Louisville Receives Big XII Invite

[Aughnanure]

http://gregswaim.com/2011/09/conference-realignment-not-dead/

via @gswaim

"Late Sunday night we received word from a trusted source in the midwest that Louisville received an offer from the Big 12 on Friday afternoon. And while the Cardinals are the only program we know for sure has an offer, we know there have been informal talks with BYU and Cincinnati as well, and offers could be coming their way, if they haven't already.

Of course there has also been rampant speculation from the Kansas City Star that Missouri is still very interested in the SEC, but sources who cover that conference tell us that there has been no formal offer made to the Tigers, and most don't believe an offer will be extented. Many of those sources also feel that Missouri may be using this talk as leverage to get what they want in upcoming Big 12 negotiations.

If Mizzou were to stay, and the conference picked up three more they'd be back to the twelve teams they were at last year, and from what we're hearing the conference presidents really want to be at twelve by the 2013-14 season.

It's doubtful that Louisville, Cincinnati, BYU, or any other major conference member could be a part of conference play next year, but until the new BCS and TV contracts come up in a few years, that doesn't seem like a crucial point.

West Virginia is another school on the radar, but apparently Texas, Texas Tech and Baylor have balked at bringing in any other Texas schools, such as TCU, and despite reports that Boise State is interested, we can't yet find any credible sources who've been able to link Boise with the Big 12.
Stay tuned on this fast moving story, and we'll have more on the Greg Swaim Radio Show."

[TallTitan34]

Louisville would be dumb to turn it down.  Big East football is dead.

This is why they need to form the basketball only conference.  If we keep football schools we will still have the problem of wondering if they are going to leave or not.

[Knight Commission]

Louisville would be dumb to turn it down.  Big East football is dead.

This is why they need to form the basketball only conference.  If we keep football schools we will still have the problem of wondering if they are going to leave or not.

This is a best case scenario in my opinion. If Big East football wilters, the basketball only schools retain the name, records, and rights. We can lock up ND and Villanova for the Olympic sports, and go on our merry way.

[Abode4life]

Louisville would be dumb to turn it down.  Big East football is dead.

This is why they need to form the basketball only conference.  If we keep football schools we will still have the problem of wondering if they are going to leave or not.

+1

If Louisville AND either West Virginia/Cinci leave for the Big12, that puts the other football schools remaining in a huge bind, and will scare away other potential adds for the big east.  If two other BCS caliber teams were to leave, the remaining teams would be pounding the panic button.   

I still firmly believe if the conference realignment stops right now and even if everything remains as is for a few years, we are going to go through this again in 3, 4, 5 years down the road.  (Barring congress involvement to switch to a playoff format, leaving the stupid BCS system powerless)  Obviously at this point, there is no way we are going to get any big name football schools to jump back into the big east.  So far it seems as though the only teams that would be interested are mid-major schools.  If Louisville, Cinci, WVU, and UConn leave, which i believe is inevitable, I think it is better to have them leave right now when there are no mid-major football schools to worry about.  That way, the basketball only schools can retain the Big East brand, and invite other decent caliber basketball schools to raise our stock from the losses of Syracuse, Pitt, Louisville, WVU, and UConn.

Otherwise, if this happens again in 5 years, when we have the likes of Eastern Carolina in the conference, we will be Conference USA version 2.

[muguru]

Swaim is one of the most unreliable guys out there. is info on everything is absolutely terrible generally speaking.

[Aughnanure]

+1

If Louisville AND either West Virginia/Cinci leave for the Big12, that puts the other football schools remaining in a huge bind, and will scare away other potential adds for the big east.  If two other BCS caliber teams were to leave, the remaining teams would be pounding the panic button.   

I still firmly believe if the conference realignment stops right now and even if everything remains as is for a few years, we are going to go through this again in 3, 4, 5 years down the road.  (Barring congress involvement to switch to a playoff format, leaving the stupid BCS system powerless)  Obviously at this point, there is no way we are going to get any big name football schools to jump back into the big east.  So far it seems as though the only teams that would be interested are mid-major schools.  If Louisville, Cinci, WVU, and UConn leave, which i believe is inevitable, I think it is better to have them leave right now when there are no mid-major football schools to worry about.  That way, the basketball only schools can retain the Big East brand, and invite other decent caliber basketball schools to raise our stock from the losses of Syracuse, Pitt, Louisville, WVU, and UConn.

Otherwise, if this happens again in 5 years, when we have the likes of Eastern Carolina in the conference, we will be Conference USA version 2.

The Big 12 is more stable for one simple reason - Texas wants it to be. they hold a much more powerful grip over the remaining 9 schools than the Big East combined, especially since the BEast lost it main leaders in Syracuse/Pitt. No one has any loyalty left.

I sense that the Big 12 grabs Louisville, Cincinnati and either BYU or Memphis. TCU is getting blocked by Texas and they are already looking to go back to the MWC. That leaves West Virginia to sit and pray for the SEC to come back to them (UConn-Rutgers go to ACC, cause well they pretty much have to), which will happen as long as the ACC schools stay strong (looking at you NC State, Va Tech.)

If SEC grabs Mizzou, still pretty likely, WV goes Big 12 w/Cincy, Memphis, Louisville. TCU then probably goes back to MWC and BYU returns (with football currently lacking, many higher-ups have been highly doubting they can make it work and be a powerful fball program).

[rocky_warrior]

Did Texas annex the state of West Virginia? Man that is one horribly constructed sentence.

[Aughnanure]

Did Texas annex the state of West Virginia? Man that is one horribly constructed sentence.

Speaking of horribly constructed things, has anyone else seen this idea? Conference USA & MWC Conference looking to potentially partner up - http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/sep/24/c-usa-mwc-in-pool-talks/

Between those two conferences, you could make up one pretty respectable league.
TCU, Houston, SMU, Rice, South Florida (soon), Central Florida, Air Force, Nevada, UNLV, Memphis, East Carolina, Tulane, Boise St, Fresno St, San Diego St, BYU (this or Big 12).

[Pakuni]

Is this the same source that said Mizzou had an invite to the SEC, or the one who said Texas and Oklahoma were on their way to the Pac-12?

It seems unlikely that Louisville got the invite three days ago, and yet no one credible, i.e. Pat Forde, has caught wind.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Did Texas annex the state of West Virginia? Man that is one horribly constructed sentence.

Makes perfect sense to me as they are all adjoining geographies. Three divisions will be formed: Louisiana Purchase, Virginia Colony and The Republic of Texas. 

[Aughnanure]

Is this the same source that said Mizzou had an invite to the SEC, or the one who said Texas and Oklahoma were on their way to the Pac-12?

It seems unlikely that Louisville got the invite three days ago, and yet no one credible, i.e. Pat Forde, has caught wind.

While those reports have not yet come to fruition, its is not entirely fair to imply they had no validity. It is clear there was mutual interest b/t Mizzou and the B1G last year (sub in SEC), same with this year. This whole realignment is just too fluid, so while one person may have had correct information,, 5 minutes later it could be deemed inaccurate due to new developments.

But make no mistake, Mizzou is now the £1 target for the SEC. They do not want to stand pat at 13, and Mizzou fits easily in the SEC East if needed to preserve the current alignment.

[Buzz Williams' Spillproof Chiclets Cup]

While those reports have not yet come to fruition, its is not entirely fair to imply they had no validity. It is clear there was mutual interest b/t Mizzou and the B1G last year (sub in SEC), same with this year. This whole realignment is just too fluid, so while one person may have had correct information,, 5 minutes later it could be deemed inaccurate due to new developments.

But make no mistake, Mizzou is now the £1 target for the SEC. They do not want to stand pat at 13, and Mizzou fits easily in the SEC East if needed to preserve the current alignment.

While perhaps likely, it should not be considered certain it's a done deal that Mizzou would be in the SEC East just because there's an open spot. For starters, Columbia would be the third-Westernmost college town in the SEC, behind only College Station and Fayetteville. The nearest SEC East school to Columbia is Vanderbilt, only a 7 hour and 20-minute drive. Next closest is Kentucky, only an 7:40 drive. Columbia is as close to Oxford, MS as it is to Lexington, KY. Additionally, all Central time zone schools are in the SEC west, except Vandy, who is only there for balance and to preserve its "rivalry" with Tennessee. I find it hard to believe that the SEC wouldn't realign its divisions.

West:  Mizzou, A&M, Ole miss, LSU, Arkansas, MS ST, Vanderbilt
East: Bama, UT, Auburn, Kentucky, Georgia, Florida, Carolina

[Aughnanure]

While perhaps likely, it should not be considered certain it's a done deal that Mizzou would be in the SEC East just because there's an open spot. For starters, Columbia would be the third-Westernmost college town in the SEC, behind only College Station and Fayetteville. The nearest SEC East school to Columbia is Vanderbilt, only a 7 hour and 20-minute drive. Next closest is Kentucky, only an 7:40 drive. Columbia is as close to Oxford, MS as it is to Lexington, KY. Additionally, all Central time zone schools are in the SEC west, except Vandy, who is only there for balance and to preserve its "rivalry" with Tennessee. I find it hard to believe that the SEC wouldn't realign its divisions.

West:  Mizzou, A&M, Ole miss, LSU, Arkansas, MS ST, Vanderbilt
East: Bama, UT, Auburn, Kentucky, Georgia, Florida, Carolina

Moving Mizzou to the SEC East was only to solve the realigning problems that may anger many SEC teams that like the current set up (specifically having to move Auburn/Alabama to the West). Mizzou borders UK and UT and would allow the SEC to keep its divisions mainly the same.

However, it seems WV is the new hot name and Mizzou seemed to be using the SEC as a bargaining chip against Tejas. WV makes it even easier to keep the divisions.

[bamamarquettefan]

The recent post I saw out of Louisville stated no big 12 offer had come, but who knows.

the assumption here in auburn is that mizzou would go to the west and auburn tithe east, so your divisions would be accurate.  The fanbases have done nothing but groan about the possibility of wvu, but that doesn't mean it can't happen.

[bilsu]

Missouri will not go to SEC, if Big 12 is sticking together. Of course they could be the one to sink the Big 12. Big East is done if Notre Dame joins ACC or Big 10, because either league will automaticlly take one more Big East team to even out teams. The best chance for Big East survivial would be for Missouri to go to SEC, but I do not think that is going to happen anymore.

[bamamarquettefan]

That seemed the better of two options, but still dangerous if it means the Big 12 would grab a couple of BE schools.  The Mizzou fan base seemed all over the Administration to go SEC.

Here was the Louisville piece I saw from yesterday:

http://blogs.courier-journal.com/ericcrawford/2011/09/26/one-blogs-proposal-for-big-east-survival/

At the moment, we don't know which way things will go, and there is no Big 12 invitation on the table for U of L.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

That seemed the better of two options, but still dangerous if it means the Big 12 would grab a couple of BE schools.  The Mizzou fan base seemed all over the Administration to go SEC.

Here was the Louisville piece I saw from yesterday:

http://blogs.courier-journal.com/ericcrawford/2011/09/26/one-blogs-proposal-for-big-east-survival/

At the moment, we don't know which way things will go, and there is no Big 12 invitation on the table for U of L.

From the article:
Change the name to Big #*$*! East. Split into divisions — Lewis and Clark.

[4everwarriors]

Our new league should be renamed, "Little East" or the LEast.

[Lennys Tap]

Our new league should be renamed, "Little East" or the LEast.

Don't think will go from "big" to "little", but we may become middle of the road (like our dental school). How about the Middle East? Every game would be a war.

[Skatastrophy]

How about Yesterday's East, or YEast? :p

[BrewCity83]

How about Big F*ckin' East.       
Pronounced FEAST.

[drewm88]

Drop football and become the Basketball Reigns East.

BREast

[BrewCity83]

Drop football and become the Basketball Reigns East.

BREast

We could have some fun with the logo for that conference.

[bilsu]

Add Navy, Air Force and Army and change the conference name to Warriors.