Big TelEveN To Explore Expansion.

[jaycevs]

Big 10= more money than Mizzou will ever see in the Big 12, plus in a West Division they would avoid PSU and OSU in football more often than not. They are already a rival with Illinois, and are close enough to Iowa to make a good rivalry as well. How is that crazy?

[ZachTheZip]

Really interesting speculation going on here, most of which is based on the possibility of Mizzou leaving the Big 12 to join the Big(er) 10. Only problem, there's NO WAY Mizzou would leave the Big 12, especially to join the Big 10. But keep up the good work. I think you guys are only a couple of wild eyed, hair-brained assumptions away from getting Akron into the Big 12 South.

The Missouri fanbase is split about 50/50 on joining the Big Ten. Check their message boards.

[Zipmeister]

Oh well if the fan base is split 50/50, never mind.

[Lee Adams]

Not sure what you mean here? What do you have in mind...

Just in thinking about the logical candidates for Big TelEveN membership, based on size & location of the institution, I'd come up with the following, no particular order:ND (never happen)Pitt (natural rival for PSU .. competitive pretty much across the board?)LouisvilleCincyMissouriOther Big East (Syracuse or Rutgers?)I'm sure there's many more that folks will speculate about .. but it seems to me that the move that would have the LEAST impact on the MAC and potentially UA's situation would be if Missouri jumped to the Big TelEveN. Big XII could back fill easily from within the WAC / C-USA / MTN West .. and the dominoes would probably stop there.If however, the new member comes from the Big East, the dominoes and implications for UA could be MUCH more interesting. Some Big East coaches are already clamoring for a ninth team since they now have to schedule 5 OOC games (only 7 conference games). If one of the teams jumps out, the league will be FORCED to take action to at least replace that team. Perhaps it would trigger the re-structuring / growth of the Big East than many have been predicting since the last go around .. maybe it won't.My comment that chaos brings opportunity relates to UA and its options. If the move is Missouri .. nothing's going to really change with BigEast, C-USA, MAC .. etc. However, if a member of the Big East jumps, then UA will be presented with potential options to re-evaluate it's conference affiliation.The strategy around UA has been to think bigger .. a big dustup within FBS conference alignments will give Luis & Co. the opportunity to explore more options than they have available to them right now.I'd like to see the Big East forced into some action, needing at least 1, maybe 2 or 5 teams. B) Go Zips!

to the big east..navy...army? east coast teams with a big following

[Zip Watcher]

I personally think Temple is screwed. They didnt have a commitment to winning in football to get thrown out of the Big East, even though the conference was a lot better then, but Penn State really left the East Coast market and should have expanded their opportunities to recruit and be seen in Eastern PA. And as far as media markets, they dont increase the Big East with Villanova there, and they cant beat Nova in football now, the conference would be better off with Villanova going FBS like UConn did and playing an independent schedule for a couple of years.I dont think the ACC would want them, they are a good football conference, and basketball wouldnt be better than Huggins WVU teams. Advantage goes to WVU to go to better places.

A couple of follow-ups.Seems like the BigEast screwed themselves 20 years+ ago by not getting Penn St. in then. It would have probably prevented the BC defection last go around.As for media markets .. all of my conjecture pre-supposes that if the BigEast goes to 12 FB teams, there's a split in the conference, and the non-FBS teams are their own conference. Thus the Philadelphia market would be devoid of any Big East, other than fringe Rutgers fans. FBS Big East would need Temple in order to maintain Philadelphia.I can't see a scenario that would have any of the BE Catholics adding FBS or upgrading to FBS .. it's not in their makeup to shake the budget around that much. All of them are traditional basketball schools. Odds of Villanova making the jump to FBS have to be pretty small. Are BC & ND the only FBS Catholic Schools Now? BC is a big school .. ND not so much.

[GoZips]

Think big market. Think huge market. Think existing territory. No Big Ten school is going to permit another program to horn in on their territory. Consider Ohio State. Neither Akron or Cincinnati would ever be allowed to compete heads up with the team from Cowlumbus.Remember huge market from above? Forget Marshall. No market. Need a big city base. Needstate wide fan base. Forget WVA. State wide fan base, but no big city market.Forget Temple. Once Al Golden leaves their FB program likely to revert to scrape heap. Heck,Temple isn't all that competitive in the MAC. Besides, Temple is in Pennsylvania which is PSU turf.Any addition to the Big Ten is likely to come from a state where the Big Ten has no current presence.And, for the record, Notre Dame is big city. Forget South Bend. Think Chicago. But, there is a problem. Indiana and Purdue are both in Indiana and neither is likely to welcome ND with openarms. Illinois probably considers Chicago its turf as does Wisconsin. Look west and south.Lastly, think big name. The Big Ten is pretty egotesticle (misspelling deliberate).

[ZachTheZip]

Think big market. Think huge market. Think existing territory. No Big Ten school is going to permit another program to horn in on their territory. Consider Ohio State. Neither Akron or Cincinnati would ever be allowed to compete heads up with the team from Cowlumbus.Remember huge market from above? Forget Marshall. No market. Need a big city base. Needstate wide fan base. Forget WVA. State wide fan base, but no big city market.Forget Temple. Once Al Golden leaves their FB program likely to revert to scrape heap. Heck,Temple isn't all that competitive in the MAC. Besides, Temple is in Pennsylvania which is PSU turf.Any addition to the Big Ten is likely to come from a state where the Big Ten has no current presence.And, for the record, Notre Dame is big city. Forget South Bend. Think Chicago. But, there is a problem. Indiana and Purdue are both in Indiana and neither is likely to welcome ND with openarms. Illinois probably considers Chicago its turf as does Wisconsin. Look west and south.Lastly, think big name. The Big Ten is pretty egotesticle (misspelling deliberate).

Big city with a statewide fanbase? How about Rutgers or Syracuse, then. Each of them thinks they own the biggest city of them all, NYC.

[Zipmeister]

Think big market. Think huge market. Think existing territory. No Big Ten school is going to permit another program to horn in on their territory. Consider Ohio State. Neither Akron or Cincinnati would ever be allowed to compete heads up with the team from Cowlumbus.Remember huge market from above? Forget Marshall. No market. Need a big city base. Needstate wide fan base. Forget WVA. State wide fan base, but no big city market.Forget Temple. Once Al Golden leaves their FB program likely to revert to scrape heap. Heck,Temple isn't all that competitive in the MAC. Besides, Temple is in Pennsylvania which is PSU turf.Any addition to the Big Ten is likely to come from a state where the Big Ten has no current presence.And, for the record, Notre Dame is big city. Forget South Bend. Think Chicago. But, there is a problem. Indiana and Purdue are both in Indiana and neither is likely to welcome ND with openarms. Illinois probably considers Chicago its turf as does Wisconsin. Look west and south.Lastly, think big name. The Big Ten is pretty egotesticle (misspelling deliberate).

I believe I have it. There are few universities in the world with a bigger name than Our Lady of the Lake University. It is located south and west of the current Bigger 10 footprint and in a BIG market, San Antonio.

[GoZips]

I believe I have it. There are few universities in the world with a bigger name than Our Lady of the Lake University. It is located south and west of the current Bigger 10 footprint and in a BIG market, San Antonio.

Good pick up. Only one problem. They are a Catholic school. You know those Catholic schools allcheat. They recruit everywhere. Some states force those powerhouse schools to play for a seperatechampionship.

[InTheZone]

If a spot opens up in the Big East in all of this it's going to Memphis. National powerhouse basketball program (the Big East is a basketball conference after all) that reguarly fills up a 20+ thousand seat arena, a huge untapped media Market, a huge corporate backing from FedEx... Are we really dumb enough to think we have something to offer in comparison to that? We're in the MAC to stay and that's a pretty good thing since we can't even win where we're at, much less in a BCS conference. And that won't be changing for a while since we went small time, typical, boring, and completely predictable on our head coaching hire again.

[ksu sucks]

Are we really dumb enough to think we have something to offer in comparison to that? We're in the MAC to stay and that's a pretty good thing since we can't even win where we're at, much less in a BCS conference. And that won't be changing for a while since we went small time, typical, boring, and completely predictable on our head coaching hire again.

If you read the earlier posts closer you'd see that posters were merely saying that if the Big East took someone from the C-USA or elsewhere, it would open up possibilities for Akron.

[Zipmeister]

Are we really dumb enough to think we have something to offer in comparison to that? We're in the MAC to stay and that's a pretty good thing since we can't even win where we're at, much less in a BCS conference. And that won't be changing for a while since we went small time, typical, boring, and completely predictable on our head coaching hire again.

If you read the earlier posts closer you'd see that posters were merely saying that if the Big East took someone from the C-USA or elsewhere, it would open up possibilities for Akron.

If you read Zone's comment more closely you will see he is merely saying that if the Big Ten and Big East each decide to double in size this would have no effect on Akron's possibilities. Unfortunately, he is correct in this regard.

[ZachTheZip]

Joining a conference means joining in all sports. If Akron wants to move to another conference, they would have to line up their sponsored sports with another conference's guidelines on top of what the MAC requires.Akron is already in line with what the Big East requires for full membership, but we may not sponsor enough of their optional sports.

[GP1]

How does the addition of UofA make the Big East a better conference?

[GJGood]

Why does nobody think Temple would be the team selected by the Big Ten? They certainly don't want to go back to the Big East. The Owls think their ready to be in a big conference and basketball and that their football program is on the rise.Put that together with the Philly TV market and the fact that they would become a natural rival for PSU if they acheived any success and I think many underestimate this being a possibility.Personally, I don't think they'd do it and in the beginning Temple would struggle on the fields and courts but given a few years they would start to rise up to a respectable level...see Cincy in the Big East.

[Captain Kangaroo]

How does the addition of UofA make the Big East a better conference?

It would give the remaining Big East football teams a guaranteed Homecoming opponent?It would improve their soccer RPI?It would give South Florida's basketball program a chance for a Conference win once or twice per year.The UConn women vs. Lady Zips basketball rivalry would be I-N-S-A-N-E!

[Zip Watcher]

If a spot opens up in the Big East in all of this it's going to Memphis. National powerhouse basketball program (the Big East is a basketball conference after all) that reguarly fills up a 20+ thousand seat arena, a huge untapped media Market, a huge corporate backing from FedEx... Are we really dumb enough to think we have something to offer in comparison to that? We're in the MAC to stay and that's a pretty good thing since we can't even win where we're at, much less in a BCS conference. And that won't be changing for a while since we went small time, typical, boring, and completely predictable on our head coaching hire again.

I thought you quit on the Zips? What possible interest do you have in what UA's conference affiliation is now or in the future?Go Zips!

[g-mann17]

If a spot opens up in the Big East in all of this it's going to Memphis. National powerhouse basketball program (the Big East is a basketball conference after all) that reguarly fills up a 20+ thousand seat arena, a huge untapped media Market, a huge corporate backing from FedEx... Are we really dumb enough to think we have something to offer in comparison to that? We're in the MAC to stay and that's a pretty good thing since we can't even win where we're at, much less in a BCS conference. And that won't be changing for a while since we went small time, typical, boring, and completely predictable on our head coaching hire again.

I thought you quit on the Zips? What possible interest do you have in what UA's conference affiliation is now or in the future?Go Zips!

A valid point.

[Zip Watcher]

How does the addition of UofA make the Big East a better conference?

Were something like that to ever come to pass, and I'm not predicting anything of the sort .. the Big East would be adding UA (and FOUR others) to make itself a BIGGER conference. It's all about the Benjamins. They need to have 12 to have a championship game, with the TV $$ and exposure that brings .. in order to maintain / solidify their place in the BC$.If Big East only adds 1 or 2 .. I don't think UA's in play, except the remote possibility of maybe backfilling a C-USA spot. But if the Big East loses Rutgers, and comes to realization that it needs to get to 12 FBS teams (this probably also necessitates a full split of the league) .. then they need FIVE. And if they go hunting for 5, the dominoes will fall and affect MAC membership in some way .. thus affecting UA.In my mind, it's hard for the BE to find 5 new members without affecting the MAC, even indirectly. The most often shouted options at other boards for BE include: Temple, UCF, East Carolina, and Memphis. Keep in mind that TV markets / urban areas are a driving factor in BE membership. Now if even one of those teams isn't a fit or an option (maybe Temple is never back in?? .. or Memphis understands it's better to be the tallest midget in C-USA) .. where do they go? It will touch UA directly or indirectly if the BE wises up to the fact they need to have 12 FBS teams.Personally, I'm just rooting for utter chaos and a complete reshuffling of the conferences East of the Mississippi .. UA doesn't have a long history with the MAC like some schools, and they are investing in infrastructure that would indicate a commitment to moving upstream at some point .. so the chaos of a large restructuring could be beneficial. Who knows, maybe a new Great Lakes / Mid-Atlantic FBS league emerges with like-minded universities out of this? It'll be more fun to watch it happen than it is to speculate.Regardless .. Go Zips!!! B)

[g-mann17]

How does the addition of UofA make the Big East a better conference?

Success in Non-Revenue/olympic sports (i.e. Soccer, Track & Field). They are small potatoes to you oh Great GP1, but they bring notoriety to a school and its affiliated conference. It is part of the reason the Big East & ACC love Lacrosse so much. Additionally the research levels at the University of Akron continue to sky rocket.

[g-mann17]

Joining a conference means joining in all sports. If Akron wants to move to another conference, they would have to line up their sponsored sports with another conference's guidelines on top of what the MAC requires.Akron is already in line with what the Big East requires for full membership, but we may not sponsor enough of their optional sports.

Lacrosse and Gymnastics are cheap and easy adds and we have enough from a facility stand point to host both.

[Zip Watcher]

Seems straight forward enough. Once the permanent facilities for Soccer are complete, that could open up some space in the North End Zone for a Lacrosse team .. and couldn't they play their games on Shrank Field?With the city & the U creeping to a new Basketball facility, the JAR will be improved upon as a BB practice facility and that could include Gymnastics team rooms .. the JAR becoming the home venue for Volleyball & Gymnastics, while serving as BB practice facility.

[g-mann17]

Seems straight forward enough. Once the permanent facilities for Soccer are complete, that could open up some space in the North End Zone for a Lacrosse team .. and couldn't they play their games on Shrank Field?With the city & the U creeping to a new Basketball facility, the JAR will be improved upon as a BB practice facility and that could include Gymnastics team rooms .. the JAR becoming the home venue for Volleyball & Gymnastics, while serving as BB practice facility.

Not only that but both are "spring" sports and wouldn't necessarily compete for space during the actual season. Plus both are slowly growing in popularity in NEO.

[UA Fan]

Really interesting speculation going on here, most of which is based on the possibility of Mizzou leaving the Big 12 to join the Big(er) 10. Only problem, there's NO WAY Mizzou would leave the Big 12, especially to join the Big 10. But keep up the good work. I think you guys are only a couple of wild eyed, hair-brained assumptions away from getting Akron into the Big 12 South.

The Missouri fanbase is split about 50/50 on joining the Big Ten. Check their message boards.

Mizzou would seriously consider making the jump..http://www.kansascity.com/159/story/163396...nk=omni_popular

[xu9697]

It's going to be Louisville.They are expanding their football stadium and building a new basketball arena. This gives the Big Ten a footprint in a state it does not currently occupy, which happens to move them a little closer to SEC country and the South.Louisville has no huge ties to the Big East, having come from C-USA and I believe the Metro conference before it.The Big Ten is not so worried about adding a national power in football. They want a school that is well-rounded in what it offers in athletics, the school itself (academics, research, enrollment, etc), the city, the state, the facilities, etc.I would say Rutgers & Syracuse would be fallbacks, with VTech, Maryland (HIGHLY unlikely based on long-standing traditions with ACC..but look them over for school, facilites, region, etc.) and MAYBE WVU. But my $$$ is on Louisville.