Atlantic 10 Trying to Add Catholic 7

Now that the basketball only schools, otherwise known as the Catholic 7, have become fed up with the Big East, they are seeking a split from the league to form their own basketball conference.  Of course, standing in the way is the money that would be owed to each team from the past tournament success.  They would have had a 2/3 majority vote to dissolve the league, except for Temple having full voting rights despite not becoming a full member.

So now the Atlantic 10 is becoming proactive in this and trying to offer the Catholic 7 a spot in the league to form a conference of 21 teams.  Of course, I would absolutely love this being a VCU basketball fan, however, I think it is more a thing of desperation.  The Atlantic 10 knows if the Catholic 7 get to break away, they will likely seek schools from the Atlantic 10.

There are all kinds of rumors about them selecting other Catholic schools from the A10 along with Creighton or just selecting some of the better teams from the A10.  I was surprised to see VCU listed in the possibilities, however, I cringe to think what might happen if VCU gets left behind in a watered down A10.  It still can’t be much worse than the CAA, especially with the possibility of them adding some of the other top mid-majors like George Mason or Drexel.

This could either go really well for VCU or really bad.  An A10 conference minus some of the top teams brings VCU back to the land of mid major and possibly a one bid league.  I am currently on pins and needles right now.

I Hate ESPN

I really hate ESPN.  They are completely destroying college athletics with this conference realignment as schools seek better TV deals.  I believe they have more control over this whole thing than many people think.  I believe they are pushing for fewer conferences where only the big BCS schools will be able to compete.

The sad thing about all of this is that it is all driven by college football.  For those of us that are huge college basketball fans, basketball is an afterthought.  How can people get excited about Rutgers and Nebraska or Maryland and Iowa?  It really doesn’t matter, it only matters that each of the networks can get their subscriptions pushed upon cable subscribers as these conferences expand their geographic footprint.

Now, we are getting ready to see the demise of the ACC – even though each of the school representatives are in denial, you know there is a lot of lying going on as these schools are talking to other conferences.  We’ve already seen the demise of the Big East – now basketball schools like Georgetown and Villanova are going to be playing the likes of Tulane and SMU instead of Syracuse and Notre Dame.

I’ve thought of boycotting ESPN, but as I look at how much influence ESPN has upon my life – I go to their website everyday, I subscribe to their magazine, I watch games on it all the time.  I just don’t think there is a way to be a college sports fan without ESPN.  Thank you ESPN for destroying everything.

TCU to the Big 12

Breaking news…the Big 12 just voted to expand and has offered an invite to TCU.  TCU, who is currently a member of the MWC, was going to be leaving next season to join the Big East, but due to the instability of the Big East, they are likely to accept the invitation to the Big 12.  TCU has been chosen to replace Texas A&M.  The conference is waiting to hear what Missouri’s decision will be, but seems resolved to move on with or without the Tigers with a goal of reaching 12 members.  The SEC voted and did not have enough votes to accept Missouri into the conference – whom might have hurt themselves with the arrogant statement made beforehand that they wish they could get into the Big 10, but would accept an offer from the SEC if given.

The Big East on the other hand will be down to 6 football members.  The conference continues to talk about expansion, but several members are rumored to be candidates for the Big 12, ACC or SEC.  The MWC and CUSA are trying to work out a deal where they would each have 12 members and the conference champions would face each other for a BCS berth.  Notre Dame has made a decision to join the Hockey East, ending speculation of a possibility of waiting for the Big 10.  There are rumors of Notre Dame’s independence being in jeopardy because of the Big East football falling apart – but those rumors make no sense.  The only thing that threatens Notre Dame’s independence is the possibility of everyone going to Super Conferences eliminating the BCS.  There are still a lot of things that are uncertain at the moment, but there is one thing that is almost for sure – TCU will be accepting an offer to join the Big 12 and the landscape is still changing.

Conference Realignment Rumors – 9-26-2011

I’m trying to keep from posting too much on the rumors as things change so frequently now a days, I’ll try to limit to once per week unless something major happens.  Now that Texas A&M to the SEC is a done deal as the Big 12 members have released the Aggies and the SEC from any litigation worries, you have to wonder what will happen next.  It appears that we might see some moves by the Big 12 first, however, there are a lot of rumors in that area.  Texas legislature was pushing for universities from Texas to be admitted (Houston, SMU, TCU) but Big 12 members don’t seem to be interested in that move.  They are interested in expanding their base and are trying to work out something with BYU.  Also rumored is Boise St, while they do anything television-wise, they offer one of the most legit programs over the last decade.  If the Big 12 goes with BYU and Boise St, we could also see Air Force being targeted.  Everyone is waiting to see what Missouri will do – will they stay in the Big 12 or will they become the 14th member of the SEC.  If they stay in the Big 12, realignment could see Louisville, Cincinnati or West Virginia in the Big 12 – but without Missouri – there is too much geography between the current schools and the midwest/eastern schools.

The Big East is looking to expand and has expressed interest in the service academies as football only members.  Army has said they are not interested, mainly because they are afraid they will not be competitive.  Maybe they are also seeing through the Big East as it is not a very solid conference at the moment.  Air Force and Navy have expressed interest but it might take a while for Navy to move in this direction because they have already committed their schedule for several years.  Air Force’s interest seems difficult to understand other than being in a possible Automatic Qualifier conference.  Air Force is in Colorado and that is a long, long way from the Big East.  Plus, what would Air Force do with their other sports?  I think they only have 9, so maybe that is not much of a worry.  Where some big issues come with the Big East is that other members might be interested in other opportunities.  Connecticut has all but stated they want to be in the ACC, not the Big East.  Rutgers is another possibility for the ACC.  West Virginia, Louisville and Cincinnati also seem to have other options with the Big 12.  To top it off, the hybrid hasn’t worked in the past, so why do they want to continue down this road?  Recently, there has been a big push by the basketball powers for re-admitting Temple and allowing Villanova to upgrade their football program.  I just think things are extremely shaky for the Big East.

The ACC seems to have a lot of interest in Connecticut, but are in no hurry at the moment as they wait to hear from Notre Dame.  Also, the ACC has to be worried about teams being poached by the Big 10 and SEC.  We’ll see if anything happens in the near future.

Realignment Rumors on Sept 20th

Things just keep getting crazier and crazier and there is no telling where things might go.  Rumors are still abound about Oklahoma and Oklahoma St to the PAC12, but now Oklahoma has made a stance that if they were to stay in the Big 12, there would have to be major changes.  This makes me question whether the PAC12 is going to vote in favor of Oklahoma and Oklahoma St.  Why would Oklahoma all of a sudden change their mind and want to reform the Big 12, something they had given up for no hope?  They want Beebe, the commissioner fired and for their to be limitations on the Longhorn Network.

Other rumors that are that Notre Dame is actually pretty serious about the ACC.  They have also pretty much said they are not interested in the Big 10 because of the travel to the midwest, but more interested in the ACC and the northeast.  I think the plan is still to stay independent, but to find a league for their other sports now that the Big East is imploding.  This would also give them a fallback if the super conferences ever do happen.  So it is looking more and more like a strong possibility of Villanova and Notre Dame to be 15 and 16.

Other rumors are that the MWC and CUSA are talking about a merger.  Now that the Big East looks like it will be merging with the Big 12, there will need to be another automatic qualifier for the BCS – the MWC and CUSA are pushing for the winner of their combined championship to get that berth.  The MWC has offered an invitation to TCU and BYU to come back and join them.

Navy was set to join the Big East until Syracuse and Pitt had left for the ACC.  The Big East was also looking to pull in Air Force as well – but now with things in limbo, this isn’t happening.  West Virginia applied to both the SEC and the ACC and was rejected by both.  It appears Missouri is the targeted 14th team for the SEC, though the SEC denies making any contact.

Lastly, it is reported that James Madison University will be looking at upgrading from FCS to FBS in the next 2 years.  New players on the block in that time will be Charlotte, JMU and Appalachian St – if they can all find a conference that will accept them.

Big East and Big 12 about to Crumble

The ACC accepted Pittsburgh and Syracuse into the conference early this morning.  UConn is now pushing really hard to get into the ACC.  The rumors of the possibility of Texas and Notre Dame to the ACC for all sports but football is now about all dead.  So now the rumors are that UConn and Rutgers will be the next in the ACC.

There are also rumors of Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma St to the PAC12 being revived.  Seems like we will hear something soon about this being a reality because Texas will be able to work something out with the Longhorn Network.

This all means that the PAC12, soon to be PAC16 and ACC will be at 16 schools.  The leftovers from the Big East are TCU, South Florida, West Virginia, Louisville and Cincinnati.  It is likely that West Virginia will be moving to the SEC, leaving 4 schools that will need a home.  The Big 12 leftovers will be Baylor, Missouri, Kansas, Kansas St, and Iowa St.  Could Missouri be heading to the SEC or will they get an invite to the Big 10?  Will the Big 10 expand beyond 12?  Will we hear something about Notre Dame to the Big 10 soon?  Is Kansas an option for the Big 10 or SEC?  Will the Big 12 and Big East leftovers come together and invite other teams from CUSA or will some of these teams go to the Mountain West?  We shall find out very soon.

Realignment Rumors – ACC

It was announced Friday night that Pittsburgh and Syracuse have both applied for membership to the Atlantic Coast Conference.  Earlier in the week, the ACC solidified its commitment to stay together by pushing the exit fee from $12-14 million to $20 million.  All members voted on and approved that movement that takes place immediately.  The ACC also states that it is interested in increasing membership.  This would be a huge move by the ACC to take more of a footprint into the Northeast, giving Boston College more natural rivals.  The ACC would be insane not to take this opportunity to add these two programs (and possibly 2 more) to solidify their conference as one of the top 4 in the Super Conference movement.  There have been rumors that up to 10 teams have contacted the ACC about membership.  Also rumored are Texas and Notre Dame being interested in the ACC, not sure how true that is, but it is a rumor.  Another rumor has Boston College supporting Villanova to the ACC with an upgrade of their football program.

Outside of this, it has to make you wonder what else is going on.  The Big East had been in talks of expanding, but now 2 members apply to join another conference.  It must mean that rumors of West Virginia to the SEC, might be true.  It also might mean that Texas may stay committed to the Big12 as they look to raid the Big East.  We all know there is a lot of talking going on behind closed doors, I’d expect the dam has just broken loose and we will be hearing a lot more this week.  Who knows what else will develop at this point with all of the rumors?  It seems like we are about to lose either the Big East or the Big 12.

Realignment Rumors on Mizzou

Missouri still hasn’t committed to the possible litigation against Texas A&M and the SEC.  This must mean they are ready to bolt.  It is rumored that Mizzou has pretty much given up hope on the Big 10 possibility.  There were many rumors about Missouri going to the Big East, but apparently, that would be their #3 option.  Number 1 would be the SEC, #2 would be the ACC.  Is it me or does Missouri, Texas, Kansas and Kansas St seem to be very odd for a conference known as the Atlantic Coast Conference?  Ok, never mind, back to reality, geography doesn’t matter.  Student athletes don’t really matter either, no matter how much they say it does.  It is basically about the $ and television options.

Realignment Will Begin?

Rumor has it that Texas A&M was approved to join the SEC and they will hold a press conference today to announce.  This will begin the shakeup as it is likely that Oklahoma and Oklahoma St will leave for the PAC12+2.  Oklahoma indicated they are not going to wait for Texas and are fine if the rivalry ends.  After this, it will be interesting to see if Texas decides to join the PAC12+2+2 bringing Texas Tech along or whether they will try to resurrect the Big12-5 or go independent.  Rumors have Kansas and Kansas St going to the Big East with either Iowa St or Missouri.  Missouri is a bit of a mystery as I have seen rumors of them going to the Big East or SEC though they covet an invite to the Big10.  That will leave Baylor out of the mix and joining either the MWC or CUSA, possibly with Iowa St.  But, this could be a huge sticking point – Baylor could litigate against the SEC and that would null the move of Texas A&M.  Is this the SECs way of saying we want to stay at 12 but don’t have the balls to say so?  This is going to get ugly.

Will there be expansion?  If so, who will the SEC pick up as their 14th school?  Missouri, an ACC team or a Big East team?  Or will they target 16 schools?  Will any other conference try to grow?  We shall find out soon.

NCAA Conference Realignment on the Horizon

I recently broached this topic a couple of weeks ago when I suggested that all hell was going to break loose.  You can read that post here.  Rumor has it that Texas A&M has all but decided to leave the Big 12 for the SEC.  Rumor also has it that the SEC is planning to offer an invitation to Texas A&M for 2012 and then another school in 2014.  While the rumors for the fourteenth school are not as solid (FSU, Missouri, or Virginia Tech), things appear to be imminent and will likely kick off a new series of expansion.

The Big 12 is looking to replace Texas A&M with someone like Houston or Louisville.  But if it is Missouri that leaves for the SEC, then that could spell the end of the Big 12.  Another potential loser could be the Big East, as if the ACC gets poached, they will likely target Big East schools.  Will the PAC12 look at the other Big 12 schools?  Will the Big 10 react?  One thing is for sure, the ACC should be proactive here and make a move soon.

Texas A&M has a meeting this coming Monday, August 15th – I’ll be watching earnestly as the excitement begins.