Big Ten and other Conference Expansion

[BB73]

Chuck Neinas must be having some interesting conversations. He's been mentioned as the likely replacement for Beebe as Big XII commisioner, and he's supposedly working on a possible partnership between the Mtn-West and Conf-USA. That sounds like he could have some conflicts of interest.

Dispatch

Elsewhere, former Big Eight commissioner Chuck Neinas, a high-profile consultant for sports leagues and coaches, said he has been working on a partnership with the Mountain West and Conference USA in which they would merge as football playing programs into east and west divisions, spanning four time zones.

 

[Woody1968]

What they are saying is that the Big Ten can't go inviting Missouri or Notre Dame or anyone else for that matter--even if UT hasn't joined yet--without clearing it with them first.

Basically, UT is saying we won't talk to anyone else if you don't.

I think it means that the B1G will not admit other schools without clearing it with Texas before they would join in 2014. Not if they became a member, in which case they would be able to vote on it with everyone else.

 

[Woody1968]

I have been one to put more faith in what PBC reports (not really taking him at face value, but as an inside view of what the B1G offices have been thinking). But this seems far fetch to even me.

#1 - Why even post this? I am talking more about the details than anything else. If PBC just said that while the Big 12 has been saved for now, Texas has agreed if things fall apart again they will come to the B1G, I would have put more faith in what he posted. But the details... just seem way off to me.



#2 - The above seems like a REALLY big out clause to me. Basically it sounds to me that IF the Big 12 fails again, THEN AND ONLY THEN would Texas come to the B1G, and then only if the former Big 12 members (ie read Tech problem) finds a soft landing, THEN AND ONLY THEN would Texas think about going to the B1G.

#3 - Is it just me, or does this also cover if Texas has to go independent? Like for them to get cover from the Texas legislature they go independent for a few seasons then join the B1G?

#4 - Texas getting veto power to prevent the B1G from expanding? Some can complain about this, but I won't. I am certain the B1G doesn't plan on expanding at all til 2014 anyway. So don't read into that any further.


Just crazy man... and really the only way this can be proved, is if Texas really digs in their heels in putting the Big 12 back together. Like if they don't cave on any demands and threatens Independence. Because the end game won't be proven til 2014. Or is that the beauty with PBC's post. By the time he is proven right or wrong, most will totally forget about all of this stuff. So until then, people can put their faith in what PBC posted, or just make fun of it. Or, be smart and just file it away as more conference expansion theories and fun message board fodder.

You hit the nail on the head. These "details" are fishy, and that he would divulge all the details is fishier still.

 

[Buckeyefrankmp]

What they are saying is that the Big Ten can't go inviting Missouri or Notre Dame or anyone else for that matter--even if UT hasn't joined yet--without clearing it with them first.

Basically, UT is saying we won't talk to anyone else if you don't.

" the Big Ten will not invite any other institution to join the conference without the prior approval of Texas". This is before they are in the conference and while they are still negotiating? Correct?

 

[kn1f3party]

I think it means that the B1G will not admit other schools without clearing it with Texas before they would join in 2014. Not if they became a member, in which case they would be able to vote on it with everyone else.

This is what I meant.

" the Big Ten will not invite any other institution to join the conference without the prior approval of Texas". This is before they are in the conference and while they are still negotiating? Correct?

That is how I interpret that statement.

 

[PlanetFrnd]

I think it means that the B1G will not admit other schools without clearing it with Texas before they would join in 2014. Not if they became a member, in which case they would be able to vote on it with everyone else.

I think this is spot on... oops, missed the posts directly following... anyways, all indications poing to UT being ok with ND... teams 15 and 16 not matter as much to me

 

[PlanetFrnd]

I'm not one to tell someone what they should or shouldn't do, but if we all adopted this attitude we'd be Texas and the Big Ten would be the Big XII. This just isn't the culture of the Big Ten. We do care about what benefits our member schools and our conference in general.

I thought you were talking about up-and-coming teams, like BSU?

Either way, I AM all for what helps the B1G (except all those whiners at the northwestern site who don't want more quality because it will make it even harder for them to win a Ch'ip)... I think adding namebrand teams, increasing revenue with accretive acqusitions, increasing competition and watch-ability of the league are all good things for the B1G and Ohio State.

 

[OSU_D/]

http://www.shaggybevo.com/board/sho...esents-quot-Messin-With-Aggy-quot-IN-MS-PAINT

F'ing Awesome!!!!!! Definitely NSFW.

 

[Folanator]

What is the approval process in the B1G now. What was the approval process when Nebraska joined?

I brought up the same point about UT having essentially right of refusial for other teams coming into the B10.

The counter was that this is a starting point for negotiations and holds UT's place in line. If they cannot agree, everyone goes their separate ways.

 

[PlanetFrnd]

Speculation of SEC poaching VaTech (old news) and/or a NC team (new?)

Duke and UNC are not even close to possible, would the Pack go to the SEC, or would the SEC accept an ECU (doubtful)?

http://twitter.com/#!/chriscolston

(apologies for twitter link, another sign of my addiction to expansion "news")

 

[Muck]

Speculation of SEC poaching VaTech (old news) and/or a NC team (new?)

Duke and UNC are not even close to possible, would the Pack go to the SEC, or would the SEC accept an ECU (doubtful)?

http://twitter.com/#!/chriscolston

(apologies for twitter link, another sign of my addiction to expansion "news")

NC State has been rumored as a possibility in the past. I believe ECU sent a request for membership to the Big East recently, they've been trying to get into a decent conference for awhile (and actually have a rabid football fan base...more so than any of the other NC schools).

Much has been made of the ACC vote to raise the exit fee to $20Mil but word is that FSU, Maryland & one other ACC school actually fought to keep it from being raised even higher (in the $34 Mil range). So at least three schools in the conference want to keep their options open.

I forgot to mention earlier when Kinch asked but Mr Sec is an excellent resource for expansion from the SEC perspective.

 

[rampageripster]

Speculation of SEC poaching VaTech (old news) and/or a NC team (new?)

Duke and UNC are not even close to possible, would the Pack go to the SEC, or would the SEC accept an ECU (doubtful)?

http://twitter.com/#!/chriscolston

(apologies for twitter link, another sign of my addiction to expansion "news")

I think ECU would be a great addition to the SEC... they fit most of the perameters (football crazy univ, and that's about it)... plus they could easily become the CFB team of north carolina if they were to get proper exposure... they are also a solid squad who is always giving UNC/VT/rest of ACC fits during OOC matches... it's a bit of a project, but it would be easier than trying to poach a team from the ACC

 

[PlanetFrnd]

NC State has been rumored as a possibility in the past. I believe ECU sent a request for membership to the Big East recently, they've been trying to get into a decent conference for awhile (and actually have a rabid football fan base...more so than any of the other NC schools).

Much has been made of the ACC vote to raise the exit fee to $20Mil but word is that FSU, Maryland & one other ACC school actually fought to keep it from being raised even higher (in the $34 Mil range). So at least three schools in the conference want to keep their options open.

I forgot to mention earlier when Kinch asked but Mr Sec is an excellent resource for expansion from the SEC perspective.

helpful


*


...and an ACC defection or two would be pretty interesting to me. I still think that one or two of those schools (in addition to the oft' mentioned MD) would be a very good fit for the B1G/CIC, not that it would happen (I'm talking to you UVa or UNC)...

 

[PlanetFrnd]

Not sure if posted...

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903703604576584771531621708.html

WSJ chimes in...

Realignment Can't Make You Smarter
As Schools Jockey for New Conference Berths, Academics Play an Ambiguous Role; Texas Tech Is No. 160
By KEVIN HELLIKER

Oklahoma has the top-ranked team in college football. But its academic standing is, by some standards, abysmal.

The school can't be found among the nation's top 100 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report rankings. In the rankings that many academicians take most seriously - federal research expenditures - Oklahoma isn't among the top 150 universities. Nor does it belong to the Association of American Universities, an elite group of 61 research institutions.

So here's a question: when it comes to college football's current conference realignment drama, in which schools like Oklahoma have been exploring their options, how much do academics matter?...

...Until this year, every member of the Big Ten belonged to the AAU, the Ivy League of American research universities. Only after accepting an offer to join the Big Ten did its newest member, Nebraska, get booted out of the AAU on grounds that its level of competitive grant-getting no longer reached elite status. Nebraska argued that the AAU unfairly devalued its agricultural research dollars. Not merely an athletic conference, the Big Ten decades ago created a research cooperative linking member libraries, course materials and research missions.

"On our campuses you'll find more Nobel laureates than Heisman Trophy winners," said Barbara McFadden Allen, executive director of the cooperative, called the Committee on Institutional Cooperation. She said academic stature invariably figures into expansion conversations. (The University of Chicago belongs to the CIC but pulled out of the Big Ten in 1946)

...The major conference with a relatively low academic ranking that isn't concerned about membership is the SEC, which recently added Texas A&M.

...If academics were paramount, it's fair to assume Texas - No. 45 according to U.S. News - might leave the Big 12, which has limited scholarly distinction. One possible reason it hasn't: political pressure to drag along Texas Tech, an in-state rival that U.S. News ranks No. 160...

 

[kn1f3party]

This whole thing has basically been like crack to me. I feel like I did as an adolescent when I got in to "professional wrestling." The drama, the plot, the suspense is too hard to ignore!