One more thing, Sam. I'm hearing geography was super-important to California schools. That they're not interested in adding schools west of the Rockies at all. Pac12 commish is fine with it...but the member institutions are not. We saw that same sort of thinking with the ACC...where they talked about how important it was to stay in Eastern time zone. I think a combination of: 1. schools being forced to take along their little brother; plus 2. academic scrutiny; plus 3. geographical scrutiny makes the idea of moving to super conferences a lot more difficult than the "inevitability" it's painted to be.
You see, I think the super conferences are inevitable, but only because local 'no-name' schools/programs will eventually grow in size and quality to the point where adding them to local 'big-name' conferences makes sense. So, instead of having these cross-continent mega power conferences, you'll end up having very condensed, regional, 14+ member leagues because it ends up making monetary, geographic, and academic sense. This phenomenon will likely happen on the East coast a lot quicker than on the West coast simply because of the parity and density of schools over there. But eventually it will work its way across America. The heartland, in particular, is going to evolve in this manner particularly slow, because there is such a wide gap (both geographically and in terms of resources) from one school to the other.
Why would all the Presidents let their commissioner get to what was, by all accounts, a done deal last year, and then let things go for 2 months this year before mentioning that at the very end?
While I agree with you for the most part, UT not making concessions to the PAC will be the move that ultimately saved the Big 12 (should it survive). I wouldn't mind making some minor concessions just for the sake of getting the target off of our back, but the past 24 hours have shown that we're not in a position to be forced to make any major ones IMO.
just because the chip browns reported this as a done deal doesn't mean it was. AP reporter out of California kept making that comment that very night it was being reported like it had already happened. what the commissioner wants and is pushing is one thing....what the member institutions will agree to is another.
I agree with this...if it's going to happen, it's going to happen the way you're describing. In that case, though, this may be an inevitability, but it is no where near imminent. It's difficult for me to imagine what schools the Pac12 would deem worthy of admission that are west of the Rockies. Being centrally located and have alternatives right here in Texas put the Big 12 in good position for that, actually.
I know Boise State is for real in football, but those ' city' named schools just sound so rinky-dink. And, that blue field has got to go.
Mack Brown said in an interview that the admin last year called him and told him the move was done, about 24 hours before everything changed. That's as direct a source as you can get.
ahhh..i just realized you said LAST YEAR. i was thinking of this go-around. you make a good point. not sure.
OU has been the subject of ridicule on Twitter this morning and last night...funniest one last night was one that said they were demanding share of revenues from sale of fried Twinkies and corndogs, plus free Ferris Wheel rides at State Fair. DickieV Dick Vitale Really bothers me reading demands of Oklahoma - BUSH & 2nd rate. -1st grade stuff can't have their way whine.Shame on Prez! @SethDavisHoops SethDavisHoops Seth davis by DickieV The Big 12 should take Oklahoma's demands and tell them to stick 'em where the sun don't shine. Where they gonna go, the Missouri Valley?
The problem with Boise State is that it is the epitome of the one-trick pony (bronco). *Bad geography insofar with only the pacific northwest being remotely close (though still 4-500 miles ) *Just plain bad academics and no prestige to speak of *No success in other sports (save Wrestling and Javelin - the utlimate non-revenue package) *No real tradition/history/mystique or powerful alumni base *Not near any major population centers And the plus is... ...recentlly a very good football team Basically, making an alliance with Boise State is saying "the only thing that matters is what happens on the field and f-k all the rest" - a tough pill to swallow.
ChipBrownOB Chip Brown Also hearing TCU is exploring the possibility of returning to the Mountain West instead joining the Big East next season.
Colorado State, New Mexico, and Hawai'i will likely be the next in line, but that may be 20+ years from now. The biggest hurdle for the Pac 12 is obviously the academic standards, as opposed to the Big 12, so you're right, that gap may close a little quicker than I originally thought East-West.
100% correct. No conference wants a team to join that is going to win all their football championships and contribute virtually nothing revenue-wise, academically, or other "soft factors" (i.e. nice locale, competitive other sports, geographic-logistics, etc). They're an attractive add for a conference trying to get BCS status, but a huge liability for any other conference.
right now it's soooo difficult to imagine the Pac including those schools. you're right, give it some time and that might change.
Being in Vegas, I was exposed to quite a bit of local coverage regarding BYU's departure from the MWC...and all I can say is that the schools in the B12 better watch out with bringing BYU in. The TV sets will be there...but also a ton of baggage.
Like I said, it's a transformation that will go East-West and be verrrrrrrrry slow. ACC expanded first, next up is SEC... then Big 10... then Big 12... then eventually, 50 friggin' years from now, Pac 12. Baby steps.
