IMO: the B1G's "footprint" is too big! Nebraska to NJ is too damn far! I know most of you only care about football and men's hoops, and even then only as athletes. I care about ALL athletes, and I also care about them as students. They should be maximizing time in the classroom. Getting the degree their athletic ability is making affordable.

(02-26-2016 12:00 PM)CyclonePower Wrote:  

(02-26-2016 11:55 AM)EvilVodka Wrote:  

(02-26-2016 11:53 AM)CyclonePower Wrote:  

(02-26-2016 11:38 AM)EvilVodka Wrote:  On a tangent here....the problem with Cincinnati, while being a great choice, is that they don't specifically rule any one category. With the other schools, you have:

UConn- blueblood basketball
BYU- national brand football
Houston- excellent market and recruiting
South Florida or UCF- excellent recruiting, Florida presence

Cincinnati is the cute puppy that can't do a trick...not knocking them, they should be P5 IMO. But it's hard to stand out in the crowd above...

The Big XII doesn't really need a "bridge" to West Virginia either....WV is fine in the conference as is.

I would argue Cincy is a pretty good BB School

of course they are....but as good as UConn? UConn is at the top....throw them in with Kentucky, North Carolina, Duke, Kansas

Uconn is a good basketball team and I don't want to take anything away from them but Cincy has more conference championships and final fours. Plus I think Uconn is too far for me. I heard from UConn fans that they hate being in a conference that they can't travel to games. Big 12 is worse traveling than the AAC.

Cincy does not have more conference championhips, nice try. They have one extra final four not multiple final fours yet UConn has more National Championships then even Kansas.

UConn's travel in the AAC is bad an extra 20 minutes in the plane makes no difference.

(02-26-2016 02:14 PM)GoldenWarrior11 Wrote:  Having UC/BYU/USF/UCF go to the Big 12 would hurt Houston and UConn a lot, but their ideal conferences aren't the Big 12 anyways.

I agree about UConn: They won't be going to the Big 12, too much travel distance.

If UConn gets a P5 invite, it will be to either the ACC or B1G, nobody else.

(02-27-2016 11:32 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(02-26-2016 02:14 PM)GoldenWarrior11 Wrote:  Having UC/BYU/USF/UCF go to the Big 12 would hurt Houston and UConn a lot, but their ideal conferences aren't the Big 12 anyways.

I agree about UConn: They won't be going to the Big 12, too much travel distance.

If UConn gets a P5 invite, it will be to either the ACC or B1G, nobody else.

While not the most "ideal" conference for UCONN, any P5 conference is ideal for them. UCONN will continue to fight for any potential expansion spot.

As far as "likelihood" is concerned, UCONN to the Big 12 hinges on a potential Big 12 Network. Geography actually ends up being UCONN's greatest attribute. With a network in play, UCONN is most likely a top 2 candidate and DEFINITELY a top 4 candidate.

(02-26-2016 09:55 PM)billybobby777 Wrote:  

(02-26-2016 10:08 AM)EvilVodka Wrote:  South Florida is always overlooked

you'd be shocked at who they beat on a regular basis though....

2008
beat Kansas
beat NC State
beat Syracuse
beat UConn
beat Memphis

2009
beat FSU
beat Syracuse
beat West Virginia
beat Louisville
beat NIU

2010
beat Cincinnati
beat Louisville
beat Rutgers
beat Miami
beat Clemson

2011
beat Notre Dame
beat Syracuse

2012
beat UConn

2013
beat Cincinnati
beat UConn

2014
beat UConn
beat SMU

2015
beat Syracuse
beat UConn
beat SMU
beat East Carolina
beat Temple
beat Cincinnati
beat UCF

The state of Florida oozes talent....when South Florida is hot, they are capable of beating some big name schools

No on campus sdadium. A 15 year history of playing football. The two single most important things to old blood schools like UT, and OU. Cheers!

I thought USF started playing Division 1 football in 2001? I realize the football program had a couple of years of lower classification football before that but 2001 is the first year of D1 right? I beleive 2003 was the first year of CUSA for USF football Cheers!

(02-27-2016 11:42 AM)HuskyU Wrote:  

(02-27-2016 11:32 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(02-26-2016 02:14 PM)GoldenWarrior11 Wrote:  Having UC/BYU/USF/UCF go to the Big 12 would hurt Houston and UConn a lot, but their ideal conferences aren't the Big 12 anyways.

I agree about UConn: They won't be going to the Big 12, too much travel distance.

If UConn gets a P5 invite, it will be to either the ACC or B1G, nobody else.

While not the most "ideal" conference for UCONN, any P5 conference is ideal for them. UCONN will continue to fight for any potential expansion spot.

As far as "likelihood" is concerned, UCONN to the Big 12 hinges on a potential Big 12 Network. Geography actually ends up being UCONN's greatest attribute. With a network in play, UCONN is most likely a top 2 candidate and DEFINITELY a top 4 candidate.

Well of course, UConn like any other G5 will take any P5 invite that comes their way.

But as for the Big 12, I think the travel distance is too far in any event. Many don't realize that UConn is a full 500 miles further east/northeast than WVU. It's practically in another country compared to the Big 12 core, an island way past an island.

I also think you have hit on yet another reason UConn isn't going to the Big 12: Texas isn't giving up the LHN, so the Big 12 isn't getting a network.

Just my opinion.

(02-27-2016 12:10 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(02-27-2016 11:42 AM)HuskyU Wrote:  

(02-27-2016 11:32 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(02-26-2016 02:14 PM)GoldenWarrior11 Wrote:  Having UC/BYU/USF/UCF go to the Big 12 would hurt Houston and UConn a lot, but their ideal conferences aren't the Big 12 anyways.

I agree about UConn: They won't be going to the Big 12, too much travel distance.

If UConn gets a P5 invite, it will be to either the ACC or B1G, nobody else.

While not the most "ideal" conference for UCONN, any P5 conference is ideal for them. UCONN will continue to fight for any potential expansion spot.

As far as "likelihood" is concerned, UCONN to the Big 12 hinges on a potential Big 12 Network. Geography actually ends up being UCONN's greatest attribute. With a network in play, UCONN is most likely a top 2 candidate and DEFINITELY a top 4 candidate.

Well of course, UConn like any other G5 will take any P5 invite that comes their way.

But as for the Big 12, I think the travel distance is too far in any event. Many don't realize that UConn is a full 500 miles further east/northeast than even WVU. It's an island way past an island.

I also think you have hit on yet another reason UConn isn't going to the Big 12: Texas isn't giving up the LHN, so the Big 12 isn't getting a network.

Just my opinion.

Perhaps...but UCONN is clearly one of the top G5 schools when looking at the overall profile. Despite being a geographical outlier, UCONN continues to come up as one of the top candidates in Big 12 expansion. Obviously UCONN is VERY strong in other areas that easily make up for that question of distance...

(02-26-2016 10:09 AM)Big Frog II Wrote:  I am sure they are one of the schools being considered.

I am sure they are not.

They averaged less than 18,000 butts in seats last year.

The Tampa Sports Authority who runs Raymond James Stadium releases turnstile counts for each game.

(02-27-2016 12:16 PM)CougarRed Wrote:  

(02-26-2016 10:09 AM)Big Frog II Wrote:  I am sure they are one of the schools being considered.

I am sure they are not.

They averaged less than 18,000 butts in seats last year.

The Tampa Sports Authority who runs Raymond James Stadium releases turnstile counts for each game.

Oh but Houston is being heavily considered because well, you just can't get enough Texas schools in one conference.

Good comeback.

Wake me up the next time a power conference plucks a G5 school coming off an 17,798 attendance year.

(02-27-2016 12:15 PM)HuskyU Wrote:  

(02-27-2016 12:10 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(02-27-2016 11:42 AM)HuskyU Wrote:  

(02-27-2016 11:32 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(02-26-2016 02:14 PM)GoldenWarrior11 Wrote:  Having UC/BYU/USF/UCF go to the Big 12 would hurt Houston and UConn a lot, but their ideal conferences aren't the Big 12 anyways.

I agree about UConn: They won't be going to the Big 12, too much travel distance.

If UConn gets a P5 invite, it will be to either the ACC or B1G, nobody else.

While not the most "ideal" conference for UCONN, any P5 conference is ideal for them. UCONN will continue to fight for any potential expansion spot.

As far as "likelihood" is concerned, UCONN to the Big 12 hinges on a potential Big 12 Network. Geography actually ends up being UCONN's greatest attribute. With a network in play, UCONN is most likely a top 2 candidate and DEFINITELY a top 4 candidate.

Well of course, UConn like any other G5 will take any P5 invite that comes their way.

But as for the Big 12, I think the travel distance is too far in any event. Many don't realize that UConn is a full 500 miles further east/northeast than even WVU. It's an island way past an island.

I also think you have hit on yet another reason UConn isn't going to the Big 12: Texas isn't giving up the LHN, so the Big 12 isn't getting a network.

Just my opinion.

Perhaps...but UCONN is clearly one of the top G5 schools when looking at the overall profile. Despite being a geographical outlier, UCONN continues to come up as one of the top candidates in Big 12 expansion. Obviously UCONN is VERY strong in other areas that easily make up for that question of distance...

UConn definitely has some key advantages over most G5, namely it's a state flagship, has tremendous basketball, and has better academics.

Just don't expect that to translate into a Big 12 invite. Now if the ACC expands or gets raided and needs to backfill, I expect UConn to be their #1 option.

I think the travel considerations wouldn't be what keeps UConn out of the B12. The inconvenience is really one-sided. Every away game for UConn would require air travel. And most of those would also result in getting home an hour later because of the time difference. For everybody else, they would usually only have one more long trip every other year, and they gain the hour on return trips. Besides, how many B12 schools can bus to away games now?

However bad the travel would be for UConn, it's nothing $15 million or so a year couldn't make more bearable. If they don't make the cut, it will be for other reasons, IMO.

(02-27-2016 12:21 PM)CougarRed Wrote:  Good comeback.

Wake me up the next time a power conference plucks a G5 school coming off an 17,798 attendance year.

That's a bad number, yes, but it's not the only factor in the equation.

Objectively, USF has a better chance than Houston of getting a Big 12 invitation. Houston is just redundant, offers no value-added at all to the Big 12.

(02-27-2016 12:21 PM)CougarRed Wrote:  Good comeback.

Wake me up the next time a power conference plucks a G5 school coming off an 17,798 attendance year.

I never said USF was headed anywhere but, I didn't start slinging **** at people either. I simply returned serve.

(02-27-2016 12:25 PM)ken d Wrote:  I think the travel considerations wouldn't be what keeps UConn out of the B12. The inconvenience is really one-sided. Every away game for UConn would require air travel. And most of those would also result in getting home an hour later because of the time difference. For everybody else, they would usually only have one more long trip every other year, and they gain the hour on return trips. Besides, how many B12 schools can bus to away games now?

However bad the travel would be for UConn, it's nothing $15 million or so a year couldn't make more bearable. If they don't make the cut, it will be for other reasons, IMO.

IMO, distance isn't just about sheer travel time. It has a cultural dimension as well. UConn's location is New England, and there is just zero interest in that area in Big 12 athletics.

Hard to imagine anyone outside the UConn campus, or even on it, being excited about UConn vs Kansas State in anything. There just is negligible market potential there.

The simple fact is that the new schools added to the American/old Big East, saw their schedule as an improvement and thus their attendance grew. As for the left behinds "UC, UConn and USF, our fans saw the new schedule as a drop in level of opponents and our attendance decreased accordingly.

UC made some improvements to their stadium in an effort to engage the fan base and this slightly offset their attendance decrease. UConn has a new coach and they saw a slight increase in attendance even with the drop in opponent level as they were winning. USF was coming out of a four year low and it's new conference mates did not help our attendance numbers. We have returned to winning again and anticipate a large increase in attendance next season.

The perception of opponent level and weather or not you believe your team will win does have an influence on the casual fans interest in attending games. When USF is winning, we have huge crowds and while losing small crowds. It's all part of being a new school and part of the development process.

As for the "Level of Opponent" I mentioned, rightly or wrongly, that is how the casual fan in the Tampa market viewed USF's switch from the Big East to the American.

(02-27-2016 12:29 PM)Mestophalies Wrote:  

(02-27-2016 12:21 PM)CougarRed Wrote:  Good comeback.

Wake me up the next time a power conference plucks a G5 school coming off an 17,798 attendance year.

I never said USF was headed anywhere but, I didn't start slinging **** at people either. I simply returned serve.

The thread is entitled "Big 12 - Why Not USF?"

I simply answered the question factually.

I did not sling anything. I did not take the thread off topic and discuss UH's candidacy for the Big 12.

Not my fault if you can't handle the facts or stay on topic.

(02-26-2016 11:19 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(02-26-2016 10:08 AM)EvilVodka Wrote:  South Florida is always overlooked

Here's my take about our chances:

1) If the Big 12 expands by two teams, our chances aren't good, about 15%. Because IMO the only way we get in is as a two-fer with UCF. They will take both of us or neither of us. With both, they capture some real I-4 synergy and Big 12 schools get to saturate the Florida market with games and recruiting opportunities. With one of us, they are stranded down there on an island.

And i just don't think that is likely. What is most likely is going east and west, taking Cincy to bridge the gap with WVU (and because they are the best combined football/basketball athletic program in the AAC), and BYU as the biggest-brand available football program.

2) But, if the Big 12 expands by four, our chances are much better. In that event, I give us a 70% chance of getting in, because I do think the Florida option is the next-best thing for the Big 12. I'd envision Cincy, BYU, USF, and UCF being the chosen four.

I agree. Florida is a big state with football loving fans. USF and UCF are big schools. It seems logical that the school would fit well with the Big XII schools.

If by 4, I suspect Cincinnati and Memphis join.

(02-27-2016 12:40 PM)Mestophalies Wrote:  The simple fact is that the new schools added to the American/old Big East, saw their schedule as an improvement and thus their attendance grew. As for the left behinds "UC, UConn and USF, our fans saw the new schedule as a drop in level of opponents and our attendance decreased accordingly.

As for the "Level of Opponent" I mentioned, rightly or wrongly, that is how the casual fan in the Tampa market viewed USF's switch from the Big East to the American.

Everybody knows that a P5 schedule draws more local interest than a G5 schedule. That's true for every school.

What P5 conferences want to see in expansion candidates is a solid fan base against G5 competition. It says, "our fans care about our team no matter who we play."

(02-27-2016 12:32 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(02-27-2016 12:25 PM)ken d Wrote:  I think the travel considerations wouldn't be what keeps UConn out of the B12. The inconvenience is really one-sided. Every away game for UConn would require air travel. And most of those would also result in getting home an hour later because of the time difference. For everybody else, they would usually only have one more long trip every other year, and they gain the hour on return trips. Besides, how many B12 schools can bus to away games now?

However bad the travel would be for UConn, it's nothing $15 million or so a year couldn't make more bearable. If they don't make the cut, it will be for other reasons, IMO.

IMO, distance isn't just about sheer travel time. It has a cultural dimension as well. UConn's location is New England, and there is just zero interest in that area in Big 12 athletics.

Hard to imagine anyone outside the UConn campus, or even on it, being excited about UConn vs Kansas State in anything. There just is negligible market potential there.

And that works both ways. There wouldn't be much excitement on the part of existing B12 teams' fans for playing UConn in anything but basketball. That's not to say this would necessarily be a deal breaker. While Kansas might not be excited about UConn football per se, they could see an advantage in the league adding a couple of northeastern schools who aren't at B12 level competitiveness in football.

As things stand now, the Jayhawks have to play 9 league opponents, and would be lucky to win more than two conference games a year. Their chances for bowl eligibility are slim. If you add two weaker teams in a northern division and reduce the league schedule to 8 games, then Kansas has a shot at a bowl occasionally. So they might welcome any two such schools, and in that case UConn's basketball cred gives them a leg up.

Adding any two teams (thus reducing to 8 games) could also be a plus for some of the southern B12 teams, but they don't exactly need or want any more basketball powers. The B12 is plenty strong enough in hoops as it is, and schools like Texas Tech and TCU don't really want another team they would rarely beat and who their fans don't care about culturally.

If it comes down to expanding just for the sake of expanding, there are plenty of candidates as attractive as UConn for most B12 members.