conf movement rumor ESPN insider (Update )

[JasonB]

Big 12 and ESPN want to span timezones and increase regional coverage of the conference. Right now, it only gets texas because there aren't enough big markets in the midwest. If you get Louisville/Cincy, you can get in the Eastern Time Zone and also get the Cincinnati market.

I know the big 12 is saying no texas schools, but they had better watch out. If they don't pick up Houston, East texas will go completely over to the SEC with the LSU/A&M combo, and with annual A&M vs Arkansas game in Dallas, they aren't going to completely win over that market either.

I think the Big 12 would be much wiser to go ahead and pick up SMU or TCU, and Houston, and then go after two big east teams.

That said, I don't think there will be a ton of interest in the big 12 from others because of the tv situation and missou is going to leave and cost them the St. Louis market as well.

[reddevil]

I agree that Big East getting raided is best for us. If BE gets raided and then expands without us, at least we will know where we truly stand.

Out of curiosity, if BE is not longer a viable FB conference, is there anything about the BCS agreement that mandates that there are six BCS conferences? If so, the CUSA/MW merged conference would seemingly be a good candidate for the sixth BCS conference.

[westexSMU]

It certainly wouldn't hurt our cause if we won this Saturday. Who are we playing ?

[leopold]

we do NOT want BE to get raided if we are not included in their expansion plans! Imagine UCF, ECU and UH going without us...we can call this the "Nuclear Option".

You're right to be concerned, but the BE as a whole is about to be fighting for its existence.

If there is any truth to that rumor, then the BE could soon stand at five, with two schools, UConn and WVU, openly tring to get out. I still say that SO and the other AD's need to get together and pressure the remaining schools, possibly as few as three, to join C-USA and bring their BCS bid with them. I would absolutely take a Southeastern based BCS conference that included TCU, USF, and WVU.

[NickSMU17]

UPDATE V: The news continues to get worst for TCU. With so many schools from Texas in the Big 12, the conference wants to protect these universities and their abilities to recruit within the Lone Star State says Kirk Bohls of the Austin American Statesman.

"Don't expect to see TCU or any other in-state school invited to join the Big 12," Bohls writes. "Doesn't expand the footprint, does cut into recruiting bases of Texas, Texas Tech, Baylor and, yes, Oklahoma. Still, I'd invite Frogs anyway, along with BYU and Louisville.

With a conference on the ropes, it's clearly doing all it can to protect its members.

[PonyKai]

So Texas has made the decision that its assets will be harmed less by allowing carpet-baggers access to the TX pool of recruits, than it would to elevate non-AQ's to their status within Texas.

In a way, this is a backhanded compliment, but bad news. Given an equal playing field, we could whip those son of a bi*ch tea sippers at their own game. Instead, they'll try and crush us with their boot before it ever becomes a minor concern. F*%& em.

[ponyinNC]

i'm convinced our best option is for B12 to take Louisville, BYU and Cincy and a spot opens up for us in the Big East. Maybe if TCU goes to B12, then the Big East takes us and UH to get their foot back into Texas??

[ponyscott]

Big 12 and ESPN want to span timezones and increase regional coverage of the conference. Right now, it only gets texas because there aren't enough big markets in the midwest. If you get Louisville/Cincy, you can get in the Eastern Time Zone and also get the Cincinnati market.

I know the big 12 is saying no texas schools, but they had better watch out. If they don't pick up Houston, East texas will go completely over to the SEC with the LSU/A&M combo, and with annual A&M vs Arkansas game in Dallas, they aren't going to completely win over that market either.

I think the Big 12 would be much wiser to go ahead and pick up SMU or TCU, and Houston, and then go after two big east teams.

That said, I don't think there will be a ton of interest in the big 12 from others because of the tv situation and missou is going to leave and cost them the St. Louis market as well.

I also thought the same thing...Texas is a BIG state and is very populous, and the Big 12 really can support a few other teams from the state and add a few from the east to give it the bigger footprint it desires.

[PonyKai]

I'm convinced it's a simple cost-benefit by UT, which Baylor and TTU undoubtedly agree with because they're about 1/10 as strong as UT is as a whole. Which hurts us less...allow out of staters in, or elevate non-AQ Texas schools.

[Nacho]

why do you think we got the dp?
we were beating ut. they couldn't take it.
sicked the ncaa on us. read a payroll to meet. it shows how ut was behind it every step of the way.
they really are sick.

[ponydawg]

i'm convinced our best option is for B12 to take Louisville, BYU and Cincy and a spot opens up for us in the Big East. Maybe if TCU goes to B12, then the Big East takes us and UH to get their foot back into Texas??

Not sure if the big east really cares about the state of Texas, my understanding (before the madness started) was that they wanted TCU for their BCS points because the BE was afraid to lose their AQ status when it came up for review. I think TCU's location was just a bonus for them.

[ponyinNC]

more on the MWC-CUSA Merger (from twitter)

http://twitter.com/#!/DanWolken

Chatted with Craig Thompson here at Div 1 meetings in Dallas. He said MWC and C-USA ADs will have dinner tonight to further convo on merger.

Thompson also told me the possibility of Air Force taking football to Big East and keeping other sports in MWC was "not happening."

Every Div. 1 athletic director is now in the same room. I'm sure they don't have much to talk about.

[smupony94]

What will the new 24 team conference be named? It will be a true Conference USA.

[Comet]

Conference America [deleted], or the CAB.

On a more serious note however, it's kind of disconcerting that TCU has done almost everything right for nearly a decade. Brought their program from irrelevance to the #2 ranked team after last year's season. They've consistently been in the top 25 and even then they can't get the credit they deserve in this whole BCS realignment mess. It really makes you wonder where we'll be in the subsequent decade. Our best hope is the MWC/C-USA merger, particularly if this merger can consolidate the top programs. TCU, SMU, Houston, Hawaii, Boise State, Nevada, Tulsa, and some others could consistently beat BCS teams.

[NickSMU17]

I like that they hardball airforce....not sure what conf navy is in for other sports but they should press them as well....No other sports without football....

Rick Pitino is on his blog today talking about big east should not expand region...add temple now and keep regional..