Conference Realignments - Take 2

[The Sicatoka]

1. This thread is to discuss conference realignments. Check the other crap at the web portal.

2. I needed the old thread to keep up with all the changes so it getting locked was a real disappointment to me.

3. I have moderator powers. (Betcha didn't know that.) I haven't ever banned anyone but do wonder how it'd feel, so, in the immortal words of Harry Callahan, "Go ahead, ... make my day."

4. Expect a strict constructionalist interpretation of the forum rules and guidelines.

[The Sicatoka]

So who has the Big XII decided to invite and who will accept the right to be under the conference domination of the "Austin Angus"?

Where will that trickle down?

And I saw on some news site that the Big East will be adding football members: Who?

[FargoBison]

This is interesting....

Under the heading of "possible future conferences" for the Big 12, it lists BYU, Louisville, TCU, West Virginia and Notre Dame (excluding football) as potential new members that could restore the fractured league to full strength. A TCU announcement of such a move was expected later Monday.

http://www.wkrn.com/story/15658809/apnewsbreak-document-outlines-mizzou-sec-options?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

[Csonked Out]

I wonder what kind of pressure Villanove is getting to move its football program from FCS to FBS, seems like a logical move to me.

[FargoBison]

I don't know, I've heard some people say they might cut football.

[bincitysioux]

Despite, having a normally top notch FCS program, Villanova gets crap support and plays in crap facilities. I have to think that when the Big East was begging 'Nova to upgrade that it was mostly the basketball schools pushing it. I doubt that Rutgers, Pitt, Syracuse, and South Florida looked forward to Villanova going FBS.

[Csonked Out]

I would imagine Memphis would be interested in applying so that they can get into a conference with an Autobid and I have been reading that there is actually a small chance that Boise State may be interested for the same reason. You add those two with maybe an Eastern Carolina and UCF and they are back in business.

[IrishSiouxFan]

Personally, I think BYU is a better add for the 12 than Louisville. I can't help but wonder how potential raids will effect MWC and the WAC, if Boise had better academics they would be picked up by a BCS conference in a heart beat. The Big East is sure to raid the C-USA for possibly ECU, Houston, UCF, I also think they will go after Air Force, Navy, Army, and Temple. I wonder if any of this will trickle down and effect us? Would the Montana's leave the Big Sky to an unsure future with the WAC? Could we somehow tag along if they did? What's the benefit in staying in a Big Sky without both Montana schools?

[IrishSiouxFan]

I would imagine Memphis would be interested in applying so that they can get into a conference with an Autobid and I have been reading that there is actually a small chance that Boise State may be interested for the same reason. You add those two with maybe an Eastern Carolina and UCF and they are back in business.

Memphis has the worst football team in the nation although their basketball program is solid. Not sure the Big East would want to add another basketball school, they seem more inept at keeping their AQ status.

[bincitysioux]

BYU to the Big 12 seems like a no-brainer. BYU covets AQ status, brings TV dollars, and fills the western void left by Colorado's departure. UCF makes great sense for the Big East as they are one of the fastest growing schools in the country and are located in football-rich Florida. Sounds like South Florida is against them getting in.

[star2city]

Boston.com: Big East looking at Boise State, Air Force, Navy, UCF, Temple (and maybe Villanova)

http://www.boston.co...de_boise_state/

Boise State, Air Force, and Navy would be for football only.

Some believe that the Big East has to add Boise State in order to keep their BCS ratings high enough and keep their AQ. Boise State, as well as AFA and Navy would also be be ratings boosters and ensure the Big East football contract remains substantial.

Karl Benson of the WAC has stated in papers that the WAC would be very open to finding sports for Boise State and Air Force in all sports. The WAC would then have 5 non-football members + 7 football members.

If both BSU and AFA left the MWC, Nevada and Fresno State may back out of moving to the MWC, as the MWC no longer would have any hope of an AQ. But most likely, the WAC would lose Utah State and maybe San Jose State. But with BSU and AFA in the WAC in other sports, schools like Montana, Montana State, and Sac State might actually move up.

[star2city]

BYU to the Big 12 seems like a no-brainer. BYU covets AQ status, brings TV dollars, and fills the western void left by Colorado's departure. UCF makes great sense for the Big East as they are one of the fastest growing schools in the country and are located in football-rich Florida. Sounds like South Florida is against them getting in.

Talks between the Big 12 and BYU have supposedly broken down because of certain stands within the LDS Church. (Wanted to keep BYU sports as part of the BYU channel as well as not playing on Sunday.)

If the Big 12 goes back to 12 (or goes to 10 if it loses Missouri), the backfill sequence would supposedly be Louisville first, then West Virginia, then Cincinnati.

The SEC is reportedly also considering SMU as it 14th team rather than Missouri. The SEC wants the Dallas market in its own footprint, for multiple reasons: (a) every SEC west school would get to play in Texas once a year for recruiting purposes, (b) puts Dallas and Atlanta in play for the championship (huge bidding war), © makes Dallas partially an SEC city - effectively stabbing the Big 12, Texas, and Oklahoma in the heart of their recruiting zone, (d) Houston is covered with Texas A&M, but Dallas not nearly as much, and Dallas is a more important media center, (e) St Louis and KC matter less relative to gaining more Texas media and recruits. Missouri is the much larger school and has AAU status, so the money really has to sway the SEC for it to change direction.

SMU and Houston are also in consideration for the Big East, especially if the Big East loses Louisville/WVU to the Big 12.

http://www.chron.com...mix-2212241.php

[IrishSiouxFan]

Boston.com: Big East looking at Boise State, Air Force, Navy, UCF, Temple (and maybe Villanova)

http://www.boston.co...de_boise_state/

Boise State, Air Force, and Navy would be for football only.

Some believe that the Big East has to add Boise State in order to keep their BCS ratings high enough and keep their AQ. Boise State, as well as AFA and Navy would also be be ratings boosters and ensure the Big East football contract remains substantial.

Karl Benson of the WAC has stated in papers that the WAC would be very open to finding sports for Boise State and Air Force in all sports. The WAC would then have 5 non-football members + 7 football members.

If both BSU and AFA left the MWC, Nevada and Fresno State may back out of moving to the MWC, as the MWC no longer would have any hope of an AQ. But most likely, the WAC would lose Utah State and maybe San Jose State. But with BSU and AFA in the WAC in other sports, schools like Montana, Montana State, and Sac State might actually move up.

This would be disastrous for UND, I hope it doesn't happen.

[star2city]

Boston College blackballed UConn, forced the ACC to select Pitt instead

http://articles.bost...expansion-bcs/3

The first target was Syracuse, which had been on the original ACC expansion list eight years ago. The Orangemen, like BC, were disappointed when they didn’t make the final cut, passed over for Virginia Tech and Miami.

Under coach Jim Boeheim, Syracuse was clearly one of the elite basketball teams in the country and would boost the ACC’s stature in that sport.

The second target was Connecticut, which was part of the Northeast footprint the ACC wanted, and was coming off the daily double of a BCS bid in football and a championship in men’s basketball (the third for Jim Calhoun).

In addition, the women’s basketball program under Geno Auriemma had established itself as the most dominant in the sport over the past 15 years.

With growing instability in the Big East, both schools were bound to accept any offers.

While Syracuse presented no problem, UConn did - to BC, which was still fuming over what it perceived to be vitriolic comments made when BC was finally invited to join the ACC and started competing in 2005. UConn and Pittsburgh filed a lawsuit against BC, and Calhoun made comments about never playing BC again.DeFilippo does not deny that BC opposed the inclusion of UConn.

“We didn’t want them in,’’ he said. “It was a matter of turf. We wanted to be the New England team.’’

Turning to Pittsburgh BC officials argued that Pittsburgh, with a stronger tradition in football, as well as a long-established - though dormant - rivalry with the Eagles, would be a better fit.

[star2city]

This would be disastrous for UND, I hope it doesn't happen.

We just need to follow Montana and Montana State where ever they go.

Denver, Seattle, Air Force, Boise St, UT-Arlington - rather decent company to be in.

There's actually a rumor among Boise St fans that their administration wants to start hockey. Boise has an arena and a hockey fan base, so its not that far fetched.

If CUSA loses four or more teams, and if the MWC loses AFA and Boise St, four conferences were become a jumbled mess: CUSA, MWC, WAC, and Sunbelt.

There's already war between the Atlantic 10 and CAA ongoing. The A10 wants to take George Mason and VCU from the CAA, while the CAA is trying to poach Charlotte, Richmond, and George Washington from the A10.

[IrishSiouxFan]

Would we have the ability to follow UM and MSU to the WAC? Boise would be a welcome addition to the NCHC, how awkward would it be to have two teams named the Broncos in one league., ho wait a minute, we already play in a conference that has two teams of the same name (Huskies).

[siouxu31]

Would we have the ability to follow UM and MSU to the WAC? Boise would be a welcome addition to the NCHC, how awkward would it be to have two teams named the Broncos in one league., ho wait a minute, we already play in a conference that has two teams of the same name (Huskies).

2 Mavericks also

[IrishSiouxFan]

2 Mavericks also

Good call, I forgot about that.

[UNDColorado]

We just need to follow Montana and Montana State where ever they go.

Denver, Seattle, Air Force, Boise St, UT-Arlington - rather decent company to be in.

There's actually a rumor among Boise St fans that their administration wants to start hockey. Boise has an arena and a hockey fan base, so its not that far fetched.

If CUSA loses four or more teams, and if the MWC loses AFA and Boise St, four conferences were become a jumbled mess: CUSA, MWC, WAC, and Sunbelt.

There's already war between the Atlantic 10 and CAA ongoing. The A10 wants to take George Mason and VCU from the CAA, while the CAA is trying to poach Charlotte, Richmond, and George Washington from the A10.

I definitely agree that we need to follow the Montana schools wherever they go. If for some reason we cant follow them, is it out of the question to get the 3 other Dakota schools in the Big Sky as a last resort? Maybe now is the time to get serious about upgrading facilities?!

[PhillySioux]

I definitely agree that we need to follow the Montana schools wherever they go. If for some reason we cant follow them, is it out of the question to get the 3 other Dakota schools in the Big Sky as a last resort? Maybe now is the time to get serious about upgrading facilities?!

There is no way the 3 Dakota Schools entertain the Big Sky sans UM and MSU. And really, neither should UND.

[darell1976]

I definitely agree that we need to follow the Montana schools wherever they go. If for some reason we cant follow them, is it out of the question to get the 3 other Dakota schools in the Big Sky as a last resort? Maybe now is the time to get serious about upgrading facilities?!

We would need just 1 upgrade to move to the FBS (Memorial Stadium!!), but with Eastern Michigan averaging only 3903 per game...maybe we can get away with playing football in the Alerus. Just make up some pretend seats and sell them. According to NCAA rules you can count butts in the seats or tickets sold...IMO it should be butts in the seats. But thats how EMU gets away with that 15,000 attendance minimum.

[MplsBison]

We just need to follow Montana and Montana State where ever they go.

Denver, Seattle, Air Force, Boise St, UT-Arlington - rather decent company to be in.

There's actually a rumor among Boise St fans that their administration wants to start hockey. Boise has an arena and a hockey fan base, so its not that far fetched.

If CUSA loses four or more teams, and if the MWC loses AFA and Boise St, four conferences were become a jumbled mess: CUSA, MWC, WAC, and Sunbelt.

There's already war between the Atlantic 10 and CAA ongoing. The A10 wants to take George Mason and VCU from the CAA, while the CAA is trying to poach Charlotte, Richmond, and George Washington from the A10.

Maybe if UND had been in the Big Sky for the last 20 years, with great established rivalries with Montana and Montana St could you propose tagging along.

But you haven't even played a game in the conference yet. It's absurd trying to link yourself to UM/MSU already. You've never been in a conf with them. You're a central time zone, historically midwestern conference school while the Montana's are mountain time zone, historically western US conference schools.

UND's roots are still in the Dakotas, not the western US. Maybe it's time for you to pull your head out of the (Big Sky) clouds and return to your roots? The Summit will be waiting when Montana's leave the Big Sky. Hopefully NDSU will back UND for MVFC membership as well.

[IrishSiouxFan]

Maybe if UND had been in the Big Sky for the last 20 years, with great established rivalries with Montana and Montana St could you propose tagging along.

But you haven't even played a game in the conference yet. It's absurd trying to link yourself to UM/MSU already. You've never been in a conf with them. You're a central time zone, historically midwestern conference school while the Montana's are mountain time zone, historically western US conference schools.

UND's roots are still in the Dakotas, not the western US. Maybe it's time for you to pull your head out of the (Big Sky) clouds and return to your roots? The Summit will be waiting when Montana's leave the Big Sky. Hopefully NDSU will back UND for MVFC membership as well.

UND in the Summit League and MVFC sounds more like a doomsday scenario rather than a homecoming. I think there's too much bad blood between UND, the Summit, and the MVFC for that to come to play. I would almost rather see UND drop all sports but hockey before that happened. Now, if UND, NDSU, USD, SDSU, UNO, and a couple of other schools where to breakoff and form a new conference I think that might work. Personally, I think UND could get the support they need to get a WAC invite if they wanted to.

[senor_sieve]

UND in the Summit League and MVFC sounds more like a doomsday scenario rather than a homecoming. I think there's too much bad blood between UND, the Summit, and the MVFC for that to come to play. I would almost rather see UND drop all sports but hockey before that happened. Now, if UND, NDSU, USD, SDSU, UNO, and a couple of other schools where to breakoff and form a new conference I think that might work. Personally, I think UND could get the support they need to get a WAC invite if they wanted to.

UND, NDSU, USD, SDSU, UNO? in the same conference? blasphemy, that would (literally) be the NCC all over again. might as well throw NoCo in there too.

but really, why not take the 4 dakota schools, UNO, UNCo, and the montanas and make a conference. might need to add a team or two (idaho? denver? maybe wyoming if the MWC falls apart ever). nice geographic footprint, stable core of teams, natural rivalries, sellouts, $$$$. just wishful thinking though.

[bincitysioux]

Personally, I would take the Big Sky with no presence in the state of Montana over the Summit League.