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that's why they should call it the NFL (Not For Long) Conference

ACC would never merge with the NBE. Would continue to pick apart from the leftover pile. Just gotta hope we get picked.

At some point the ACC leftovers won't generate any TV interest. After all their markets at that point will be Raleigh, Miami, Boston, Upstate NY, Pittsburgh, Richmond, possibly DC (but with UMD gone, not likely), Cincy, Hartford and Louisville. With the exception of Boston, all relatively small markets. By combining with NBE they get access to Dallas, Houston, Tampa, Orlando, Memphis, New Orleans, Philly and stronger Carolina ties. This would be in my view a boon to their TV presence and that is what the networks want. Again, we have to think like a network suit, not as sports fans. As sports fans, the SWC, Big 8, Big Ten, ACC, SEC, BE, Pac 8, MAC and WAC, were great along with indys, Army, Navy, ND.

VT, UVA, UNC, NC ST will never be split up. Those schools respective states' legislatures won't let it happen.

EastStang wrote:At some point the ACC leftovers won't generate any TV interest. After all their markets at that point will be Raleigh, Miami, Boston, Upstate NY, Pittsburgh, Richmond, possibly DC (but with UMD gone, not likely), Cincy, Hartford and Louisville. With the exception of Boston, all relatively small markets. By combining with NBE they get access to Dallas, Houston, Tampa, Orlando, Memphis, New Orleans, Philly and stronger Carolina ties. This would be in my view a boon to their TV presence and that is what the networks want. Again, we have to think like a network suit, not as sports fans. As sports fans, the SWC, Big 8, Big Ten, ACC, SEC, BE, Pac 8, MAC and WAC, were great along with indys, Army, Navy, ND.

Neither of these arguments makes sense.

The ACC will not merge based on the full set of NBE DMAs. New Orleans is the 52nd ranked DMA, between Buffalo and Providence. And Tulane ranks behind the Saints, LSU, the HornePelicans, and possibly Grambling versus Southern in New Orleans' sports attention. Memphis is the 49th ranked DMA. Greenville is 99th. Boston, Miami, Pittsburgh, Raleigh-Durham and Charlotte are all Top 25 markets. Of course a decimated ACC would look to the NBE, but it would not merge, because it would not want any part of dear ol' Tulane.

The ACC will not merge based on "stronger Carolina ties." Rule #1 is not to invite along competing universities in your backyard if you don't have to. The examples of Rule #1 being applied are numerous, the only quasi-counterexample is TCU to the Big XII-IV+II, and that was a very unique circumstance.

Based on what I know about Carolina, I find it hard to believe that Duke and/or Wake Forest would ever willingly be in the same conference as ECU. Not saying that's fair, but its true.

HB Pony Dad wrote:IT'S GREAT TO BE A TROJAN!

I find it rather nice to be a Mustang myself.

dcpony wrote:VT, UVA, UNC, NC ST will never be split up. Those schools respective states' legislatures won't let it happen.

Just like the Texas legislatures wouldn't let UT and A&M split?

One of those teams is going to the Big 10 along with GT the moment the Maryland lawsuit goes through.

Yeah, I don't think the state legislatures would stand in the way as long as both respective state schools have a good landing place. Ie. If UNC goes Big-10 and NC State goes SEC, I bet they'd be OK with that. It's only when one school is going to get left out in the cold that state officials start making noise.

Water Pony wrote:The 'plan' makes sense, but is contingent on ensuring UConn and Cincinnati remain committed to the new league for more than a few years. Western FB needs a good team. Can anyone imagine a scenario were BYU (preferred) wants in?

Also, if we take UMass for BB to support UConn and BB brand, why not invite Gonzaga, Creighton or Butler for All sports, except FB? You could also spilt SW Ohio Catholics, Dayton and Xaiver, with one going to our League and one going to the Catholic 7, who also gets St. Louis, another Catholic school.

You do understand that UMass moved up to FBS football this year as a member of the MAC, right? If we do this, I don't want one sport invites only. Build a conference and relationships by playing together in all sports, but with a coast to coast spread, regionalized divisions are going to be a must

I prefer CUSA 3.0. We have to assume any original BE stragglers will have found a new home (in contract) by this summer. Any additional BE invites may be to the MWC or the original CUSA stragglers which will create this weird hybrid of past SMU opponents from 1996-present.

Talk about a hamster wheel...

I've spoken to Hokie fans and they are thankful that UVA (albeit with a gun at their head) stood to allow them in the ACC and would not block movement to the B1G by UVA. I believe that the B1G will ask UVA or UNC when the UMD lawsuit is finished or settled. And I suspect that UNC will be their first choice, but if UNC says "no", they'll quickly move to UVA. Ohio State has long recruited in VA and the other schools want the access. Two of their Heisman winners went to Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia (wonder who paid their tuition).

Its going to be UNC and GT going to Big 10. they will tell legistlature to stuff it for 30Mil a year pay raise.

Then Big 12 moves in for at least 4 ACC schools.

On back filling - Cinn and Conn are naturals and will be phase one. THen you get UCF (to replace FSU who goes Big 12) SMU, Houston and Memphis. all four from decent to big markets and all four committed to both major sports. Bigger media markets and very like minded schools. left over ACC will be bitter for course, but it is pretty well positioned to be conf 5 and will need to rattle the legal chains a bit to get access.

New ACC then has to decide how big it wants to be - add 2 more or not.

If Maryland gets out for 1 penny less than $53 million, then its Katy bar the door. I could definitely see the Big-10 taking UNC and GT. Then I guess the SEC goes for VT and NCSU? Then the Big-12 takes FSU, Clemson, Miami, and what, UVA?

So that would leave BC, Pitt, Syracuse, Duke, Wake Forest, and Louisville looking for a home. Not a bad group to partner with.

i could see big 12 taking louisville instead of UVA - but other then that i think you are really close.

then put UCF,SMU,UH,Conn, Cinn and one more with the "new ACC" and you have a pretty dang good 12 team conference who might also think about adding 2 more and pushing for 5th conference status.

Only good news in this is you arent doubling up in NC with 4 schools - you have just wake and duke. TV would like this due to the markets you "deliver" - and its a hell of a basketball league.