs]

Big 12 commish has reportedly advised the Big East commish that he will be contacting 4 BE schools about potential openings in the Big 12. Thought to be WVU, Louisville, Cincy, and UConn. Obviously take with a grain of salt.

Not sure how that would work out. If Missouri leaves, that leaves 9 teams in the Big 12, so adding 4 new ones would get the conference up to 13 (+ maybe BYU to 14?) or maybe they want to see how much overlap there is between the markets in Cincy and Louisville (who has seemed like a favorite for the Big 12 for awhile now).

[Swaggs]

Dola...

Also heard that the Big 12 owns the rights to the name "Big 14" (not that it really means anything).

[Ksyrup]

Maybe the tactic is to offer 4 schools with 3 openings, hoping that makes at least 3 of them more willing to immediately jump rather than sit back? If we half-believe the other rumors out there, WVU still thinks it has a shot at the SEC, and UCONN wants into the ACC. Maybe this is a way of prompting them to join the Big 12 now or potentially miss out. Eseentially, forcing them to play musical chairs.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by Swaggs

Dola...

Also heard that the Big 12 owns the rights to the name "Big 14" (not that it really means anything).

Big 12 owns the rights to Big 12, Big 13, Big 14, Big 15, and Big 16

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

VERY interesting move by the Mizzou Board of Curators. While not officially leaving the Big 12, they announced that Mizzou plans to host a basketball tournament in KC along with a yearly game against a 'traditional rival' in KC. That would seem to be a move to pacify the criticism by KC officials that Mizzou was leaving KC high and dry if they moved to another conference. As a result, they're guaranteeing that the city keeps at least two college basketball tourneys in KC (Guardians Classic and Mizzou tourney) each year and guarantees that a football game (likely KU) stays on the calendar.

PowerMizzou.com - Missouri remains in the Big 12...for now

[Ksyrup]

Looks like the Mizzou thing is finally going to happen. Will be interesting to see what Neinas does/says about Mizzou saying they'll begin play next year (assuming they leave).

[Ksyrup]

Also, that leaves a hole for the Big 12 if they go after Big East teams and they intend to make them stay 27 months.

[Ksyrup]

Any news/rumors on how the division alignment issue was (or will be) worked out with aTm and Mizzou both joining?

[Toddzilla]

You got it backwards. Missouri isn't joining the SEC. The SEC is joining Missouri.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Any news/rumors on how the division alignment issue was (or will be) worked out with aTm and Mizzou both joining?

Everything I've heard said that Mizzou will be in the East. That was the option that was acceptable to all parties. Probably will move to West once they go to 16 teams.

Another article on the Mizzou meeting.

Missouri Tigers give chancellor authority to strike deal - ESPN

[Ksyrup]

I guess that makes sense. Come visit Lexington, site of one of the few SEC gimme wins.

[bronconick]

The Southwest and Northeast divisions of the Southeastern Conference

[MJ4H]

Florida isn't very northeast

[lungs]

Why not come up with something like Legends and Leaders?

[bronconick]

Originally Posted by MJ4H

Florida isn't very northeast

No, they're east. Kentucky, Missouri and Vandy are "north".

[tarcone]

It could be Beaus and Belles

[sooner333]

Originally Posted by tarcone

It could be Beaus and Belles

Lee and Davis divisions. too soon?

[Passacaglia]

Losers and Laughingstocks?