More Expansion Talk

[ksu sucks]

Hmmm......at least now I know which prognosticators to ignore..or at least seriously question. ;-)

Not to worry, most of the board ignores us anyway.

[MDZip]

Not so fast, folks. Latest news is that the Big 12 is not coming totally apart.

CBS Sports Link

So the Big Ten and Big Twelve just need to switch names and we're good (Nebraska even has a head start). The Big Ten gains a championship game and the Big 12 loses one. Looks like this might be just about the end of it right now, except maybe the PAC-10 looks to pick up one more team for a Championship game for themselves. I still think this is good for the Zips. Money matters a lot, but it is still possible to compete at least occasionally even at the lower level. Utah, Boise State and TCU don't exactly have overflowing coffers. Even Miami, Fla. was pretty much a nothing program before the mid-eighties, so it is possible. I'll be happy with a Zips team that can win the MAC and maybe compete on a National stage every few years (both CMU and Ball State have done it in the last few years so its not impossible).

[UA Fan]

News reports say that Texas is staying in the Big 12, along with Texas A&M. That's probably it for the BCS shake-up, at least for this year.

That makes more sense. There's nothing "east" or "Pacific" about those schools. Texas & Oklahoma are certainly capable of anchoring their own conference. I won't be surprised if Nebraska misses the natural rivalries and comes back someday either.

[Zippysgotagun]

The Pac 10 will probably try to add a western MWC team (Utah, for example).

[g-mann17]

The Pac 10 will probably try to add a western MWC team (Utah, for example).

We shall see. The Mountain West is pretty confident, and right now between Utah, BYU, TCU, and Boise State they have more BCS experience and better rankings then the PAC-11-1 (because USC is worthless now). Money does talk, but that conference isn't too far off from getting "old Big 12" type money.

[Zip Watcher]

This is all tremendously disappointing to me as I eagerly root for re-alignment chaos.

[GP1]

This is all tremendously disappointing to me as I eagerly root for re-alignment chaos.

I don't know if I root for it or not, but I do think it is inevitable and probably good for UofA. In fact, I believe what we are seeing with Texas staying in the Big Whatever because of a huge amout of money is just a bump in the road on the way to realignment. If realignment means more money than what they are currently making, the landscape will change in the near future. If the PAC 10 says next year that a team can have their own TV network, this will all start up again. Realignment has slowed down, it will not stop. Slowing down realignment allows MAC-type schools more time to think about the future, where they want to be and what they want their part of college football to look like.

[Zip Watcher]

The slow down, if it delays things for a couple of years, does afford UA the opportunity to address one of the glaring weaknesses in their facilities resume: hoops. Not suggesting they need to build a 12k seat arena or anything, but the JAR is a tough sell to moving upstream in conferences, no matter how small upstream the desired move may be.

I wonder how long the Big East will continue to sit on it's hands in regards to FB. As it is now, they don't have enough conference games. They're the low hanging fruit whenever the SEC / ACC / Or Big TelEveN wants more team. Maybe not on life support, but by sitting and waiting for everything to happen, they risk their entire existence (as a FB conference). I think some of it is borne out of the stability that the non-FBS members (ND included) must feel they have. They don't really need to have a FBS side of the equation to continue having a great hoops league. So they're not really motivated to add teams to keep the FBS side of things in good shape. Losing the FBS schools wouldn't be optimal .. but Marquette and Georgetown are still getting at large bids in a 10 team Big East that would survive their departure.

Go Zips!

[ZachTheZip]

I expect several more minor moves by the end of the month. The PAC-10 has to add one more team, for one thing. I also see the Big East grabbing one or two schools.

[g-mann17]

I would not discount more movement, but I would point out that the PAC-10 doesn't have to do anything this year, Colorado does not become a member until 2012, a WAC or MWC school could easily jump in 1 year.

Big East, I don't know, I think they have to figure out what is going to happen with their Non-Football schools before they make a move. Taglibue will probably want to see how the Big-Diez-y-dos handles the expansion and championship game, and how the MWC performs once all of the BCS Busting Mid-Majors are in one conference cannibalizing themselves.

ACC and SEC will be happy they don't have "dillude" themselves.

Also with the way ESPN and FOX handled the Big 12 issue, money is pretty much drying up. Those tv companies didn't want to shell out the money that would have been "required" for a PAC 16. And the Big 12 is at least staying until 2015-16.

[GP1]

I've always believed the MAC would be better if it was a smaller league. We have something to look at now to see how contraction could make the MAC better. The question is this, Is the Big 12 better off without Colorado and Nebraska or worse off? I think they are better off. The OK vs. TX game has become bigger than the NE vs. OK game. NE has become a middle of the road team. CO....well, need we say more. Just a bad program.

The PAC10 has been made worse by adding CO. The Big Ten may have been improved, but I think the winner in the whole thing is NE. NE will immediately compete for the conference championship. In the whole shake-up, NE is the one program that is much better off than before.

[lance99]

I would not discount more movement, but I would point out that the PAC-10 doesn't have to do anything this year, Colorado does not become a member until 2012, a WAC or MWC school could easily jump in 1 year.

Big East, I don't know, I think they have to figure out what is going to happen with their Non-Football schools before they make a move. Taglibue will probably want to see how the Big-Diez-y-dos handles the expansion and championship game, and how the MWC performs once all of the BCS Busting Mid-Majors are in one conference cannibalizing themselves.

ACC and SEC will be happy they don't have "dillude" themselves.

Also with the way ESPN and FOX handled the Big 12 issue, money is pretty much drying up. Those tv companies didn't want to shell out the money that would have been "required" for a PAC 16. And the Big 12 is at least staying until 2015-16.

Remember this is all about money. The only reason the Big 10 took Nebraska is because of

A: They travel well

B: Noone talks about this, they have their own Radio network, so they have a very large reach nationwide

C: They wanted to be in the Big ten's back yard for talent that is already here

Sooner than later, The Big East will make some type of move. The ACC and SEC will probally do nothing. The Moutian West will add teams and you will see super conferences. I opened a thread about this over a year ago asking about this very thing.

It is finally happening and conferences like the MAC will be left in the dust. Now is not the time to sit on you hands.

[you am i]

I expect several more minor moves by the end of the month. The PAC-10 has to add one more team, for one thing. I also see the Big East grabbing one or two schools.

The Big Ten operated quite well for a long time with 11 teams, so I'm not so sure the Pac 10 needs to add anyone else right now. Utah would make sense, but after Texas turned them down, I'm not sure they want to go that route. Having to settle for Utah after coveting Texas would be a huge downgrade. It would be great for Utah, but what would Utah bring that would benefit the Pac 10? Not much.

My guess is that at some point in the reasonably near future Pitt, Syracuse, Rutgers will end up in the Big Ten, and then the cream of what's left of the Big East will merge with the ACC to create a new mega-conference.

[Zip Watcher]

I expect several more minor moves by the end of the month. The PAC-10 has to add one more team, for one thing. I also see the Big East grabbing one or two schools.

The Big Ten operated quite well for a long time with 11 teams, so I'm not so sure the Pac 10 needs to add anyone else right now. Utah would make sense, but after Texas turned them down, I'm not sure they want to go that route. Having to settle for Utah after coveting Texas would be a huge downgrade. It would be great for Utah, but what would Utah bring that would benefit the Pac 10? Not much.

My guess is that at some point in the reasonably near future Pitt, Syracuse, Rutgers will end up in the Big Ten, and then the cream of what's left of the Big East will merge with the ACC to create a new mega-conference.

- More presence east of the Rockies

- A built in rival for Colorado

- A balanced schedule, where there isn't a bye or OOC needed each week.

- A 12th team, permitting the coveted Conference Championship game & resulting TV revenue from that (millions).

It will be a less than ideal consolation prize, but it would be mildly surprising to see the PAC stay at 11.

[johnnyzip84]

It looks like the sound arguments ZW discussed make a whole lot of sense to the PAC-12.

Link UTAH IS IN

Utah has long had a high birth rate and it's been one of the fastest growing states over the last 15-20 years. It's all about the future. And besides, the Utes can always rely on COLD FUSION when the going gets tough! Can any Longhorn make the same statement? I think not

[you am i]

It looks like the sound arguments ZW discussed make a whole lot of sense to the PAC-12.

Link UTAH IS IN

Utah has long had a high birth rate and it's been one of the fastest growing states over the last 15-20 years. It's all about the future. And besides, the Utes can always rely on COLD FUSION when the going get tough! Can any Longhorn make the same statement? I think not

Utah in the Pac 10(12). Wow. I guess they really wanted that 12th member for a playoff. Good for the Utah. The Big 12 must have given up on Texas changing its mind any time in forseeable future. I can't imagine the Big Ten inviting any non-BCS school to join. I can't even think of who would even be considered.

And if Texas stays in the Big 12, so does everyone else. The school that stands to benefit the most from how things worked out for the Big 12 is probably Houston. They've got to be looking to add teams to make up for the two who left and Houston has to be at or near the top of the list. Mack Rhoades is thinking big right now.

.

[zippy5]

Rumor is that memphis and ucf may be joining the BE. Maybe CUSA could be looking for a few new teams?

[ZachTheZip]

This is a link to the Big East Expansion Rumor board. UCF, ECU, and Memphis fans have been on there for years trying to pimp themselves out to the Big East, making the cases for their respective schools. It's a great aggregator for all the expansion rumors and facts around the country. I'm not saying that had anything to do with it, but it couldn't hurt to get Akron a bit more into the conversation, to get people thinking about us, and to make it known that we're attempting to be something mroe than a MAC member. What I'm saying tis that if we showed them that Akron fans exist and are numerous, we might at least get a passing glance (if you have a log-in for the MAC board, it also works for the linked site).

[UAZipster0305]

I still think the MAC should make Temple join as a full member or kick them out. Then add Southern Illinois and/or Western Kentucky.

[xu9697]

I still think the MAC should make Temple join as a full member or kick them out. Then add Southern Illinois and/or Western Kentucky.

Before too long, Temple will be a member of a redesigned Big East or CUSA.

I know, I know. Temple was in the Big East at one point. But if the league grabs UCF and Memphis, not to long before they grab 2 more to get 12 football teams.

[scottditzen]

I still think the MAC should make Temple join as a full member or kick them out. Then add Southern Illinois and/or Western Kentucky.

That may make sense, but I hate the idea of more "directional" schools!!!!

[Captain Kangaroo]

The MAC needs to keep Temple at whatever cost. They are our best football program, and the MAC gets 5 hoops games per year that would otherwise go to NC A&T, Hillsdale, Walsh, Grand Valley State and Belmont. Temple would be foolish to join the MAC for hoops. There's no benefit.

Seeing as how Ianello like to recruit New York / New Jersey, I think having a MAC presence in eastern PA is a good plus for football recruiting too.

[johnnyzip84]

This guy likes the idea of a Big-10/MAC partnership, complete with promotion/relegation ala futbol.

Link

[GP1]

After watching...actually, trying to desperately trying to not watch it but having to suffer through it at some point, I can only say that anything soccer does, we should not do. It is the only sport that can be made worse by a plastic horn.

[ZachTheZip]

The MAC needs to keep Temple at whatever cost. They are our best football program.

I disagree on both counts.

The MAC needs to dump Temple at whatever cost (there is no cost, they don't bring in anything that improves the MAC's finances or reputation). They are not worth the money spent feeding another mouth or travelling to and from Philly. They don't help attendance when MAC schools play them at home, they don't get us a better TV contract, and they screw up our scheduling so we can't play rivals that people actually care about seeing us play.

And how can they be our best program? They haven't even won their own division, let alone the conference, since joining. They don't even have enough support to have their own football stadium, instead they have to rent one from the NFL. There is so little support for football that their fans are willing to go independant or drop down to 1-AA, or drop football altogether, instead of bringing their hoops program to the MAC. If football was important to them, they would bring hoops instead of risking getting kicked out.

Why should the MAC allow them to continue to leech off us with nothing in return but a few token basketball games?