(09-06-2016 11:47 PM)HawaiiMongoose Wrote:  Not that I'm inclined to believe whatever Blaudschun says, but if those are the final four, the Big 12 sure went through a lot of trouble to end up with the same foursome most of us would have predicted months ago.

My thoughts exactly.

(09-07-2016 08:18 AM)back2vinyl Wrote:  

(09-06-2016 11:47 PM)HawaiiMongoose Wrote:  Not that I'm inclined to believe whatever Blaudschun says, but if those are the final four, the Big 12 sure went through a lot of trouble to end up with the same foursome most of us would have predicted months ago.

My thoughts exactly.

I think there was always a short-list of G5 finalists, but the Big 12 did what they did in the hopes that an "unhappy" ACC or PAC school would express interest in applying. Now that it didn't happen, the Big 12 is playing this "Survivor" game to whittle it down to the list they already had.

I agree with some of the others. The Big 12 really should add all four schools and call it a day. That would be the smartest long term move, IMO.

(09-06-2016 11:47 PM)HawaiiMongoose Wrote:  Not that I'm inclined to believe whatever Blaudschun says, but if those are the final four, the Big 12 sure went through a lot of trouble to end up with the same foursome most of us would have predicted months ago.

I think the reason they invited schools to apply was based on legal advice to avoid any possible law suits.

(09-07-2016 12:29 AM)shere khan Wrote:  

(09-06-2016 11:58 PM)DefCONNOne Wrote:  

(09-06-2016 11:57 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  

(09-06-2016 11:47 PM)HawaiiMongoose Wrote:  if those are the final four, the Big 12 sure went through a lot of trouble to end up with the same foursome most of us would have predicted months ago.

It is almost impossible to exaggerate how amateurish, indecisive, desperate, silly, and incompetent the Big <XII's leadership has made itself appear to be throughout this process.

Perception, in this case, is not reality.

The dogs with the loudest bark are the ones that are most afraid."

Really??? That's how you're gonna play this???

Being loud? Does that include trolling and starting threads about a school "you don't care about?" If you ARE loud about a different school that's not yours...

(09-07-2016 09:09 AM)SMUmustangs Wrote:  

(09-06-2016 11:47 PM)HawaiiMongoose Wrote:  Not that I'm inclined to believe whatever Blaudschun says, but if those are the final four, the Big 12 sure went through a lot of trouble to end up with the same foursome most of us would have predicted months ago.

I think the reason they invited schools to apply was based on legal advice to avoid any possible law suits.

That theory has logic to it. It allows the Big 12 to avoid any tampering allegations.

However, some Memphis posters think that invites have already been extended because some schools were already vetted and invited (specifically Memphis).

Still other Memphis fans think that Aresco interfered with the selection process by convincing the Big 12 not to take Memphis on account that the loss of Memphis would be a crushing blow to the AAC.

In either event, legal action is still a possibility. The legal issues of realignment aren't always so clear cut.

(09-07-2016 12:02 AM)Native Georgian Wrote:  @DefCONNOne: perhaps not. But for a business in which public-image matters, they sure have allowed theirs to become a laughingstock. The only question is why.

Avoid future lawsuits. The added bonus is the great publicity that has come to the Big 12 because expansion has been one of the forefront topics in college sports for months.

(09-07-2016 09:18 AM)BE4evah Wrote:  

(09-07-2016 09:09 AM)SMUmustangs Wrote:  

(09-06-2016 11:47 PM)HawaiiMongoose Wrote:  Not that I'm inclined to believe whatever Blaudschun says, but if those are the final four, the Big 12 sure went through a lot of trouble to end up with the same foursome most of us would have predicted months ago.

I think the reason they invited schools to apply was based on legal advice to avoid any possible law suits.

That theory has logic to it. It allows the Big 12 to avoid any tampering allegations.

However, some Memphis posters think that invites have already been extended because some schools were already vetted and invited (specifically Memphis).

Still other Memphis fans think that Aresco interfered with the selection process by convincing the Big 12 not to take Memphis on account that the loss of Memphis would be a crushing blow to the AAC.

In either event, legal action is still a possibility. The legal issues of realignment aren't always so clear cut.

Unless the Big 12 only takes one school from the American, the conference loses its "best of the rest" status in my opinion. The TV contract would be renegotiated or cancelled, UConn's status is unclear if it isn't one of the schools selected and Houston/Cincinnati are probably 2 of the top 3 football schools in conference.

Doesn't look good for the American.

(09-07-2016 12:02 AM)Native Georgian Wrote:  @DefCONNOne: perhaps not. But for a business in which public-image matters, they sure have allowed theirs to become a laughingstock. The only question is why.

Distraction from Baylor.

Not saying expansion is a ruse but dragging it out surely has taken the spotlight off that dumpster fire.

(09-07-2016 04:47 AM)goofus Wrote:  Did I miss something, when did it become obvious UCONN was one of the final 4?

Through out this process, at one point or another, it's been reported or assumed that Memphis, then CSU, then others were part of the final 4.

There has been nothing obvious about who the final 4 was going to be.

FWIW, these were my four picks from the beginning. However, you are correct that UConn's status as one of the consensus favorites has not previously been established.

(09-07-2016 09:26 AM)megadrone Wrote:  

(09-07-2016 09:18 AM)BE4evah Wrote:  

(09-07-2016 09:09 AM)SMUmustangs Wrote:  

(09-06-2016 11:47 PM)HawaiiMongoose Wrote:  Not that I'm inclined to believe whatever Blaudschun says, but if those are the final four, the Big 12 sure went through a lot of trouble to end up with the same foursome most of us would have predicted months ago.

I think the reason they invited schools to apply was based on legal advice to avoid any possible law suits.

That theory has logic to it. It allows the Big 12 to avoid any tampering allegations.

However, some Memphis posters think that invites have already been extended because some schools were already vetted and invited (specifically Memphis).

Still other Memphis fans think that Aresco interfered with the selection process by convincing the Big 12 not to take Memphis on account that the loss of Memphis would be a crushing blow to the AAC.

In either event, legal action is still a possibility. The legal issues of realignment aren't always so clear cut.

Unless the Big 12 only takes one school from the American, the conference loses its "best of the rest" status in my opinion. The TV contract would be renegotiated or cancelled, UConn's status is unclear if it isn't one of the schools selected and Houston/Cincinnati are probably 2 of the top 3 football schools in conference.

Doesn't look good for the American.

With UConn presenting first (or at least the first to be leaked), they will know the status of their presentation fairly quickly.

I am surprised that somehow this leaked out so publicly. I wonder if it is to temper expectations?

As far as maintaining the AAC's G5 position, if Houston and Cincinnati are both gone, Memphis becomes the school that the AAC can't afford to tick off. But I don't think that Aresco is in collusion with the Big 12 to force them not to take Memphis.

(09-07-2016 09:39 AM)orangefan Wrote:  

(09-07-2016 04:47 AM)goofus Wrote:  Did I miss something, when did it become obvious UCONN was one of the final 4?

Through out this process, at one point or another, it's been reported or assumed that Memphis, then CSU, then others were part of the final 4.

There has been nothing obvious about who the final 4 was going to be.

FWIW, these were my four picks from the beginning. However, you are correct that UConn's status as one of the consensus favorites has not previously been established.

No school's status as one of the favorites has been established. All we have is conjecture and a bunch of CR geeks on the internet giving their opinions, along with some wildly uninformed local sports writers.

The early speculation is that UT would actively block Houston...and then the Governor spoke and suddenly perception changed. But we still don't know if UT wants UH at all cost, or despises them them most.

UConn, BYU and Cinci, in that order, have the largest G5 AD budgets. They have the best known brands. They are each above the academic median for the Big 12. Two of them are in big markets and the other has a unique national following. I think they've been the top 3 all along.

Not sure I believe a word Blaudschun says after how wrong he was recently. He said Memphis was a finalist when they were not. His list of schools was totally wrong. And, he pushes a UConn narrative at every turn.

These 4 may be the finalists, but Blaudschun has proven to be wrong on this before. His sources must be terrible.

(09-06-2016 10:15 PM)BE4evah Wrote:  UConn to meet with Big 12 on Thursday

Jeff Jacobs
‏@jacobscourant
Yes, also am told UConn to meet with Big 12 on Thursday

According to Mark Blaudschun it is between BYU, UConn, Houston and Cincinnati.


https://mobile.twitter.com/blauds
Mark Blaudschun ‏@blauds
Big 12 expansion interviews begin in Dallas. Four serious candidates-UConn,Cin, BYU, Houston. http://TMGcollegesports.com @MrCFB






I wonder who else has meeting scheduled?

So far only UConn has been reported.

If true, adding all would be good. Still Cinci & Houston full time with BYU and AF FB only.

(09-07-2016 07:03 AM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  

(09-07-2016 06:48 AM)Akkula Wrote:  This process isn't pre determined and this vetting process is good for schools like CSU who bring aspects to the Big 12 that aren't necessarily easily seen by fans and superficial indicators.

Is it, though?

Nebraska's membership vote happened during an AAU meeting in DC. The Big Ten made its search public, but the Nebraska chapter was completely shrouded.

Ditto with UMD (gagged, no less). Maryland stated its interests at an AAU meeting.

TCU swears it got to the conference by way of a friendly chat at the bar.

So many of these schools' leaders see and know of each other from so many other associations that it really exposes how fake this process has been. Objectivity hasn't been in the backdrop of major conference expansion...its history is littered with backroom deals, backstabbing, and secrecy. When it comes to it, nobody should peg weight to this process. It's not how it works, even if it should.

Amen to that.

(09-07-2016 09:39 AM)orangefan Wrote:  

(09-07-2016 04:47 AM)goofus Wrote:  Did I miss something, when did it become obvious UCONN was one of the final 4?

Through out this process, at one point or another, it's been reported or assumed that Memphis, then CSU, then others were part of the final 4.

There has been nothing obvious about who the final 4 was going to be.

FWIW, these were my four picks from the beginning. However, you are correct that UConn's status as one of the consensus favorites has not previously been established.

I know a good academic school with good basketball has got the nod before.

(09-07-2016 09:48 AM)HuskyHawk Wrote:  

(09-07-2016 09:39 AM)orangefan Wrote:  

(09-07-2016 04:47 AM)goofus Wrote:  Did I miss something, when did it become obvious UCONN was one of the final 4?

Through out this process, at one point or another, it's been reported or assumed that Memphis, then CSU, then others were part of the final 4.

There has been nothing obvious about who the final 4 was going to be.

FWIW, these were my four picks from the beginning. However, you are correct that UConn's status as one of the consensus favorites has not previously been established.

No school's status as one of the favorites has been established. All we have is conjecture and a bunch of CR geeks on the internet giving their opinions, along with some wildly uninformed local sports writers.

The early speculation is that UT would actively block Houston...and then the Governor spoke and suddenly perception changed. But we still don't know if UT wants UH at all cost, or despises them them most.

UConn, BYU and Cinci, in that order, have the largest G5 AD budgets. They have the best known brands. They are each above the academic median for the Big 12. Two of them are in big markets and the other has a unique national following. I think they've been the top 3 all along.

I'm pretty certain SMU is actually number 3 after UConn and BYU. Check out the Equity in Athletics database. http://ope.ed.gov/athletics/#/

Also, there has been some reports from reputable sources that both Cincy and BYU are close to having the votes, and that UH is getting solid support from Texas and TTU. I'm not aware of any reports discussing other schools in a similar manner.

Personally, I would love to see all four get in.

(09-07-2016 11:28 AM)Huskies12 Wrote:  I know a good academic school with good basketball has got the nod before.

(09-06-2016 11:57 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  It is almost impossible to exaggerate how amateurish, indecisive, desperate, silly, and incompetent the Big <XII's leadership has made itself appear to be throughout this process.

I like to throw jokes at the Big 12 for fun, but in fairness, they have not said one word publicly about it.

(09-07-2016 09:26 AM)megadrone Wrote:  Unless the Big 12 only takes one school from the American, the conference loses its "best of the rest" status in my opinion. The TV contract would be renegotiated or cancelled, UConn's status is unclear if it isn't one of the schools selected and Houston/Cincinnati are probably 2 of the top 3 football schools in conference.

Doesn't look good for the American.

I doubt they bother with the TV contract. This is year three of the contract, and any teams invited likely would not leave until the 2018 season, which means there would only be two years left. Not even worth the headache for ESPN to renegotiate.

(09-07-2016 07:56 AM)goodknightfl Wrote:  Anyone who pretends they know what is going to happen is full of it.

B12 may not get votes for anyone, odds 35%, It may add 2, odds 50% it may add 4, odds 15%.

As for who the add, who knows, there will be a lot of horse trading on the way to those 2, or 4.

The two most qualified schools are BYU and UConn. But it will make Big 12 the new Conference USA stretching from mountain zone to the very end of east coast.