Another cut at conference realignment

[Water Pony]

One man's Bleacher Report on realignment, starting with Rutgers going to Big Ten and TCU &n Houston to Big East, while Colorado and Utah head to Pac10.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/3597 ... all-part-1

[couch 'em]

Numerous problems with this article, and would be a disaster for us. Being in a conference with UTSA or Texas St. would be worse than UNT.

[Samurai Stang]

This is one of the better articles I have read regarding conference expansion, although it does not truly say anything that has not already been said on this board. Nevertheless, the glaring issue in this scenario would be the schools that he has chosen to replace those in the Big East. Those schools are Houston, Central Florida, Memphis, TCU, and Temple

Houston - Yes, they are far from the Big East, but if the Big East expands to 12 it will look very much like the C-USA of old. Houston offers a large market, making it worth the travel. I agree with the selection of Houston that this author has made.

Central Florida - Central Florida has been quite successful in football, and was a strong contender for Big East expansion during the last realignment. Unfortunately, they do not offer a new television market and South Florida does not wish them to be in the same conference. Central Florida must make themselves indispensable to gain access to the Big East. I will be surprised if Central Florida is selected.

Memphis - Horrible football. Memphis consistently loses and does not draw. There strength is in basketball and could potentially help to preserve the Big East having a national basketball presence.

TCU - The best candidate for the Big East, TCU will offer a new market in Fort Worth. Their winning football program will also add credibility to the expansion as not simply being a move of desperation. TCU and Houston will also provide Texas recruiting, elevating the talent across the conference.

Temple - This is one that I disagree with. Temple was once in the Big East, but was forcibly removed. I am not aware of any other instance of this happening in college athletics. If the Big East was content to do without Temple before, then it is highly unlikely that they will be desperate enough to reverse their decision. I do not see Temple being taken.

[Samurai Stang]

Numerous problems with this article, and would be a disaster for us. Being in a conference with UTSA or Texas St. would be worse than UNT.

The worst case for SMU would more likely be joining the WAC. A television market, Texas recruiting, and financial commitment to SMU will keep it from the depths that this author suggests.

[ponyinNC]

just an FYI...anyone can write an article for bleacher report. i once posted a comment about an article and was offered an opportunity to write articles on my schools of interest. So take anything you see on the site witha grain of salt.

That said, this is an interesting take on everything.

[East Coast Mustang]

Rutgers will not go to the Big Ten. Everyone likes to think they bring the almighty NYC market to the table, but they have a presence there like we do in the DFW market right now.

Big Ten pecking order:

1. ND
2. Mizzou
3. Pitt
4. Syracuse
5. Nebraska
6. Rutgers

With the exception of ND and maybe Nebraska, every other school would jump at the Big Ten invite. No way the Big Ten has to settle for Rutgers.

[Water Pony]

Rutgers will not go to the Big Ten. Everyone likes to think they bring the almighty NYC market to the table, but they have a presence there like we do in the DFW market right now.

Big Ten pecking order:

1. ND
2. Mizzou
3. Pitt
4. Syracuse
5. Nebraska
6. Rutgers

With the exception of ND and maybe Nebraska, every other school would jump at the Big Ten invite. No way the Big Ten has to settle for Rutgers.

Living in Big Ten Country, this would be the right pecking order, although Syracuse may have more appeal academically (and this is important to them).

[EastStang]

The BE will have to decide what it wants to be when it grows up, a great basketball conference with some decent football programs, or a carcass to picked upon periodically. Remember that their basketball TV conract is bigger than their football contract and yet they're still an autobid conference. So, they have a tension between more mouths to feed and trying to stay relevant in football. I think that logical choice for them should anyone leave is for Villanova to move up to FBS. This avoids adding another team and another mouth to feed.

[SMUstang]

But does Villanova want to go FBS? And do they have the $$$ to upgrade their stadium? I agree they would make a logical choice.

[EastStang]

No, but if it meant keeping the Big East basketball match-ups intact, and perhaps some deal with the Eagles to use their stadium temporarily might fill the bill. UConn stepped up a while back, so its not unprecedented. And looking around their footprint, the only teams that really fit are UCF, ECU and perhaps Memphis. UCF and ECU have decent but not great football and bad basketball. Memphis has great basketball but actually hurts them in football. All of these represent new mouths to feed one way or the other. Some might only be added as football only which is a recipe for problems later on.

[mr. pony]

sMu gets back into a big conference pronto or we're p****ng into the wind.

[SMUstang]

Dream on.

[SMUstang]

No, but if it meant keeping the Big East basketball match-ups intact, and perhaps some deal with the Eagles to use their stadium temporarily might fill the bill. UConn stepped up a while back, so its not unprecedented. And looking around their footprint, the only teams that really fit are UCF, ECU and perhaps Memphis. UCF and ECU have decent but not great football and bad basketball. Memphis has great basketball but actually hurts them in football. All of these represent new mouths to feed one way or the other. Some might only be added as football only which is a recipe for problems later on.

All good points and I hope you are correct.

[SoCal_Pony]

sMu gets back into a big conference pronto or we're p****ng into the wind.

If TCU and Houston join the Big Boys and we are left behind, it is all over for SMU athletics, period.

[EastStang]

I agree concerning UH and TCU. However, if UH stays in CUSA, then we have a solid six teams to build on and then add a few other teams that make geographic and competitive sense.