(05-20-2023 10:22 AM)esayem Wrote:  It’s better for the sport to have five major football conferences. I hope Memphis and UNLV end up in the Big XII and there is a resurgence of Runnin’ Rebel basketball.

(05-20-2023 10:22 AM)esayem Wrote:  It’s better for the sport to have five major football conferences. I hope Memphis and UNLV end up in the Big XII and there is a resurgence of Runnin’ Rebel basketball.

(05-20-2023 09:45 AM)tigergatorcyclone Wrote:  What are the realistic chances Memphis makes the Big XII with UCONN or the ACC as backfill if FSU and Clemson depart?

PROS
- Carnegie R1 research designation
- New President and Provost and academic momentum
- $350 million for Liberty Bowl and FedEx Forum renovations for Football and Basketball
- New Olympic Sports master plan for upgraded facilities
- Smack dab in SEC territory (9 schools within 6 hour radius)

CONS
- Academic perception and enrollment
- Might be too late
- Football attendance struggles

Thoughts?

(05-20-2023 10:22 AM)esayem Wrote:  It’s better for the sport to have five major football conferences. I hope Memphis and UNLV end up in the Big XII and there is a resurgence of Runnin’ Rebel basketball.

(05-20-2023 02:19 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(05-20-2023 10:22 AM)esayem Wrote:  It’s better for the sport to have five major football conferences. I hope Memphis and UNLV end up in the Big XII and there is a resurgence of Runnin’ Rebel basketball.

Too late for that. The P2 are at 16. 10-12 conferences at the M level won't work long term. I would have preferred 6 10-12 team conferences, but that possibility went away in 2010 when Nebraska left the Big 12.

(05-20-2023 10:50 AM)bill dazzle Wrote:  This long-time Memphis fan is cautiously optimistic a Big 12 invite might happen. It depends, in large part, on what happens with the Pac 12.

Memphis seemingly is being considered by the Big 12. And I would think (as I have previously posted) that consideration is based partly on the fact that Memphis (perhaps more so than any other Big 12 candidate) would bring instant rivalries (due to shared league history) with Cincinnati, Houston and (to a lesser extent) UCF.

Memphis would also bring the potential for strong rivalries with Kansas, BYU and West Virginia, in particular, due to both the UofM and the city of Memphis being significantly different than KU, BYU and WVU (and their respective locales) based on demographics, culture and socio-political considerations. Without going into detail related to what can be sensitive topics (most on this board are savvy enough to understand what I'm suggesting), mentally picture the Memphis football team playing in Morgantown or Provo. Or Memphis hosting Kansas/BYU in basketball at the FedEx Forum. The fans on both sides would be "fired up" and there could potentially be some national interest because of that alone. Memphis would be looked at (whether fairly or not) as a "villain" of sorts. That rivalry element is important for building a league.

On this theme, I seriously doubt the Big 12 would have Memphis as a legit expansion candidate had UM not landed R1 designation and not finalized the Liberty Bowl update plan.

(05-20-2023 03:30 PM)bryanw1995 Wrote:  

(05-20-2023 10:50 AM)bill dazzle Wrote:  This long-time Memphis fan is cautiously optimistic a Big 12 invite might happen. It depends, in large part, on what happens with the Pac 12.

Memphis seemingly is being considered by the Big 12. And I would think (as I have previously posted) that consideration is based partly on the fact that Memphis (perhaps more so than any other Big 12 candidate) would bring instant rivalries (due to shared league history) with Cincinnati, Houston and (to a lesser extent) UCF.

Memphis would also bring the potential for strong rivalries with Kansas, BYU and West Virginia, in particular, due to both the UofM and the city of Memphis being significantly different than KU, BYU and WVU (and their respective locales) based on demographics, culture and socio-political considerations. Without going into detail related to what can be sensitive topics (most on this board are savvy enough to understand what I'm suggesting), mentally picture the Memphis football team playing in Morgantown or Provo. Or Memphis hosting Kansas/BYU in basketball at the FedEx Forum. The fans on both sides would be "fired up" and there could potentially be some national interest because of that alone. Memphis would be looked at (whether fairly or not) as a "villain" of sorts. That rivalry element is important for building a league.

On this theme, I seriously doubt the Big 12 would have Memphis as a legit expansion candidate had UM not landed R1 designation and not finalized the Liberty Bowl update plan.

Memphis is very close to the geographic center of the big 12. They’re strong in sports, they spend money on athletics, and they’re improving academically. I don’t think the big 12 expands now, but if they do bring in more g5s, Memphis should be their top choice.

(05-20-2023 03:06 PM)DuncanMcShane Wrote:  I think the Big 12 is nuts not to grab SMU. I get that TCU is right there, but strong regional rivalries matter. My guess is that certainly UT and maybe OU were stronger in DFW than either TCU or SMU. I’d grab SMU and Memphis if the 4 Corners are unavailable. Then wait on the ACC.