NCAA Football 2011 Season Catch-All

I saved the article to Instapaper to read soon, but I will say that ESPN calling anyone out for corrupting college athletics was laughable before the Longhorn Network. Now it's just preposterous.

WTH, PAC 12 announces they are not expanding! Are they serious, or is this a legal/bargaining tactic?

Fedaykin98 wrote:

WTH, PAC 12 announces they are not expanding! Are they serious, or is this a legal/bargaining tactic?

Perhaps they came to their senses and realized that having a conference with more than 12 members is kind of a stupid idea.

The Oregon fans really booed Missouri State? That's pretty disrespectful, and classless.

If the PAC12 and Big 10 both stay at twelve then I think the SEC will probably stop at 14. The BIG12 is going to be in a tough spot. OU and Texas both have exit strategies in place that really depended on the PAC opening up for at least two schools (OU and OK State). I think the plan was for OU and Ok State jump, then Texas goes independent as a result (blaming OU). Seems like OU's stuck now, which will probably keep the Big12-3 floating for at least another year.

Thanks to a helpful letter from the USF AD, any school that leaves the Big East has to give 27 months notice, so the ACC won't be getting their new teams until at least 2014.

David Boren, lead us to the promised land!

i38warhawk wrote:

The Oregon fans really booed Missouri State? That's pretty disrespectful, and classless.

They did. And it was. My buddy who has season tickets even shook his head and he's a die hard duck. We're both a little more old school. From back in the day when you just didn't do that. Unless it was pro sports and there was a player who had taken down one of yours. Booing kids from 1-AA? Ugh.

Fedaykin98 wrote:

WTH, PAC 12 announces they are not expanding! Are they serious, or is this a legal/bargaining tactic?

It's a mess. If the PAC-12 could have kept their mouts shut for a little longer, maybe the Big 12 could have gotten some decent concessions from Texas. I'm afraid that leverage is gone. That means the Big 12 lives, until this all starts over again next year.

Best case scenario now would be for the Big 12 to oust Beebe and stick together to force Texas to change or get out. Then Texas will take their LHN to the SEC where it can easily co-exist with the ESPN contract the SEC already has. And no, that doesn't mean the Big 12 would want A&M back.

I think there is a shot that the Big 12 could, with concessions or the secession of Texas, start grabbing schools like BYU, TCU, and some big East schools. they could try to get to 16 first, and lock-up a decent TV deal with ESPN. I think that is a HUGE longshot, and would require Beebe to be gone. I think the Big 12 is still way too unstable to be an attractive option for anyone.

But my number one preference would be for Kansas to remain in a conference n the middle of the country. Part of college football is about fans traveling to away games. getting stuck in a PAC-12 or ACC conference would only be better than getting stuck in a non-AQ conference.

I'm really curious about Missouri's status. It seems like the SEC offer was contingent on the big 12 dissolving, and that does not look like it will happen this year.

Good post about this on thelostogle.com a local blog.
Not linking because its hard to do on my phone at wor[spoiler]k.

Jayhawker wrote:

Best case scenario now would be for the Big 12 to oust Beebe and stick together to force Texas to change or get out. Then Texas will take their LHN to the SEC where it can easily co-exist with the ESPN contract the SEC already has. And no, that doesn't mean the Big 12 would want A&M back.

There's no way that Texas ends up in the SEC. Not happening. And it doesn't matter whether the Big XII wants A&M or not. The Aggies are gone.

I actually agreed with everything Jayhawker said, except the parts MBH has addressed.

Even if the SEC wanted Texas, and even if Texas could get the votes (there is already an informal coalition within the SEC to block schools from existing SEC states), Texas doesn't want to be in a conference where they are an equal partner - let alone the little brother of Alabama and LSU. They don't want competition.

I was at lunch with a Longhorn yesterday who said "I think we all know that Texas likes to be in control." That sums it up. It came out today that Texas is willing to share Tier 1 and 2 TV revenue, but the LHN is not negotiable. That means they will stay in the Big 12 for as long as it's viable, and who knows what after. I'd say indie except that in the coming paradigm, indie schools may have an even harder time getting BCS bids.

I fully understand that Texas to the SEC is highly improbable for the reasons you guys stated. I have seen that some reports that SEC may be more agreeable to Texas than you guys suggest. But then, I've seen reports that Notre Dame is coming to the Big 12.

The main thing is that this is not a very good solution at all unless the Big 12 can go all in and expand to 12, or even 16. Texas and Oklahoma are really good anchors to a great sports conference that will draw TV dollars. But that does hinge on reasonable revenue concessions from Texas.

Personally, I could care less how much more texas makes. But it is clear now that schools will never commit fully until Texas acts as an equal partner.

But a strong coalition of Big East and Big 12 leftovers, which includes TCU, with OU and OSU on board, can form a strong conference. then BYU and maybe Air Force or a C-USA school can also be added. I think they Big 12 needs to replace Beebe for that to gain traction.

Jayhawker wrote:

I think they Big 12 needs to replace Beebe for that to gain traction.

Last I heard, one of the conditions for OU staying in the conference was that Beebe gets his walking papers. I can't imagine how he keeps his job at this point.

Edit: Also, Boogle broke the thread. WAY TO GO BOOGLES

Edit the second: Speak of the Devil

I do what I can.

Jayhawker wrote:

But it is clear now that schools will never commit fully until Texas acts as an equal partner.

Hopefully, one of these days you will apply this to A&M.

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That's pretty funny. I especially like the part about whether the SEC always deserves a spot in the title game. Since they've not only had a spot in the title game the last 5 years in a row, but also won it each time, it's hard to argue against. SEC teams are ranked 2 and 3 at the moment, so a spot this year is likely as well.

Believe it or not, when A&M started sucking in football under Francione and excelling in basketball, I started telling everyone we were a basketball school. And meaning it. My family has been big on Aggie b-ball for my entire life.

I love that. Especially the part about Boise State.

DSGamer wrote:
i38warhawk wrote:

The Oregon fans really booed Missouri State? That's pretty disrespectful, and classless.

They did. And it was. My buddy who has season tickets even shook his head and he's a die hard duck. We're both a little more old school. From back in the day when you just didn't do that. Unless it was pro sports and there was a player who had taken down one of yours. Booing kids from 1-AA? Ugh.

Yeah, booing is reserved for LSU, Cam Newton and Houston Nutt in Arkansas.

There's no good reason to boo a bunch of guys doing their best against next level competition. They've played two Top 25 teams in three weeks, which has to be brutal.

Big news: East Carolina wants to be in the Big East!

I'll forgive you all for not noticing. No one else did.

Enix wrote:

Big news: East Carolina wants to be in the Big East!

I'll forgive you all for not noticing. No one else did. :D

Wouldn't East Carolina be the Atlantic Ocean? I guess that explains why their mascot is a pirate.

Looks like OU was working harder to save the Big 12 than anyone knew.

SOURCE: OU ultimately sought Big 12 reform, not Pac-12 move

Oklahoma and Oklahoma State seemed headed to the Pac-12 on Monday.

Tuesday night, their westward journey was halted before it got started.
What happened?

A high-ranking source from OU told The Oklahoman on Wednesday that both schools have actually been working behind the scenes to sell Big 12 reform to other schools in the conference.
“But frankly, we wanted the impression out there that we might go to the Pac-12 because that gave us some leverage,” the source said. “We were using that as leverage to say, ‘Hey, you want us to stay? Let's have some of these reforms.'”

Among the changes: removing Dan Beebe as Big 12 commissioner; adopting common rules for individual networks like the Longhorn Network; phasing in revenue sharing from primary television rights; and requiring a commitment of rights of more than five years from conference schools, which would commit all of their game revenues to the Big 12 during that time and make moving to another league difficult to impossible.

Those are the main issues that the Big 12's board of directors will discuss during a meeting Thursday afternoon.
The OU source believes that many of the reforms have the support of enough of the schools' presidents and chancellors to be approved.

The behind-the-scenes lobbying of OU and OSU began gaining traction in recent days. Yet as it did, there was a sense their leverage might be slipping. The OU source said there was a shift in the mood of Pac-12 leaders, largely because Texas was pushing to get special concessions and exemptions for its network.

So, the source said that Tuesday morning, OU and OSU let the Pac-12 know that they wouldn't be applying for membership.

“Really, we kind of hoped that the announcement ... wouldn't come for another day or so,” the source said. “Every day we had gave us a little more leverage to talk about these reforms.”

Hopefully, with an solid interim commissioner appointed, the Big 12 can get their 10th team to replace A&M, hopefully jump to 12, or in my perfect world 16. Texas will have given up enough revenue that the league can get back on solid ground.

While the other Big 12 schools, besides Texas, may have appreciated OU's gambit, I have to wonder what the PAC-12 thinks.

Jayhawker wrote:

While the other Big 12 schools, besides Texas, may have appreciated OU's gambit, I have to wonder what the PAC-12 thinks.

Hard to say. I never understood why the PAC-12 wanted those schools. Not because they're not good schools, but because there is something to be said for some degree of territorial integrity. There are other schools west of the Rockies or in the Rockies that would be a better fit for the PAC-12.

iaintgotnopants wrote:
Enix wrote:

Big news: East Carolina wants to be in the Big East!

I'll forgive you all for not noticing. No one else did. :D

Wouldn't East Carolina be the Atlantic Ocean? I guess that explains why their mascot is a pirate.

ECU has a mascot? Hadn't noticed.

DSGamer wrote:
Jayhawker wrote:

While the other Big 12 schools, besides Texas, may have appreciated OU's gambit, I have to wonder what the PAC-12 thinks.

Hard to say. I never understood why the PAC-12 wanted those schools. Not because they're not good schools, but because there is something to be said for some degree of territorial integrity. There are other schools west of the Rockies or in the Rockies that would be a better fit for the PAC-12.

I agree, I never understood why Boise and BYU weren't in line before Colorado.

gizmo wrote:
DSGamer wrote:
Jayhawker wrote:

While the other Big 12 schools, besides Texas, may have appreciated OU's gambit, I have to wonder what the PAC-12 thinks.

Hard to say. I never understood why the PAC-12 wanted those schools. Not because they're not good schools, but because there is something to be said for some degree of territorial integrity. There are other schools west of the Rockies or in the Rockies that would be a better fit for the PAC-12.

I agree, I never understood why Boise and BYU weren't in line before Colorado.

I hear from people who are more dialed into the way the actual schools are run that the reason Boise State isn't in line is academics. Basically the PAC-10 (now 12) was trying to hold the line on academics and be a well-rounded conference in all aspects. For better or worse the PAC-12 schools view themselves as having a high standard academically. I don't have the data to say that's right or wrong. But Cal, Stanford, Washington and others have good reputations. And many of the schools have excellent side programs like Law schools, etc. So in that respect Boise State is indeed a mismatch.

DSGamer wrote:

Stuff about colleges being about an education

Well, that explains how the Buffs got in. They haven't been good at any sport I can think of in years, but they are a pretty solid research instituation.

gizmo wrote:
DSGamer wrote:

Stuff about colleges being about an education

Well, that explains how the Buffs got in. They haven't been good at any sport I can think of in years, but they are a pretty solid research instituation.

Yes. That's the other part of it. The PAC-12 schools are well known for either having good law programs, good research arms or having good technical programs. None of which apply to Boise State. My wife attended graduate school for all of 2 months there when we got married. I don't know what it's like these days, but back then it felt like a community college in Oregon. Her classes were depressingly easy and her peers weren't peers. She didn't stick with it for obvious reasons.

The Big 10 is the same way. And the way the SEC is the opposite is why I would never want Kansas to end up in the SEC. Big 12 seems to be a nice balance. They have solid schools, but no one is going to mistake them for Ivy League, even if Mizzou likes to pretend.

If they can solidify their base now, adding a school like BYU only enhances their image. I still think BYU is further out than I'd like to see the big 12 go, but what I really want to see if for the change in leadership become more aggressive in marketing the Big 12 brand. They need to get back to 12 sooner than later. And they need to have a plan in place that makes expanding to 16 a priority.

DSGamer wrote:

I hear from people who are more dialed into the way the actual schools are run that the reason Boise State isn't in line is academics. Basically the PAC-10 (now 12) was trying to hold the line on academics and be a well-rounded conference in all aspects. For better or worse the PAC-12 schools view themselves as having a high standard academically. I don't have the data to say that's right or wrong. But Cal, Stanford, Washington and others have good reputations. And many of the schools have excellent side programs like Law schools, etc. So in that respect Boise State is indeed a mismatch.

*cough* Arizona State *cough*