Tom Fitzgerald is the main writer for GoPowercat.com, the KState Rivals site.

He had a novel idea for scheduling if the B12 expands to 12 - the 2 expansion schools being the Tigers and Cincy. His tweet yesterday:

"Big 12 hit again for no title game. Prediction: Big 12 will be told it cannot have a title game at 10 teams. Big 12 invites Cincy & Memphis."


His idea - don't do a North/South or East/West with 6-team divisions, rather:

"If the Big 12 goes back to 12, don't do divisions. Do scheduling quads, but one set of standings. 3 teams per quad you play every year (1/2)"

"Each school would have an annual opponent in other 3 quads & rotate other two opponents. Eight games plus title game. Top 2 play for title."

"Each school would have an annual opponent in other 3 quads & rotate other two opponents. Eight games plus title game. Top 2 play for title."

"Big 12 scheduling quads: Texas-Baylor-TCU, WVU-Cincy-Mem, KSU-KU-ISU, OU-OSU-Tech."

"Example of a K-State schedule.
Annual: KU, ISU (in-quad), OU, TCU, WVU (out of quad.)
Sked adds one of each pair: OSU-Tech, BU-UT, Mem-Cincy"


So to sum, 8 conference games - the 2 in each quad, 3 fixed in other 3 quads, and 3 rotated. And rotate to the other 3 the next year. So 5 fixed, and play every team at least every other year.

My reactions:
1. Yes, Memphis clearly in his top two.
2. Brilliant. Solves the North/South problem.
3. I doubt this guy came up with this on his own. And he seems pretty connected. So it's not a stretch to think this idea is being discussed within the B12.
4. Our quad would be great - Memphis, Cincy and West Virginia.

What do you guys think?

One more thing, Fitzgerald endorses the idea of a two-phase expansion, and the 1st-phase criteria is favorable to Memphis:

"It sounds like the first move is for geographic sense, decent TV markets, solid recruiting areas & improved hoops."

(Apologies for the length. This might be my first thread started, and thought all the information was interesting. Hope you do too.)

That's really just a more complicated way to do two divisions. You play everybody in your division each year plus half the other division in year one and the other he in year two.

my head hurts

(12-07-2015 09:38 PM)pkptigers07 Wrote:  That's really just a more complicated way to do two divisions. You play everybody in your division each year plus half the other division in year one and the other he in year two.

But it solves a big problem. That being there is really no good way to divide the 12 teams into 2 divisions. If North/South, the North would be much weaker than the South. So the B12 would risk the 2 best teams being in the South most years, and therefore not having 2 best teams in the CCG.

(12-07-2015 09:39 PM)mphsfan Wrote:  my head hurts

Understood. Mine did too at first. But it's really quite simple if you read it a 2nd time.

And the big thing being that Memphis is almost presumed to be one of the two expansion schools.

Good lord.

We get it..but, you could figure out two divisions. Keep it simple.

(12-07-2015 09:39 PM)mphsfan Wrote:  my head hurts

my quads hurt

If we're in the Big 12, I don't care how it's scheduled as long as we don't have to play Oklahoma six times in one year.

(12-07-2015 09:54 PM)TigerBill Wrote:  If we're in the Big 12, I don't care how it's scheduled as long as we don't have to play Oklahoma six times in one year.

I think that's one of the stipulations if we decide to join

(12-07-2015 09:48 PM)Mimi Wrote:  Good lord.

We get it..but, you could figure out two divisions. Keep it simple.

That was my first reaction Mimi. But I read it again this a.m. and thought it was brilliant.

I can envision one of Texas or Baylor's objections to expansion being that their division is too strong. But they still want to play the other Texas teams every year because they don't want to lose the annual rivalry. With this 3-team per quad concept for scheduling, none of that really matters. Top 2 teams play in the CCG every year, regardless of which quad they are in.

Again, bigger point is it's another sign how far expansion talk has progressed within the B12.

Einsteins theory of relativity is brilliant.

This is football scheduling.

Four groups, blah blah, top two play.

Quads, threesomes, blocks whatever...cool to me.

(12-07-2015 10:06 PM)Mimi Wrote:  Einsteins theory of relativity is brilliant.

This is football scheduling.

Four groups, blah blah, top two play.

Quads, threesomes, blocks whatever...cool to me.

True, brilliant might have been a little much. How about clever?

I just want in!

(12-08-2015 12:06 AM)77 Tiger Grad Wrote:  I just want in!

Yeah, but this is nice.

I am more interested in the Cincy / Memphis take... from a B12 writer unattached to us or any AAC rivals...

I'm OK with the concept except for the rotating games each year, you need to rotate every other year to allow for home & home. Otherwise your team can get really screwed with schedule repeatedly.

(12-07-2015 09:48 PM)Mimi Wrote:  Good lord.

We get it..but, you could figure out two divisions. Keep it simple.

I agree, it's not that hard

West Virginia
Memphis
Cincinnati
Kansas
Kansas st
Iowa St

Texas
Texas Tech
TCU
Baylor
OU
OSU

(12-08-2015 09:23 AM)gotigers1 Wrote:  

(12-07-2015 09:48 PM)Mimi Wrote:  Good lord.

We get it..but, you could figure out two divisions. Keep it simple.

I agree, it's not that hard

West Virginia
Memphis
Cincinnati
Kansas
Kansas st
Iowa St

Texas
Texas Tech
TCU
Baylor
OU
OSU

Looks way too bottom heavy.......that's the problem with a north-south.

(12-08-2015 12:19 AM)Sundanceuiuc Wrote:  

(12-08-2015 12:06 AM)77 Tiger Grad Wrote:  I just want in!

Yeah, but this is nice.

I am more interested in the Cincy / Memphis take... from a B12 writer unattached to us or any AAC rivals...

Exactly Sundance.

That was my bigger point. Think how far we have come from even 16 months ago.

B12 didn't have an expansion committee, and said they were staying at 10.
We had not won more than 4 games in forever, with the poor attendance that goes along with losing. Many laughed when Memphis was mentioned as an expansion candidate.

Today, average attendance over 40K, much ESPN/ABC exposure, posssible 2 straight 10-win seasons, and maybe a top-5 QB draft choice. I bet this Fitzgerald guy had never considered Memphis in the B12 in August of 2014. Now, Cincy and Memphis are his assumed expansion schools.

(12-08-2015 09:25 AM)Atlanta Wrote:  

(12-08-2015 09:23 AM)gotigers1 Wrote:  

(12-07-2015 09:48 PM)Mimi Wrote:  Good lord.

We get it..but, you could figure out two divisions. Keep it simple.

I agree, it's not that hard

West Virginia
Memphis
Cincinnati
Kansas
Kansas st
Iowa St

Texas
Texas Tech
TCU
Baylor
OU
OSU

Looks way too bottom heavy.......that's the problem with a north-south.

Ya, in that scenario, the North is really weak and the South is really strong. I cannot imagine the Big 12 breaking itself up like that...

(12-08-2015 09:25 AM)Atlanta Wrote:  

(12-08-2015 09:23 AM)gotigers1 Wrote:  

(12-07-2015 09:48 PM)Mimi Wrote:  Good lord.

We get it..but, you could figure out two divisions. Keep it simple.

I agree, it's not that hard

West Virginia
Memphis
Cincinnati
Kansas
Kansas st
Iowa St

Texas
Texas Tech
TCU
Baylor
OU
OSU

Looks way too bottom heavy.......that's the problem with a north-south.

You are right Atlanta.

Why would Texas, OU, Baylor or TCU ever agree to this? Probably the top 4 football schools in one division.

That is why this 4 3-team "Quads" idea caught my eye. It solves a big problem, which is good for us and Cincy.