Conference Realignment

[Dallas Brave]

DB, I moved here to Houston about 5 years ago so maybe I am not intune to the "rivalries", but it sure seems to me when the UT/A&M football games comes along every Tday or there about the intensity and rivalry is as big as any game in the country. They might not HATE each other they certainly do not love each other.

TT I suppose that was true 2 years ago but TT has not proven any staying power to be considered a legit rival and a rival to replace A&M.

OU is a huge football rival and yes it is today probably bigger then what A&M brings.

I though believe any legit conference realignment that involves UT will certainly involve A&M and Oklahoma is going to do something also.

Anyway the next 12 - 24 months are going to be very interesting.

There is still lots of passion among older alumni for the A&M/UT match up, but UT would rank then annual Red River Shootout against Oklahoma as a much more important game.

UT is disdainful (like UIUC) of other-in-state teams and doesn't consider them equals even if they do share a conference. That's one of the reason why The Texas Tech / Texas A&M rivalry has emerged as Tech has gotten more competitive. Tech and A&M see each other as direct rivals vying against each other to be the number 2 program in the state. They both know that they can't unseat UT from the number one spot.

[amckillip]

I probably didn't explain that well enough. I wouldn't anticipate those schools actively trying to block an addition or move.

But only one time in the modern era has a team been kicked out of a league-Temple from the Big East for lack of competitiveness in football.

The Big Ten would never exclude Northwestern or Iowa from expansion.

But rather what I'm saying is those two schools are potentially taking the place of say Florida, UCLA and/or USC from joining the league.

What I was trying to imply is say, Ohio State and Michigan meet with Florida, Texas, USC, etc and consider their own options independent of whatever their respective league might want to do.

I don't think Mich or OSU would want a conference that top-heavy, at the end of the day there is only one conference champion and naturally a couple top-dogs will emerge. You want competitive without having all the best - if that happens, all the great teams won't be great for very long, talent will go elsewhere, talent wants to be on a winner. A natural process really.

[houstontxbrave]

There is still lots of passion among older alumni for the A&M/UT match up, but UT would rank then annual Red River Shootout against Oklahoma as a much more important game.

UT is disdainful (like UIUC) of other-in-state teams and doesn't consider them equals even if they do share a conference. That's one of the reason why The Texas Tech / Texas A&M rivalry has emerged as Tech has gotten more competitive. Tech and A&M see each other as direct rivals vying against each other to be the number 2 program in the state. They both know that they can't unseat UT from the number one spot.

University of Texas is definitely the poster child for BCS eliteness. I thought there was a ton of passion last year in the A&M v UT game and was at the UT v OU game and yes lots of passion there also. Also went to the UT v Colorado game and there was also quite a bit of passion from everyone for all the games.

UT I dont even think is distainful of other schools in Texas they simply dont consider or even often acknowledge other schools in Texas. "Tea sips" is an appropriate nick name.

If and this is a HUGE IF, but if A&M could ever get themselves together there is no comparison between A&M and Tech. Kyle Field is one of the most over the top football stadiums Ive ever seen. But today Tech has established themselves as the 2nd best in the Big 12 from Texas but they are 3rd in the football pecking order behind TCU and after getting beat by U of H they might be 4th.

[houstontxbrave]

I probably didn't explain that well enough. I wouldn't anticipate those schools actively trying to block an addition or move.

But only one time in the modern era has a team been kicked out of a league-Temple from the Big East for lack of competitiveness in football.

The Big Ten would never exclude Northwestern or Iowa from expansion.

But rather what I'm saying is those two schools are potentially taking the place of say Florida, UCLA and/or USC from joining the league.

What I was trying to imply is say, Ohio State and Michigan meet with Florida, Texas, USC, etc and consider their own options independent of whatever their respective league might want to do.

I understood what you ment but the bottomline is if OSU, UM etc went on their own to cort UT Florida etc, they would need to bring the TV resources the Big Ten network already offers.

The money sharing in the SEC and Big Ten is what is making those two conferences everyones prime option.

I really dont think the Big Ten is looking at someone holding a spot that could go to ND or lets say UT, the conference probably would be more inclinded to say bring it on with more schools. I see no reason why the Big Ten wouldnt go to 14-16- or up to 20 schools. Its about a championship game in football and putting money in everyones pocket with eyeballs glued to tv's.

[SFP]

If the Big X can grab ND and UT, finding other dance partners will not be a problem. Talk about the rich getting richer. They would at least need to bring in one more and the logical choice would be Missouri. From there on they probably would like 2 more schools. Who in their right mind would not want to jump on over. Well the NY market could only make them that much more attractive, which Syracuse could bring them. I'm not sure what other school could bring them a bigger payout with travel considerations for the other programs after that, except KU because of basketball.

[amckillip]

If the Big X can grab ND and UT, finding other dance partners will not be a problem. Talk about the rich getting richer. They would at least need to bring in one more and the logical choice would be Missouri. From there on they probably would like 2 more schools. Who in their right mind would not want to jump on over. Well the NY market could only make them that much more attractive, which Syracuse could bring them. I'm not sure what other school could bring them a bigger payout with travel considerations for the other programs after that, except KU because of basketball.

I think if the grab UT, they need Mizzou if not someone even closer to Texas. And if the grab Syracuse they need to make a push for Rutgers or UConn. For traveling and rivalry type needs.

[SFP]

I think if the grab UT, they need Mizzou if not someone even closer to Texas. And if the grab Syracuse they need to make a push for Rutgers or UConn. For traveling and rivalry type needs.

My guess would be UCONN or maybe if lucky Boston College for a huge TV deal. Syracuse is closer to New England then NY metro area. If the Big X cannot get UT they can always try to pry away Pitt or WVU. On another note the ACC will not be going anywhere. They are a predominant basketball conference but the football programs are doing well. I'd have to believe though that they will fend off any conference realignment pretty well.

Now what will come out of this which maybe good for BU, or not, are three other basketball conferences that will make the jump to a mega league. I would be that the TV deals being made are for football and a basketball deal would have to factor in more teams. That is more of a reality right now. Imagine the PR backlash on the BCS boys if they try to completely wipe away the mid-maors. Americans are sport traditionalists by nature and the TV guys would not want to upset a decent percentage of the basketball fans.

Basketball will play by a different set of rules then football.

[Bravesfan]

According to the power conferences, everything is not fine.



Oh, and tornado is correct. Once the ball is rolling, the "CCS" will realize they might as well go all the way.

Yeah, well, who cares what they think!

I know it's all about greed and every last penny they can steal, but you would think they make a good profit as things stand now. Plus the best postseason sporting tournament in the world will be blown up to satisfy their own egos.

What a shame!

[SFP]

Yeah, well, who cares what they think!

I know it's all about greed and every last penny they can steal, but you would think they make a good profit as things stand now. Plus the best postseason sporting tournament in the world will be blown up to satisfy their own egos.

What a shame!

What these guys are trying to do does not even come close to the greed that Goldman Sachs and the other big financial institutions has displayed. Talk about blowing up an economy to satisfy their pocketbook!

Until our society starts changing or going back to certain moral values this type of behavior is inevitable.

[TheAsianSensation]

The more and more I look at it, the more and more I'm starting to think everyone BUT the Valley does some shuffling.

If the Big East splits, they'll just poach the A-10 and Butler and not take a Valley school.

Everyone else shifts, but the MVC stays - and that's bad, because the MVC would definitely end up in the lower level of college athletics in that scenario.

[SFP]

The more and more I look at it, the more and more I'm starting to think everyone BUT the Valley does some shuffling.

If the Big East splits, they'll just poach the A-10 and Butler and not take a Valley school.

Everyone else shifts, but the MVC stays - and that's bad, because the MVC would definitely end up in the lower level of college athletics in that scenario.

That is exactly what I'm afraid of. If you listen to Elgin he believes or maybe his job believes that the MVC is in a great overall position for any type of realignment. I just hope our administration is ready and is starting to position ourselves for the inevitable. I do not feel like we are a lock regardless of anyone says of being a part of a spin-off of the Big East. If they decide to only form one conference of the likes of DePaul, Villanova, Georgetown, Marquette we could be outside looking in. Our best chance would be if they decided to form two large divisions.

[houstontxbrave]

The more and more I look at it, the more and more I'm starting to think everyone BUT the Valley does some shuffling.

If the Big East splits, they'll just poach the A-10 and Butler and not take a Valley school.

Everyone else shifts, but the MVC stays - and that's bad, because the MVC would definitely end up in the lower level of college athletics in that scenario.

Personally I dont think the MVC will stay as is simply because one or more of the Valleys Football playing members is going to make a move. UNI, SIU, ISU or Missouri State are not going to sit around if they get an offer to upgrade into a better football conference.

I have been saying I really hope the Valley is being proactive and has a long range plan. But even if they do, there isnt much they can do to be eating at the big boys table when it comes to basketball. A conference like the Valley will be a footnote in a few years with all this upcoming potential movement.

[TheAsianSensation]

That is exactly what I'm afraid of. If you listen to Elgin he believes or maybe his job believes that the MVC is in a great overall position for any type of realignment. I just hope our administration is ready and is starting to position ourselves for the inevitable. I do not feel like we are a lock regardless of anyone says of being a part of a spin-off of the Big East. If they decide to only form one conference of the likes of DePaul, Villanova, Georgetown, Marquette we could be outside looking in. Our best chance would be if they decided to form two large divisions.

Projecting out what a Big East fallout could look like:

12 teams:
East - Providence, Georgetown, Seton Hall, St John's, Villanova, Temple
West - Dayton, Xavier, Marquette, DePaul, St Louis, Butler

No way any MVC school penetrates that.

16 teams:
Rhode Island, Charlotte, St Joseph's feel like they'd be involved. After those 3, then it's Creighton, Wichita, and Bradley, along with the option of poaching a CAA school or settling for a George Washington or St Bonaventure. Bradley being within the borders and Creighton and Wichita being too far out west may save us.

14 teams:
Not an unheard of option. Rhode Island and St Joe's are added.


Hmm.

[TheAsianSensation]

Also, watch the CAA in all this. They have really good FCS programs. They can poach the A-10 if the A-10 runs into trouble.

[TheAsianSensation]

And here's the doomsday scenario:

The A-10 chooses to add Creighton and Wichita but not Bradley
The football members choose to break off elsewhere (IlSU, InSU, MSU, SIU, UNI, let's throw Drake in for funsies)
Evansville chooses to drop to D3 (it's been rumored)

Bradley is all alone and conferenceless.

The only play would be a Horizon League that loses Butler (to the A-10), Valpo (to footblal) and Youngstown St (to football).

Bradley
Loyola(Chi)
Illinois-Chicago
Wisconsin-Green Bay
Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Wright St
Cleveland St
Detroit
Oakland
IUPUI

And the scary thing? There's almost nothing Bradley could do about those chain of events above. It could be our fate.