NCAA Conference Realignment

[venture]

Finally, the Big East has pulled the trigger.

http://brett-mcmurphy.blogs.cbssport...32522/33728643

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefoot...ce-realignment

Boise State, San Diego State, Houston, SMU and UCF will join the Big East Conference in 2013, sources told CBSSports.com.

The announcement is expected to be made on Wednesday. Realignment map: The new Big East

Boise State and San Diego State will join the Big East as football-only members, while Houston, SMU and UCF will join as all-sport members.

With the addition of those five schools - minus the departures of West Virginia, Pittsburgh and Syracuse - the Big East will have 10 football members.

With those five schools on board, Navy is expected to join as a football-only member - possibly as soon as next week - to boost the football membership to 11 schools.

The Big East hopes to add Air Force as its 12th football school - as a football-only member - but the Falcons still remain undecided.

If the Big East can not get Air Force, Temple would be a likely candidate to become the Big East's 12th member.

[venture]

More on the CUSA / Mountain West merger for football.

http://brett-mcmurphy.blogs.cbssport...32522/33745889

[Roadhawg]

I don't understand San Diego St joining the Big East.... other than it's a bigger conference than the Mountain West

[BrettM2]

I don't understand San Diego St joining the Big East.... other than it's a bigger conference than the Mountain West

Hoping for that AQ status that is most likely going away. There isn't a bigger example of how this is all about following the money rather than anything to do with the interest of the "student"-athlete.

[venture]

It is going to be very funny come 2014 when the AQ status is likely to be dropped in a new format of the BCS. Of course that means we are likely going to see conferences continue to move around through 2015.

[venture]

Air Force told the Big East to hit the road today. They will stay in the MWC and wait for the new CUSA merger. Now to see if they go after someone else.

http://www.denverpost.com/afa/ci_19491419

[Kokopelli]

I don't understand San Diego St joining the Big East.... other than it's a bigger conference than the Mountain West

Money.. The payout for Mtn West schools is around 1.5 m a year verus 3.5 m in the Big East, with potential up to 6m with new tv contract.

[OKCisOK4me]

This is an email I received back in 02/09. Enjoy!

If the Big XII were the Middle East

KANSAS: Saudi Arabia. Not altogether a bad place; has had historical success in oil and basketball, and continues to be a world leader in those areas.
However, parts of the ruling family tends to thrive on its excess, much to its detriment; a certain prince's fondness for American culture (especially for its sweet baked goods) could very well lead to its downfall.

KANSAS STATE: Armenia. No one wants to be here, especially the Armenians.
What's more, nobody really knows where it is. First came to prominence just a decade ago, and nobody can really remember it existing as an independent nation before that. Primary exports: Corn, junior college transfers.

NEBRASKA: Egypt. Was once a great power; its history, through the ages, is matched by few. Has languished in recent years, failing to recognize its new place in the world order as a follower, and not the leader it once was. Its people tend to be the friendliest to its neighbors, though still harboring a long simmering, yet contained, hatred for Israel.

COLORADO: United Arab Emirates. An incredibly refined populace-- probably because it's impossible to make it your home unless you're incredibly wealthy. Does its best to compete with its neighbors, but has resigned itself to being the playground of the region, instead of one of its traditional powers. Doesn't have a baseball team.

IOWA STATE: Afghanistan. There's really no reason that this nation should even exist, and if it weren't for previous colonial empires, it probably wouldn't. Easily overlooked over the last 300 years, its people are a ramshackle alliance of groups that don't belong anywhere else. Wishes to God, Allah, and whoever else that it would either cease to exist, or be swallowed up by Pakistan to the south, or the University of Iowa to the west.

MISSOURI: Turkey. Still trying to figure out how it got mixed up in this region, anyway. They're a member of NATO. Shouldn't they be in the Big Ten?

OKLAHOMA STATE: Syria. Nobody pays attention to them until they start mouthing off to the other nations around it. Will occasionally attack its neighbors, with varying success, with most of its successes coming in areas that others couldn't care less about, like wrestling.

TEXAS TECH: Iran. Really, REALLY wants to be noticed in the international community. Will go so far as to fake the development of nuclear weapons, or choose homicidal, maniacal, self-aggrandizing men as their president/basketball coach, just to get noticed. Incredibly eccentric as a nation. Has a deep-seated hatred of both Israel and Iraq--and a huge inferiority complex to go along with it. Very arid, dry climate featuring frequent windstorms.

BAYLOR: Lebanon. Everything they do is just a cluster, and no matter what they do, nothing ever seems to get better. Every once in awhile, it'll nip at the ankles of one of the larger nations, and piss those other nations off just enough to where they're smacked down and consequently can't achieve anything noteworthy for the next ten years.

OKLAHOMA: Israel. Pretty much everyone else in the region hates them. Can destroy lesser countries at will using incredibly advanced tactics. Not relegated to the stone-age lifestyle of some of its closest neighboring nations. Home of God's chosen, but some of the most annoying, people.

TEXAS: Iraq. Lies, cheats, and steals to get its way in the international community. If caught doing something wrong, or illegal, its excuse is that "everybody else has done it, we just get caught." No one wants to live here, but everybody that does wishes they could move away. Recently has undergone minor restructuring due to numerous ethics violations.

TEXAS A&M: Palestine. Doesn't actually exist as an entity to really be dealt with, but loves nothing more than to take pot-shots at Israel, just to tick them off. Economy based on farming, with an emphasis on sheep. Continuously complains that they're the real power in the region, and that their status should supersede that of Israel. Religious zealotry abounds; small, infrequent attacks on its neighbors are hailed as moral victories.

[cjohnson.405]

Then:
BAYLOR: Lebanon. Everything they do is just a cluster, and no matter what they do, nothing ever seems to get better. Every once in awhile, it'll nip at the ankles of one of the larger nations, and piss those other nations off just enough to where they're smacked down and consequently can't achieve anything noteworthy for the next ten years.

And Now:
BAYLOR: Israel - Does more with less. Enforces its will with politics and now with an actual army - only nation in the world with no losses in the last two months in any of the major sports. Only athletics program in the country with ranked teams in all of the major sports (Football #12, Men's Bball #6, Women's Bball #1). : )

Please note. the preceding managed to cheer FOR my own university WITHOUT putting down any other university.

[OKCisOK4me]

That's awesome, lol!

[venture]

I know no one really thought we were done with this. LOL

After Navy committing to join the Big East in 2015 yesterday, Louisville is apparently the talk of the town to take the Big 12 to 11 teams.

http://eye-on-collegefootball.blogs....56338/34567913

According to The Chronicle (subscription), the Big 12 is once again considering expanding the conference. While nothing is imminent, two sources told the paper that the Big 12 adding at least one new member is "very possible."

That new member would likely be Louisville, which shouldn't come as much of a surprise. Before it was announced that West Virginia would be joining the conference, there were reports that half the schools were split on which school they wanted to extend an invitation to. Half wanted West Virginia, half wanted Louisville.

An expansion committee plans to put together a report for the Big 12's Board of Directors next week. Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione, Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds, Oklahoma State president Burns Hargis, and Kansas State president Kirk Schulz make up the committee.

[BlackmoreRulz]

Why don't we add the huge TV market Rutgers would bring to the conference?

[venture]

Why don't we add the huge TV market Rutgers would bring to the conference?

I wouldn't be against that. Really, the Big 12 should just destroy the Big East and be done. Go to 14 teams like the SEC and invite Cincinnati, Louisville and Rutgers. That would take the top 4 teams of the 2011 season out of the Big East. Then finish it off by inviting either Notre Dame, UCF, South Florida, BYU or Southern Miss. Southern Miss won't really get a big media market, but they are a pretty good team - finished #21. ND and BYU bring big fan bases. UCF and South Florida get the conference into Florida finally.

If the Big 12 stepped up and invited 3 more teams out of Big East that would essentially eliminate any legal issues because that only leaves a couple original teams in that conference. It would also allow the new incoming teams to re-evaluate what they want to do.

[Kokopelli]

Some rumors about Big 12 conference realignment that one can get excited about!!

Stories on two eastern football websites are saying that Florida State and Clemson are looking to join the Big 12. One of the websites is saying that the Big 12 will go to at least 14 teams and to 16 teams if they can get Notre Dame.
BYU, Louisville, Clemson, and Florida State are the four teams that would take the conference to 14 teams. Maryland or possibly Georgia Tech would be the target for the 16th slot.



Links:
http://eerinsider.com/2012-articles/...on-update.html

http://cemetery-hill.com/2012-articl...he-way-in.html

[venture]

I think a lot of this will require Neinas to get replaced first. He is about the only one that has been a staunch 10-team guy. The comments from him this week that the 10-team league is strong and what not is pure BS imo. The conference lost 4 members when we were bigger...and we are suppose to be comfortable with only 10...well 9.5 right now. The talk is definitely pretty high right now about Louisville coming in, but I think they want a resolution to the WVU/Big East situation first. However from reports it is that Louisville is being the aggressor so that should help legally.

FSU and Clemson coming to the Big 12 would be freaking huge. It unlocks big recruiting areas and new media markets. It would probably also trigger the ACC in pulling Pitt and Syracuse earlier to cause the Big East to just crumble finally.

I'm not sure they would want to go to 16 teams, I think that only happens if we can get Notre Dame. Reports indicate that the Big 12 has no interest in any western teams anymore and nearly all expansion is going to come from the east. Otherwise WVU vs BYU would be an incredibly long haul for a conference game. I would take them out of the equation for Cincinnati. I don't see Maryland or Georgia Tech interested at all. If the race to 16 happens, then they go to the SEC imo. Though we could see the Big Ten make a play for Maryland.

Either way, adding these schools would ad a ton to the value of the Big 12 when we sit down with Fox and ESPN.

[BoulderSooner]

clemson and florida st .... + rutgers and Louisville .. would be huge for the Big 12 ..

[venture]

Looks like Memphis will be getting an invite soon to the Big East. Word is this is in preparation for Louisville to accept an invite from the Big 12.

[venture]

http://brett-mcmurphy.blogs.cbssport...32522/34757696

West Virginia and the Big East Conference are nearing agreement on a settlement worth at least $20 million that would resolve all issues between both parties, college football industry sources told CBSSports.com.

The Mountaineers will join the Big 12 for the 2012-13 school year. However, in a bizarre twist, sources told CBSSports.com that West Virginia officials have contacted future Big East members to see if one could join in 2012 instead of 2013.

The door is about to swing open for Syracuse and Pittsburgh on getting out of there early. Not to mention the Big 12 now has a number to get Louisville out.

[venture]

CUSA has contacted Temple about moving from the MAC to the new CUSA/MWC. Sounds like we are headed for another period of reshuffling. Have seen some comments that a merged CUSA/MWC would not be good for ECU and Marshall and it could push them to the MAC. It would take that conference to 16 teams, as long as Temple doesn't leave.

[venture]

http://brett-mcmurphy.blogs.cbssport...32522/34778171

Big East and WVU have apparently reached that $20M agreement.

It’s unknown if the $20 million is in addition to, or includes, the $5 million exit fee that West Virginia initially paid when it announced in October it was withdrawing from the Big East to join the Big 12 in 2012 and would not honor the league’s 27-month notice requirement before leaving.

The Daily Mail reported that West Virginia would pay the Big East $11 million with the Big 12 Conference responsible for the remaining $9 million. Acting Big 12 commissioner Chuck Neinas said recently the Big 12 would consider assisting the Mountaineers with their exit fees, if they asked.

[Just the facts]

There appears to only be 3 stable conferences, and the Big XII isn't one of them. OU needs to get out of this mess but they won't do it.

[venture]

OU isn't going anywhere. The best option now to get the aggressor and fill out to 14 schools and solidify its position. With WVU not taken care of, reportedly, it needs to make the move and lock in Louisville, Clemson, Florida State, and if at all possible...Notre Dame.

[ou48A]

Some are still wanting BYU

[MikeOKC]

Some are still wanting BYU

ou48A, That would be incredible. Notre Dame and BYU both come with a built-in national viewing audience. I read recently that the Morman church is the fastest growing church in North America; given that, then BYU will be continue to be an even bigger draw. I don't hold out much hope for BYU or Notre Dame though.

[venture]

BYU would just not be the right fit IMO with WVU. The natural expansion direction would be east.