rams80

Didn't we find out after the fact though that Atlanta's players got wind of a likely move back in February?

Isn't Abbotsford still thrashing around and twitching?

I thought the 1970s problem was that both the NHL and WHA had expanded too far too fast and were therefore teetering on the brink of collapse when it came time to add Seattle and Denver, so that was why the league cancelled the expansion.

Not if the objective is to actually build rivalries (and thus, fan enthusiasm in the league). You missed the point that the first two rounds of the playoffs will be played in the divisions. Honestly, this likely will be the alignment the league goes through with; with the move of Phoenix to Quebec you can keep the sacred Conference playoffs and make everyone happy.

Eastern Conference Eastern Division Quebec Nordiques Montreal Canadiens Ottawa Senators Toronto Maple Leafs Boston Bruins Buffalo Sabres Florida Panthers Tampa Bay Lightning Atlantic Division Pittsburgh Penguins Philadelphia Flyers New York Rangers New York Islanders New Jersey Devils Washington Capitals Carolina Hurricanes Western Conference Central Division Detroit Red Wings Chicago Blackhawks Columbus Blue Jackets Nashville Predators Minnesota Wild Winnipeg Jets Dallas Stars Pacific Division San Jose Sharks Anaheim Ducks Los Angeles Kings Vancouver Canucks Edmonton Oilers Calgary Flames Colorado Avalanche Top 4 in each division make the playoffs, with first two rounds played in the division before conference championship and Stanley Cup finals.

True. Kind of odd they aren't using the Edmonton/Calgary model of arena sharing though.

They must not like Patrick Roy that much.

Or they could sit back and wait for Karl Benson to blow up yet another Conference.

And the Sabres would...?

It wouldn't surprise me. You don't play home games in the Georgia Dome as a start up with an ultimate goal of the CAA. And C-USA/MWC would love to get a toehold in Atlanta.

I'm not going to lie, I'm kind of thankful he wasn't able to buy the Rams.

Because I think Chicago State has administrative and financial issues at the moment. With regards to drowning IUPUI athletics in the bathwater perhaps Indiana (whose system de jure heads up the school) and Purdue can take a page from Alabama and encourage them to start up a football program. And then starve their athletic department of resources during trustees meetings. It's worked swimmingly for Tuscaloosa.

I thought about Kansas too, and I really wouldn't be upset if they joined the B1G. Their brand of football and basketball would fit right in, they'd be both a natural and traditional rival for Nebraska and they'd definitely boost the league's basketball profile. Something tells me that if the B1G did extend and invitation to KU, nothing short of a bill passed by the Kansas legislature would prevent the Jayhawks from abandoning K-State. Kansas State is probably more attractive than Kansas actually. 1. Kansas State is actually competent at football. 2. Kansas State actually cares about being competent at football. 3. Kansas State is good enough at basketball to be competitive, insofar as basketball matters here in this discussion. 4. Kansas State is getting this lovely billion dollar federal research facility that I'm sure the CIC would love to get in on. Kentucky would never leave the SEC.

The true excitement comes in 2013 (when the all-sport move becomes official)...if you thought the 'Nova-Temple rivalry was fierce before, wait 'till it becomes a conference one! Once again, two questions come up: 1. Which FCS school is the MAC going after to replace Temple for football? 2. Which school is the A-10 going after to replace Temple for all other sports? 1. None likely 2. None likely

Well... good. Rutgers doesn't belong in the Big Ten anyway and fits in much better with the ACC both culturally (now that they also have Pitt, Syracuse and BC) and academically. Now that the Big Ten is at 12 teams, it makes no sense for them to expand for anyone not named Notre Dame, and even if that happens, there's no guarantee that they'll add another team. They did play with a lopsided number of members for the better part of two decades, after all. No, they'd jump to 14. Ask the MAC and SEC. 13 is a real pain in the arse to make work in the two-division setup.

Sure you can. That's why it's called realignment and not same-alignment. He's got a rhyme and reason to his realignment, and I think it's fine. There are 3 regional rivalries that should be inviolate. Cards-Cubs is one of them. Any alignment that splits it up is by definition not good.

Bowl Games don't validate or prove anything. "Will to win" is too much of a variable to make them accurate tests.

Well then I guess the issue of which of those teams is better will be settled or the field during the regular season then. Next issue please.

I agree because it ruins the regular season to the point that it won't matter anymore. For example, a BCS No.4 who hasn't won their conference could win the Nat'l championship. That is the explanation why I think the playoff system is for college basketball not for football. PROTIP: Don't crib your arguments from sources more than a year old. Alabama just shot that particular argument in the head.

I keep praying the Blackhawks can pass Nashville. It would be beautiful if the Coyotes came to an end against an obstructively trapping team that nobody gives a about.

A repurposed Furby.

Texas already told the SEC to piss off. They have actual academic pretensions.

Guess what guys! If Boise State had competent kicking, we would have all loved the BCS. Now we're getting a 4 team playoff and college football is ruined forever!

And so, after months of humiliation, losing 3 of its football schools, facing national ridicule for adding a bunch of Texas schools fulltime despite likely basketball incompetence, Memphis despite massive football incompetence, a Florida school despite likely everything incompetence, a pair of football only programs who strain directional definitions past the breaking point, a service academy so far down the road they might as well not be joining, oh and the AQ for which this farce came about is sooooo gone and Louisville is glancing at the exit sign.... The Big East tells Villanova to piss up a rope and actually adds a team that makes sense to add, Temple.

It's going to be Gary Bettman with a mohawk.