While I'm on my 48-hour rant this weekend (I do intend to drink a Margarita and remember that worse-case scenario, UH is right back where it started) . . . why the heck wasn't there a "face-to-face meeting" with the incoming and existing Big East presidents last fall BEFORE Boise State and the Catholics left . . . or was there? . . .

I remain a fan of Aresco's credentials to as the right guy at the right time to negotiate a TV deal, but I'm now convinced: (1) Aresco is in WAY over his head when it comes to managing the long-term future and growth of the Big East because of lack of experience and/or arrogance; and/or (2) no one, and I mean no one, is in charge of the Big East executive committee . . . What we needed was a visionary to lead a conference . . . the TV deal would take care of itself with outside consultants . . .

Trapped in an unenviable position, Aresco just seems to have fallen back into the same "survival" mode of his predecessors instead of "leading" . . . it's occurred to me that after all this time and discussion, I still don't REALLY know what Aresco believes or wants for this conference LONG TERM . . .

Could not ever single person on this board have: (1) lost the Catholics; (2) lost Boise State; (3) lost SDSU (maybe); (4) invited ECU, Tulsa, and Memphis; (5) invited someone that someone would disagree with like Tulane, UMass, Southern Mississippi, ODU, etc.; and (6) negotiate a TV deal with "realistic" value with the help of overpriced consultants . . .

I woke up Wednesday and just become so disillusioned with the "process" . . . in my opinion, a total collapse of leadership . . . again.

Scroomed

From SDSU's bball beat writer:

Mark Zeigler ‏@sdutzeigler
I expect a decision from SDSU sometime next week. Sterk will consider what he learns from Big East, then weigh that vs. what MW is offering.
Details
3m Mark Zeigler ‏@sdutzeigler
Anyone who says SDSU has made up its mind on conference realignment is dead wrong. AD Jim Sterk is in Dallas for Big East meetings today.

Dan Wolken ‏@DanWolken
To follow up on what @sdutzeigler Tweeted, multiple folks associated w/the Big East told me last wk SDSU has been great through the process

Dan Wolken ‏@DanWolken
Regardless of outcome or decision, there won't be any bad feelings with SDSU and Big East. I don't think that vibe is the same with Boise.

(01-11-2013 02:26 PM)monty Wrote:  From SDSU's bball beat writer:

Mark Zeigler ‏@sdutzeigler
I expect a decision from SDSU sometime next week. Sterk will consider what he learns from Big East, then weigh that vs. what MW is offering.
Details
3m Mark Zeigler ‏@sdutzeigler
Anyone who says SDSU has made up its mind on conference realignment is dead wrong. AD Jim Sterk is in Dallas for Big East meetings today.

Well....perhaps a ray of hope remains.

As bad as it sounds, im not sure we have a real plan to stand on if SDSU decides to stay.

(01-11-2013 02:26 PM)monty Wrote:  From SDSU's bball beat writer:

Mark Zeigler ‏@sdutzeigler
I expect a decision from SDSU sometime next week. Sterk will consider what he learns from Big East, then weigh that vs. what MW is offering.
Details
3m Mark Zeigler ‏@sdutzeigler
Anyone who says SDSU has made up its mind on conference realignment is dead wrong. AD Jim Sterk is in Dallas for Big East meetings today.

Why is anyone showing up in Dallas now to "learn" anything . . .

(01-11-2013 02:26 PM)monty Wrote:  From SDSU's bball beat writer:

Mark Zeigler ‏@sdutzeigler
I expect a decision from SDSU sometime next week. Sterk will consider what he learns from Big East, then weigh that vs. what MW is offering.
Details
3m Mark Zeigler ‏@sdutzeigler
Anyone who says SDSU has made up its mind on conference realignment is dead wrong. AD Jim Sterk is in Dallas for Big East meetings today.

I dont think most people understand the magnitude of what SDSU is going through. Their decision has little to do with the BE. It has everything to do with SDSU's viable future. If they choose the BE, future alignment scenarios could play out where SDSU may find itself left out of the shuffle, and unable to go to the MWC. But if they go with the MWC, they are stuck with the MWC for the foreseeable future, only to watch the BE conference solidify and the teams make a siginificant amount of money. It's kind of like the devil you know versus an unforeseen devil that may never materialize. But they have to consider all of this, because 3 years from now they may look back and see a disastrous decision that was made. And either choice could be that disastrous decision.

(01-11-2013 02:26 PM)monty Wrote:  From SDSU's bball beat writer:

Mark Zeigler ‏@sdutzeigler
I expect a decision from SDSU sometime next week. Sterk will consider what he learns from Big East, then weigh that vs. what MW is offering.
Details
3m Mark Zeigler ‏@sdutzeigler
Anyone who says SDSU has made up its mind on conference realignment is dead wrong. AD Jim Sterk is in Dallas for Big East meetings today.

Sterk is asking for a TV Contract or at a minimum a Prospectus on the TV Value of the BE from a true bidder however, that may not be forthcoming. He want's something in writing to justify his decision in case it's the wrong one down the road.

The problem is this; ESpin set out to destroy the BE once they knew for sure it was lost to them. They got some teams from the BE they thought would destroy the conference. It didn't and then they got worried until the B1G moved in and slammed home the dagger. By taking Louisville over UConn, ESpin was able to manipulate the departure of the C7. That not only crashed our numbers but added instability to what was already seen as a sinking ship. Now the TV partner that many of us guessed at was CBS whom by the way owns the MWC. Interesting how that worked out right? Now CBS took a page out of the ESpin handbook and split Boise State from the BE to further devalue and destabilize the conference. You ask why well, who pays full price for anything when you don't have too. ESpin is done with the BE they got what they wanted. Now CBS can buy up the rest for pennies on the dollar and in time form the Best of the rest Conference. This would be why they agreed to Boise States games being sold as a separate package to begin with.

Just my evil little mind working over time.

(01-11-2013 02:35 PM)UofMstateU Wrote:  

(01-11-2013 02:26 PM)monty Wrote:  From SDSU's bball beat writer:

Mark Zeigler ‏@sdutzeigler
I expect a decision from SDSU sometime next week. Sterk will consider what he learns from Big East, then weigh that vs. what MW is offering.
Details
3m Mark Zeigler ‏@sdutzeigler
Anyone who says SDSU has made up its mind on conference realignment is dead wrong. AD Jim Sterk is in Dallas for Big East meetings today.

I dont think most people understand the magnitude of what SDSU's is going through. Their decision has little to do with the BE. It has everything to do with SDSU's viable future. If they choose the BE, future alignment scenarios could play out where SDSU may find itself left out of the shuffle, and unable to go to the MWC. But if they go with the MWC, they are stuck with the MWC for the foreseeable future, only to watch the BE conference solidify and the teams make a siginificant amount of money. It's kind of like the devil you know versus an unforeseen devil that may never materialize. But they have to consider all of this, because 3 years from now they may look back and see a disastrous decision that was made. And either choice could be that disastrous decision.

. . . and thus, SDSU is high if they choose the Big East at this point . . . you're really getting on a plane to go to Dallas after all this time to "learn" something . . . if I was SDSU, I would be getting on a plane to go to Dallas to personally punch Aresco in the mouth . . .

(01-11-2013 02:34 PM)UHCougar Wrote:  

(01-11-2013 02:26 PM)monty Wrote:  From SDSU's bball beat writer:

Mark Zeigler ‏@sdutzeigler
I expect a decision from SDSU sometime next week. Sterk will consider what he learns from Big East, then weigh that vs. what MW is offering.
Details
3m Mark Zeigler ‏@sdutzeigler
Anyone who says SDSU has made up its mind on conference realignment is dead wrong. AD Jim Sterk is in Dallas for Big East meetings today.

Why is anyone showing up in Dallas now to "learn" anything . . .

why the hell is anyone showing up in Dallas then? Seems like everyone needs to learn something about the tv deal and the structure of the conf.

(01-11-2013 02:31 PM)NBPirate Wrote:  As bad as it sounds, im not sure we have a real plan to stand on if SDSU decides to stay.

The plan:

If SDSU stays. Call up ECU early.

2013

West: SDSU, Temple, ECU, Memphis, Houston, SMU
East: Louisville, Rutgers, USF, UCF, Cincinnati, UConn

Basketball bloated league with C7

2014:

West: SDSU, Memphis, Houston, SMU, Tulane, (Tulsa) All sports
East: ECU, Cincinnati, USF, UCF, UConn, Temple

Basketball: Add UMass for all sports but football in 2014.

2015: Add UMass and Navy football. Navy, Cincinnati, or ECU can move west.

(01-11-2013 02:31 PM)NBPirate Wrote:  As bad as it sounds, im not sure we have a real plan to stand on if SDSU decides to stay.

If SDSU stays, mark this down, within two years schools in the MWC will get fed up with the Boise deal....I'm mainly talking about Fresno, and UNLV.....They will see they are getting screwed...I think Wyoming, CSU, UTSt, New Mexico, Airforce, and Nevada will stick together but the rest will be willing to jump of that train.

(01-11-2013 02:35 PM)UofMstateU Wrote:  

(01-11-2013 02:26 PM)monty Wrote:  From SDSU's bball beat writer:

Mark Zeigler ‏@sdutzeigler
I expect a decision from SDSU sometime next week. Sterk will consider what he learns from Big East, then weigh that vs. what MW is offering.
Details
3m Mark Zeigler ‏@sdutzeigler
Anyone who says SDSU has made up its mind on conference realignment is dead wrong. AD Jim Sterk is in Dallas for Big East meetings today.

I dont think most people understand the magnitude of what SDSU is going through. Their decision has little to do with the BE. It has everything to do with SDSU's viable future. If they choose the BE, future alignment scenarios could play out where SDSU may find itself left out of the shuffle, and unable to go to the MWC. But if they go with the MWC, they are stuck with the MWC for the foreseeable future, only to watch the BE conference solidify and the teams make a siginificant amount of money. It's kind of like the devil you know versus an unforeseen devil that may never materialize. But they have to consider all of this, because 3 years from now they may look back and see a disastrous decision that was made. And either choice could be that disastrous decision.

That's a good post. I don't envy SDSU they are in a very difficult position. They know what they will get in the MWC. Could playing with the eastern schools be better...? I know some of the Houston folks don't have a lot of confidence in the nBE lineup staying together.

If I had to guess, in the end I think SDSU will head back to the MWC. The nBE will probably add Tulsa and be okay... I hope it works out good for the Aztecs. It very well may turn out that they would get millions more by playing East, which would offset a few long plane rides every year!

(01-11-2013 02:38 PM)bearcatlawjd Wrote:  

(01-11-2013 02:31 PM)NBPirate Wrote:  As bad as it sounds, im not sure we have a real plan to stand on if SDSU decides to stay.

The plan:

If SDSU stays. Call up ECU early.

2013

West: SDSU, Temple, ECU, Memphis, Houston, SMU
East: Louisville, Rutgers, USF, UCF, Cincinnati, UConn

Basketball bloated league with C7

2014:

West: SDSU, Memphis, Houston, SMU, Tulane, (Tulsa) All sports
East: ECU, Cincinnati, USF, UCF, UConn, Temple

Basketball: Add UMass for all sports but football in 2014.

2015: Add UMass and Navy football. Navy, Cincinnati, or ECU can move west.

Plans always work on napkins and message boards

(01-11-2013 02:31 PM)NBPirate Wrote:  As bad as it sounds, im not sure we have a real plan to stand on if SDSU decides to stay.

NB, wouldn't SDSU staying makes things easy? All the BE would have to do is give ECU the full invite for 2014 and Navy joins for football only in 2015.

That would be 10 full members and 2 football only in 2015

East
ECU
UConn
Temple
USF
UCF
Navy

West
Cincy
Memphis
Tulane
Houston
SMU
SDSU

No divisions for b-ball, everybody plays everybody home/home.

(01-11-2013 02:38 PM)monty Wrote:  

(01-11-2013 02:34 PM)UHCougar Wrote:  

(01-11-2013 02:26 PM)monty Wrote:  From SDSU's bball beat writer:

Mark Zeigler ‏@sdutzeigler
I expect a decision from SDSU sometime next week. Sterk will consider what he learns from Big East, then weigh that vs. what MW is offering.
Details
3m Mark Zeigler ‏@sdutzeigler
Anyone who says SDSU has made up its mind on conference realignment is dead wrong. AD Jim Sterk is in Dallas for Big East meetings today.

Why is anyone showing up in Dallas now to "learn" anything . . .

why the hell is anyone showing up in Dallas then? Seems like everyone needs to learn something about the tv deal and the structure of the conf.

I have a feeling they will take "some" of the exit money and apply it to final part of the TV contract if it gets to low if it comes to that. Look C-USA is Making 1.5 million a year......I think we will get at least 3.5 to 6 million for all sports. Who is to say that Aresco might not help SDSU out finacially to off set there other sports in the BW if the other Presidents okay it....Maybe throw in a Million a year until the NBE settles down and stablizes.

(01-11-2013 02:39 PM)billetingman1 Wrote:  

(01-11-2013 02:31 PM)NBPirate Wrote:  As bad as it sounds, im not sure we have a real plan to stand on if SDSU decides to stay.

If SDSU stays, mark this down, within two years schools in the MWC will get fed up with the Boise deal....I'm mainly talking about Fresno, and UNLV.....They will see they are getting screwed...I think Wyoming, CSU, UTSt, New Mexico, Airforce, and Nevada will stick together but the rest will be willing to jump of that train.

I could see that happening. The schools of that conference have a history of stabbibing each other in the back. I still would like to see a full all-sports western division thats balanced with good basketball and solid football. It would look something like this--

Houston
SMU
SDSU
UNLV
Fresno
NM
Tulane

Im assuming Cinci and UConn are gone. So the east would look something like

Temple
Memphis
USF
UCF
ECU
Navy
S Miss


Both divisions would be balanced with some solid football, some solid basketball. The league would be primarily in large cities and the two excpetions would offer solid sports programs. Maybe we get to something like that eventually, but Im not feeling very optimistic right now.

(01-11-2013 02:41 PM)Bull Wrote:  

(01-11-2013 02:35 PM)UofMstateU Wrote:  

(01-11-2013 02:26 PM)monty Wrote:  From SDSU's bball beat writer:

Mark Zeigler ‏@sdutzeigler
I expect a decision from SDSU sometime next week. Sterk will consider what he learns from Big East, then weigh that vs. what MW is offering.
Details
3m Mark Zeigler ‏@sdutzeigler
Anyone who says SDSU has made up its mind on conference realignment is dead wrong. AD Jim Sterk is in Dallas for Big East meetings today.

I dont think most people understand the magnitude of what SDSU is going through. Their decision has little to do with the BE. It has everything to do with SDSU's viable future. If they choose the BE, future alignment scenarios could play out where SDSU may find itself left out of the shuffle, and unable to go to the MWC. But if they go with the MWC, they are stuck with the MWC for the foreseeable future, only to watch the BE conference solidify and the teams make a siginificant amount of money. It's kind of like the devil you know versus an unforeseen devil that may never materialize. But they have to consider all of this, because 3 years from now they may look back and see a disastrous decision that was made. And either choice could be that disastrous decision.

That's a good post. I don't envy SDSU they are in a very difficult position. They know what they will get in the MWC. Could playing with the eastern schools be better...? I know some of the Houston folks don't have a lot of confidence in the nBE lineup staying together.

If I had to guess, in the end I think SDSU will head back to the MWC. The nBE will probably add Tulsa and be okay... I hope it works out good for the Aztecs. It very well may turn out that they would get millions more by playing East, which would offset a few long plane rides every year!

Chris Rock has a line about the faithfulness of men which applies to the members of this conference..."A man is as faithful as his options". I think those with an opportunity to leave for greener pastures, will. I know, shocking right?

(01-11-2013 02:45 PM)JerseyPirate Wrote:  

(01-11-2013 02:31 PM)NBPirate Wrote:  As bad as it sounds, im not sure we have a real plan to stand on if SDSU decides to stay.

NB, wouldn't SDSU staying makes things easy? All the BE would have to do is give ECU the full invite for 2014 and Navy joins for football only in 2015.

That would be 10 full members and 2 football only in 2015

East
ECU
UConn
Temple
USF
UCF
Navy

West
Cincy
Memphis
Tulane
Houston
SMU
SDSU

No divisions for b-ball, everybody plays everybody home/home.

You have 11 in 2014.