(08-13-2016 12:46 PM)cr11owl Wrote:  

(08-13-2016 12:25 PM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(08-13-2016 10:42 AM)Barrett Wrote:  69 made me chuckle with the "she's really a boy" line. As for the pretty girl we're getting along with, I meant that to be analogous to our possible discussions with the AAC. I think if we're in the middle of trying to court a place in the AAC, a public declaration of interest in the Big 12 may be counterproductive to that courtship.

SMU, UH, and the other current AAC schools already have a spot in the AAC, so they're not trying to court the AAC. They don't have anything to lose. We, however, might.

Just all speculation, of course.

My only point is that I'm not sure the XII is worth the risk in any event. I'd take a place in the AAC or MWC in a heartbeat which is what I thought you were suggesting.
I was poking fun at those wanting to go to the XII, although I think I'm glad they want to.

You do realize it would be at least a $20 million/year bump to athletics for the next 9 years right? That would double our current spending on athletics...

Not sure that would be true. Big part of this is cash grab by Big XII members due to TV contract wording. New members highly unlikely to get a full share. Still will be more than they're getting now, but not a full share.

If by some miracle it was Rice, our share would likely be reduced even more than that.

(08-13-2016 12:46 PM)cr11owl Wrote:  

(08-13-2016 12:25 PM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(08-13-2016 10:42 AM)Barrett Wrote:  69 made me chuckle with the "she's really a boy" line. As for the pretty girl we're getting along with, I meant that to be analogous to our possible discussions with the AAC. I think if we're in the middle of trying to court a place in the AAC, a public declaration of interest in the Big 12 may be counterproductive to that courtship.
SMU, UH, and the other current AAC schools already have a spot in the AAC, so they're not trying to court the AAC. They don't have anything to lose. We, however, might.
Just all speculation, of course.

My only point is that I'm not sure the XII is worth the risk in any event. I'd take a place in the AAC or MWC in a heartbeat which is what I thought you were suggesting.
I was poking fun at those wanting to go to the XII, although I think I'm glad they want to.

You do realize it would be at least a $20 million/year bump to athletics for the next 9 years right? That would double our current spending on athletics...

Not exactly. We would have to pony up a bunch of cash up front. Then for the first few years, we'd probably have to take a substantially reduced cut of the TV pie. We'd probably get to full fledged status in about five years, or just in time to wave the Texas, Kansas, OU, and Okie State meal tickets good bye.

(08-13-2016 03:29 PM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(08-13-2016 12:46 PM)cr11owl Wrote:  

(08-13-2016 12:25 PM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(08-13-2016 10:42 AM)Barrett Wrote:  69 made me chuckle with the "she's really a boy" line. As for the pretty girl we're getting along with, I meant that to be analogous to our possible discussions with the AAC. I think if we're in the middle of trying to court a place in the AAC, a public declaration of interest in the Big 12 may be counterproductive to that courtship.
SMU, UH, and the other current AAC schools already have a spot in the AAC, so they're not trying to court the AAC. They don't have anything to lose. We, however, might.
Just all speculation, of course.

My only point is that I'm not sure the XII is worth the risk in any event. I'd take a place in the AAC or MWC in a heartbeat which is what I thought you were suggesting.
I was poking fun at those wanting to go to the XII, although I think I'm glad they want to.

You do realize it would be at least a $20 million/year bump to athletics for the next 9 years right? That would double our current spending on athletics...

Not exactly. We would have to pony up a bunch of cash up front. Then for the first few years, we'd probably have to take a substantially reduced cut of the TV pie. We'd probably get to full fledged status in about five years, or just in time to wave the Texas, Kansas, OU, and Okie State meal tickets good bye.

Well right now we get ~$200k... So nothing.

Don't forget ticket sales. I could easily see another $5M-$10M of cash into the program there. So if you are running at a $10-$20M deficit today..just ticket sales and only getting 50% payout of grandfathered Big XII schools from the TV deal from Big XII takes a program from red to black.

FB attendance goes from 5K (actual butts-in-seats) to 25K for 4 new games; at $50 for ticket/concessions/etc. that is $4M of profit assuming no UT, OU, etc. games go to NRG for even bigger bucks. Can do same exercise for Reckling attendance, Tudor, etc. With more games from other sports, you could double that $4M to make it $8M of cash to the program in addition to the TV rights. You also get side benefit of more exposure, more donors, more local interest, etc.

While better than C-USA, those that are making arguments that the MWC or AAC are better options for Rice than the Big XII are nuts. The incremental $ from TV and ticket sales is negligible from today's position. Better competition and moving forward optically but financially speaking, probably $1-$3M improvement vs. $10-$20M in Big XII and you have to add on the C-USA multi-million $ exit fees that would negate any incremental benefit for a few years.

It is a long shot and the best shot for that long shot is Big XII delays decision giving us runway to get the product on the field to be seen as more competitive (esp MBB).

The problem with the XII is that it's very likely that the XII won't be there after 2025. OU and Okie State to the SEC, Texas and Kansas to the B1G, both seem like very likely possibilities at this stage. Yes, the XII is better than MWC or AAC today. Will it be better than them in 2026? Very likely only slightly, if at all.

There is a limit to how long OU is willing to put up with TU arrogance.

(08-14-2016 07:24 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  The problem with the XII is that it's very likely that the XII won't be there after 2025. OU and Okie State to the SEC, Texas and Kansas to the B1G, both seem like very likely possibilities at this stage. Yes, the XII is better than MWC or AAC today. Will it be better than them in 2026? Very likely only slightly, if at all.

There is a limit to how long OU is willing to put up with TU arrogance.

If the XII dissolves, that will be the definite and final split between the P5 and G5. As a result, the ABC and MWC are irrelevant by design

I'd rather see the end of the bridge in the distance and try to survive after that as opposed to just jumping off now.

64 teams in 4 leagues for football. 8 teams into playoffs, 4 league winners and 4 wild cards. If you are not in 64, division 1AA. I suspect basketball will survive.

Its all about being in the 64

I wish they would just partner up each P5 with a G5 in a promotion/relegation model. Then everyone could have their cake and eat it too. P5 would get their de facto separation without the legal hassles or having to form a new organization, and G5 would finally have real opportunities and could focus on on-field success with a chance for a better life.

The schools not pulling their weight, whether current G5 or P5 would suffer the consequences, and no one could really complain. Plus, a LOT more games would suddenly become relevant, especially bottom P5 games and top G5 games at end of year, which would help increase interest/viewership/attendance/value.

I'd suggest:

SEC/CUSA, ACC/SunBelt or AAC, BiG and AAC or MAC, BigXII and MAC or SunBelt, PAC and MWC.

Here's something recently written about another scenario kind of like that, especially if you scroll to the bottom of the story:

http://www.sbnation.com/college-football...-everybody

I couldn't get your link to work, but in poking around SBNation to find the story (which I didn't), I found this interesting take from a Cougar fan.

I’m a season ticket holder, and I don’t want us joining the Big 12-2. Mainly because I don’t want our campus overrun with UT fans each time we play the Longhorns in any given sport. They will far out number us on our own campus! While Houston fans are increasing, they don’t come close to UT, aTm, or LSU fans here. I do want to play those teams occasionally, but to be in a conference with them will be an embarrassment. When our fans support baseball and basketball more like they do football, then we’ll be ready. Supporting those sports will show that Houston has the fan numbers. Supporting the Cougars on road games in large numbers will say a lot too.

(08-14-2016 12:47 PM)GoodOwl Wrote:  I wish they would just partner up each P5 with a G5 in a promotion/relegation model. Then everyone could have their cake and eat it too. P5 would get their de facto separation without the legal hassles or having to form a new organization, and G5 would finally have real opportunities and could focus on on-field success with a chance for a better life.

The schools not pulling their weight, whether current G5 or P5 would suffer the consequences, and no one could really complain. Plus, a LOT more games would suddenly become relevant, especially bottom P5 games and top G5 games at end of year, which would help increase interest/viewership/attendance/value.

I'd suggest:

SEC/CUSA, ACC/SunBelt or AAC, BiG and AAC or MAC, BigXII and MAC or SunBelt, PAC and MWC.

Here's something recently written about another scenario kind of like that, especially if you scroll to the bottom of the story:

http://www.sbnation.com/college-football...-everybody

That's actually a pretty reasonable approach, which means, of course, that it will never happen.

(08-14-2016 12:47 PM)GoodOwl Wrote:  I wish they would just partner up each P5 with a G5 in a promotion/relegation model. Then everyone could have their cake and eat it too. P5 would get their de facto separation without the legal hassles or having to form a new organization, and G5 would finally have real opportunities and could focus on on-field success with a chance for a better life.

The schools not pulling their weight, whether current G5 or P5 would suffer the consequences, and no one could really complain. Plus, a LOT more games would suddenly become relevant, especially bottom P5 games and top G5 games at end of year, which would help increase interest/viewership/attendance/value.

I'd suggest:

SEC/CUSA, ACC/SunBelt or AAC, BiG and AAC or MAC, BigXII and MAC or SunBelt, PAC and MWC.

Here's something recently written about another scenario kind of like that, especially if you scroll to the bottom of the story:

http://www.sbnation.com/college-football...-everybody

(08-14-2016 12:59 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  I couldn't get your link to work, but in poking around SBNation to find the story (which I didn't), ...

I think this might be the referenced article ... May 9, 2016: http://www.sbnation.com/college-football...-everybody

Here's another SBNation article that goes into a lot of detail on relegation ... May 5, 2016: http://www.sbnation.com/college-football...IKE-SOCCER

Promotion/relegation not only makes sense from a competitive fairness standpoint, but it would also protect the P5 from what would be the inevitable antitrust actions from the G5, and there will be no shortage of senators who will be more than happy to spearhead hearings on that front. On the other hand, from Rice's standpoint that still doesn't solve the problem of finding an appropriate set of academic/athletic peers. As Phil Parker once pointed out, it's not that DI sports don't fit at Rice, it's that Rice is totally out of place in Texas. And the surrounding states as well, for that matter. Even dropping to DIII would never really solve that problem.

http://m.chron.com/sports/rice/article/R...145734.php

(08-16-2016 12:50 PM)cr11owl Wrote:  http://m.chron.com/sports/rice/article/R...145734.php

Well there goes my theory . . .

(08-16-2016 01:10 PM)Barrett Wrote:  

(08-16-2016 12:50 PM)cr11owl Wrote:  http://m.chron.com/sports/rice/article/R...145734.php

Well there goes my theory . . .

For the lazy, Rice probably not on the list of schools who will present ... because Rice already made a presentation to the Big 12.

(08-16-2016 01:21 PM)mrbig Wrote:  For the lazy, Rice probably not on the list of schools who will present ... because Rice already made a presentation to the Big 12.

DIBS! Too late, Coogs, we called dibs! We get to go to the Big XII!

Awesome, fantastic news. I was worried about the optics of not even trying to put our best foot forward, and instead relying on backfilling the AAC or MWC after teams leave them for the Big 12. This shows everyone, both inside and outside the hedges, that we aspire to great things at Rice, both academically AND athletically. Will it be successful? Who knows - its a long shot at best. But at least we are giving it our best. Good luck to Dr. K and the rest of the Athletic Department.

(08-16-2016 03:22 PM)Pimpa Wrote:  Awesome, fantastic news. I was worried about the optics of not even trying to put our best foot forward, and instead relying on backfilling the AAC or MWC after teams leave them for the Big 12. This shows everyone, both inside and outside the hedges, that we aspire to great things at Rice, both academically AND athletically. Will it be successful? Who knows - its a long shot at best. But at least we are giving it our best. Good luck to Dr. K and the rest of the Athletic Department.

+1 And can you imagine the quality of the presentation with JK, Tudor, and Leebron making it. Leebron as a member of the NCAA Division Board of Directors is a huge plus.

Will Khator's UH presentation include handing out 2 for 1 coupons to Bubba Gumps?

This needs a new thread and positive title given the news today. Please someone start it up