(11-25-2011 07:44 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(11-25-2011 07:35 PM)Gopper Wrote:  I personally think that AQ's are not goin anywhere

I think they are, because from the perceptions of these emerging 14-16 member power conferences, the AQ concept has outlived its usefulness, as it limits a conference to two BCS bowl bids maximum. The SEC has already tipped its hand on this ...

I dont think the AQ bid is going away. The 2 per conference limit may dissappear.

(11-25-2011 11:37 AM)Gopper Wrote:  It seems to me that despite all the attention given to the Big East about dying, losing more members, or losing its AQ, the Big East is actually in a position of strength when compared to the Big 12.

The Big 12 has lost a total of 4 members in the last 3 years or so leaving them with 8 members. With the addition of TCU you have 9. The Big 12's Fox-ESPN TV contract requires a minimum of 10 schools to get a payday worth for 12 schools. Due to this requirement, the Big 12 went ahead and added WVU. But due to the BE 2 year + 5m exit fee clause, WVU will be unable to leave right now - thus the lawsuit by WVU and the countersuit by BE.

Now say for example the BE decides to flex its nuts rolleyes and wins the lawsuit against WVU, causing them to either wait 2 years or pay a hefty fee, wouldn't it be in the best interest of the BE to require WVU to wait. This would cause the Big 12 to renegotiate their TV contract which equates to less $$$ per school (i highly doubt 9 schools would get a payday worth for 12 schools).

Now call me crazy but it seems to me that the Big 12 is at the mercy of the BE, but knowing the BE they will probably fk it up somewhere. If I were in charge, id require WVU to wait the 2 years, wait to see Big 12's new TV contract, and then finally decide on what schools to add - whether they be Boise/SDSU/CUSA Schools/or even Big 12 schools.

Oh boy, what a conference it will be. 3 schools that don't want to be there as the Big East tries to benefit from hopes the Big 12 will crumble by not getting a TV contract. Why don't we just let TV networks/lawyers decide the champions?

(11-25-2011 07:44 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(11-25-2011 07:35 PM)Gopper Wrote:  I personally think that AQ's are not goin anywhere

I think they are, because from the perceptions of these emerging 14-16 member power conferences, the AQ concept has outlived its usefulness, as it limits a conference to two BCS bowl bids maximum. The SEC has already tipped its hand on this ...

Thankfully SEC does not control the BCS. If AQ went away, all major conferences except for the SEC will be under represented in BCS Bowls. No way conferences such as the B1G, Pac12, Big12, ACC, or even the BE vote for it. What would ensue would be a MASSIVE lawsuit with Baylor University leading the charge.

(11-25-2011 03:46 PM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  

(11-25-2011 02:57 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(11-25-2011 02:52 PM)SmallVoice Wrote:  The Big 12 will be fine for a few more years. They'll work something out for the TV contract.

I see Texas and/or Oklahoma going elsewhere, and that would sink the Big12.

Many people keep saying this, but where are UT and OU going? Remember that there's no such thing as OU going anywhere alone. Instead, whoever wants OU must also take Oklahoma State, too. The Pac-12 balked at that (at least without Texas coming, too) and the SEC isn't giving up one of its last two valuable spots to OSU, either. OU's options are limited because they have political handcuffs to the Big 12.

For UT, they have golden handcuffs to the Big 12 in the form of the Longhorn Network. The message out of Texas is clear: they will do EVERYTHING to preserve that network. This is fundamentally at odds with every other power conference (Pac-12, Big Ten, SEC and ACC). There's really no compromise (whether financial or exposure-wise) there. All 4 other power conferences would demand that UT drop the LHN unequivocally while UT would demand that those conferences take the LHN unequivocally. Note that Texas WANTS control even more than money, which would be impossible to replicate anywhere other than the Big 12. They LOVE knowing that the fates of Baylor and Texas Tech rest in their hands and that's where they get their power. (This is in contrast to Notre Dame, who want to be Unabomber loners living in a cabin in South Bend.)

I might buy that OU would want to get out of the Big 12, but once again, they have political shackles in the form of OSU that kills their options. Texas, though, absolutely wants the Big 12 to live. With those 2 schools there, the Big 12 will continue to charge on (even if the other members hate it and are only staying because they have no other viable choices).

Quote:

Quote:The Big East will also be fine. The perception that we're weak will always be there.

I think the whole AQ concept is going to die. That hurts us, because none of the BCS bowls will sign on with us to host our champion.

We'll see what happens to AQ status. If it "goes away" (where it's not really going away in practicality but simply technically shifting where the bowls make their own deals with their most favored conferences), the Big East could make a deal with the devil and team up with Notre Dame big-time. Offer a bowl the higher ranked of either the Big East champ or Notre Dame and the conference can get a major bowl to bite on that. I agree that the new Big East alone would have a tough time getting a tie-in with the Rose/Orange/Fiesta/Sugar without Notre Dame heavily involved.

One of the theories for OU and UT staying this go round (most likely forced) was to put in place a conference that they can leave in the future without OSU and Tech and to minimize Baylor threats.

(11-25-2011 09:51 PM)Gopper Wrote:  

(11-25-2011 07:44 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(11-25-2011 07:35 PM)Gopper Wrote:  I personally think that AQ's are not goin anywhere

I think they are, because from the perceptions of these emerging 14-16 member power conferences, the AQ concept has outlived its usefulness, as it limits a conference to two BCS bowl bids maximum. The SEC has already tipped its hand on this ...

Thankfully SEC does not control the BCS. If AQ went away, all major conferences except for the SEC will be under represented in BCS Bowls. No way conferences such as the B1G, Pac12, Big12, ACC, or even the BE vote for it. What would ensue would be a MASSIVE lawsuit with Baylor University leading the charge.

Problem is, the SEC doesn't need to 'control' the BCS or care about what the other conferences will or won't vote for. The BCS will just expire in two years, and then the SEC will be free to set up its own arrangement with bowls and not concern itself with what the Big East, Baylor, or anyone else wants.

The SEC and B1G want more bids, and in the new format they will get them.