(12-27-2014 11:44 AM)He1nousOne Wrote: (12-21-2014 03:56 PM)XLance Wrote: (12-21-2014 03:17 PM)He1nousOne Wrote: Well, since the reaction to Maryland and Rutgers, I don't know if more of the Big Ten power persons are interested in more East Coast expansion or if they would rather look into a strong Midwest expansion in order to balance the additions of Penn State, Rutgers and Maryland. Those three to the East balanced by Nebraska, Oklahoma and Kansas to the West. That is a pretty strong expansion ending and it is one that Big Ten traditionals would be more amiable to than a heavy move to the East.
You are right though about how strong the ACC could become with the additions that I list for them. They might just end up with an expansion of Texas (partial), Baylor and UConn. That really isn't all that scary to the SEC. If the Big Ten lands Oklahoma then it doesn't really worry me for the Big Ten either. I see good things happening for the Big Ten if the trend continues and Michigan can actually land Harbaugh. They are coming around. Seeing Pelini get the boot at Nebraska is also good news. Chryst finally coming back to Wisconsin in order to create some stability there will help. Dantonio at Michigan State, Franklin at Penn State. The future is looking alright.
Right now, as it stands, the Big 12 puts out a better football product than the ACC so worrying about what the ACC could become in the future isn't as big of a deal as is what The Big 12 is now. I have nothing against the Big 12, I have nothing against the ACC and I really, honestly, don't have anything against the SEC. I like how much **** the Big Ten has been taking lately. They deserve it but I think they will turn things around.
I still am of the opinion that ESPN is in the business of protecting their basketball interests with the ACC. That is why I think they would like the triple addition of Texas, Baylor and UConn to ACC basketball. Now that right there is the biggest threat that the ACC would pose to either the SEC or Big Ten.
H1, if indeed the triple addition to the ACC was made, it would be with Texas (partial), Baylor and Kansas. This is the only scenario in which I think the ACC would agree to take Texas as a partial member.
The B1G could then try to pry Missouri away from the SEC to pair with Oklahoma or look to UConn to try to enhance their basketball product.
You guys wont get Kansas or Oklahoma. Be realistic. This is a massive negotiation with multiple parties including all the major conference Universities and the major networks.
ESPN has more leverage on the ACC to get them to accept UConn. It's called The ACC Network.
The prospect of brokering is fading H1. I'm beginning to believe that it simply isn't going to go down that way. The Big 12, if or when it goes, will simply be picked apart. If it is brokered it will mean that it happens soon, but more and more I believe it will happen later so that the brokering doesn't have to happen at all. I don't think the networks are interested in becoming welfare to all of its members.
Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, West Virginia, Kansas, and possibly Iowa State will all find homes for either brand or market status, or academics. That means on their content value, their ability to provide viewers, or their school standing. I do think it likely that Texas Tech also finds a home. Kansas State will have a tough time. If T.C.U. winds up anywhere it will be the PAC but only with Texas Tech. Baylor won't get into the PAC, will not be wanted by the Big 10, and only finds a home in the SEC should the SEC expand by 4 out of the Big 12 which isn't likely, or if the SEC gets shut out of Oklahoma Schools which also isn't likely, or should West Virginia be taken by the ACC and Kansas and Oklahoma aren't available.
Considering there are more Southern Baptists in the SEC than anywhere else in the world (hyperbole here) I think they would be a good addition for us. They have nice new facilities, play an exciting brand of ball, and are decent in baseball and hoops. Plus they aren't named "Tigers" or "Bulldogs" which helps. We don't have a green team in the SEC since Tulane left and we don't have any Bears. But seriously while they fit in the ACC if the ACC doesn't form a Western Division I don't think they get into the ACC either.
On a more serious note about Baylor, I like them for the following reasons: they are the oldest university in the state of Texas. Their alumni have some influence in a state where I consider them to be the #3 University of Texas. They are within a reasonable driving distance of most SEC West teams. They are balanced in sports and their academic standing would slightly improve that of the SEC. I think they are marketable both inside Texas and within the greater SEC footprint for those reasons. However I know I am in the minority on this opinion within the SEC.
I don't think we are headed to more than 64 any more. I once believed 72 would be the final number. Now I'm thinking more like 60. We'll see.
If Texas goes to the ACC as an independent nobody else goes with them. They'll have 7 games to schedule their Texas buddies and OU. The sticking point on that will be minor sports travel.
North Carolina doesn't want to do what it takes to land 3 Big 12 schools and form a Western Division. Remember Louisville could easily slip into a Western division with Texas, a Texas private, and an Oklahoma or Kansas school and that would work if N.D. came all in. That would likely require them to make room for the Western division by shedding the two programs that were originally considered for this deal. In that event the SEC could land Va Tech and N.C. State, or N.C. State and an Oklahoma School while the Big 10 landed Virginia Tech and Kansas, or some other arrangement of similar compromise. When it was first presented as a concept the idea was that the advantages for the ACC would prove irresistible. Carolina is apparently the obstacle. This is why the demise of the Big 12 may be a premature prediction. If ESPN can't enhance the market value of the ACC with such additions and monetize it by converting the LHN into an ACCN then Delany's desire for more Eastern properties may not be dead quite yet and neither is the idea of a 3 x 20. Let ESPN gain a share of the PACN, a long duration contract for Big 10 T1 content, and utilize the markets to enhance their investment and potential income from the SECN and it could be quite advantageous to move to just a P3 setup. Then your final four every year are the three champs and the best at large school. And remember H1 if the SEC and Big 10 take 6 each of the ACC that meets requirements for dissolution. If the PAC takes 8 of the Big 12 it does the same.
The SEC in that scenario likely picks up: Miami, Georgia Tech, Florida State, N.C. State, Virginia Tech, and Clemson. Georgia Tech gives us academics and an old rival back for many of our schools. Florida State and Clemson are big content additions. Virginia Tech and N.C. State are market adds, and Miami gives us good academics and a presence in South Florida.
The Big 10 gets: Syracuse, Notre Dame (nowhere else for them to go), B.C. (big market), Virginia, Duke and North Carolina. All of these while not all AAU are very high in academics and the markets are there that Delany wanted.
The PAC gets: Texas, T.C.U. and Texas Tech along with Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State. So three AAU schools, 4 states, 8 Central Time Zone venues, and three national brands.
Baylor, West Virginia, Pitt, Louisville, and Wake Forest are out unless one conference expands to 24 and then only Wake is out and we are back to 64..