Big 12 Football

Got some schools here I am surprised are not being talked about for the Big 12. Also some points.

1: Don't replace, Expand: Look at the proactive ACC going to 14 schools and follow that model. say Mizzou leaves and add 6 teams.

2: considering the picked over land scape, take the hot stock/merger/acquisition approach and build schools in smart markets that will also build the conference long term

3: Teams: I have 8 that would make financial sense and 2 that would keep the conference strong in regional tradition

4: Teams ranked in order:

1. San Diego State: This is a perefect example of a great school, location, market, stadium, facilities, recruiting ground and already a city with Holiday Bowl ties to the Big 12. A destination for any road game for good travel bases. Also this is a school with a base that would raise in passion if they played in a good conference. I still can't believe this school gets no headlines other thatn its region, excluding the Pac-12 that already has that market, the location only makes sense for the Big 12...no other BCS conference.

2. BYU: obvious-own network, tradition, Slat Lake and national market for alumns and religion

3. West Virginia: they want out, the market is unappealing, but the mark in that region is and especially with a relevant school looking to get out of the Big East this is a power school that should be in to maintain conference relevancy to counter Iowa St, KSU, and Baylor

4. Louisville: Northern KY and South Ohio market, relevant tradition especially in BasketBall good match with KU...a GREAT football stadium and facilities good market for recruiting..keep close to WV for regional tie in

5: University of South Florida: recruiting market and presence...not sexy now but like SDSU this is a school that could rise rapidly in a great conference and also a great addition to say an eastern conference with already relevant Louisville and WV..a penny stock that could pay off huge with the conference to back it

6. Cinncinati? well we start to dip a little regionally with already going after Louisville who also has that market, but you even solidify it more there and add to an Eastern conference of USF, WVU, and Louisville...Great BBall tradition, great market, good recruiting, good facilities, great passion in the region if in a great conference.

7. TCU! surprisingly low I know, but again how much do you gain when your entire conference footprint is already here..this is only a power add for a great football school to boost the stregth of the conference.

8. Memphis: not sexy unless Calipari is still coaching hoops, the potential market is intriguing, also a good add for the East plenty of potential to be relevant for the conference..great hoops tradition...they do Care about football in Memphis as well.

9. Central Florida: see USF, but less sexy

10. Houston: if we werent talking dollars this move makes perfect sense but since we are this adds no new revenue but only a school with potential to be really great in the right conference..already better or eaqual to ISU, Baylor, and KSU in relevance.

*11. UNLV: intriguing market and BBall school, but culturaly Vegas would never match with the Big 12 region

5:So waht do we have here?

1. Pre-Big 12 and BCS tie-ins, TTech, Baylor, ISU and KSU could just have easily been mid-majors and some would argue with the exception of KSU and TTech could still be...but their profiles have been rasied in the right conference to build them.

2. The football traditions would rapidly rise in this conference with all the tools at the disposal of the football tradiition rich Big 12 playing your conference championships in Jerry World would only help nationaly.

3. These schools need the big 12 1-5 just as much as the Big 12 needs them. This means? Texas and OU can still get thier way in the conference while these other schools reap the rewards of raising their own profile long term.

4. You may have a basketball conference to finally rival the ACC or at least be the second best

5 after a half decade or so, with the right leadership and vision this could be the highest paid TV conference due to its national market affiliations

Food for thought: think bigger than 12 and bigger than the Southern plains to save your conference long term

Category: NCAAF

Well this certainly is not looking good, after today knowing that Colorado is going to the Pac-10. Hopefully though it will survive, and can do so really without Colorado. If Nebraska goes also, there still will be 10. This is one of the top conferences around, and to just let it go is very unsettling. Dan Beebe, as commissioner, should be fighting just as hard for his conference as the other guys are. The staff should be recruiting other schools as replacements, and not trying to let the others be bullied into a takeover. And I know it takes money, and now days more so, to operate these programs. However it is still about the players, who are not getting paid anyhow. And also the fans, who are paying in several formats, by buying tickets and merchandise. All the people that stay loyal to their team, but also to the conference. When the Sooners are finishing a season in a sport, if there are still Big 12 Conference teams competing, I encourage and cheer for them. The Big 12 conference does not have to disassemble, at least not without a trying chance to save it first.

Category: NCAAF

According to ESPN, Colorado is expected to announce their departure from the Big 12 to the PAC-10.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news
/story?id=5271438

I would like to thank the PAC-10 and Big Ten for poaching the Big XII and creating "Super Conferences". I would also like to say how much I appreciate the leaving institutions that feel that they need double to revenues to remain viable institutions. As a Big XII fan, I hate to see this conference crash and burn because of teams departing to weaker overall conferences in favor of fatter paychecks.

Most of all, good luck to Kansas, Kansas State and Iowa State in their search for a new home. Hopefully someone will welcome them with open arms, while continuing to provide strong competition in athletics.

Category: NCAAF

Why can't the Big 12 take away the North/South Division and just have one BIG 12 division?  The top two in the league go to the championship?  None of this North/South stuff.  I think the Big 10 does that as well (I could be mistaken). 

I am sure with the great sports minds that read these boards there will be someone who can point out pitfalls to my suggestion.  I was just wondering if it would make things better come the Championship time.  There still would be a possiblity of a tie.  Even a three way tie or worste may be possible.  I suppose the issue then, would still lie with how the tie breaker is broken.

Category: NCAAF

All that computer jumbo was not on the post when I sent it.  Sorry about that! 

Category: NCAAF