The thing I find funniest about the Big East conference "expansion" is the misnomer of its name. I don't think that it is "East" with the new additions, and "Big" is debatable without three of the original members. Then again, I think that's been true since Miami and Virginia Tech left.
*****The Super, Mega, Huge Big 12 Expansion Thread*****
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The thing I find funniest about the Big East conference "expansion" is the misnomer of its name. I don't think that it is "East" with the new additions, and "Big" is debatable without three of the original members. Then again, I think that's been true since Miami and Virginia Tech left.
BE needs to add ECU and UCF right now. Those two schools are begging to get in, and they're actually somewhat solid, as well as being on the EAST. Then bring back Temple, or make Vilanova step up to the FBS. That brings them to 8. Then start going after these outside additions like Boise, Air Force, Houston, Smu.
Wouldn't it be great if MU slow-played the SEC long enough for the B12 to get all the teams they wanted, then decided to stay?
Why is that great? My opinion of great is MU announces their departure tomorrow, ends up in the east division, pays the full exit fee and 15 minutes later we announce WVU, L'ville, and ND. All in, all sports. Followed by a plan for the B12 network to be up and running in 2014.
With WVU gone, even if Louisville/UConn stay somehow, I think those schools are all in better or similar conferences already, certainly the MWC is a better league than a Big East without WVU and Pitt.
I don't give a crap who is BCS and non-BCS, MWC teams have consistently played at top 5 and top ten levels lately, the only Big East school who can claim that is in the Big 12 now.
I was thinking more along the lines of they'll both know what it's like to be at the bottom of the SEC East.
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No kidding; it bothers me to no end that our fair state touches that rotten cesspool. It kind of bleeds over into Iowa for a few miles.
Harold Hughes, governor of Iowa in the 60s, once quipped: "You could give the lower two tiers of counties in Iowa to Missouri and raise the average IQ of both states."
Yeah, 12 might mean slightly less money, but I like the strength in numbers concept. Plus, there is the whole Big 12 name thing.
Looks like the Big 28 or Big 32 concept is pressing on for now. I love the quote below that it all hinges on Louisville! Who would've thought that a school in C-USA 10 years ago could hold the fate of the Big East in its hands from the Big East morphing into the Big 32.
Source: Big East, Conference USA, Mountain West mulling single football league - ESPN
"Craig and Britton are going into this meeting in New York with one thing in mind, to make this happen with the Big East," Livengood said, according to the report.
The Big East's survival as a BCS qualifying football conference hangs in the balance, as it appeared the conference would lose West Virginia to the Big 12 as soon as Tuesday. The league has already lost Syracuse and Pittsburgh to the ACC, and TCU has decided to join the Big 12, abandoning its plans to join the Big East for football starting next season.
But the source said that as long as the Big East holds onto Louisville, then it will remains a viable conference and will be able to add members.
Source: Big East, Conference USA, Mountain West mulling single football league - ESPN
"Craig and Britton are going into this meeting in New York with one thing in mind, to make this happen with the Big East," Livengood said, according to the report.
The Big East's survival as a BCS qualifying football conference hangs in the balance, as it appeared the conference would lose West Virginia to the Big 12 as soon as Tuesday. The league has already lost Syracuse and Pittsburgh to the ACC, and TCU has decided to join the Big 12, abandoning its plans to join the Big East for football starting next season.
But the source said that as long as the Big East holds onto Louisville, then it will remains a viable conference and will be able to add members.
So what, what is pacific about colorado, or southeastern about mizzou, or XII with 10 or B1G with 12?
I would have to say it just makes me sad that we are losing college athletics in general with all of this. None of it is going to be the same anymore and the changes are definately not for the better. I will not be suprised if further down the road all my attention will be on the NFL. I will still watch a lot of college basketball though becuase I just cant get into the NBA.
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I disagree. College football (and basketball, too) will always have its traditions, its regionalism, and its location on campus as things that make it unique. Adding a new school can rekindle some of that enthusiasm. WVU fans will be amped up to show the Big 12 what they can do. That means a lot of lively discussion, debate, and fan interest in areas that might have cared less about ISU (or the rest of the conference) before.
Almost none of the Big 10 shared a previous rivalry with Nebraska. But even that old stodgy league seems rejuvenated when they play the Huskers (who aren't the same caliber of team that they were 10-15 years ago).
Student athletes have more tools and support to assist them than ever before. And how many fans make more than one road trip per year? In a conference with few interesting locales, Morgantown will definitely be unique, and worth a trip at some point.
Despite the distance and the academics, WVU was the best move the Big 12 could make right now.
Maybe they can get an all star team together and play in the BCS. Sounds like WVU vs Louisville B12 choice will be announced after the 32 teams pledge allegiance to the league.
This is an arms race.
This is the fault of the networks.
This is like trying to stop a runaway train.
This is the New Direction driven by dollars.
Whom can we blame?
When half the sports department revenue comes from the TV, they appear to have the biggest say in the future.
Or maybe they are just the ones to blame for all of this and should have no say at all in the future of college athletics?
Hoops, maybe the most critical reason is this: There is no clear consensus among members on what the Big 12 wants itself to be. The false start on the WVU offer is just another example.
Should the B12 remain a 10-team league? Or go back to 12?
Is the B12 a Midwestern conference? Or is it a better, more expanded version of the SWAC?
Does the B12 expand by finding the best athletic programs it can, no matter where? Or does it seek to grow in its region, looking for schools that can bring new markets and new revenue?
There's room for disagreement, and arguments to be made for each. But these are FUNDAMENTAL components of why a conference exists. The Big 10, Pac 12, and SEC all have clear ideas of what they are, and every major decision they make reinforces that. These are far more important issues that revenue sharing, Tier 3 networks, or bowl slotting. If you can't agree on THESE, how do you move forward?
All conferences have internal conflicts. Usually they're resolved through give-and-take negotiation behind closed doors. Nothing is decided until everyone's on board. Yet how many times have we seen the B12 make a "decision" only to reverse or contradict itself later?
The only thing more surprising than the Big 12's dysfunction is how well its programs have performed IN SPITE of the conference. The Big East is weak, and doesn't have a lot of great teams. Think of how great the Big 12 could have been with better leadership.
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