Realignment Megathread (All The Moves)

Kinch

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Sep 19, 2021
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Freebird

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There’s a cautionary tale in this round of realignment. The first time the B12 looked threatened, many people thought that worst-case scenario someone would save ISU from being relegated to a lower conference. We see now that isn’t the case. No one will save anyone. It’s every school for itself. Remember this when the P2 start shedding programs and ISU is once again having to battle for the chance to be football relevant with close to thirty like programs. This isn’t over. We are safe for now. But ten years down the road? Who knows.
 

SolterraCyclone

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Jul 26, 2021
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I actually think GK gets too much heat. No one watches Pac12 sports, what kind of deal was he supposed to get? GK lying to everyone and being overly optimistic about how much money he though they could get was a terrible approach, but I don't think another commissioner would have magically saved the conference. Once it was clear they were only going to get like 60-70% of the Big 12, the Pac12 was doomed.

As for the Pac12 ADs. It seemed they've just been sitting on their hand for 1-2 decades doing nothing to drum up fan support. Pollard spent 20 years promoting football, touring the state, etc.. to get the Iowa State fanbase to where it is now, mostly on the backs of losing seasons too.
He had a lousy product that was mismanaged for a decade. But there is no reason the conference should have collapsed

He made a series of missteps that ultimately doomed the conference, that were his decisions (or a result of a failure to sway his presidents)

- Formed an alliance with ACC/B10 to block the SEC and prevent the extension of the current playoff format with 6 AQs

- Not only failed to merge with the Big 12 after OUT, but failed to expand with any of the leftover schools. One or two more defections would have killed the Big 12

- Set unrealistic expectations on the P12’s value by asking for 75% of the B10/SEC tv contracts right off the bat. Eliminating any potential partnership with Fox

- Rejected a proposed ~$30M tv deal as the media market took a downturn

- By rejecting that deal, they got blindsided when then Big 12 expedited negotiations and agreed to that deal. This was a huge blow

- Failed to convince the presidents to add SDSU to help stabilize the conference, and, unbelievably, allowed June 30 to pass which caused any MWC additions to cost $34M rather than $17M. This now makes it impossible for the conference to backfill with multiple (any?) MWC schools, financially speaking

- Failed to present CU numbers during P12 media day, to at least appease them that progress was being made. Causing CU to bolt

To be honest, there was nothing GK could do to prevent the P12 from being wounded. He absolutely could have prevented it’s complete destruction
 

2speedy1

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Jan 4, 2014
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Stanford is one of the top 25 most-watched football programs, one spot behind TCU. Only one other new B12 team is ahead of them-Oklahoma State.

This link reinforces your point. Has Stanford at 17th, for comparison, ISU is 27th, OK St is 25th.

But as much as they have put down the Big 12 and have had elitist attitudes, it really hurts them, But as we have seen several of the Pac still have that mentality.

I get it Stanford is elite, but they have a superiority complex, and people dont like being talked down to.

 
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cysmiley

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I support the same belief. All the schools in our conference are those that aren’t good enough for the SEC or Big10.
I would add the words "perceived to be" aren't and good>
 

HouClone

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Sep 3, 2011
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Do we hope the ACC blows up and we snag Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, NC State, Louisville and be the 3rd conference? Probably. But if that happens, wonder if the Big 12 would eventually be edged out by the Big 10 and SEC.
 

dafarmer

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Mar 17, 2012
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Guy is ******* amazed by the concept of streaming.
K
They go all out all the time. I was in a bar in Atlanta, and it felt like I was in the twilight zone. Every girl looked exactly the same (blond sorority types) and a lot of them were approaching me. I do OK, but not like that. Maybe I need to move to the south.
There are girls like that in Vegas, too. ;) Might cost you though.
 
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2speedy1

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Do we hope the ACC blows up and we snag Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, NC State, Louisville and be the 3rd conference? Probably. But if that happens, wonder if the Big 12 would eventually be edged out by the Big 10 and SEC.
At this point I personally want this round to be done, and I think it is approaching that, once the rest of the Pac figure out their fate.

I can see and would be ok with the ACC getting raided towards the end of the New contracts in the B1G, B12, and SEC around 5-7 years from now. That would also be substantially closer to the end of the ACC GOR that would be more feasible to get out of at that point, in my opinion.

I do think as the end of the new contracts starts approaching it will be game on again, and the ACC will be the target.
 

cyclone13

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Apr 7, 2009
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There’s a cautionary tale in this round of realignment. The first time the B12 looked threatened, many people thought that worst-case scenario someone would save ISU from being relegated to a lower conference. We see now that isn’t the case. No one will save anyone. It’s every school for itself. Remember this when the P2 start shedding programs and ISU is once again having to battle for the chance to be football relevant with close to thirty like programs. This isn’t over. We are safe for now. But ten years down the road? Who knows.
Glad that you also have that mindset. I got couple of “dumb” comments when stating this possibility that there could be teams kicked out of the conference.
This is a new territory and there is greed involved. We are safe now but in another day we could be in OSU or Wazzou position
 

cycloneML

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Mar 5, 2008
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Glad that you also have that mindset. I got couple of “dumb” comments when stating this possibility that there could be teams kicked out of the conference.
This is a new territory and there is greed involved. We are safe now but in another day we could be in OSU or Wazzou position
I can see this happening but it seems big 12 counterparts are fairly balanced.
 

SolarGarlic

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Jan 18, 2016
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Here we go!

I'd put the Big 10 as a loser. In no way did they want to add Washington and Oregon. At least not right now. Big 10 fans have hung their hat on history and elitism even when the football was bad. That stubborn elitism is gone. It's now a corporate entity with the Big 10 brand on it. I don't think anyone in that conference, administration or fans, wanted those teams, but their hand was forced. Rutgers, Maryland, Nebraska, USC, UCLA, Washington, and Oregon. That doesn't scream Big 10 to anybody.