it begins...

[Dawson Rental]

Last I looked University of Oklahoma and Nebraska were about equal in terms of National rank.  Nebraska was just outside of the Top 100.  So was Oklahoma.

I think the Big Ten is being disingenious with the whole academic thing.  Nebraska will be the worst ranked school in the Big Ten now.

When the Big Ten presidents talk academics, they are really talking about the strength and reputation of the school's graduate programs in research.  The president's feel that the athletic connection makes it easier for their conference members to cooperate in research, as well.  Membership in the 65(?) member American Association of Universities is based totally upon the quality of the school's research efforts.  This is the area where Nebraska kicks Oklahoma's butt.

Mizzou is a member of the AAU.  Until 2001 when Texas A&M got in, Texas was the only Big 12 school in the south division to be in the AAU.

Earlier, someone asked who Kansas City, Missouri roots for.  I believe that its a split between Mizzou and Kansas with a strong KU lean.  So here's a possible surprise scenario.  Maybe Delaney surprises and offers both Mizzou and Kansas.  Both are ok or better football teams with plenty of basketball punch for wintertime viewing.  KU is also an AAU member.  St. Louis just makes the top 25 TV markets, and Kansas City comes in close behind at number 31...

[HouWarrior]

How soon until congress sticks it's nose into alignment?

Nether NCAA, BCS, nor any conference has a congressional exemption to antitrust laws (unlike MLB), so congress has little to involve itself with these issues.
US DOJ watches all of these goings on for anticompetitve effects-- no current word on whether conf realignment or related BCS automatics cause any US atty any heartburn, though.

[Ready2Fly]

When the Big Ten presidents talk academics, they are really talking about the strength and reputation of the school's graduate programs in research.  The president's feel that the athletic connection makes it easier for their conference members to cooperate in research, as well.  Membership in the 65(?) member American Association of Universities is based totally upon the quality of the school's research efforts.  This is the area where Nebraska kicks Oklahoma's butt.

Mizzou is a member of the AAU.  Until 2001 when Texas A&M got in, Texas was the only Big 12 school in the south division to be in the AAU.

Earlier, someone asked who Kansas City, Missouri roots for.  I believe that its a split between Mizzou and Kansas with a strong KU lean.  So here's a possible surprise scenario.  Maybe Delaney surprises and offers both Mizzou and Kansas.  Both are ok or better football teams with plenty of basketball punch for wintertime viewing.  KU is also an AAU member.  St. Louis just makes the top 25 TV markets, and Kansas City comes in close behind at number 31...

Supposedly KU and KState are joined at the hip, so if the B11 wants KU and Mizzou, they have to take KState, which means they'd need to add another on top of that.  Iowa State doesn't add more households, and Baylor's not the best fit, either, with all the AAU talk.  KU, KState, and Mizzou would be three teams splitting two markets, too, so it's less than ideal and would maybe even dilute revenue.  B11 got their football power, new market, AAU member, and 12th team for the championship game with Nebraska.  They don't have to do anything else if it doesn't make perfect sense.  Now we need to take advantage of all the havoc this caused, and we need to do it now.

[MarquetteDano]

When the Big Ten presidents talk academics, they are really talking about the strength and reputation of the school's graduate programs in research.  The president's feel that the athletic connection makes it easier for their conference members to cooperate in research, as well.  Membership in the 65(?) member American Association of Universities is based totally upon the quality of the school's research efforts.  This is the area where Nebraska kicks Oklahoma's butt.

Mizzou is a member of the AAU.  Until 2001 when Texas A&M got in, Texas was the only Big 12 school in the south division to be in the AAU.

I understand.  My question to the Big Ten is why would you be speaking to Notre Dame then?  They are not a leader in research nor have AAU membership.

I am not saying that the Big Ten will take any school regardless of the academics.  However, 99% of this is about sports revenues.

[TJ]

EDIT:  Is it now the Big 11?

Maybe they'll invite schools to replace the departures (if TX/OK doesn't blow the whole thing up).  Give them more than 12 hours before forcing a name change on them.

[LON]

Maybe they'll invite schools to replace the departures (if TX/OK doesn't blow the whole thing up).  Give them more than 12 hours before forcing a name change on them.

I meant it as, the Big Ten had 11 schools.

Now they have 12, so if they keep in line with how they name the conference, they'd now be the Big 11...

My (poor) attempt at making a joke that's been made 5,000,000 times...

[TJ]

I meant it as, the Big Ten had 11 schools.

Now they have 12, so if they keep in line with how they name the conference, they'd now be the Big 11...

My (poor) attempt at making a joke that's been made 5,000,000 times...

Ah... I read it thinking of the wrong conference.

[Pakuni]

Are you F@cking kidding me? So these D-Bags dont have anything better to do than to stick their noses into college sports? Hmmmm....unemployment, oil spil, afghanistan, iran, iraq, north korea....and on and on

Yes, it would be completely out of line for a Congressional committee to look into a multi-billion dollar industry that, at least indirectly, benefits from billions of tax dollars every year and receives tax-exempt status (also costing taxpayers millions annually).
That would be way out of line.

[Pakuni]

Nether NCAA, BCS, nor any conference has a congressional exemption to antitrust laws (unlike MLB), so congress has little to involve itself with these issues.
US DOJ watches all of these goings on for anticompetitve effects-- no current word on whether conf realignment or related BCS automatics cause any US atty any heartburn, though.

College athletic departments, under the umbrella of an institution of higher learning, receive tax-exempt status on the billions of dollars they generate every year.
Given that many ADs are little more than corporate entities within the structure (barely) of their university, certainly that is an opening for which the federal government can get involved.

[Dawson Rental]

Yes, it would be completely out of line for a Congressional committee to look into a multi-billion dollar industry that, at least indirectly, benefits from billions of tax dollars every year and receives tax-exempt status (also costing taxpayers millions annually).
That would be way out of line.

The funny thing is, they may well do it, just not for any of the reasons you give, all of which are good ones.  No, they may well have their committee meetings on these issues, but the motivation behind it will be in the words of Iowa Senator Grassley: ""My goal would be to make sure Iowa State would not get hurt by however this might turn out."


...it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.
--Winston Churchill

[mu03eng]

Supposedly KU and KState are joined at the hip, so if the B11 wants KU and Mizzou, they have to take KState, which means they'd need to add another on top of that.  Iowa State doesn't add more households, and Baylor's not the best fit, either, with all the AAU talk.  KU, KState, and Mizzou would be three teams splitting two markets, too, so it's less than ideal and would maybe even dilute revenue.  B11 got their football power, new market, AAU member, and 12th team for the championship game with Nebraska.  They don't have to do anything else if it doesn't make perfect sense.  Now we need to take advantage of all the havoc this caused, and we need to do it now.

My two cents on how it shakes out.  The Big 10, really really really wants Notre Dame.  They add Nebraska because they can get them now to get to 12, and the championship game, but they aren't done.  They will try and grab Rutgers and Syracuse, which accomplishes two goals: it gets them into the New York market, and it destabilizes the Big East.  Why is the Big East destabilization key, because that would force Notre Dame's hand.  Notre Dame needs a home for its non-football teams, and if the BEast falls apart they need somewhere to go.  Notre Dame can only remain independent in football if the Big East continues to allow it.

If it goes down this way, the Big East may be salvagable.  Before Notre Dame leaves you could try and grab Mizzou and Kansas.  If ND leaves then you grab Mizzou and Kansas, and for balance you grab a team like Xavier which doesn't have football to replace ND.  If you replace ND, Cuse, and Rutgers with Xavier, Mizzou, and Kansas you can't tell me that league isn't strong in both sports than it is now.  However, if the ND pin is pulled it could just as easily go the other way and the ACC/SEC could come calling to pick over the scraps leaving MU in serious trouble.

[Ron Paul]

My two cents on how it shakes out.  The Big 10, really really really wants Notre Dame.  They add Nebraska because they can get them now to get to 12, and the championship game, but they aren't done.  They will try and grab Rutgers and Syracuse, which accomplishes two goals: it gets them into the New York market, and it destabilizes the Big East.  Why is the Big East destabilization key, because that would force Notre Dame's hand.  Notre Dame needs a home for its non-football teams, and if the BEast falls apart they need somewhere to go.  Notre Dame can only remain independent in football if the Big East continues to allow it.

If it goes down this way, the Big East may be salvagable.  Before Notre Dame leaves you could try and grab Mizzou and Kansas.  If ND leaves then you grab Mizzou and Kansas, and for balance you grab a team like Xavier which doesn't have football to replace ND.  If you replace ND, Cuse, and Rutgers with Xavier, Mizzou, and Kansas you can't tell me that league isn't strong in both sports than it is now.  However, if the ND pin is pulled it could just as easily go the other way and the ACC/SEC could come calling to pick over the scraps leaving MU in serious trouble.

I hope you're right, also could make a grab for Memphis...

[chapman]

If it goes down this way, the Big East may be salvagable.  Before Notre Dame leaves you could try and grab Mizzou and Kansas.  If ND leaves then you grab Mizzou and Kansas, and for balance you grab a team like Xavier which doesn't have football to replace ND.  If you replace ND, Cuse, and Rutgers with Xavier, Mizzou, and Kansas you can't tell me that league isn't strong in both sports than it is now.  However, if the ND pin is pulled it could just as easily go the other way and the ACC/SEC could come calling to pick over the scraps leaving MU in serious trouble.

Going to 9 football schools has to be a no-brainer, one to try to balance the schedule and two for protection should more schools leave.  Xavier does none of that.  If anything the Big East could stand to lose basketball schools so it can add more football without the size becoming excessive and aim for the 12 teams for the championship game.  The BCS status is already shaky with 8 football schools playing 7 conference games.  Adding only mid-majors like Memphis or UCF won't ease the minds of the BCS on the Big East deserving BCS status, but adding Kansas, K-State, Mizzou, and Iowa State will, and it also provides protection in case one or two football schools do end up leaving. 

[Blackhat]

Sports radio station in Kansas City, "reporting" that BE officials are meeting with Kansas officials.

http://twitter.com/610SportsKC/status/15878377029

[Dawson Rental]

Sports radio station in Kansas City, "reporting" that BE officials are meeting with Kansas officials.

http://twitter.com/610SportsKC/status/15878377029

This is the first sign I've seen of the Big East being proactive.  I hope its true and its just the start.

[Blackhat]

20 team Big East, with 12 FB only schools??


Big East A (football)
Big East East
Pitt
WVU
Rutgers
UConn
USF
Syracuse

Big East West
Cincy
Louisville
Kansas
Kansas St
Iowa St
Missouri/Baylor

Big East B (basketball)
Villanova
Georgetown
St. John's
Seton Hall
Providence
DePaul
Marquette
Notre Dame