Realignment Megathread (All The Moves)
- Thread starter ISUcyclones11
- Start date
I almost feel bad for all the "all is well" Pac 12 fans who don't think various schools should proactively jump to Big 12. I mean it's 99% at this point that we're down to 4 major conferences, every bit as obvious as it was with Big East.
Arizona State and Utah are stone cold stupid if they aren't proactively trying to join with Zona/Colorado. There's no guarantee at all the B12 number crunchers think we nee 4 schools in Arizona and Utah, in fact it might be likely they do advise agains that.
Personally I'd take all four just to get the best athletic departments that are a good fit and also in case the SEC ever decides they need mountain region/Arizona you'd still have two solid additions.
I think it's all a matter of time at this point. The PAC schools are going to get an apples-to-apples comparison between staying in the PAC or jumping to the B12. Absent that, there could have been some cover to just not make any decision, but I'd be surprised if nobody took the offer. Once one does, the others won't really have much of a choice.
There is some funky transitive property going on among the Pac diehards.
Big 12 just added three AAC schools, so entire Big 12 has value of AAC. I've seen that quite a few times.
I agree doubling up schools in low population states has it's risks.
However I don't see that being an issue. In the case of ASU & UA they are located in the 14 largest state with 7M+ people.
With Utah & BYU we aren't talking a huge state, just a little bigger than Iowa. But we are talking 2 very rabid fan bases.
Geographically, the 4 Corners schools make a lot of sense when combined with current Big12 members.
Kinda weird to see this playing out publicly, instead of the surprise stealth maneuver we're used to. Not much to hide at this point, though. Lets the remaining schools down more easily.
Would be interested to know who the source is. I'd think the sources about these meetings are from the schools, the B1G has been pretty effective at avoiding leaks and staying mum on this stuff. Unless this is a way to slow play the next round of expansion announcements. Warren was pretty straight up on HBO when he said he could see the conference go to 20.
Could be related to the anti-trust concerns that some media folks have brought up. If it's presented the schools approached the Big10 and discussions are made public-does that mitigate any potential Big10 liability.
It's interesting that Warren, Univ President or AD aren't involved in talks. It mentioned Big10 & Wash legal folks.
Backing up a second - Fox told PAC were out have a nice life. Fox AND ESPN are bidding the Big12 that has to be major plus to the Big12 and a blow to the PAC.
I'm no antitrust law expert, but it seems like the little shell game of who contacted whom wouldn't be the thing that raises antitrust concerns, but the substance of the deal that comes to fruition.
Or to state it differently, if one of these deals ever does raise antitrust concerns, I'm pretty skeptical that the paper-thin defense of "we didn't ask them to join, they contacted us" is going to fly as a defense.
Kind of the opposite. The BIG has been pretty transparent in intentionally destabilizing the PAC. Taking LA, then two months of flaming and stoking uncertainty. These recent Oregon and UW leaks fit with what the BIG seems to want
Saw this mentioned online somewhere today. When did that happen? Is there any reporting on Fox pulling out?
I'm all for it from B12/ISU perspective, adding all four.
If I was an ASU or UU fan knowing what I know about realignment, I'd be furious if we weren't getting ready to jump as a package deal with those other two that are more slam dunk adds.
Big 12 doesn't even think about fussing around if they approach B12 as a group. If the whole thing completely crumbles and B12 is just shopping the garage sale, there is a chance they get burned.
I think they wanted a slow play for appearances and Oregon/Washington are not sitting for it.
Big ten out of nowhere expanding with USC, UCLA started the not surprise mode IMO.
Yormark needed numbers, now “open for business” can begin. He knows the numbers of the pac and us currently and probably knows what numbers look like for us to possibly invite four corners and others. Big 12 imo will be 3rd best.
Nobody saw USC or UCLA coming before it was announced.
That’s simply false.
It was one of the most probable outcomes coming. That’s why so many Big 12 fans balked at the notion of the Big 12 schools going to PAC- the PAC and ACC were next. That was the issue in April when the MN fan acted like he leaked some inside info but he was just exploiting those that were ignorant. A coming P2 was obvious and USC/PAC with known discontent.
The surprising thing is we got until June 30th before it was announced/confirmed. Last summer I had expected we’d hear in the spring.
