(12-24-2013 12:47 PM)bearcatlawjd Wrote: (12-24-2013 12:17 PM)#41 Wrote: Given the gross cash disparity between the Power 5 and the other D1A programs, there is really no such thing as a bad situation in a Power 5 conference. Combine that with better access to the post-season and every school that made the cut-off for the P5 should be an "A+" grade.
The alternative to the P5 is irrelevance.
I think everyone needs to take a step back and realize that UC has an operating budget over one billion dollars. Power five money makes the athletic department look good but as long as UC has an administration that wants to support athletics and hires good coaches that is the foundation for success. Conference affiliation is only part of the equation.
I would give WVU's move to the Big XII an "F" on just about every level outside of revenue. Football and basketball went from Big East power to Big XII bottom feeder. Geography is a mess in terms of travel and natural rivals. Once again exposure isn't all that because Fox owns part of the deal and also rans aren't selected for the best TV spots either. I would rather win than lose in power conference.
All the teams that made moves to the ACC are at least at "B" level because they secured an ESPN deal with good money that keeps them with their geographic rivals. I can't see their on field success changing too much either way but Syracuse could make a big leap on the football field.
The funny thing about UC in the American was that my biggest concerns months ago was the quality of the football league and our football schedule. Right now the basketball league is underperforming with Louisville still in the conference. Next year SMU and Temple will be better but UC, UConn, and Memphis will lose a boatload of players. I still like the direction our basketball program is headed but the non-conference schedule will need to improve. The good news about football is that UCF, ECU, and Houston are all solid. Plus UConn and USF should get better. Watching Fresno State and Boise State fall back to the pack helps our access bowl chances next season.
The only thing I would say is that WVU didn't go from being atop a conference to "bottom feeder" by moving to the B12. I live in Morgantown, I went to five WVU home games this season and saw the FB team perform with my own eyes. IF THE BE HAD STAYED TOGETHER, THIS WVU TEAM WOULD HAVE FINISHED IN THE SAME PLACE AS THEY DID IN THE BIG XII.
Even in the AAC, this WVU team would be only JUST bowl eligible. And I mean that. Even in the AAC, this particular WVU team would not be competitive with UL, UCF, and UC. They might compete with Houston, SMU, and Rutgers, but given ***how*** WVU lost the games they lost this season, I'd pick them to lose 2-out-of-3 against that group.
My point is that people say that WVU went down...BECAUSE of their conference move. I disagree! WVU went down because of their coaching staff and their lack of depth. They would have struggled in whatever conference they were in, and they will likely continue to struggle.
On the other hand, UC would finish...with this current team...somewhere NEAR the top of the B12. We might not have won it, but we'd be in the top 3-4...with THIS team and against THIS year's B12 performance. Baylor, OK State, and Oklahoma (though OU didn't look overly impressive) are at a different level than us...right now. But K-State, TCU, Texas Tech, and Iowa State are all teams we could not only compete but beat...EVERY ONE OF THEM. And we are clearly in a superior place to Kansas.
As for WVU basketball... Well, last year was a down year. This year's team is looking much, much tougher. Close losses to Gonzaga, Missou, and Purdue bode well for WVU in the B12, this year. I think if they continue to improve, WVU will finish in the middle of the pack for the B12. But again, UC could compete...though it's unclear exactly where we would fall in. But THIS UC team is roughly equivalent with this WVU team, IMO... Different weaknesses, but similar in overall quality.
But my point is again...UC would not instantly sink to "Bottom feeder" level in a different conference. I think it is a faulty logic that makes those jumps.