Tulane to the BIG 12

[ObeyMyDog]

^

Exactly

[Samurai Stang]

Every single thing you said can be applied to SMU and the SEC, Big TEN, PAC12, and ACC. If this is so smart why aren't these guys beating down our door? We have a much larger market.

Those conferences are still in a position where they can take marquee programs. The Big 12 and Big East are bleeding high caliber programs. The Big 12 does not have that luxury of being a conference that can attract powerful programs, which makes markets the best they can do.

Perhaps SMU will find fortune. By Pony Pride's account, the SEC is at least somewhat intrigued by our market. One should expect that if such a market-based decision is made by the SEC, it will only be after all available marquee programs have been spoken for. When there are no flagship programs left to be added, markets will have the greatest desirability. That Tulane has even been mentioned as an expansion candidate is testimony to this.

[ObeyMyDog]

Agreed, but I think New Orleans as a market is still to "nichey" to just grab as a "market-based" decision. Those people watch LSU and that is it... and the Saints. Dallas is a crossroads of many schools and people. Good football matchups attract general football fans. You could be a Texas fan in Dallas who may love to go watch a SMU Arkansas/A&M game.... that would never happen in New Orleans for logistical reasons as well as the way the people of that city and state are. That is just my opinion and I think expansion committees are going to focus heavily on things like that.

But I agree with you in saying that the big 12 is in a entirely different situation than the SEC. The SEC can go to markets and not damage the prestige of the conference one bit. The big 12 needs to grab some bigger programs as it grows again, there is no question there.

[East Coast Mustang]

One should expect that if such a market-based decision is made by the SEC, it will only be after all available marquee programs have been spoken for. When there are no flagship programs to be left to be added, markets will have the greatest desirability. That Tulane has even been mentioned as an expansion candidate is testimony to this.

The SEC may be beginning to realize this. Mizzou fans seem to overwhelming want the SEC, while their administration seems to prefer the Big 10 and Big 12.

The SEC doesn't want to be the first conference to go to 16 and start the superconference trend for a number of reasons, they're only looking for a 14th member. Mizzou may or may not bite. VT seems to be out because of the astronomical exit fee the ACC has put on its members, and other ACC schools either aren't desirable at all or would upset current SEC members (ie GT, Clemson, FSU). The BE has no one the SEC wants, WVU included.

They can't get OU w/o OSU, Texas is too big of a [deleted] to play with the big boys, Baylor adds nothing and has frankly been such a thorn in the side of the B12 members to stay together that they couldn't possibly leave at this point. Then the only viable AQ candidates left are Tech and KU. If Mizzou doesn't go to the SEC for whatever reason, I would expect KU to get serious consideration, provided VT won't budge.

[goldenstang]

Funny thing is the big 12 exit fee is larger than the ACC.

[East Coast Mustang]

Funny thing is the big 12 exit fee is larger than the ACC.

Even so, the ACC is a lot more stable and solidified than the Big 12 right now. The home life of the Jackson 5 kids seems stable in comparison to the Big 12. The ACC isn't going anywhere. The Big 12...who knows?

[Nacho]

http://www.nola.com/tulane/index.ssf/20 ... ick_5.html

[ponyscott]

Total BS thread...they still haven't repaired the class rooms on campus much less focus on athletic venues....no focus on athletics will doom this notion.