History Repeating? First, SWC, now Big East

[Water Pony]

Attached is article from Miami Herald on what the death of the SWC could mean for the Big East. It references SMU/TCU, a diminished Cotton Bowl, etc.

<A HREF="http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/colleges/university_of_miami/5835598.htm" TARGET=_blank>http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/colleges/university_of_miami/5835598.htm</A>

[Water Pony]

Another article from Syracuse on the key year of 1984 for them, Miami, the Big East and TV contracts. The lead is of course, following the money. Interesting sequence of events.

<A HREF="http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/poststandard/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/105272851612835.xml" TARGET=_blank>http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/poststandard/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/105272851612835.xml</A>

[EastStang]

You know where the SWC really screwed up was that when Ark. expressed its dissatisfaction, that we didn't think about raiding the Big 12 for Neb., OK, and OSU. or raiding the SEC for LSU, Miss., Miss. St.

[Nacho]

Rutgers and Temple could lose out but if the BE adds some quality schools and keeps them it could be a rebirth for Temple which was kicked out of the BE last year. So it is not entirely anaagous to the SWC. I can't see the east coast letting the BE die. That eastern media won't allow it.

[Water Pony]

QUESTION: Doesn't the elimination of one BCS Conference (Big East), make it easier to fix the BCS problem that 1)Big East and ACC haven't be able to get more than one team into BCS Bowls in a year and (2) that the assurance of at least one top rated non-BCS gets to the "Big Dance" permits the Presidents to project that they are being fair to non-BCS schools.

The math appears better with Five Mega Conferences and four (or five) wanna-be's conferences (Conf. USA, Mtn. West, and WAC). Sunbelt and MAC could be excluded into order to pare the size of Division 1 schools. In general, these conferences at a macro level won't be able to meet all criteria in the future. Individual schools would then be considered for the top nine (five plus four) conference, if they met all conditions, e.g. attendance, Title IX, number of non-revenue sports, etc. Like the European soccer leagues, you could earn admission into Division 1. However, qualification would be based on performance of these non-record (win/loss) issues.

[Water Pony]

Mountain West looking to expand (Fresno State and Hawaii) to nine or ten or possibly be prepared if BYU and Utah go to Pac 10:

<A HREF="http://www.collegefootballnews.com/2003/News/Daily/Daily_Top_Ten.htm" TARGET=_blank>http://www.collegefootballnews.com/2003/News/Daily/Daily_Top_Ten.htm</A>

Also, note Wisconsin is installing Field Turf. Any word on this field for Ford Stadium?

[Nacho]

Just a general reply. If a school is not in a BCS conference then I'm not sure that it matters which conference a school is in (WAC, C-USA (post-implosion), or MWC) other than the impact of travel. In other words it behoves a school to be in a regional conference for the sake of expenses.

[Water Pony]

Nacho, I agree with two conditions. One, it is critical that the geography be more rational to increase rivalries and reduce expenses for all sports. Two, if the rules and criteria are tightened for Division 1, it is essential that a school be in a conference that can qualify for bowls and also meet graduations rates, attendance, number of varisty sports, Title IX, etc. Number of schools and, possibly conferences, in Division 1 should be reduced from 117 with only nine or ten conferences. Division 1AA is likely to reach exiles. Some may even so Division to dramatically cut cost like Tulane is contemplating.

[Water Pony]

Nacho, I agree with two conditions. One, it is critical that the geography be more rational to increase rivalries and reduce expenses for all sports. Two, if the rules and criteria are tightened for Division 1, it is essential that a school be in a conference that can qualify for bowls and also meet graduations rates, attendance, number of varisty sports, Title IX, etc. Number of schools and, possibly conferences, in Division 1 should be reduced from 117 with only nine or ten conferences. Division 1AA is likely to receive some of the exiles. Some may even go Division III to dramatically cut cost like Tulane is contemplating.

[Water Pony]

Clemson in favor of ACC expansion. Article suggests that status quo is not an option for ACC. Defensively, Big East now will want to expand, if it can.

<A HREF="http://greenvilleonline.com/news/sports/2003/05/12/200305126364.htm" TARGET=_blank>http://greenvilleonline.com/news/sports/2003/05/12/200305126364.htm</A>

[Nacho]

I think we are going to see a natural attrition of schools over the next few years. Tulane is the first among many who will decide that it is no longer worth it. As an example most of the MAC will disappear.

Title 9 is of great concern. Schools may have to chose between football and a host of other sports. Some will keep football and men's basketball and any women's sports that equal those numbers. Some will drop football or go to d-3 (no scholarships). Some very hard decisions will have to be made for non-BCS schools.

SMU has a geat tradition with many of its "olympic sports." If we play football (and I'm sure we will) then we may have to seriously consider the viability of other sports.

[PK]

Don't forget, Nacho, that to remain in Div 1-A, a school is required to have a certain number of those "olympic" sports in addition to football and basketball. That, combined with Title IX requirements, is partly responsible for the finacial crunch most schools are in today. Without BCS money, it is very hard to support all the sports required. Without revenue sports, everything will basically become just "club sports". In other words, if a school has to drop down to 1-AA or II or lower because there are not enough funds to carry all the teams...there will be no teams without a revenue source.



[This message has been edited by PK (edited 05-13-2003).]

[Nacho]

PK I understand what you are saying. I am by no means an expert on title 9. I don't know if men's football/basketball and several women's teams that equal those numbers will be enough to satify the beloved NCAA. They really do have us in a catch-22 don't they? Maybe all of us not in the BCS are just playing on borrowed time. Losing $7million/yr like Tulane adds up pretty fast. Even USC, a BCS school, had to drop men's gymnastics recently and they had won the national championship in it. It's all kind of nuts.

[PK]

Can you spell G-R-E-E-D?!?! Divison 1-A Football with real student athletes has been around forever, but the greed of a few is going to crush it to death and what will be left will be a simi-pro farm system for the NFL. The same applies to basketball, where players fresh out of high school are going directly to the pros. Perhaps in the end what is left for the rest will actually be closer to the true intent of college football and athletics in general, but it will take decades, if ever, to establish new rivalries and traditions and enthusiasm for it. Unfortunately, I'll be six feet under by then. If the NCAA had any balls, they would put a stop to this crap NOW.