Division 1 College Conference Realignment

[WJMorris3]

You know, maybe if the Big Ten adds a few more schools, they could choose a different name? I'm thinking the Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representatives, which would recognize the academic side of things.

[dfwabel]

There is no school in the Cal State system which is even close to the academic standards which the Pac-10 demands.

None of this has anything to do with "academic standards." It has everything to do with exploiting fast kids for money.

You see, the admiral has the right idea. This whole notion of 'academic standards' is pretty much pointless and useless when going up against the idea of making more money.

Plus, in my theory, the Pac-10 would have the San Diego market all to itself. That's a large market out there that can be used to help launch a television network akin to the Big Ten Network. You have the biggest markets on the West Coast in the Pac-10 (Seattle, Portland, San Francisco-Oakland, Los Angeles, San Diego). Why not go after San Diego State and take that market all for yourself?

The Pac-10 already has it over the MWC in terms of coverage. The Mtn. is only on one cable system there (Cox). Time Warner and AT&T U-Verse don't carry it while they carry Fox Sports West, home of Pac-10 sports. That plus a half filled Qualcomm Stadium does little for them. The fact that they are on the west coast hurts them to start a network since there is a small population whitin their footprint when compared to the other major conferences. Adding the schools you mentioned, does not increase that footprint.

The Pac-10's current TV contracts are artificially low since they elected to partner with Fox Sports as their primary, so they should be able to double their revenues in the next deal, regardless of expansion or a football title game.

[dfwabel]

You know, maybe if the Big Ten adds a few more schools, they could choose a different name? I'm thinking the Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representatives, which would recognize the academic side of things.

They will have to check with Murray Sperber to see if he has not already filed for that name as a trademark.

[rams80]

You know, maybe if the Big Ten adds a few more schools, they could choose a different name? I'm thinking the Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representatives, which would recognize the academic side of things.

They will have to check with Murray Sperber to see if he has not already filed for that name as a trademark.

I'm sure he'd appreciate the irony. He was an English prof after all.

[The_Admiral]

I'm gonna check out that book he wrote. Seems like it's right up my alley.

[Jigga]

Big Ten, Little Two (or Four or Six)

[Sodboy13]

Big Ten, Little Two (or Four or Six)

That sounds like a show on TLC.

[HedleyLamarr]

Big Ten, Little Two (or Four or Six)

That sounds like a show on TLC.

...or an adult film.

[Jigga]

If you're into midget gangbang flicks, I suppose.

[rams80]

Slightly off topic, but....

Pac 10 to eviscerate Big XII?

Personally, for all the grief the Oklahoma schools get about academics, I'd be more concerned about whether or not Texas Tech's reported accreditation problems would pass muster with the likes of Stanford.

Still...Dan Beebe might want to change his tune from "is everyone on the plane?" to "is anyone on the plane?"

[oddball]

We all know the perfect match is Notre Dame, now whether Notre Dame and the Big 11 will ever put their egos aside is a whole different story. A couple things I wouldn't mind seeing. If the Big 11 does expand, then change the name to the Great Lakes Conference or something like that. I also think that maybe they should ditch a member and truley become the Big 10. The question is, which is the least valuble member? Minnesota? Northwestern? Maybe Illinois? I'm thinking money-making sports here.

I know someone posted about San Diego State joining the Pac 10. It will never happen. Vanderbilt has a better shot of becoming a member than does SDSU. San Diego isn't really a sports town, they don't support the Aztecs and the Aztecs are good in basketball and pathetic in football,and it's academic standards, I don't think are up there with Stanford and UCLA. There is nothing there attractive to the Pac 10 about SDSU. I can't figure San Diego out, it's like this black hole of sports.

[dfwabel]

Slightly off topic, but....

Pac 10 to eviscerate Big XII?

Personally, for all the grief the Oklahoma schools get about academics, I'd be more concerned about whether or not Texas Tech's reported accreditation problems would pass muster with the likes of Stanford.

Still...Dan Beebe might want to change his tune from "is everyone on the plane?" to "is anyone on the plane?"

When it was announced yesterday that their system of revenue sharing would remain unequal (giving "bonus" money to teams which appear on TV more), it was a sign that their survival as 12 teams was going to be limited. Lew Perkins comments yesterday were opposite of Beebe's as well.

The combination of reported teams also runs has the highest team in TV revenue (Texas) along with the team who received the tenth much (Colorado).

FYI, as for Tech's accrediation issue, it was more than reported. SACS (their regional accreditation association) placed Tech on probation in 2007, but regained full accreditation in 2008. Tech's accreditation never lapsed during the probation and will be up for reaffirmation in 2015.

[FiddySicks]

So I wonder if Boise State moving from the WAC to the Mountain West( ) could put the hold on bigger conferences snagging up MWC schools such as BYU and TCU. This can only help the MWC in their bid to become a BCS conference, and I can't see Boise State moving if there was a good possibility that the stronger schools in their conference could bounce just a few weeks/months after they joined. Link

[rams80]

We all know the perfect match is Notre Dame, now whether Notre Dame and the Big 11 will ever put their egos aside is a whole different story. A couple things I wouldn't mind seeing. If the Big 11 does expand, then change the name to the Great Lakes Conference or something like that. I also think that maybe they should ditch a member and truley become the Big 10. The question is, which is the least valuble member? Minnesota? Northwestern? Maybe Illinois? I'm thinking money-making sports here.

I know someone posted about San Diego State joining the Pac 10. It will never happen. Vanderbilt has a better shot of becoming a member than does SDSU. San Diego isn't really a sports town, they don't support the Aztecs and the Aztecs are good in basketball and pathetic in football,and it's academic standards, I don't think are up there with Stanford and UCLA. There is nothing there attractive to the Pac 10 about SDSU. I can't figure San Diego out, it's like this black hole of sports.

Rule 1. The brand awareness of the Big Ten moniker trumps any renaming convention. Damn the math and all that.

Rule 2. The Big Ten isn't kicking anyone out.

[roxfan00]

Bohn led to believe Pac-10 will extend invitations to CU, five other Big 12 schools

Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott denies report

By Kyle Ringo Camera Sports Writer

Posted: 06/03/2010 05:47:31 PM MDT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Colorado athletic director Mike Bohn said he and other school officials have been led to believe the Pac-10 Conference is on the verge of issuing invitations to six members of the Big 12 to join its ranks.

Bohn said CU has not had any contact with the Pac-10 or its representatives and he was not clear on how he came to believe invitations could be forthcoming. But he said Colorado, Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech could receive invitations possibly as soon as this weekend when Pac-10 officials meet in San Francisco.

"The longer that we were together in Kansas City it appeared that that rumor or speculation did have some validity to it," Bohn said in an interview with the Camera as he left the Big 12 spring meetings here today.

Orangebloods.com reported Thursday that the Pac-10 is set to invite those same six teams from the Big 12, forming a 16-team superconference that would encompass three times zones with the ability to produce huge television revenue.

Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott issued a statement Thursday evening in response to the report.

"We have not developed any definitive plans,? Scott said. ?We have not extended any invitations for expansion and we do not anticipate any such decisions in the near term."

Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe did not take questions from reporters following a day of meetings at the Intercontinental Hotel here where a media horde was staked out outside conference rooms where the league's athletic directors met with Beebe as well as school chancellors and presidents.

Beebe is scheduled to speak with media members Friday morning when the spring meetings conclude with a board of directors meeting, that will likely produce votes on future championship sites and other matters.

Beebe came to Kansas City hoping to galvanize the league against rumored attempts from other conferences to pick off members. Missouri and Nebraska are possible targets for the Big Ten, which is studying expansion by 1-5 teams.

Colorado and Texas previously received invitations from the Pac-10 in the mid-1990s but chose to stick with the fledgling Big 12. It now appears the Pac-10 will offer CU and Texas once again, along with four other teams from the Big 12 South Division.

"We're led to believe that that may be the case, but, again, there are so many different reports and different dialogues and different developments within our league and outside our league that prevents me from being able to predict what will happen," Bohn said.

Bohn said at this point Colorado remains a committed and proud member of the Big 12 and he believes the conference has a bright future if its members remain together.

"There is great equity in the Big 12 Conference and currently the financial model and the competitive equity we have as a league is currently serving us well," he said. "The future television partnership opportunities bodes well for long term financial viability."

Bohn said Beebe did not ask for letters of commitment from Big 12 members as of Thursday afternoon and did not seek to make leaving the conference more difficult by attempting to raise exit fees. Both options could still come up before the meetings conclude Friday.

If Colorado does receive an invitation to join another conference, Bohn said school officials would seek a wide range of opinions on any possible change in affiliation from students, faculty, alumni and boosters. Any change in conference affiliation would be subject to approval by the Board of Regents requiring a majority vote.

The Big 12 requires exiting schools to provide two years notice if they intend to leave the conference. Departing schools would also forfeit 50 percent of conference distributions during those two years. The cost for leaving rises if less than two years notice is given.

If Colorado accepts an invitation to join another conference and provides two years notice, it would likely cost the athletic department at least $9 million over two years based on recent distributions it has received from the Big 12.

[Island_Style]

That Pac-10 article was exciting to read. Playoffs are slowly developing, people. It will be a long and weird journey, but I think it will be fun. Ten years from now I think the college football landscape will be very different. Maybe the champs of the four power conferences will battle it out in a playoff. Of course this would be after four conference championship games. I could be way wrong but I wouldn't mind if it turned out this way.

[Luigi74]

The BCS is dead and any chance of a playoff is also dead if the Pac-16 and Big Ten+6 happen. There's no reason for any of the three parties to be part of the BCS or playoff with the insane amount of money the conference championship games and Rose Bowl will now make.

The SEC and Sugar Bowl will most likely cut a deal to take the most attractive at-large school, like they did back in the day.

[dfwabel]

The Big XII canceled their press conference last night. Since the meetings conclude this afternoon, last night had to be a dinner which Bebee told the presidents/chancellors, "are you in or out?" They are scheduled to speak this afternoon.

Larry Scott, Pac-10 commissioner has been on record to say that a new network deal for 2012 would be contingent on a team giving up all inventory in terms of games. This means that Texas and OU could not have their own "network". Mike Slive, SEC Commissioner, has said that a school could still have their own network.

TAMU has also talked to the SEC as they are facing an athletic deficit of $16M and cost Elsa Murano her job.

[rams80]

The Big XII canceled their press conference last night. Since the meetings conclude this afternoon, last night had to be a dinner which Bebee told the presidents/chancellors, "are you in or out?" They are scheduled to speak this afternoon.

Missouri says maybe.

[LocalVulture]

The Big XII canceled their press conference last night. Since the meetings conclude this afternoon, last night had to be a dinner which Bebee told the presidents/chancellors, "are you in or out?" They are scheduled to speak this afternoon.

Missouri says maybe.

It's pretty much bye-bye Big 12 if Missouri & Nebraska don't commit to the preservation of the league