Interesting tweet re:B12

https://twitter.com/TuxedoYoda/status/51...1254376448

If true, that would bring the Big 12 up to 14 teams (on par with the SEC, ACC and B1G) and completely decimate the AAC, leaving it with 7 schools - 4 private schools (SMU, Tulsa, Tulane and Temple) and 3 big publics (UH, Memphis, USF). The question would then become, where does that leave Rice? Is CUSA, as constituted, a better fit than what would remain of the AAC if this were to happen? Would the AAC even want to add Rice? Would Rice want to leave CUSA for that version of AAC? Would any other conferences want to add teams? Is the Big 12 an option at all for Rice? Its commissioner, Bob Bowlsby, worked with Dr. Karlgaard when both were at Stanford.

Lots of uncertainty there. What I am certain of is that with Dr. Karlgaard's vision out in the open, Rice's recent athletic success, academic pedigree, and a stated willingness from the AD to improve our athletic lot, Rice will not be relegated to derisively commenting on others' use of "sandwich boards" to improve their lot. Rice will be active. We may not be successful, but I have faith that Dr. K will try to get Rice into the best situation possible.

Temple is the UH equivalent in Philadelphia-large public commuter college and way better history than dUH in basketball, but horrible in football. The ACC would be idiotic not to grab U Conn and Cinci to get to 16. My this would be so sad for the little east, um gee, the AAC or whatever it is. Frankly, the MWC, the little east and CUSA really need to start talking about working together.

MWC and CUSA had previously announced a merger. http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/...conference

It was called off two months later: http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com...r-merging/

Hasn't UH sworn to oppose any attempt to add Rice to the AAC? But if they do drop to seven teams not much point in going there unless one of several schools.

The former C-USA west teams who left to the American Conference are doing pretty bad in their new conference. Why would Rice want to join them? SMU has become really bad again. Tulsa has regressed. UH has taken a step back, it seems. Tulane is at 1-4. Other teams, like USF, are no better than FAU. Temple is Temple. Memphis is only good in basketball. It's just a bad conference right now in football, and would become really bad without Uconn, Cinci, UCF, ECU. Not attractive for Rice. And if they try to replace the ones that might leave, it would look more like the current C-USA, at best. Rice might actually turn out OK compared to the teams that bolted.

(10-03-2014 12:50 PM)texowl2 Wrote:  Temple is the UH equivalent in Philadelphia-large public commuter college and way better history than dUH in basketball, but horrible in football. The ACC would be idiotic not to grab U Conn and Cinci to get to 16. My this would be so sad for the little east, um gee, the AAC or whatever it is. Frankly, the MWC, the little east and CUSA really need to start talking about working together.

I must have missed the century where Temple had a better basketball history than UH. What's the Final Four Count, 5-2 UH?

(10-03-2014 02:39 PM)Mademen Wrote:  

(10-03-2014 12:50 PM)texowl2 Wrote:  Temple is the UH equivalent in Philadelphia-large public commuter college and way better history than dUH in basketball, but horrible in football. The ACC would be idiotic not to grab U Conn and Cinci to get to 16. My this would be so sad for the little east, um gee, the AAC or whatever it is. Frankly, the MWC, the little east and CUSA really need to start talking about working together.

I must have missed the century where Temple had a better basketball history than UH. What's the Final Four Count, 5-2 UH?

No offense but were you even born when UH was making its Final Four runs? The don Cheney teams are of a more recent vintage which probably has some impact on those tossing this around.

(10-03-2014 02:16 PM)Frizzy Owl Wrote:  Hasn't UH sworn to oppose any attempt to add Rice to the AAC? But if they do drop to seven teams not much point in going there unless one of several schools.

Again I'll ask the question-- why in the world would Rice want to join the AAC? For the umteenth time-- it's NOT an upgrade...and NEVER was!

(10-03-2014 03:30 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(10-03-2014 02:16 PM)Frizzy Owl Wrote:  Hasn't UH sworn to oppose any attempt to add Rice to the AAC? But if they do drop to seven teams not much point in going there unless one of several schools.

Again I'll ask the question-- why in the world would Rice want to join the AAC? For the umteenth time-- it's NOT an upgrade!

I agree with you.

Will not happen unless the Big 12 is forced to have a conference championship game. The teams mentioned don't bring extra TV dollars and Big 12 members will not vote for a salary decrease. A lot of people think the ACC may implode at some point due to far lower TV payout than the other conferences and the Big 12 will pick up Florida State, Clemson, Virginia Tech and one other.

(10-03-2014 03:30 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(10-03-2014 02:16 PM)Frizzy Owl Wrote:  Hasn't UH sworn to oppose any attempt to add Rice to the AAC? But if they do drop to seven teams not much point in going there unless one of several schools.

Again I'll ask the question-- why in the world would Rice want to join the AAC? For the umteenth time-- it's NOT an upgrade!

The AAC is filled with programs with greater proven revenue potential, greater name recognition, and greater on-field historical accomplishment than the programs in CUSA. They're also linked to ESPN, while we have to find out what the heck the ASN is.

(10-03-2014 02:48 PM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  

(10-03-2014 02:39 PM)Mademen Wrote:  

(10-03-2014 12:50 PM)texowl2 Wrote:  Temple is the UH equivalent in Philadelphia-large public commuter college and way better history than dUH in basketball, but horrible in football. The ACC would be idiotic not to grab U Conn and Cinci to get to 16. My this would be so sad for the little east, um gee, the AAC or whatever it is. Frankly, the MWC, the little east and CUSA really need to start talking about working together.

I must have missed the century where Temple had a better basketball history than UH. What's the Final Four Count, 5-2 UH?

No offense but were you even born when UH was making its Final Four runs? The don Cheney teams are of a more recent vintage which probably has some impact on those tossing this around.

You probably mean John Cheney and he never made the Final Four with Temple. Meanwhile I was at Hofheinz Pavillion in 1984 for the last year of Phi Slama Jama. 3 Final Fours in the 80's is 20+ years more recent than the 1950's work of Temple.

(10-03-2014 03:50 PM)Mademen Wrote:  

(10-03-2014 02:48 PM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  

(10-03-2014 02:39 PM)Mademen Wrote:  

(10-03-2014 12:50 PM)texowl2 Wrote:  Temple is the UH equivalent in Philadelphia-large public commuter college and way better history than dUH in basketball, but horrible in football. The ACC would be idiotic not to grab U Conn and Cinci to get to 16. My this would be so sad for the little east, um gee, the AAC or whatever it is. Frankly, the MWC, the little east and CUSA really need to start talking about working together.

I must have missed the century where Temple had a better basketball history than UH. What's the Final Four Count, 5-2 UH?

No offense but were you even born when UH was making its Final Four runs? The don Cheney teams are of a more recent vintage which probably has some impact on those tossing this around.

You probably mean John Cheney and he never made the Final Four with Temple. Meanwhile I was at Hofheinz Pavillion in 1984 for the last year of Phi Slama Jama. 3 Final Fours in the 80's is 20+ years more recent than the 1950's work of Temple.

Ok-so let's see, dUH made the NCAA's 4 times since 1984 and Temple per Wikipedia 22 times including 5 Elite 8's. We all grant the 5 Final Fours but frankly 30+ years ago ain't that much different than 50+ if you are just gonna measure final fours. And Temple's opponents just in the Big 5 and the assorted conferences they have been in over that time were way stronger than any the cougars played.

(10-03-2014 03:49 PM)At Ease Wrote:  

(10-03-2014 03:30 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(10-03-2014 02:16 PM)Frizzy Owl Wrote:  Hasn't UH sworn to oppose any attempt to add Rice to the AAC? But if they do drop to seven teams not much point in going there unless one of several schools.

Again I'll ask the question-- why in the world would Rice want to join the AAC? For the umteenth time-- it's NOT an upgrade!

The AAC is filled with programs with greater proven revenue potential, greater name recognition, and greater on-field historical accomplishment than the programs in CUSA. They're also linked to ESPN, while we have to find out what the heck the ASN is.

1. The ESPN contract, which is the remnants of the old Big East contract, expires this season. I very much doubt ESPN is going to re-up, especially with Louisville and Syracuse now in the ACC.

2. Since when does UCF, South Florida, UH, Memphis, Tulane, Cincy and ECU have greater name recognition. Yes, most are bigger schools than Rice with far bigger alumni bases, but none of them (save for perhaps ECU) attracts large attendence figures and none of them boast big TV audiences. Yes, they are a far superior basketball conference, but basketball really doesn't drive conference alignment despite being the #2 revenue sport with the #2 TV market.

(10-03-2014 04:21 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(10-03-2014 03:49 PM)At Ease Wrote:  

(10-03-2014 03:30 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(10-03-2014 02:16 PM)Frizzy Owl Wrote:  Hasn't UH sworn to oppose any attempt to add Rice to the AAC? But if they do drop to seven teams not much point in going there unless one of several schools.

Again I'll ask the question-- why in the world would Rice want to join the AAC? For the umteenth time-- it's NOT an upgrade!

The AAC is filled with programs with greater proven revenue potential, greater name recognition, and greater on-field historical accomplishment than the programs in CUSA. They're also linked to ESPN, while we have to find out what the heck the ASN is.

1. The ESPN contract, which is the remnants of the old Big East contract, expires this season. I very much doubt ESPN is going to re-up, especially with Louisville and Syracuse now in the ACC.

2. Since when does UCF, South Florida, UH, Memphis, Tulane, Cincy and ECU have greater name recognition. Yes, most are bigger schools than Rice with far bigger alumni bases, but none of them (save for perhaps ECU) attracts large attendence figures and none of them boast big TV audiences. Yes, they are a far superior basketball conference, but basketball really doesn't drive conference alignment despite being the #2 revenue sport with the #2 TV market.

But once Cincy and UConn, South Florida and ECU leave, what does the little East have left than ESPN wants for a TV contract? And past Memphis, if only the first two leave, what basketball strength do they have? Seems to me that all those folks leaving CUSA really got sold a bill of goods and how much did it cost them?

Oh yeah and one more thing for the UH crowd, I have been wildly overwhelmed with the sellout crowds at whatever the name of that new stadium is.....

He might not have been around when UH made its final four runs but I was. I hated it when North Carolina State made the alley oup to win it. I was hoping UH would win it to shut up the comment (I think it was Vitale's) about there only being 2 seasons in Texas-football and spring training.

It was disappointing when the Big 12 picked West Virginia over the remaining left out SWC schools (Rice, UH and SMU). It would be even more disappointing if they again pick out some distant schools without a great football tradition over the leftout SWC schools (even though I know the SWC tradition has been gone for at least 20 years). It has made me not really care about the Big 12 so I will watch SEC football instead for a P5 conference.

The AAC is not very much better than CUSA and would drop even further if they are raided.

(10-03-2014 02:48 PM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  

(10-03-2014 02:39 PM)Mademen Wrote:  

(10-03-2014 12:50 PM)texowl2 Wrote:  Temple is the UH equivalent in Philadelphia-large public commuter college and way better history than dUH in basketball, but horrible in football. The ACC would be idiotic not to grab U Conn and Cinci to get to 16. My this would be so sad for the little east, um gee, the AAC or whatever it is. Frankly, the MWC, the little east and CUSA really need to start talking about working together.

I must have missed the century where Temple had a better basketball history than UH. What's the Final Four Count, 5-2 UH?

No offense but were you even born when UH was making its Final Four runs? The don Cheney teams are of a more recent vintage which probably has some impact on those tossing this around.

(10-03-2014 04:21 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(10-03-2014 03:49 PM)At Ease Wrote:  

(10-03-2014 03:30 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(10-03-2014 02:16 PM)Frizzy Owl Wrote:  Hasn't UH sworn to oppose any attempt to add Rice to the AAC? But if they do drop to seven teams not much point in going there unless one of several schools.

Again I'll ask the question-- why in the world would Rice want to join the AAC? For the umteenth time-- it's NOT an upgrade!

The AAC is filled with programs with greater proven revenue potential, greater name recognition, and greater on-field historical accomplishment than the programs in CUSA. They're also linked to ESPN, while we have to find out what the heck the ASN is.

1. The ESPN contract, which is the remnants of the old Big East contract, expires this season. I very much doubt ESPN is going to re-up, especially with Louisville and Syracuse now in the ACC.

2. Since when does UCF, South Florida, UH, Memphis, Tulane, Cincy and ECU have greater name recognition. Yes, most are bigger schools than Rice with far bigger alumni bases, but none of them (save for perhaps ECU) attracts large attendence figures and none of them boast big TV audiences. Yes, they are a far superior basketball conference, but basketball really doesn't drive conference alignment despite being the #2 revenue sport with the #2 TV market.

I would prefer to see Rice surrounded by UH, Tulane, SMU etc. than F_U, Charlotte, Southern Mississippi and Middle Frikin Tennessee State. We have a grand total of 0 rivals in C-USA. The casual fan isn't going to come out and watch Rice play Western Kentucky.

I don't know if the AAC is the right place for us among the have-nots, but getting back together with SMU, UH and Tulane is better for our rivalries, interest and opponent academic profile. That and less directional schools is always a benefit.

(10-03-2014 03:30 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(10-03-2014 02:16 PM)Frizzy Owl Wrote:  Hasn't UH sworn to oppose any attempt to add Rice to the AAC? But if they do drop to seven teams not much point in going there unless one of several schools.

Again I'll ask the question-- why in the world would Rice want to join the AAC? For the umteenth time-- it's NOT an upgrade...and NEVER was!

That is obvious this season.

Using the Massey College Football Ranking Composite, here's how the teams from the two conferences stack up this season (not counting Thursday's games):

C-USA

31. Marshall (4-0)
66. W. Kentucky (2-2)
71. Middle Tenn. (3-1)
75. La. Tech (2-3)
79. UTSA (1-3)
82. Fla. Atlantic (2-3)
87. N. Texas (2-2)
90. Rice (1-3)
93. Old Dominion (3-2)
96. UTEP (2-2)
102. UAB (2-2)
111. Fla. Int'l (2-3)
112. So. Miss. (2-3)

AAC

32. East Carolina (3-1)
56. Memphis (2-2)
61. Cincinnati (2-1)
65. Temple (3-1)
67. UCF (1-2)
73. Houston (2-2)
97. S. Florida (2-3)
113. Tulsa (1-3)
114. Tulane (1-4)
116. Connecticut (1-4)
117. SMU (0-4)