Miz, Neb, Cuse, Pitt, Rutgers to Big 10 (Article inside)

[EastStang]

Well at least this topic keeps us busy during the boring months until football starts up again. Right now our only hope is to keep winning games and hope that we are considered an "up and coming" football program (similar to the thoughts made about USF by the BE). And given our 2010 schedule, if we can beat TT, WSU, Navy and especially TCU outside of the conference and get to the championship game, then we would really increase our value. Right now, I would consider, TT, TCU games as play-in games to expansion considerations. We win those games, our stock goes up, theirs goes down. I still think the Big Ten is taking only one and all this talk is out there to make ND wet themselves and join. If that happens, then the only other play that will occur is the PAC 10 adding two and those would clearly be CO and UT. That leaves one BCS opening and that would go to BYU and have the added benefit of filleting the MWC. The remaining members of the MWC would have to decide whether to keep going by adding UH, SMU, Boise, Fresno and/or Hawaii. They too have a network and would want to somehow keep that going, so I would think it would want to replace the two who leave and reconstitute itself. The problem is that their ideal targets don't trust them. None of the CUSA schools would trust them (remember TCU bolted after voting for adding Marshall, UCF, SMU, Tulsa, and Rice) so UH and Tulane would be wary, and the remnants of the Airport Al block, AFA, CSU and Wyoming are still there (causing UTEP,Tulsa, SMU and Rice some indigestion). Interesting stuff and who knows what will happen.

[gostangs]

Except this thing is over before a snap next year. Reallignment will be announced starting mid summer.

[Water Pony]

I agree because the notifications to depart a conference trigger penalties and begin a time clock for the actual timing of a change in membership. That is why many believe the Big Ten/11 isn't being honest about a 12-18 month decision cycle.

[huskerpony]

Harvey Perlman said as much over the weekend. In that column where he has now changed his tune about whether or not Nebraska has been contacted, he also said he expects the expansion announcements to happen this summer.

Other news from the radio today--Randy Edsall has told the media that the Big East coaches want to tell Notre Dame they either bring all of their sports to the Big East or they leave it all together. (Of course, that is up to the university presidents, not the coaches.)

[Water Pony]

If Big East coaches give ND an ultimatum, then the Irish will decide to join ... the Big Ten.

[huskerpony]

I think that may be the idea. If they could force ND into the Big Ten, and limit the expansion to 12, it saves the Big East. They have to get more value from being a BCS conference than they do from having Notre Dame basketball. There is a big chess match going on here trying to force Notre Dame and Texas to do things they don't want to do.

[Water Pony]

I think that may be the idea. If they could force ND into the Big Ten, and limit the expansion to 12, it saves the Big East. They have to get more value from being a BCS conference than they do from having Notre Dame basketball. There is a big chess match going on here trying to force Notre Dame and Texas to do things they don't want to do.

Indiana paper calls the Irish out.

http://www.post-trib.com/sports/hutton/ ... 03.article

In support , perhaps the Big East coaches will force ND to either play ball or take their ball and go home. In order to save the Big Raid on the Big East, they need to take matters into their own hands. The result? No need to take NE, MO, 'Cuse, Rugters or Pitt. The Big Ten gets to 12 with the Irish and only has to spilt the pie 12 ways, instead of 14 or 16. Big XII and Big East will breath easier too.

That leaves the MWC as the only conference, who may want to strengthen its membership in order to get AQ for BCS.

[EastStang]

Then again, if you're Pitt, Rutgers, Syracuse would you possibly be hoping that ND says, we're staying independent. Then you get to join the Big Ten and wave bye, bye to the BE. Now, the non-football schools are probably wetting themselves at the possibility of losing Syracuse and/or Pitt. St. John's, Seton Hall, and Georgetown clearly value games with Syracuse and Pitt.

[Terry Webster]

An article up here in Cinci touched on this. If the Big East implodes, they felt as though UC, Louisville and South Florida will go off to the ACC. Not sure I see that, but it may be their only option other than coming back to the cusa.

[Water Pony]

Intriguing possibilities and challenges, such as the $5m penalty to leave the Big East and a 27 month lead time.

Here is one to consider: The Big East needs to stay primarily intact to survive in FB. If three or more schools depart, it reverts to a BB dominated conference. Perhaps the BE needs to kick ND out, since it is only in BB that the Irish are significant. And as a sweetner, throw in Rutgers, which won't be missed and the Big East could release it from all the above restrictions.

The remaining FB power schools (Pitt, WVA, Louisville, Cincinnati, Syracuse, etc.) are left alone and they might add a few schools, such as UCF, East Carolina, etc.

In this scenario, the Big Ten/11 gets ND and Rutgers, which takes them to 13. Now, Missouri or Nebraska is easier to do resulting in a 14 team league. This 14 team version doesn't implode the Big East or Big XII.

However, if you really want 16, take both NE and MO and add Kansas. The question is whether the Big Ten wants or needs to totally reshape the conference landscape?

Otherwise, it might be nuclear winter for Big East and Big XII.

[Dwan]

Here is how is could and maybe should play out.

BIG 10 - Adds Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, Kansas State, Syrcuse and Iowa State. They Kickout the small private school, Northwestern. 16 teams

Pac-10 - Adds Colorado, Utah, Olahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, TCU. 16 Teams

ACC - Adds UConn, Cincy, Pitt, Rutgers. 16 Teams

SEC - Add Texas, Texas A&M, West Virgina, Louisivlle, and South Flordia. Kick out the small private school in Vanderbilt.

Notre Dame stays independent.

Small private schools like Northwestern, Vanderbilt and Baylor join up with other small private schools such as SMU, Rice, Tulane

[Stallion]

solidly in the lead as worst projection

[Water Pony]

solidly in the lead as worst projection

[gostangs]

I dont think he can be caught, personally. Its the dumbest realignment post ever.

[Dwan]

Oh no....Stallion and his buddies dont agree!!! How can I sleep tonight! I'm sure if SMU just wins a few more games we will be right there in the BCS! Just have to beat Tech next year and sure, the BCS schools will come looking at the worst mens football and basketball programs in the nation over the last 20 years. Maybe we can get Gary Gibbs to coach us!

Just speculation kids. Fact is I think the Big 12 and the Big East have some major concerns about their future. Texas (and by extension Texas A&M), Nebraska, Colorado, and Missouri all have been contacted by more than one conference. If one team leaves, the Big 12 will collapse and if that happens, dont look for them to just fill in the blanks with SMU, TCU, Houston, BYU, and Colorado State.