2346 replies to this topic

[SumnerH]

If I'm Syracuse (and I kind of am), I'm elated with that setup. In basketball, they have the three best non-SU programs in the other division (UNC, Duke, Pitt). And in football, I know SU has to contend with Clemson and Florida State, but I think that Georgia Tech, UNC, Pitt, Virginia Tech, and Miami constitute a much tougher division.

Maybe that divisional setup is just for football, though, and the basketball aspect doesn't come into play. Either way, it's a win for SU.

It's just for football. In basketball, each school goes through a 3-year with other schools, playing home-and-home, home only, and away only in the 3 years except for one "primary partner" who they play home-and-home every year. Syracuse plays BC as their primary; Pitt gets Maryland. Duke/UNC (duh), Clemson/GaTech, FSU/Miami, NC State/Wake, and Virginia/VA Tech are the other pairs.

[Infield Infidel]

South Carolina probably wouldn't mind playing TAMU for the recruiting, either. It's a bigger factor for Missouri, of course, but I suspect that South Carolina wouldn't be completely neutral on the subject.

SC and TAMU presidents both say they are likely cross-division rivals

which means Mizzou would play Arkansas

http://www.fbschedul...ent-sec-rivals/

[gtg807y]

Temple's back, bitchezzzz

Nearly a decade after Temple's moribund football program was pushed out of the Big East, the revitalized Owls are rejoining the conference -- and bringing along their potent men's basketball team.
The school will move to the Big East for football next season and all other sports in 2013.

[smokin joe wood]

CBS reporting VCU, George Mason, Butler and potentially Creighton are negotiating with the Atlantic-10.

http://www.cbssports...oin-atlantic-10

[Captaincoop]

In other news, the ACC says Syracuse is joining the Atlantic division, and Pitt is joining the Coastal division. They will be cross-division rivals playing yearly in football, but they'll never contest for a division title. Quick, name their new divisional rivals? So once again, given the chance to put rival teams in the same division, the ACC doesn't, just like they did with the tobacco road schools. Their divisional setup is a classic case of over-thinking.

Wouldn't putting all the former Big East schools in one division make more sense?

What makes more sense:
Atlantic: BC, Syracuse, Pitt, Miami, Virginia Tech, Virginia, Maryland
Coastal: UNC, NC St, Duke, Wake Forest, FSU, GTech, Clemson

or this?

Under the announced setup, Syracuse gets to play former rivals Miami and VaTech once each every three years.

Just catching up on this thread...what are they thinking about? So BC gets to play Wake Forest and NC State every year...and Miami once every three years? Ugh.

[Hendu's Gait]

CBS reporting VCU, George Mason, Butler and potentially Creighton are negotiating with the Atlantic-10.

http://www.cbssports...oin-atlantic-10

St. Louis (and Dayton) wasn't far enough away from the Atlantic, they are thinking about Omaha?

WTF.

I do think VCU is a great fit.

[Infield Infidel]

basketball-only schools to the A-10 and football schools to the CAA makes sense.

Whither UNH and Maine football, to the NorCon with URI? The closest CAA school is what, Delaware?

edit- Charlotte discussing a move to the SunBelt is also interesting. Thought they would have higher sites than that. MAC?

Edited by Infield Infidel, 25 March 2012 - 08:00 PM.

[RedOctober3829]

basketball-only schools to the A-10 and football schools to the CAA makes sense.

Whither UNH and Maine football, to the NorCon with URI? The closest CAA school is what, Delaware?

edit- Charlotte discussing a move to the SunBelt is also interesting. Thought they would have higher sites than that. MAC?

The sun belt might be their easiest entry into FBS football. I think the northern schools in the CAA that play football will break off with other FCS schools to form another conference. URI is going to the NEC which means reducing scholarships.

[mabrowndog]

CBS reporting VCU, George Mason, Butler and potentially Creighton are negotiating with the Atlantic-10.

http://www.cbssports...oin-atlantic-10

The Butler move was in the news a week ago, and reportedly it's a done deal.

Edited by mabrowndog, 26 March 2012 - 11:33 AM.

[smokin joe wood]

The Butler move was in the news a week ago, and reportedly it's a done deal.

From what I've heard from the Butler athletic department, the first round of Butler to A10 rumors were coming from Dayton and Xavier, which is why that ESPN guy in Dayton 'broke' it.

Butler's athletic director Barry Collier has been trying to get out of the Horizon League since he took the job a handful of years ago. The problem Butler has is their athletic department budget is minuscule and they don't have very good facilities. This is a great move for the A10 but Butler will get destroyed in almost every sport in the A10 outside of men's basketball and cross country and they're going to need financial assurances from the A10 to make this move work.

Creighton, on the other hand, has phenomenal facilities, a large budget, and they're the only show in Omaha. The crown-jewel of the MVC.

If this goes through, the A10 would be taking the best men's basketball program from the two best mid-major conferences and nabbing two of the top programs in the CAA. They would corner the market on good non-football basketball programs outside of the west coast.

Edited by smokin joe wood, 26 March 2012 - 05:33 PM.

[Infield Infidel]

A proposed merger between the Mountain West and Conference USA “probably will not happen,” college football industry sources told CBSSports.com.

The leagues had hoped to dissolve and form a new league or merge into one league for the 2013-14 season, but that is now “unlikely” at least for the immediate future, sources said. Even though the leagues would remain separate, they are still working together to figure out a way to share television, marketing and scheduling resources.

“There is not much talk about a formal merger of the conferences into one conference entity in the near term, but that is still a future consideration,” a source said.

In February, the two leagues initially announced they would dissolve and form a new league for the 2013-14 season. A month later, sources told CBSSports.com the leagues were no longer considering dissolving, but instead would either merge or remain separate but share resources.

http://www.cbssports...merger-unlikely

[yeahlunchbox]

Whither UNH and Maine football, to the NorCon with URI? The closest CAA school is what, Delaware?

There's a poster on a URI message board that says his son is friendly with the son of a URI football coach. The poster says this coach has told him that Maine has already applied for NEC membership. I haven't seen even a whisper of this on anygivensaturday.com or anywhere else, so I'm still pretty skeptical. I always thought Maine would stick in the CAA with UNH as long as possible.

[mabrowndog]

Lots of rumblings today...

* We've heard the VCU & George Mason to the A-10 rumors/reports. Today Lenn Robbins of the NY Post says it's going to happen on May 1, along with the Butler move. But shortly after that tweet came this from ESPN's Andy Katz:

A-10 commish Bernadette McGlade and CAA commish Tom Yeager deny report GMU and VCU are heading to A-10.

* Georgia St reportedly stepping up to FBS, leaving the CAA for the Sun Belt

With CUSA as the most desired conference for the school, but an invitation there not coming, the Sun Belt is the best option, providing a geographically sound home for the Georgia St. athletic programs. Due to an NCAA rule requiring schools upgrading from FCS to FBS to have a formal invitation before upgrading, the Sun Belt has fulfilled that necessary requirement for Georgia St.

The Georgia St. departure from the CAA adds to a continuing trend. UMass left to join the MAC, URI to the NEC, and Hofstra and Northeastern have dropped football.

Then there's this interesting scenario...

Current CAA football members Old Dominion, JMU and Delaware continue to be considered the most likely CAA football schools to upgrade to FBS. However, unless the MAC opts to expand to 16 and invite all 3, these 3 schools will not likely have an FBS conference home in the near future.

If that happens, Maine & UNH To the NEC would seem a fait accomplit.

* Prior to Katz's tweet, the Robbins report on VCU/GMU plus the GSU news led to this analysis of the CAA by blogger Matt Peloquin:

When the CAA shelved their exit fee vote last week, it was apparent that some of the schools expected to give “yes” votes had potentially changed their minds. The vote was to raise the $250,000 fee to $1.2 million.

The Georgia St. departure from the CAA has forced the CAA to put an all-sports member sponsoring football at the top of the priority list as the conference needs 6 all-sports members to sponsor football in order to retain sponsorship. Stony Brook is considered the most likely candidate, assuming that Appalachian St. rejects any CAA invitations. If there is any pressure to add a southern based school, Coastal Carolina is the likely option.

With the departures of GMU and VCU, it could mean that the CAA tries to assist some of it’s members by adding travel partners. Boston University is a likely candidate to replace GMU/VCU as they would enable member schools to schedule 2 Boston games when having to travel north to play Northeastern. Charleston is another school on the wishlist, but they have twice rejected CAA overtures. Davidson is considered another option for the final spot once a football school is added. In total the CAA will look to add 3 schools.

* More fuel on the "Appalachian State to FBS" fire

A report out of Winston-Salem is citing sources who claim that the Appalachian St. committee voted on Monday to recommend to ASU Chancellor Ken Peacock, that the school upgrade to FBS football.

It appears that Appalachian St. does not want to risk being left behind. Even with the hypothetical risk of the top BCS schools leaving the NCAA, such a move would send FCS football down another rung.

The issue Appalachian St. would face with an upgrade would be an NCAA rule requiring that an existing FBS conference must extend an invitation to an upgrade candidate in order for that school to transition to FBS.

CUSA would be the top option. If rejected, which at this time is very likely, Appalachian St. would likely approach the Sun Belt. Geographically, the Sun Belt would be a good fit.

[RedOctober3829]

Our AD here at Stony Brook tweeted last night that there will be some "transformative" news regarding athletics soon.......

[mabrowndog]

Fresh off the collapse of their proposed mega-merger with the Mountain West, C-USA will add another school to the ledger.

UTSA to join Conference USA, likely in 2013

The UTSA Roadrunners are set to join Conference USA, likely in 2013, RowdyReport.com has reported.

UTSA just completed their inaugural football season as an FCS Independent. In 2012, they are stepping up to the Football Bowl Subdivision and will compete in the WAC.

The Roadrunners will be on the move again in 2013 to Conference USA according to the Agenda for next week’s University of Texas System Board of Regents.

Other moves on the horizon for both conferences:

Sources told Brett McMurphy of CBSSports.com that Conference USA is also looking to add FIU and North Texas from the Sun Belt and Louisiana Tech from the WAC.

CBS Sports also reports that the Mountain West is likely to add San Jose State and Utah State in 2013. That could spell the end of the WAC.

[Captaincoop]

It's kind of shocking how quickly the non-BCS conferences have fallen apart with the departure of just a handful of their better programs. San Jose State? LA Tech? North Texas? Why not just fold preemptively and save the five years of declining attendance, TV ratings, and national relevance?

[Infield Infidel]

Texas St is joining the Sun Belt.

After 2012, the WAC has New Mexico St, Idaho and LaTech. LaTech is rumored to C-USA, and New Mexico St is probably going to the Sun Belt.
Idaho, well, with AQ being eliminated, the Mountain West is probably hoping Boise goes back, so the MWC is holding off on Idaho. Sucks for them. Might as well be an island. Or in Moscow.

[mabrowndog]

Yeah, the most recent machinations in the WAC have become an embarrassment. What's really telling is how many schools, most looking to move up from FCS/1-AA in football, have turned down WAC invitations over the past couple of years: Cal Poly, Cal-Davis, Montana, North Texas, and Houston Baptist. Commissioner Karl Benson finally said "fuck this shit" and left in February to run the Sun Belt.

Anyway, the departures of Utah St & San Jose St to the MWC are now all but official. As Infidel notes above, If La Tech bolts for a new home, that would leave New Mexico St and Idaho as the only 2 football-playing members. For basketball, the WAC is adding 3 members this year: Denver (from the Sun Belt), Seattle (currently a D-1 independent) and Texas-Arlington (Southland), giving them 5 schools for hoops. They're also adding Dallas Baptist and Cal State-Bakersfield, but only for D-1 baseball starting next spring.

La Tech will probably head to whichever conference (Sun Belt or C-USA) doesn't take Charlotte. If both go to C-USA, New Mexico State (a former SBC member) could rejoin the Sun Belt.

So where does this leave Boise State, which is slated to join the WAC in all sports except football? Seems doubtful the Broncos will want to stay that course. Some possible options:

– seek membership in the Big Sky for non-football sports
– join the Summit League for non-football sports
– Try again to get the Big West to accept them for non-football sports

The team nobody wants any part of is Idaho. Their only shot in the dark might be the MAC, which still has an uneven divisional alignment after swapping out Temple for UMass, though they had no problem going through last season with 13 teams. More likely, they'd play as an FBS independent while seeking the same alternatives as Boise (non-football membership in the Big Sky or Summit). If those fail, they'd downgrade to FCS and rejoin the Big Sky in all sports.

Hard to believe a decade and a half ago, the WAC was 16 teams strong and arguably the 2nd most prominent collegiate sports conference west of the Mississippi -- yes, even more prominent than the newly-formed Big 12.

Edited by mabrowndog, 30 April 2012 - 10:15 PM.

[DrewDawg]

Our AD here at Stony Brook tweeted last night that there will be some "transformative" news regarding athletics soon.......

I heard that "soon" was May 1. Anything?

[RedOctober3829]

Conference USA, which has four schools departing to the Big East next season, is reloading by adding six schools in 2013, industry sources told CBSSports.com.

Florida International, Louisiana Tech, North Texas, Texas San Antonio, Charlotte and Old Dominion will join C-USA giving the league 14 members. However, it's not clear how soon after 2013 Charlotte, which is beginning its football program in 2013, and ODU, currently in the FCS, would be able to compete as a C-USA football member.

An official announcement could come as early as Friday, sources said.

http://www.cbssports...murphy/18923863

[DrewDawg]

CAA is dead, at least as a basketball conference. Losing their 3 flagship programs in basketball (VCU, GMU, and ODU).

[URI]

If Charlotte leaves the A-10 (which depends on their football readiness, which is still up in the air), I bet you'd see a Northeastern or Wilmington get the call to the A-10 as well.

[mabrowndog]

Butler to the A-10 is now in stone

Butler will officially join the Atlantic 10 for the 2013-14 season on Wednesday, a source with direct knowledge of the negotiation process told ESPN.com on Tuesday night.

The Bulldogs will leave the Horizon League in all sports and join the A-10 after it formally seeks admission to the league. The A-10 will then accept the Bulldogs' application to make it official.

Butler will replace Temple and become the A-10's 14th member for the 2013-14 season. Temple is leaving the A-10 in 2013-14 for the Big East in all sports. Temple's football program is joining the Big East in fall 2012.

The move ends months of speculation that the Bulldogs would join the league, a coup for A-10 commissioner Bernadette McGlade in her first major decision since becoming head of the conference.

Butler's departure will crush the Horizon League. The Horizon League is left with lower-profile Midwestern schools in Cleveland State, Loyola (Ill.), Detroit, Illinois-Chicago, Green Bay, Milwaukee, Valparaiso, Wright State and Youngstown State.

As for the other pending moves affecting the A-10:

The one question mark is Charlotte. The 49ers were offered a spot in the Sun Belt, but rejected it, according to a source. The same source said Charlotte is expected to join Conference USA for all sports since it started a football program. A source with knowledge of the A-10's plans said the league expects Charlotte to leave, possibly as early as 2013 but it could be 2014.

The source said the A-10 has had talks with Colonial Athletic Association members George Mason and VCU, but the latter is on hold with the departure of athletic director Norwood Teague to the same position to Minnesota.

The A-10 pulled off a coup in basketball realignment that is akin at its level to the ACC getting Syracuse and Pitt from the Big East in the power six. The A-10 had to replace a legitimate tradition-rich basketball school in Temple with a comparable school and did so with Butler.

The A-10 is expected to stay at 14 teams in one division. But if the A-10 were to go to 16 teams then it would explore a two-divisional format. But the source said there hasn't been any discussion of moving to divisions.

[URI]

To piggy back on Mark, the Horizon League was notified of Butler bouncing

www.horizonleague.org/blog/statement-from-horizon-league-commissioner-jon-lecrone-concerning-butler-university.html

[DrewDawg]

Rumor on some boards that GMU's new President is against the move to the A-10 but VCU is still looking to jump.

Word is that Charlotte lobbied CUSA to include ODU in it's expansion plans--Charlotte's AD is Terry Holland who is apparently long-time friends with ODU's AD.

[mabrowndog]

Texas State-San Marcos from the WAC to the Sun Belt is now official, but it gets even worse for the WAC. Texas-Arlington, which is jumping from the Southland to the WAC as a non-football member in 2012, will join the Bobcats in bolting for the SBC. Both moves are effective July 1, 2013.

So in basketball, the Sun Belt gains TX St, TX-Arl and GA State while losing N.Tex, Fla Int'l and Denver to remain a 12-team conference.

In football, the SBC gains TX St, GA State and S. Alabama (adding football this year) while losing N. Tex and Fla Int'l. They'll be a 10-team league.

The WAC, already down to 2 football teams (Idaho & New Mexico St) by 2014, will now be down to 4 basketball teams as well (ID, NM St, Denver & Seattle).

[mabrowndog]

Came across this blog, and while I have no idea how reliable the sources/connections are, they say George Mason to the A-10 is a no go.

For many months rumors have been circulating about the George Mason Patriots leave the CAA and joining the Atlantic-10 conference. Depending on who you talked to it was either accepted as a great thing for Mason or just bad timing.

I have learned today from sources within the Athletic Department that George Mason WILL NOT be going to the Atlantic-10 and this decision just happened within the last day or so. The hesitation to make the jump was the ultimate factor and had nothing to do with what VCU wanted to accomplish. At this time, it is unclear if VCU is still in the position to make the move.

Unconfirmed reports though suggest that incoming President, Dr. Angel Cabrera, was not in favor of the move.

[DrewDawg]

https://twitter.com/#!/MatShelton

Just got this in an email about VCU/A10. "It appears you will get your wish, and it's coming quickly............" HOLD ON TIGHT RAM FANS!

The guy is connected to VCU somehow, but not exactly sure how...

Edited by DrewDawg, 02 May 2012 - 08:10 PM.

[URI]

That'll be the 3rd Rams in the A10.

I still think George Mason jumps, but it might not be until year after next. The A10 is going to keep dropping hints until it's a done deal....unless GMU is going to start sponsoring football.

[Orel Miraculous]

The A10 has now cemented itself as the premier non-BCS basketball conference in the country (if that wasn't already the case). Even with the loss of Temple (which is certainly a big blow) the conference will safely average 3-4 bids per year and should put more teams in the tournament than at least one of the big boys on a semi-regular basis.

[mabrowndog]

With Butler gone from the Horizon, Oakland U. (of Rochester MI) might replace them.

The soon-to-be, nine-team Horizon League is geographically situated much closer to Oakland’s Rochester-area campus than the Summit, in which Oakland’s nearest rival is located some four hours away in Fort Wayne, Ind. Oakland would be the second team from Michigan in the Horizon League, joining the University of Detroit. The league also has member schools in Cleveland, Chicago, Milwaukee and Dayton, Ohio, among others. The conference is also home to Oakland’s former conference rival Valparaiso, located in Indiana.

The Horizon League could be a coup for Oakland’s student athletes and fans alike, because a reduction in travel keeps students in class and the proximity of the Horizon League’s members increases the likelihood of Oakland’s fans making the trip to road games.

A loophole in Horizon bylaws affords Detroit the opportunity to deny Oakland’s acceptance into the conference, but LeCrone noted Wednesday the 25-mile radius for veto power can be overruled by a unanimous vote by the conference’s other members. Huth said Detroit would be the obvious choice for a natural rival for Oakland if it was to join the Horizon League. The two schools compete in most sports -- except for men’s basketball, where they haven’t met since 2003-04. A potential rematch keeps Oakland fans salivating and a game was scheduled for last season, according to coach Greg Kampe, before the Titans backed out.

An exit fee could be assessed, Huth said, based on the timing of any possible departure. Former conference member Oral Roberts ponied up more than $250,000 to leave the league a year ago and another $100,000 to join the Southland Conference.

LeCrone said the Horizon League’s headquarters will remain in Indianapolis, despite hometown program Butler’s departure. Oakland’s current Summit League rival, IUPUI, which also calls Indy home, has also been rumored as a replacement for the Horizon League.

[mabrowndog]

A bunch of different sources (media, blogs, message boards, word of mouth) floating various scenarios involving schools bolting the CAA for various reasons. This is prompting speculation that those moves would spark the creation of a new football conference with the remaining basketball-focused members merging with America East.

Here's one media source. Here's another.

Among the rumors/predictions/suggestions:

* NC-Wilmington to the Southern Conference (D1 hoop, FCS FB) where the Seahawks and NC-Greensboro would both start up football programs. This would be a hedge by the SoCon in case App St and/or GA Southern leave for FBS.

* Towson and William & Mary to the Patriot in all sports.

* Delaware, JMU, Richmond, Villanova, UNH & Maine from CAA join with Stony Brook (Big South) & Albany (NEC) in an 8-team FCS football league. (Albany & Stony Brook are in AE for all other sports). A new stadium for Albany has been discussed. The league would provide four pairs of geographic rivals, and would dissolve the CAA as a football conference.

* A new 8-team basketball league would merge Binghamton, BU, Hartford, MD-Baltimore Cty and Vermont from AE with Drexel, Hofstra & Northeastern from the CAA.

* Another take suggests the new football league wouldn't include Albany, Stony Brook, UNH or Maine, and that the other 4 teams would instead seek additional schools with better facilities and geography in hopes of jumping to FBS as a group. App St & GA Southern were immediately floated as the two most likely fits to form the minimum 6-team alignment for FBS. Someone mentioned Army as a possible addition, prompting another to suggest UMass. So you'd end up with:
UMass
Army
Villanova
Delaware
JMU
Richmond
App State
GA Southern
Four pairs of regional rivals, all with strong football traditions, and a league covering most of the eastern seaboard. But Richmond is the clear outlier in terms of facilities. They just opened their new stadium 2 years ago with a capacity of 8,700. No idea on who could replace them in this set-up. Maybe Buffalo?

* That latter scenario would also kill off any new stadium chatter at Albany. Seems unlikely Maine, UNH, Stony Brook and the Great Danes would drop to the non-scholarship NEC in football. In basketball and most other sports they could join the new CAA/AE hoops-centric merger, making that a 12-team conference. So what would they do in football? Would Maine, Albany & UNH join Stony Brook in the Big South to form a 10-team league? Man, talk about your liberal vs conservative culture clashes. The northern schools would also be at a huge travel disadvantage. Then again, what other options would they have? Meanwhile Richmond would seem destined for the Patriot League.

[Infield Infidel]

This is on OrangeBloods so maybe take it with a grain of salt, but if FSU wants to keep competing with Florida, money will eventually become an issue and they'd make more in the Big XII. I had a brief though when WVU went to the Big 12 that they would perhaps try to get a foothold in the East, and maybe FSU could do that

http://texas.rivals....asp?CID=1363940

The contract includes football-only third tier rights revenue. And that's where the future of Florida State in the ACC and whether it would ever seriously consider jumping to the Big 12 could take on a life of its own.
The Seminoles are in one of the few states - with a population of 19 million - in which a university could turn its third-tier rights into the school's own television network the way Texas has done in the Lone Star State (population 25.6 million).TOO GOOD TO PASS UP?: One industry source said if Texas can command $300 million over 20 years - $15 million per year in additional TV revenue - for its own network, Florida State should be able to command at least a third that much ($5 million), if not more, in a state with so many television sets and a passion for FSU sports.
So before everyone dismisses Florida State ever taking a serious look at jumping from the ACC into the Big 12, consider that.
Now, with the contract between the ACC and ESPN being announced Wednesday, the decision of Florida State to stay or go from its current conference home becomes accelerated. Florida State officials could come out at any moment and say, definitively, the Seminoles are not leaving the ACC.

Warchant.com, the Florida State site on the Yahoo/Rivals network, reported May 4 that Florida State is facing an athletics department shortfall of $2.4 million for the 2012-13 academic year.
And that's coming on the heels of 10- and nine-win seasons for football that included two sold out bowl games. Men's basketball followed a Sweet 16 appearance in 2011 with an ACC Championship in 2012. And baseball has hosted back-to-back NCAA Regionals.

This would be the biggest power-move since Nebraska moving if they could do it. It would counter the SEC going into Texas and getting A&M, and would leave them one school short for for 12 and a title game (Georgia Tech? Virginia Tech? Louisville? Tulane, who had been mentioned as a Vandy-type roundheel to boost win totals and further get into SEC territory?)

Edited by Infield Infidel, 11 May 2012 - 01:27 AM.

[mabrowndog]

This would be the biggest power-move since Nebraska moving if they could do it. It would counter the SEC going into Texas and getting A&M, and would leave them one school short for for 12 and a title game (Georgia Tech? Virginia Tech? Louisville? Tulane, who had been mentioned as a Vandy-type roundheel to boost win totals and further get into SEC territory?)

Agreed. It would be a fantastic move for the Big 12, and a really smart move for FSU. Having dated an FSU alum for several years and gone to many games in Tallahassee, my perception has been that Seminole fans and alumni are far less ingrained with the southeast pride thing that grips most SEC schools including Florida, as well as ACC schools (VA, NC, Duke, NC St). By that I mean they'd be far less provincial about breaking away from a traditional conference rivalry base rooted in the confederate states and moving to one that's essentially Texas and the plains.

Bringing a second ACC school into the Big 12 fold also makes huge sense. I wonder if there's a chance they could also get Miami, and would MU be interested? Talk about a coup. The Big 12 would almost instantly gain the major leg up on Florida recruiting over both its primary rival conferences in the east.

[ethangl]

I've read that none of the football-oriented programs (FSU/Miami/VT/Clemson) in the ACC are happy, but Clemson essentially has their bags packed and are just waiting for FSU to make the first move.

[mabrowndog]

I've read that none of the football-oriented programs (FSU/Miami/VT/Clemson) in the ACC are happy, but Clemson essentially has their bags packed and are just waiting for FSU to make the first move.

Definitely makes sense for both the school and the conference. You'd have WVU in the heart of PA/OH/VA recruiting grounds. About 400 miles south, Clemson would cover north GA and the Carolinas. Another 300 miles SW would be FSU, with exposure to Florida and the southern regions of GA, AL and MS. None of the three schools would bring large markets to the table, but the geographic presence over a wide swath of the eastern US would still be huge.

[DrewDawg]

I've read that none of the football-oriented programs (FSU/Miami/VT/Clemson) in the ACC are happy, but Clemson essentially has their bags packed and are just waiting for FSU to make the first move.

VT twisted so many arms and greased many palms to get into the ACC and now they want to bail?

[RedOctober3829]

George Mason is going to remain in the CAA. GMU was never offered A-10 membership, nor did it apply, but did meet with representatives #masonmbb

https://twitter.com/#!/GMUWashPost/status/200980802278932480
https://twitter.com/#!/GMUWashPost/status/200983096319942656

[SumnerH]

VT twisted so many arms and greased many palms to get into the ACC and now they want to bail?

Not only that, but the legislature basically forced the ACC to take VT over Syracuse in that round of reorganization. Is there any reason to think they'd let VT bolt for the SEC now that they finally have them and UVA in the same conference?

[ethangl]

I see y'all have broken out your 'jump to conclusions' mats.

[Infield Infidel]

Agreed. It would be a fantastic move for the Big 12, and a really smart move for FSU. Having dated an FSU alum for several years and gone to many games in Tallahassee, my perception has been that Seminole fans and alumni are far less ingrained with the southeast pride thing that grips most SEC schools including Florida, as well as ACC schools (VA, NC, Duke, NC St). By that I mean they'd be far less provincial about breaking away from a traditional conference rivalry base rooted in the confederate states and moving to one that's essentially Texas and the plains.

I think this has to do with FSU's history. They've only been in the ACC for 20 years, and before that they were independent forever. To get the program going, Bowden had an anyone, anytime, any place philosophy which FSU fans still take pride in. The used to play ND and WVU every now and then. they just did a home and home with BYU.

Compare that to Florida, who hasn't played a non-conf road game outside of the state of Florida since playing Syracuse in 1991. Think about it, the entire time FSU has been in the ACC, Florida hasn't played a non-conf road game out of state!

[Clears Cleaver]

Well, the smoke just got a bit thicker in Tallahassee. the Chair of the BOT basically went on warchant.com and blasted the TV deal and the ACC. Jimbo Fisher was quaoted at a booster club meeting saying that if the big12 made sense then they should go. Now, the BOT chair had misinformation about the TV deal, but its clear that the Board wants to explore the big 12. Clemson will leave in roughly 8 seconds if asked. Or would the Big 12 prefer Louisville?

this is so crazy. Of course, FSU could stay...

[RedOctober3829]

Well, the smoke just got a bit thicker in Tallahassee. the Chair of the BOT basically went on warchant.com and blasted the TV deal and the ACC. Jimbo Fisher was quaoted at a booster club meeting saying that if the big12 made sense then they should go. Now, the BOT chair had misinformation about the TV deal, but its clear that the Board wants to explore the big 12. Clemson will leave in roughly 8 seconds if asked. Or would the Big 12 prefer Louisville?

this is so crazy. Of course, FSU could stay...

As far as the UConn angle, this would be the open door they need to jump to the ACC.

[Sea Dog]

Clemson will leave in roughly 8 seconds if asked. Or would the Big 12 prefer Louisville?

If they could, maybe the Big 12 could take both and expand to 14.

East -- Florida State, Miami, Clemson, Louisville, West Virginia, Iowa State, Kansas
West -- Texas, Texas Tech, Baylor, TCU, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Kansas State

Texas/Oklahoma bring brand names in one division, Florida State/Miami/WVU/Clemson in the other one. The Canes would be a great way to solidify the Florida market. It's like Texas -- Longhorns are fine, but quality in Baylor, TCU and Texas Tech gives TV partners more Texas options. Same with Florida State and Miami should they double down a package. Miami might not have the same support or fan base, but the brand still means something, especially in the market.

Edited by Sea Dog, 13 May 2012 - 01:58 AM.

[mabrowndog]

If they could, maybe the Big 12 could take both and expand to 14.

East -- Florida State, Miami, Clemson, Louisville, West Virginia, Iowa State, Kansas
West -- Texas, Texas Tech, Baylor, TCU, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Kansas State

I like the concept, but just a slight nitpick. No way they'll put KS and KSU in separate divisions unless their annual rivalry game is guaranteed to continue on an inter-divisional basis. More likely they'd put both in the East with ISU in the West.

[Sea Dog]

I like the concept, but just a slight nitpick. No way they'll put KS and KSU in separate divisions unless their annual rivalry game is guaranteed to continue on an inter-divisional basis. More likely they'd put both in the East with ISU in the West.

I thought about that, too. I'm a KU guy. I think KU and K-State would be OK separated if they know it's for the best in the conference. Do what the SEC does, have one cross-division rivalry, and they ensure that football game happens the second Saturday of October, same as usual. Looking back at those divisions, though, I should've put KU in the west and K-State in the east so the KSU-ISU "Farmageddon" rivalry would continue.

I like Iowa State in the east for proximity to Louisville and WVU, trying to make those schools feel less isolated.

Edited by Sea Dog, 13 May 2012 - 09:23 PM.

[Infield Infidel]

If they could, maybe the Big 12 could take both and expand to 14.

East -- Florida State, Miami, Clemson, Louisville, West Virginia, Iowa State, Kansas
West -- Texas, Texas Tech, Baylor, TCU, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Kansas State

Texas/Oklahoma bring brand names in one division, Florida State/Miami/WVU/Clemson in the other one. The Canes would be a great way to solidify the Florida market. It's like Texas -- Longhorns are fine, but quality in Baylor, TCU and Texas Tech gives TV partners more Texas options. Same with Florida State and Miami should they double down a package. Miami might not have the same support or fan base, but the brand still means something, especially in the market.

The funny thing is, if Pitt hadn't jumped to the ACC, they would have almost assuredly gotten the potential Louisville spot and preserved their rivalry with WVU

[Clears Cleaver]

1) the ACC contract sucks. Adding Pitt and Syracuse got them locked into ESPN for 12+ years and got them $1M more than they had already. The Big12, SEC and Pac10 contracts blow them away.
2) FSU has to go fishing, but they have one option, the Big12. And they have to pay a $20M exit fee (that the big12 will likely pick up)
3) ESPN looks terrible here (shock)
4) the ACC never takes Pitt and Syracuse if they knew Texas and OU were not going west. Now maybe they are sitting ducks?
5) none of the other schools out there will make a dent in any TV contract. The next moves will be to raid from one big conference to another, with the ACC most vulnerable

[Sea Dog]

The funny thing is, if Pitt hadn't jumped to the ACC, they would have almost assuredly gotten the potential Louisville spot and preserved their rivalry with WVU

At one point, before Oklahoma started to flirt with the Pac-12 last summer, the Sooners pushed for Pitt, WVU and Louisville to join the conference, pushing the Big 12 back to 12 teams -- Texas A&M was gone basically, but Mizzou-to-the-SEC hadn't grown any legs yet. Had Oklahoma gotten its way -- it didn't because Texas vehemently opposed any expansion -- maybe TCU's still a free agent and the ACC's still at 12 teams.

Amazing how many different "what if" scenarios have infolded the past two summers. And there's always something new.

Edited by Sea Dog, 13 May 2012 - 09:27 PM.

[Domer]

3) ESPN looks terrible here (shock)

How does ESPN look terrible? They got a great deal and Comcast and CBS still haven't gained any significant rights since relaunching their channels.