gostangs wrote:the logic behind the contention is that they like academic schools(or they pretend to - Oregon, Washington and Arizona schools aren't so hot) and they probably will be forced to expand - and no other schools in their current footprint do anything for their number of TV's or national exposure (except BYU - but that is non starter). Texas makes the best sense for their expansion - and UT isn't going where they have to be an equal partner no matter how many old coots they run off. So there ya go. Not a great shot - not even a 10% shot - but there is the rational.
Utah is not exactly an "academic" school and is probably closer to the Oregon and Arizona Schools. For instance Utah lags behind BYU quite a bit in undergrad student quality (to be fair: Utah has an outstanding Medical school but most Medical schools are "elite" anywhere). The PAC also was seriously considering the 2 Oklahoma schools and even Boise Junior College at one point so its clear their criterion is money and not "prestige". Additionally, all the cultural stuff about the PAC is out the window in the new landscape of conference affiliation. Utah is definitely not a "fit" in this regard and Boise Junior College is well.. definitely at odds with what the PAC used to be culturally speaking.
Its all about what a school brings to the table revenue wise in the modern landscape. Nothing else really matters. These are athletic affiliations not academic ones. The ultra academic prestigious ACC took Louisville. That probably would not have happened 20 or 30 thirty years ago but TV revenue has changed everything.
Agree 100 percent about UT. Bully Pulpit is a prerequisite for them and that would never happen in the PAC so they are unlikely leave the Big 12.
Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 12:09 pm