UNC, Notre Dame, and Texas all have offers from any league they want to join. This isn't really news. The news would be if UNC acted on the offer.

In the end, I'm not sure that I foresee any further movement at this stage among the top 5 conferences. What that leaves us with is a somewhat odd and messy collection of schools, but real life is odd and messy. There are a lot of different agendas (both at the conference and individual school level) that would have to be reconciled to get to a nice 4x16 bundle. Looking at specific conferences:

B1G: They're a powerful conglomerate of established schools with a very large alumni base, most of whom have been together for decades. They've expanded into new markets, and picked up an established major football brand in Nebraska. They have a very lucrative conference network. They'd probably like to expand further for the sake of markets and to improve football recruiting, but getting to 16 will probably limit them to options that aren't ideal. I think they'd need to grab more than 2 ACC schools to make that work, and going beyond would be messy. I can't foresee anyone poaching the B1G.

SEC: Very cohesive, and the brand in football now. 14 is an awkward number, but their recent growth gives them two strong additions, and adding aTm in particular gets them officially into the promised land of Texas. I think that they'd like to add the states of North Carolina and Virginia, but they don't need to do so. The only possible school to leave would be Missouri for the B1G, but they're a better fit for the SEC than many give them credit for, and I don't foresee that happening.

PAC: Cohesive, with a huge geographic advantage. They own all the valuable brands from the Mountain time zone to the West Coast. Given that geography, I don't think they need to expand, either, as they have no competition in the area and they have all of the best brands in their footprint. I can't see anyone poaching from the PAC.

Big 12: While it may be seen a marriage of convenience, at this point it largely works. OU and UT are superb football anchors, and KU is a fine hoops anchor. Their current contract is lucrative, and the GoR is likely to be a significant impediment to poaching. As far as that goes, aside from the GoR, the brands they have which would be attractive to others have issues (whether it be LHN, "little brothers", and/or small markets), so I think they're not likely to be poached. As for expansion, unless they settle for less lucrative options, they're just simply not an attractive option unless the B1G and SEC have managed to blow up the ACC, which I don't think will happen.

ACC: A largely hoops-centric conference in a football-centric world, they're also the victim of bad timing on their contract. At the same time, there's still a lot of history and value here, and they've expanded to pick up attractive properties in their area (although it does stretch that area even farther than before). Despite FSU and Clemson's potential annoyance at the lack of football focus, I don't see the ACC being poached. The core schools would likely demand to have many partners come to a new home with them, and if the SEC tried to pick off a NC and VA school solo there'd probably be political resistance. I don't see them expanding further, unless someone takes from them first.

So 14+14+14+10+12 = 64, which is the same endgame as 4x16. As has been pointed out elsewhere, if things get restricted to just that top-level cartel there's potential for brand erosion, so I don't see that happening. At the same time, if you can get through an expansion of the football playoff to 8 games, and allow conferences to use whatever method they choose to determine a champion, you can have a model that allows for both inclusion of true conference champions plus 3 at-larges, which would accommodate conferences like the SEC which would like to have more than one team eligible to win the title. That would also keep ND in play, and I just can't foresee any scenario where they'd be shut out of contention for the title game.

(02-27-2013 01:15 PM)Eagle78 Wrote:  

(02-27-2013 12:21 PM)CommuterBob Wrote:  

(02-27-2013 12:20 PM)S11 Wrote:  

(02-27-2013 12:15 PM)CommuterBob Wrote:  Why is a Maryland guy breaking UNC news considered anything close to being accurate? Where's the buzz from UNC?

He's the guy who broke the Maryland to the Big Ten story early.

I understand that. But that was a Maryland story. Even then he was hesitant to say Rutgers was included. At the time, he also said GT and UVA would come soon, too. Everyone loves a good rumor, but the real stories come from those associated with the actual schools that are moving.

IMO, this is the point that people keep missing. If this was accurate, we would be hearing SOMETHING from reliable sources in the UNC community. Instead, we get "reports" from bloggers from other schools with an agenda.

As was already stated on this thread, he is a Maryland blogger who supposedly broke a Maryland story. What does that have to do with UNC?

IMO, until a credible UNC source weighs in on this, it is baseless speculation.

The reason for this info coming from sources associated to Maryland could be more of a legal issue. Sources from Maryland - prior to their B1G entry - doesn't count as an official B1G source. So torturous interference can't be claimed. Maryland sources aren't official. But they have more access to B1G sources as an incoming member than anyone else would. They also happen to be current ACC members, and can act as an intermediary...

Of course, it could also be bogus. Only time will tell...

Ill just put this here . I dont even know who David Glenn is , but apparently he has a show and talks to Big Ten ADs.


David Glenn Show ‏@DavidGlennShow
@DanWolken Norwood Teague, Minn. AD, told us an hour ago "we [meaning Big Ten] could expand tomorrow" to illustrate how hush-hush talks are.


or next week, or next month, or next year , or never. Right?

(02-27-2013 12:49 PM)BewareThePhog Wrote:  I'm not surprised that UNC could have offers from the B1G and SEC. They are a very valuable property for multiple reasons. Having an offer and accepting it are two different things, however. It'd only be smart for them to consider their options, even if their preference would be to remain as an anchor of the ACC.

ESPN is on the clock.

(02-27-2013 01:52 PM)BewareThePhog Wrote:  In the end, I'm not sure that I foresee any further movement at this stage among the top 5 conferences. What that leaves us with is a somewhat odd and messy collection of schools, but real life is odd and messy. There are a lot of different agendas (both at the conference and individual school level) that would have to be reconciled to get to a nice 4x16 bundle. Looking at specific conferences:

B1G: They're a powerful conglomerate of established schools with a very large alumni base, most of whom have been together for decades. They've expanded into new markets, and picked up an established major football brand in Nebraska. They have a very lucrative conference network. They'd probably like to expand further for the sake of markets and to improve football recruiting, but getting to 16 will probably limit them to options that aren't ideal. I think they'd need to grab more than 2 ACC schools to make that work, and going beyond would be messy. I can't foresee anyone poaching the B1G.

SEC: Very cohesive, and the brand in football now. 14 is an awkward number, but their recent growth gives them two strong additions, and adding aTm in particular gets them officially into the promised land of Texas. I think that they'd like to add the states of North Carolina and Virginia, but they don't need to do so. The only possible school to leave would be Missouri for the B1G, but they're a better fit for the SEC than many give them credit for, and I don't foresee that happening.

PAC: Cohesive, with a huge geographic advantage. They own all the valuable brands from the Mountain time zone to the West Coast. Given that geography, I don't think they need to expand, either, as they have no competition in the area and they have all of the best brands in their footprint. I can't see anyone poaching from the PAC.

Big 12: While it may be seen a marriage of convenience, at this point it largely works. OU and UT are superb football anchors, and KU is a fine hoops anchor. Their current contract is lucrative, and the GoR is likely to be a significant impediment to poaching. As far as that goes, aside from the GoR, the brands they have which would be attractive to others have issues (whether it be LHN, "little brothers", and/or small markets), so I think they're not likely to be poached. As for expansion, unless they settle for less lucrative options, they're just simply not an attractive option unless the B1G and SEC have managed to blow up the ACC, which I don't think will happen.

ACC: A largely hoops-centric conference in a football-centric world, they're also the victim of bad timing on their contract. At the same time, there's still a lot of history and value here, and they've expanded to pick up attractive properties in their area (although it does stretch that area even farther than before). Despite FSU and Clemson's potential annoyance at the lack of football focus, I don't see the ACC being poached. The core schools would likely demand to have many partners come to a new home with them, and if the SEC tried to pick off a NC and VA school solo there'd probably be political resistance. I don't see them expanding further, unless someone takes from them first.

So 14+14+14+10+12 = 64, which is the same endgame as 4x16. As has been pointed out elsewhere, if things get restricted to just that top-level cartel there's potential for brand erosion, so I don't see that happening. At the same time, if you can get through an expansion of the football playoff to 8 games, and allow conferences to use whatever method they choose to determine a champion, you can have a model that allows for both inclusion of true conference champions plus 3 at-larges, which would accommodate conferences like the SEC which would like to have more than one team eligible to win the title. That would also keep ND in play, and I just can't foresee any scenario where they'd be shut out of contention for the title game.

I've been thinking, which of course can be a dangerous thing, but it seems to me that if there is an inclination to form a new upper tier, especially if it were to breakaway from the NCAA, that it might be much easier to decide this realignment issue equitably through negotiations of all concerned parties at a kind of summit meeting of the Commissioners, Presidents, and AD's should such a movement come to fruition. During the breakaway existing conference bylaws designed for operation within the NCAA may become null until they are reformed in a new league. That may be the kind of freedom needed to reset the boundaries geographically, address the various needs of the conferences, and reach a compromise if not a consensus.

If this were ever to transpire new bylaws, governance, and structure would have to be hashed out anyway. Deciding on the form of the upper tier could simply be the first order of business and realignment could be decided under that auspice. Getting off to a less acrimonious start would be good for all.

I just want everyone to know that I have a standing offer to Kate Upton for a one night stand to be held at a Holiday Inn of her choosing. The ball is officially in her court.

(02-27-2013 04:10 PM)Dr. Isaly von Yinzer Wrote:  I just want everyone to know that I have a standing offer to Kate Upton for a one night stand to be held at a Holiday Inn of her choosing. The ball is officially in her court.

She threw the ball in the trash can shortly after it arrived, Doc. Sorry about that...

(02-27-2013 04:10 PM)Dr. Isaly von Yinzer Wrote:  I just want everyone to know that I have a standing offer to Kate Upton for a one night stand to be held at a Holiday Inn of her choosing. The ball is officially in her court.

Hope does spring eternal! By the way Kate prefers the Ritz.

(02-27-2013 04:10 PM)Dr. Isaly von Yinzer Wrote:  I just want everyone to know that I have a standing offer to Kate Upton for a one night stand to be held at a Holiday Inn of her choosing. The ball is officially in her court.

There is a guy on the Syracuse board saying she is waiting for you at the Holiday Inn in Poughkeepsie, NY. Two posters on a TCU board said their AD told a group of boosters she is waiting for you at a Holiday Inn in Fort Worth. They can't both be right?!?

Everyone (ESPN, the schools in the B1G and SEC, and the other schools in the ACC) know what's at stake if Carolina were to leave the ACC (or Texas were to leave the Big 12).
These decisions can't be made on the fly as they can greatly affect many others. And it is because of those considerations that nothing will happen very quickly, if at all.
Questions like; would Wake Forest have a landing spot? have to come into play. Would ESPN risk losing a star property, or an entire conference over a few million dollars?

(02-27-2013 04:47 PM)XLance Wrote:  Everyone (ESPN, the schools in the B1G and SEC, and the other schools in the ACC) know what's at stake if Carolina were to leave the ACC (or Texas were to leave the Big 12).
These decisions can't be made on the fly as they can greatly affect many others. And it is because of those considerations that nothing will happen very quickly, if at all.
Questions like; would Wake Forest have a landing spot? have to come into play. Would ESPN risk losing a star property, or an entire conference over a few million dollars?

I agree. My thoughts were spurred by the growing angst that I hear from many quarters in which ordinary fans are expressing their discontent over realignment. At first it was different and fun to speculate about, but since nothing else in our world seems static enough right now to be counted upon then having your cherished alma mater potentially fall victim to yet more change in what most perceive (falsely) to be about greed, at a time when greed has robbed them of much of their perceived security, is only going to fuel a backlash against those conferences and institutions pushing for the realignment. In short decades of love and good will stand to be forfeited if this drags out much longer, or if bold sweeping changes come in the form of those 18 and 20 team conferences.

When people are stressed they avoid those things which stress them the most and yet which are dearest to them. There is no avoidance of governmental changes, of health care changes, of economic uncertainty, or of its volatility right now, but when unwanted change comes to your hobby, or pass time, or cultural icon it becomes too much to bear in a world where nothing else may be counted on. The response is instantaneous.

If we don't wrap this up and do it with some equitable outcomes NCAA football stands to lose touch with the Boomers and X'rs with which it resonates most clearly, and lose for decades the interest of those even younger who are already showing disinclination to the sport. It is in the best interest of the game, the fans, and ultimately the schools to get this over with and do so without acrimony and further rifts.

In an uncertain world we need those community events that bring us together to remain a constant. College football is one of them.

(02-27-2013 12:45 PM)bluesox Wrote:  I Would guess these 5 programs have open offers right now:

Texas- big 10, sec, pac 10
ND- big 10
UNC- big 10, sec
UVA- big 10, sec
FSU- big 12

the big news is if any accept or if leagues move on to other school's.

This is quite likely. I'm not sure I see a compelling reason for UNC to leave the ACC behind. It is also hard to imagine Texas going anywhere without Oklahoma, but we have seem crazier things happen through the course of realignment.

I seriously don't think anyone that gets excited by such "news" has ever spent any amount of significant time in North Carolina.

There is one constant in conference realignment - conferences don't extend offers unless they know the school is going to accept and schools don't apply to conferences unless they know the conference will accept them. For UNC to have a "firm" offer in-hand without making a commitment to the B1G reeks of desperation. The B1G isn't desperate. If they had come to terms there would be a press conference already.

I'm sure UNC has talked to the B1G and the SEC. I just don't believe it has gone much beyond informal, generic discussions.

UNC, Texas, and Notre Dame have all had a standing Big 10 offer for years. This is not news.

As far as why a Maryland blogger would be able to break this news? Well I am not saying he is connected but he is supposedly the guy that broke news about Maryland so if that is the case then obviously he has a source.

Now what part would Maryland play in this whole drama? They could be acting as the end around as far as Tortious Interference goes. In my opinion West Virginia probably acted in the same way for awhile in regards to talking to whomever the Big 12 asked them to. Some of the WVU "insider" guys very visibly switched who they were saying they were getting information from after WVU officially joined the Big 12.

Until Maryland officially joins the Big Ten, they are still part of the ACC and can talk to UNC about joining the Big Ten without any legal ramifications. If that is happening then likely some folks at Maryland know about it. Whether the leak to the blogger would be purposeful or someone talking that probably shouldn't, who knows. Perhaps the guy is just blowing smoke trying to remain relevant after being used to break the news about Maryland.

Either way, it really isn't much of a stretch to believe that the Big Ten would let UNC know they can join the Big Ten if they want to. The interesting part of that would be finding out what details are there in that offer.

Any school that leaves what it has in the ACC is absolutely selfish and short-sighted. The ACC makes big money and is a Power5 conference. There's no way I'd leave my conference rivals for just a couple million more dollars a year. All this is getting ridiculous. The ACC has a good thing going and they should pursue the scheduling alliance with the BIG12. I hope the ACC institutions say "no" and bring the BIG10 back down to earth.

(02-27-2013 04:18 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(02-27-2013 04:10 PM)Dr. Isaly von Yinzer Wrote:  I just want everyone to know that I have a standing offer to Kate Upton for a one night stand to be held at a Holiday Inn of her choosing. The ball is officially in her court.

Hope does spring eternal! By the way Kate prefers the Ritz.

Crackers?

(02-27-2013 07:42 PM)Theodoresdaddy Wrote:  

(02-27-2013 04:18 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(02-27-2013 04:10 PM)Dr. Isaly von Yinzer Wrote:  I just want everyone to know that I have a standing offer to Kate Upton for a one night stand to be held at a Holiday Inn of her choosing. The ball is officially in her court.

Hope does spring eternal! By the way Kate prefers the Ritz.

Crackers?

Yes! But only with brie and not in bed.