Tech's best possible, REALISTIC conference movement

So obviously the best conference movement would be for Tech to join any P5 conference, especially the SEC. But we are here to talk about REALISTIC possibilities; the SEC or a P5 invite is not realistically happening. So what could be Tech's best, realistic move?

Well I think we could make it to the AAC, but this is based on a number of exact scenarios happening. Based on our budget, attendance, name and achievements, I think we are 5th or 6th in line to get into the AAC, depending on who is taken. In no order I think we are competing with UAB, Southern Miss, Rice, Marshall, and App St/Georgia Southern to get into the AAC based on football and geography. (I include Georgia Southern because they seem to be a package deal and App St. football is the real prize). So how do we get into the AAC? The AAC is at 11 members currently. We need them to lose 6 members to have a for sure invite and not be left out.

The B12 therefore needs to take all 6 members. If the B12 goes after MWC or BYU, then they'll take less from the AAC and that means a higher possibility of getting passed up. Right now the B12 is at 8 members. Maybe they would go to 14 but if they want 12, then hopefully the B1G would take Iowa St. and Kansas since they are AAU members, fit the geographic footprint and the move adds Kansas basketball.

Now who should the B12 take? First, for our sake, we need Tulane taken. Not they will be taken first, but I don't think Tulane would allow another Louisiana school, so if they are not taken, then our shot is dead in the water. It's not improbable that a Tulane invite would happen. New Orleans is great for recruiting, Tulane is a prestigious academic school, and it's close geographically to the current B12. Cincinnati should be taken by the B12 for a travel partner with WVU. Houston should be taken to shore up the Houston/South TX area. Memphis should be taken for geography and basketball. Then they could go for UCF and USF as best of the rest G5 and as another set of travel partners in the eastern time zone. That would get them to 12 members. SMU and Tulsa should not be taken as OKST and TCU don't want more competition in their turf. New B12 by east/west division but they could do a north/south division too.

New BIGXII
West:
Kansas St.
Okla St.
Texas Tech
TCU
Baylor
Houston

East:
WVU
Cincinnati
Memphis
Tulane
UCF
USF

https://i.imgur.com/eUM4463.jpeg


So that would leave the AAC with just 5:
Temple
Navy
East Carolina
Tulsa
SMU

In order to keep Navy in the conference, they need another Texas team so they always have a game in that recruiting area. Rice takes Houston's place, helps keep the conference in the city and adds to academic prestige. Marshall is brought in for its football to replace Cincinnati and give Navy, Temple and ECU a close-by rival. That leaves a huge geographic hole in the middle of the conference between the Tulsa/SMU/Rice side and the four northeast members. At 7 members, they add 5 more to plug in the middle. They take the best programs in the middle- UAB, USM, App St, GS and finally LaTech. This bring the AAC to 12. They can move Navy to the west for football recruiting. The new AAC:

New AAC
West:
Tulsa
SMU
Rice
LaTech
USM
Navy

East:
Temple
ECU
Marshall
App St.
GS
UAB

https://i.imgur.com/zLfDqVM.jpeg

That's how I think everything would have to go for us to have the best possible, realistic conference realignment.

That'd be wonderful, but ULL would likely beat us out for that spot if Tulane wasn't there to stop it.

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Originally Posted by brtransplant

That'd be wonderful, but ULL would likely beat us out for that spot if Tulane wasn't there to stop it.

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It's a possibility. Our best best would be our relationship with SMU and Tulsa already from the WAC and our closer proximity to them. Our academics and not being a directional school name would help also.

Haven't you seen the reports the Tech & ULL going to Big12.

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Originally Posted by Dawgonit

It's a possibility. Our best best would be our relationship with SMU and Tulsa already from the WAC and our closer proximity to them. Our academics and not being a directional school name would help also.

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In the eyes of the "evil empire" (ESPN) ULaLa is not a directional school! The University of Louisiana system has allowed ULaLa to highjack the "University of Louisiana" moniker! Their performance over the past couple of years in several sports along with the "Belch's" performance have out performed Tech and CUSA! Let's face it...Tech and CUSA is now in the back seat.

Once this shakes out and there are 3 to 4 “super” conferences… SEC, B1G, ACC, and maybe PAC 12, the next level will be AAC, MWC, and some type of combo probably of the remaining CUSA/Belch teams.. the money from the super conferences and NIL will put everyone else at a crossroads financially and talent wise. They are already discussing on sports talk about how schools will have to decide to stay up or drop down based off of their resources and support.

The money arms race for almost all G5 schools has been over for a few years but this will create the final separation.

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Originally Posted by Lotsudo

In the eyes of the "evil empire" (ESPN) ULaLa is not a directional school! The University of Louisiana system has allowed ULaLa to highjack the "University of Louisiana" moniker! Their performance over the past couple of years in several sports along with the "Belch's" performance have out performed Tech and CUSA! Let's face it...Tech and CUSA is now in the back seat.

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Yep! CUSA is the worst FBS football conference. But! the MAC is just barely above us so there's hope we can dig ourselves out of the cellar...maybe. It is sad to read the nonsense on the CUSA forum of all those fans of CUSA schools actually believing their pitiful school will be relevant in some major realignment scenario. Granted getting out of CUSA would be a step up for any school, but it simply is not happening.

We will be fighting basically over half a cookie...

Not even a whole piece of cake -

IRS needs to step in and make all donations to Athletic Club Foundations non-deductible - that may bring back a tad bit of sanity to college athletics (which is an oxymoron if you think about mentioning the IRS and sanity in the same sentence)

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Originally Posted by Dwayne From Minden

We will be fighting basically over half a cookie...

Not even a whole piece of cake -

IRS needs to step in and make all donations to Athletic Club Foundations non-deductible - that may bring back a tad bit of sanity to college athletics (which is an oxymoron if you think about mentioning the IRS and sanity in the same sentence)

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I agree with this.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dwayne From Minden

We will be fighting basically over half a cookie...

Not even a whole piece of cake -

IRS needs to step in and make all donations to Athletic Club Foundations non-deductible - that may bring back a tad bit of sanity to college athletics (which is an oxymoron if you think about mentioning the IRS and sanity in the same sentence)

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Which is why a MBB team that can make the tournament on a regular basis will become even more valuable once the super conferences come online. It’s always been the best possible ROI, but now for a lot of schools it maybe the only significant way to make any money.

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Originally Posted by brtransplant

That'd be wonderful, but ULL would likely beat us out for that spot if Tulane wasn't there to stop it.

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Based on what? One really good year of football?

Look of it through the eyes of a university administrator and/or president who has seen how this has all played out over the past 20 years.

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Originally Posted by Dawgonit

So obviously the best conference movement would be for Tech to join any P5 conference, especially the SEC. But we are here to talk about REALISTIC possibilities; the SEC or a P5 invite is not realistically happening. So what could be Tech's best, realistic move?

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This is a good look at things.

At the same time...

I don't get the sense Georgia Southern is tied to App State in a way they might have been 5 years ago.

I also don't get the sense South Florida is tied to Central Florida the way they might have been 10 years ago.

Rice is in the same boat. They would a be a university president favorite, but would ESPN sign off on their membership? That's who controls AAC media. Also, Rice would likely have a negative impact on the AAC every year if the G5 has a guaranteed spot in a 12-team playoff.

I'd put the chances of Tulane to the Big 12 at less than 10% under most circumstances. The general sense is that they would never be able to keep up from a competitive standpoint. What's also going against them is that there was such an incredible backlash when they were invited to the Big East.

And Tulane would have no problem being in a conference with Tech. They voted for us to join CUSA both in 2004 and 2012.

This round of realignment appears to be more based on brands and competitiveness rather than markets.

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Originally Posted by The Historian

This is a good look at things.

At the same time...

I don't get the sense Georgia Southern is tied to App State in a way they might have been 5 years ago.

I also don't get the sense South Florida is tied to Central Florida the way they might have been 10 years ago.

I'd put the chances of Tulane to the Big 12 at less than 10% under most circumstances. The general sense is that they would never be able to keep up from a competitive standpoint. What's also going against them is that there was such an incredible backlash when they were invited to the Big East.

And Tulane would have no problem being in a conference with Tech. They voted for us to join CUSA both in 2004 and 2012.

This round of realignment appears to be more based on brands and competitiveness rather than markets.

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You are exactly right about Tulane (ULL hurts them much more than us in market share). You are, also, correct about it being about brand and competitiveness this round. Tech holds up decently with that - not great, but decent. We have a much bigger name than people in North Louisiana realize.

I still say Tech should get the ball rolling OURSELVES! Start working on a very competitive group with name recognition in the G5. The goal would be to form a 16 team league that would be hard to ignore. It may not be P5, but it would get the most attention. Base it on name recognition and you have something worth noticing. We don't need to wait - we need to lead NOW and be the one arranging the talks. We do NOT need to wait around and hope to be invited by another group that has already started talking. Grab every nationally known G5 school you can and invite them to a summit for discussions. Make it known that we can form a powerful conference in name and be competitive. Not only would that conference get a great TV deal for a G5, there may be room later on for another P5 conference - even if not, a conference of 16 well known G5's could not be completely ignored.

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Originally Posted by champion110

I still say Tech should get the ball rolling OURSELVES! Start working on a very competitive group with name recognition in the G5.

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The problem with what you're proposing is that the NCAA puts a lot of roadblocks on new conferences or associations like this. If not, you'd hear about talks over this.

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Originally Posted by The Historian

The problem with what you're proposing is that the NCAA puts a lot of roadblocks on new conferences or associations like this. If not, you'd hear about talks over this.

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It can be done, especially if it is an attractive conference. That is how the now AAC and how CUSA came to be... Someone started the talks and invited a core group. Once a decision is made, you get through the roadblocks.

I edited my post above regarding Rice.

The more I read and hear, the more I think Rice to the AAC would probably not happen. Rice would likely have a negative impact on the AAC every year if the G5 has a guaranteed spot in a 12-team playoff.

Also, an interesting twist regarding UAB. Apparently, the University of Alabama Board of Trustees allowed UAB football to come back under the condition they not pursue a P5 bid at any point in the future and not be a competitor to Alabama. AAC may be their limit.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dwayne From Minden

We will be fighting basically over half a cookie...

Not even a whole piece of cake -

IRS needs to step in and make all donations to Athletic Club Foundations non-deductible - that may bring back a tad bit of sanity to college athletics (which is an oxymoron if you think about mentioning the IRS and sanity in the same sentence)

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I agree.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DallasDog

Which is why a MBB team that can make the tournament on a regular basis will become even more valuable once the super conferences come online. It’s always been the best possible ROI, but now for a lot of schools it maybe the only significant way to make any money.

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I'm not so sure. I give to LA Tech mostly because of our football program. I love the basketball team too, but I'm not "in it" for the basketball. If the school minimized football's importance at Tech, I probably wouldn't be near as devoted and as interested in giving. That's just me, but I suspect a lot of other donors are "football fans first" like me in that regard. I'm not interested in LA Tech becoming the next Wichita St. Just my opinion.

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Originally Posted by The Historian

I edited my post above regarding Rice.

The more I read and hear, the more I think Rice to the AAC would probably not happen. Rice would likely have a negative impact on the AAC every year if the G5 has a guaranteed spot in a 12-team playoff.

Also, an interesting twist regarding UAB. Apparently, the University of Alabama Board of Trustees allowed UAB football to come back under the condition they not pursue a P5 bid at any point in the future and not be a competitor to Alabama. AAC may be their limit.

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Well that's interesting. I hadn't heard about that UAB tidbit.

There's a lot of unrest in CUSA East. Marshall, ODU, Charlotte and maybe one or two more are big complainers, and have a big desire to disassociate themselves from the "Texas schools". They think the "Texas schools" have too much influence on CUSA. They complain about the basketball tournaments always being played in Frisco and about having to travel to UTEP. They also think too many of the bowl games are in western CUSA, and they don't like the fact the CUSA offices are in Texas. Mostly petty stuff.

But Marshall is a FOOTBALL school, and they really like the football being played in the Sunbelt BETTER than what's being playing in CUSA. Marshall fans are salivating over all the positive publicity that ULL, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern (who spanked us in a bowl game) and Georgia St are getting for football. On that note, I must confess LA Tech has played Marshall 3 times and laid down like scared kittens every time.

Don't be be surprised if Marshall (and possibly ODU, UAB or FAU) are invited to leave CUSA for the Sunbelt, or some restructured Sunbelt, that focuses on football. It probably won't include ULM.

There is no scenario where we come out better than where we are in football. Even if we win every game 5 years in a row, it doesn’t matter. The only teams that will play for the championship will be the champions of each super conference.

I don’t want to be the next Wichita St. at all. I want the reoccurring units from MBB tournament and increase in tickets, concessions etc, that actually comes close to paying for itself or turning a profit.

It’s the South, football will drive the boat, but the pond our boat is on stands a very real chance of shrinking to a puddle with the superconference concept coming, NIL, and the like.

I would never want to be a Wichita St, but I wouldn’t mind being a Gonzaga with a solid football program that is competitive and wins it’s conference regardless of the pond size.

Tech in our current configuration will never win a National title in football, or at least not for a very very long time. It’s very unlikely we would make the playoff barring a spot reserved for every conference champion not just the highest G5 at the table.

We could challenge for a National title in basketball because right now if we win our tournament we have that reserved spot. Then it’s settled on the court, in football it’s settled in the conferences boardrooms, before the ball every gets tossed onto the field.

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Originally Posted by The Historian

And Tulane would have no problem being in a conference with Tech. They voted for us to join CUSA both in 2004 and 2012.

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Who voted against us in 2004?

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Originally Posted by Dawgonit

Who voted against us in 2004?

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Thankfully a group that isn't around anymore. Southern Miss' AD at the time, along with Memphis' president.

They convinced a big enough number that UTEP was a better choice.

That group began to regret it almost immediately.

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Originally Posted by HogDawg

Don't be be surprised if Marshall (and possibly ODU, UAB or FAU) are invited to leave CUSA for the Sunbelt, or some restructured Sunbelt, that focuses on football. It probably won't include ULM.

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I get the impression that ULM is in no danger of being voted off the island. I think if the Sunbelt was going to "cull the herd", they would start with UTA and UALR (non-football schools) before they would look at ULM, but you may have additional info that I don't have.

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Originally Posted by ChuckK3

I get the impression that ULM is in no danger of being voted off the island. I think if the Sunbelt was going to "cull the herd", they would start with UTA and UALR (non-football schools) before they would look at ULM, but you may have additional info that I don't have.

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I agree that if the Belt intends to build a better conference, they will start with kicking out the non-football schools. ULM might be the 3rd one, though. They do not bring anything to the table in TV revenue. Honestly, we need to be thinking MUCH bigger than the belt, though. Their brand is not good due to the no-name schools involved. No matter what they do, it will still be the Sun Belt and that conference is not going anywhere. Schools would bail if the could, even for CUSA. You have to build a confernce on name recognition and the money will follow. I really see a brand new 16 team G5 conference that will be made up of some belt, some CUSA, and some AAC teams that make the cut. It will be based on name recognition and the POTENTIAL of market and winning. It would be very difficult to ignore a conference with just the biggest names in G5, excluding almost all directional schools and losing teams. High academics might play a part, as well. It is about potential, not about current market and that is where we come in... It was the mistake in the origninal CUSA before us. They thought that if you played in a big city, it meant more potential market. That wasn't and never has been true. It is about name recognition and the potential national market. UTSA is a good example of a school that will never bring in a ton of market, even though they are in a huge city. There is a reason that schools like Auburn and Okie State have more potential. It is because of name recognition and a more national base. The money will follow, when you have a name. If you get in a P5, the money starts coming in anyway. Look at TCU before and after their move to a P5. They had a name and were doing okay as a G5, but that changed dramatically for the better once they were actually IN a P5. It helps not to have a P5 team already in your name association, as well. UT in your name hurts any team. It is the same with UAB and other schools that are part of the system of a P5.

We have a small problem with being in the UL system and ULL trying to act like they are the main program by calling themselves UL. They are not P5, though, and we do not have any part of their name. ULM is screwed, because they took the bait. They went from being a directional name to a lower member of the UL name. We are not directional and do not have the perception nationally of being a directional or lower member of a big system - all due to keeping our Louisiana Tech name. We need to take advantage of that now. It should be no different than Virginia Tech, Texas Tech, etc... We just have to act, instead of waiting around.

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Originally Posted by champion110

We have a small problem with being in the UL system and ULL trying to act like they are the main program by calling themselves UL. They are not P5, though, and we do not have any part of their name. ULM is screwed, because they took the bait. They went from being a directional name to a lower member of the UL name. We are not directional and do not have the perception nationally of being a directional or lower member of a big system - all due to keeping our Louisiana Tech name. We need to take advantage of that now. It should be no different than Virginia Tech, Texas Tech, etc... We just have to act, instead of waiting around.

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I would like to see some leadership try to work with ULL. Make a deal to split the university of Louisiana system in two, keep a University of Louisiana system, and we get a Louisiana Tech System. In addition to that, we will support them becoming the University of Louisiana if they support a Louisiana Tech Medical school. They finally to get have their nondirectional name and get to be a flagship school of their system- we get a medical school and we are the flagship of our own system. We would have to work together against the LSU folks in BR of course.

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Originally Posted by Dawgonit

I would like to see some leadership try to work with ULL. Make a deal to split the university of Louisiana system in two, keep a University of Louisiana system, and we get a Louisiana Tech System. In addition to that, we will support them becoming the University of Louisiana if they support a Louisiana Tech Medical school. They finally to get have their nondirectional name and get to be a flagship school of their system- we get a medical school and we are the flagship of our own system. We would have to work together against the LSU folks in BR of course.

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In principle I like this, but you can't trust them.

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Originally Posted by Champ967

In principle I like this, but you can't trust them.

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It's pretty much a pipe dream anyway. LSU politicians wouldn't allow it and even if they could accept it, I am sure ULM, Northwestern and McNeese would try to derail any attempt of being underneath Tech or ULL.

One can wonder though at the thought of a Medical school, our bioengineering program, ULM's Pharmacy school and Northwestern's Nursing program all under the Louisiana Tech name.

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Originally Posted by The Historian

Thankfully a group that isn't around anymore. Southern Miss' AD at the time, along with Memphis' president.

They convinced a big enough number that UTEP was a better choice.

That group began to regret it almost immediately.

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UTEP made a bad choice to leave the WAC. They just fit better with these guys than CUSA during that time. UTEP would most likely be in the MW conference today if they would of stay put.


2005 WAC with UTEP
UTEP
Fresno State
Hawaii
Boise State
San Jose State
Nevada
Utah State
Idaho
NMSU

2005 CUSA with Louisiana Tech
USM
UAB
Memphis
Tulane
Houston
ECU
UCF
SMU
Tulsa
Marshall
Rice
Louisiana Tech

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Originally Posted by qng001

UTEP made a bad choice to leave the WAC. They just fit better with these guys than CUSA during that time. UTEP would most likely be in the MW conference today if they would of stay put.


2005 WAC with UTEP
UTEP
Fresno State
Hawaii
Boise State
San Jose State
Nevada
Utah State
Idaho
NMSU

2005 CUSA with Louisiana Tech
USM
UAB
Memphis
Tulane
Houston
ECU
UCF
SMU
Tulsa
Marshall
Rice
Louisiana Tech

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Now, THIS would have been a fun conference:

2005 CUSA with Louisiana Tech

USM
UAB
Memphis
Tulane
Houston
ECU
UCF
SMU
Tulsa
Marshall
Rice
Louisiana Tech


But, I must say, before the WAC started falling apart, this was a very fun conference lineup too:

SMU
Rice
Tulsa
LA Tech
Boise St
Fresno St
Nevada
SJSU
Hawaii
Utah State

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Originally Posted by qng001

UTEP made a bad choice to leave the WAC. They just fit better with these guys than CUSA during that time. UTEP would most likely be in the MW conference today if they would of stay put.


2005 WAC with UTEP
UTEP
Fresno State
Hawaii
Boise State
San Jose State
Nevada
Utah State
Idaho
NMSU

2005 CUSA with Louisiana Tech
USM
UAB
Memphis
Tulane
Houston
ECU
UCF
SMU
Tulsa
Marshall
Rice
Louisiana Tech

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If UTEP had stayed in the WAC, I wonder what teams would not have been acquired into the 12 team MWC conference. Idaho and New Mexico St. didn't make the cut in 2013. San Jose St. and Utah St. were the last teams in. Probably San Jose St? The would sting after they had finished the year before ranked in football.

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Originally Posted by qng001

UTEP made a bad choice to leave the WAC. They just fit better with these guys than CUSA during that time. UTEP would most likely be in the MW conference today if they would of stay put.

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They didn't want to be in a conference with New Mexico State. The El Paso Times had big stories about it at the time. UTEP told Benson it wasn't an issue, but it was a big issue. Karl didn't understand the political issue in El Paso for UTEP.

Memphis recruited them, they saw an opportunity to get away from NMSU, and they accepted CUSA's offer. The whole thing was led by USM's AD, who had been at ULM and had an ax to grind.

It was a mistake from the start, and CUSA's presidents knew it.

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Originally Posted by The Historian

They didn't want to be in a conference with New Mexico State. The El Paso Times had big stories about it at the time. UTEP told Benson it wasn't an issue, but it was a big issue. Karl didn't understand the political issue in El Paso for UTEP.

Memphis recruited them, they saw an opportunity to get away from NMSU, and they accepted CUSA's offer. The whole thing was led by USM's AD, who had been at ULM and had an ax to grind.

It was a mistake from the start, and CUSA's presidents knew it.

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....and I would argue that UTEP has never recovered. Never.

I know NMSU has been really good in basketball. Could of had a packed house for both schools in bball. Stupid on UTEP part, short sighted thinkers.

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Originally Posted by HogDawg

....and I would argue that UTEP has never recovered. Never.

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The most disappointing addition to CUSA, even taking into account the newest additions. Their market, attendance and basketball was supposed to make up for their far distance from everyone. Since they joined, attendance has tanked to bottom of the conference as well as their basketball and now we're stuck with long distance for travel to play teams that hurt our schedule usually. I feel like UTEP and CUSA are an unhappy marriage stuck together because of the children.

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Originally Posted by qng001

I know NMSU has been really good in basketball. Could of had a packed house for both schools in bball. Stupid on UTEP part, short sighted thinkers.

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They should have told Benson that inviting NMSU would be an issue.

Or...all Karl had to do was pick up the phone and have an off the record conversation with the long time beat writer at the El Paso Times. He would have told Benson that their alums would scream the high hell if NMSU was invited.

Heck, I could have told Benson that....it wasn't a big secret.

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Originally Posted by The Historian

They should have told Benson that inviting NMSU would be an issue.

Or...all Karl had to do was pick up the phone and have an off the record conversation with the long time beat writer at the El Paso Times. He would have told Benson that their alums would scream the high hell if NMSU was invited.

Heck, I could have told Benson that....it wasn't a big secret.

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That's interesting. Seems like they play them a lot OOC anyway. But I realize that's not the same as being in the same conference (and we would know about not wanting to share a conference with a school 30 miles away).

But - what would have been the other option in this scenario? If Tech gets into CUSA instead of UTEP, they've still lost 4 schools (out of 10) and probably want to get back to at least 9. UTSA and TXST weren't ready yet. There isn't anybody else out west. Would UTEP have been interested in that version of the WAC + Idaho and Utah ST? For an 8 team conference? More than what they'd have ended up with in CUSA? Or maybe pushed the WAC to try to get UNT from the 'Belt instead of NMSU?

I can see where CUSA should have taken Tech over UTEP (I didn't need convincing on that). And I can see that UTEP might have been better off eventually if they'd have stayed in the WAC (with or without NMSU). But I don't see how their leaders would have got there at the time (again, with or without NMSU). Also, I don't know that it's a done deal that a UTEP in the WAC in 2005 is in the MWC in 2021. I mean, it didn't go that way for NMSU or Idaho. UTEP may have avoided the fates of those two schools by jumping to CUSA when they did.

If only there was a plan to rearrange the Big 12, I don't know....like if Texas and Oklahoma left to join the SEC in 2025?

https://www.espn.com/college-footbal...invitation-sec

Inevitably, the Big 12 will be forced to poach the AAC, prompting the AAC to fill those slots with high caliber teams from the other G5 conferences. Unfortunately, I've seen nothing under Holtz that would lead me to believe that Tech would be in the discussion. My heart says "it could happen" but my brain says "no freaken way in hell". There are too many other teams that are more worthy. Have we beaten one P5 in the regular season? Have we won a single conference title under Holtz? We literally have more FCS losses under Holtz than wins against P5 opponents in regular season. Wishful thinking... In truth, we are damn lucky to be where we are. Have we ever even beaten ODU?

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Originally Posted by Cory

If only there was a plan to rearrange the Big 12, I don't know....like if Texas and Oklahoma left to join the SEC in 2025?

https://www.espn.com/college-footbal...invitation-sec

Unfortunately, I've seen nothing under Holtz that would lead me to believe that Tech would be in the discussion. My heart says "it could happen" but my brain says "no freaken way in hell". There are too many other teams that are more worthy.

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Are you talking about the Big 12 or the AAC?

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Originally Posted by The Historian

Are you talking about the Big 12 or the AAC?

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Neither… Tech isn’t going anywhere. I was specifically talking about the big12 poaching the current AAC, which would in turn force the AAC to replace those teams with other G5 teams.

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Originally Posted by Cory

Neither… Tech isn’t going anywhere. I was specifically talking about the big12 poaching the current AAC, which would in turn force the AAC to replace those teams with other G5 teams.

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I respect your opinion. I just think this is similar to 2012. I had people on this board telling me we had no shot at CUSA. I even had a Cajun fan send me a private message telling me we would never get into CUSA before them. Yet, when the dust settled we were CUSA's first choice. Had CUSA had one opening it would have gone to Tech. Two openings it would have been Tech and FIU.

I posted this in another thread, and I think it's worth posting again. We have our negatives, but....

• Before a crazy covid year we had won 6 consecutive bowl games, including 2 P5 bowl wins and consecutive bowl wins over Navy, SMU, and Hawaii.
  

• In the last 9 years we've averaged almost 24 wins a season in men's basketball.

• At the same time, we've spent $87 million on athletic facilities (not including improvements to the TAC) with almost no debt (a bigger deal than most realize)

• While we're not an AAU school we're a national research university with good academics.

• To top it off we have a national brand that few others in the G5 can match.

• We've also shared a conference in the past with some of the schools in the AAC who will be making these decisions.

Usually someone posts about the perfect regional conference for Tech, and maybe someone has and I have just missed it. But, here goes anyway....

Tech
USM
Tulane
Rice
SMU
Tulsa

and several more to fill it out. Of course right away you see one of the problems, all those private schools. Still, as an athletic conference it would work well.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dawg80

Usually someone posts about the perfect regional conference for Tech, and maybe someone has and I have just missed it. But, here goes anyway....

Tech
USM
Tulane
Rice
SMU
Tulsa

and several more to fill it out. Of course right away you see one of the problems, all those private schools. Still, as an athletic conference it would work well.

---

https://media1.tenor.com/images/825c...temid=11921203

I wish our conference was

Louisiana Tech
Fresno Sate
Utah State
Nevada
Houston
Boise State
TCU
SMU
Central Florida
Liberty
UAB
Memphis

Quote:

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Originally Posted by faninmonroe

I wish our conference was

Louisiana Tech
Fresno Sate
Utah State
Nevada
Houston
Boise State
TCU
SMU
Central Florida
Liberty
UAB
Memphis

---

Could be called SeeUSA Conference...as in, see the USA as you travel from end to end of it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The Historian

I respect your opinion. I just think this is similar to 2012. I had people on this board telling me we had no shot at CUSA. I even had a Cajun fan send me a private message telling me we would never get into CUSA before them. Yet, when the dust settled we were CUSA's first choice. Had CUSA had one opening it would have gone to Tech. Two openings it would have been Tech and FIU.

I posted this in another thread, and I think it's worth posting again. We have our negatives, but....

• Before a crazy covid year we had won 6 consecutive bowl games, including 2 P5 bowl wins and consecutive bowl wins over Navy, SMU, and Hawaii.
  

• In the last 9 years we've averaged almost 24 wins a season in men's basketball.

• At the same time, we've spent $87 million on athletic facilities (not including improvements to the TAC) with almost no debt (a bigger deal than most realize)

• While we're not an AAU school we're a national research university with good academics.

• To top it off we have a national brand that few others in the G5 can match.

• We've also shared a conference in the past with some of the schools in the AAC who will be making these decisions.

---

Don't forget the recent run in CBWS. We got some real national exposure through that. Social media was blowing up with Pump It Up. (My own personal opinion was we lost to the team that should have eventually won the World Series if not for stupid Covid rules. They were so clearly the best team in Omaha. So nothing to hang our heads about.)

On the flip side it will be interesting to see if college football drives the realignment or if regional conference drive the realignment. I think dawg80 is right the era of "competitive G5" is drawing to a close. With the P4s sealing up their conferences with enough members to have entire seasons in conference play only (add in one money game win for homecoming) and expanding the playoffs to more P4 teams it's over. G5s will be given scraps. The future will be whatever 64 teams happen to be in the P4 conferences.

I can guarantee those in Big 12 are scrambling now or they will get crushed. Those not named Texas or Oklahoma are about to be left behind with the rest of us.

P4 will be Pac12, ACC, Big 10, SEC.

We lost the football track race.

What we can do is play competitive regional football and grow really good regional rivalries. I think attaching ourselves to USM is a good start. They need us just as much as we need them right now. Many on this board will hate it, but we also probably need to attach ourselves to ULL. Local growth with big rivalries will be the best thing to hope for in the future for football.

Now can we be competitive in Basketball and Baseball? Absolutely.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by revf

D Many on this board will hate it, but we also probably need to attach ourselves to ULL.

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https://media.giphy.com/media/oN3vYqS73NuWQ/giphy.gif

If it means stomping ulm into oblivion...or at least back to SLC, I could tolerate conference affiliation with ULL.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dawg80

If it means stomping ulm into oblivion...or at least back to SLC, I could tolerate conference affiliation with ULL.

---

Yes they are after all, the fagship program of the UL System.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PawDawg

Yes they are after all, the fagship program of the UL System.

---

You talking about ULM? :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Champ967

https://media.giphy.com/media/oN3vYqS73NuWQ/giphy.gif

---

Yeah, I know.

IT SUCKS.

It should also tell you the level our program has coasted to the last 10 years...

And the fact that CFB as we know it is over.

There is now Pro football, Semi-Pro football(P4), and everyone else...

ESPN/Disney ruined college football.

Yep and Tommy McLelland did his part locally. He was a HORRIBLE hire and made some HORRIBLE hires

Quote:

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Originally Posted by qng001

ESPN/Disney ruined college football.

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Maybe, but I wonder if not them then someone else. There is too much money flowing through it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by HogDawg

....and I would argue that UTEP has never recovered. Never.

---

And Hawai'i thanks UTEP every day for making that stupid move. UTEP likely would have gotten their spot in MWC football.

The Warriors/Rainbow Warriors/Rainbows are in tough football times now with the old Aloha Stadium closed for good. Going to be rough on the budget having to play on campus with seating expanded from 3,500 to around 9,000 this year and up to 15,000 next year and in 2023 until the new Aloha Stadium can open in 2024 at the earliest if plans can get off the ground.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by FriscoDawg

And Hawai'i thanks UTEP every day for making that stupid move. UTEP likely would have gotten their spot in MWC football.

The Warriors/Rainbow Warriors/Rainbows are in tough football times now with the old Aloha Stadium closed for good. Going to be rough on the budget having to play on campus with seating expanded from 3,500 to around 9,000 this year and up to 15,000 next year and in 2023 until the new Aloha Stadium can open in 2024 at the earliest if plans can get off the ground.

---

Looks like they have 3 renderings. All seems pretty nice. Capacity reduced from 50k to somewhere around 35k which seems appropriate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1lRyiZmRRk&t=173s

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by qng001

Looks like they have 3 renderings. All seems pretty nice. Capacity reduced from 50k to somewhere around 35k which seems appropriate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1lRyiZmRRk&t=173s

---

The problem is that they only have renderings. Becoming a stretch to have any new stadium ready for 2024. In the meantime, this is where Hawai'i will play and also where the Hawai'i Bowl will have to be held.

https://www.hawaii.edu/news/wp-conte...-rendering.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FriscoDawg

The problem is that they only have renderings. Becoming a stretch to have any new stadium ready for 2024. In the meantime, this is where Hawai'i will play and also where the Hawai'i Bowl will have to be held.

https://www.hawaii.edu/news/wp-conte...-rendering.jpg

---

Not too bad for their temp home for a few years. There's not much option on the island.

Big Ten, PAC-12, ACC formed an alliance.

Just like that the Big 12 has become a G6.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by revf

Big Ten, PAC-12, ACC formed an alliance.

Just like that the Big 12 has become a G6.

---

They're talking about forming an alliance. It hasn't happened yet.

The big question now is who the AAC will get to replace Memphis, Houston, Cincinnati, and UCF when they all leave for the Big 12. I see on the horizon a complete reshuffling of the AAC, CUSA, and the Sun Belt Conferences. I think we'll end up with an east coast based conference, a central based conference, and a mid-west based conference.

I'm still not convinced AAC schools will hop to the Big XII.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by johnnylightnin

I'm still not convinced AAC schools will hop to the Big XII.

---

I saw some "TV Viewership" stats yesterday on some board. BYU and Houston were listed as the top 2 G5's when it comes to TV viewer ratings for home football games. Seems to me those would be two very easy adds for the Big XII, and Houston will likely see a further increase in TV viewership of their games after joining the Big XII. The Big XII could add those two, and move right on.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by johnnylightnin

I'm still not convinced AAC schools will hop to the Big XII.

---

Maybe Houston and/or Memphis.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by HogDawg

I saw some "TV Viewership" stats yesterday on some board. BYU and Houston were listed as the top 2 G5's when it comes to TV viewer ratings for home football games. Seems to me those would be two very easy adds for the Big XII, and Houston will likely see a further increase in TV viewership of their games after joining the Big XII. The Big XII could add those two, and move right on.

---

I agree about Houston.

BYU would have been admitted several years ago had the TV peeps been willing to commit to no Sunday games. That was the deal breaker then and ESPN would likely do it again since ESPN wants the Big12 to go away.

So many people think that name recognition or success in the major sports is the ticket to move to better conferences! It’s actually revenue production and TV market that creates attraction to bigger and better conferences! We are really poor when it comes to revenue and we don’t live in a large tv market! So everything else is wishing! Sorry to say!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DD Dawg

So many people think that name recognition or success in the major sports is the ticket to move to better conferences! It’s actually revenue production and TV market that creates attraction to bigger and better conferences! We are really poor when it comes to revenue and we don’t live in a large tv market! So everything else is wishing! Sorry to say!

---

We are being told that in these times its not so much market as marketability and supposedly we have the latter. It does make sense that TV market should not matter these days since there is no longer a limit to viewing access. If budget size is still a deal breaker we are SOL.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PawDawg

We are being told that in these times its not so much market as marketability and supposedly we have the latter. It does make sense that TV market should not matter these days since there is no longer a limit to viewing access. If budget size is still a deal breaker we are SOL.

---

Yep. Thanks to the Innaneck, traditional TV viewing is no more.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PawDawg

Maybe Houston and/or Memphis.



I agree about Houston.

BYU would have been admitted several years ago had the TV peeps been willing to commit to no Sunday games. That was the deal breaker then and ESPN would likely do it again since ESPN wants the Big12 to go away.

---

Agreed. BYU would be a good fit for the Big 12, except for that Sunday thingy. Houston has to be at, or near, the top of the list should the B12 seek to recruit more schools.


Just an aside, I coached a soccer team that had 3 brothers and 2 others who were Morons. All good players and fine young men. We were in a tournament with two games scheduled for Saturday, and one Sunday morning, and beyond if you advanced. I wore those 5 Moron kids out on Saturday knowing they could not/would not play on Sunday. I held back others on Saturday keeping them rested for Sunday. The things coaches have to do at times....:rolleyes:

Canine or dogcentric Conference. I included A&M and Tenn because they have dogs as their mascot (Reveille and Smokey)

Fresno State
Georgia
Louisiana Tech
Mississippi State
Connecticut
NC State
Nevada
Texas A&M
Washington
Tennessee

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by qng001

Canine or dogcentric Conference. I included A&M and Tenn because they have dogs as their mascot (Reveille and Smokey)

Fresno State
Georgia
Louisiana Tech
Mississippi State
Connecticut
NC State
Nevada
Texas A&M
Washington
Tennessee

---

Add NIU and ASU and you could have divisions (or New Mexico if you prefer).

Part of the problem with revenue is that it is circular. Once you are in a Power conference, your revenue jumps dramatically. I watched TCU as they progressed through the years. They had good revenue to start with and built upon that. Their viewership was not that great for a long time, but they built it up over the years by winning. Revenue followed. After they got in the B12, though, I went over and saw their stadium being basically rebuilt. It is amazing what a P5 conference can do for revenue. You have to have a build up to it first, though. It then becomes pretty automatic, if you can get viewers. Being in a small market doesn't matter anymore, though. Even though they are in the DFW market, that market was always saturated with UT and A&M. Just like SMU, UNT, and others, it didn't matter in comparison to the P5 schools in Texas. I look at places like Starkville, Stillwater, and even what Auburn and A&M had for immediate physical market at one time. Those were towns, not cities. Some built up around the schools, but the key is TV market.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DD Dawg

So many people think that name recognition or success in the major sports is the ticket to move to better conferences! It’s actually revenue production and TV market that creates attraction to bigger and better conferences! We are really poor when it comes to revenue and we don’t live in a large tv market! So everything else is wishing! Sorry to say!

---

Actually, regarding markets it's exactly the opposite.

There have been a number of articles in the past year pointing out what focusing on markets back in 2012 did to CUSA.

And you may be confusing budgets with a school's ability to bring revenue to a conference through branding and national television.

Tech's national TV numbers pre-covid going back to the WAC days are respectable. As one example, we've been part of 2 of the top 3 CUSA championship games (both on ESPN2) from a TV ratings standpoint. And the other was a Houston-USM game in 2011 that was on a broadcast network (ABC). It's one indication of what Tech would bring to the table from a streaming or broadcast standpoint.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by brtransplant

The big question now is who the AAC will get to replace Memphis, Houston, Cincinnati, and UCF when they all leave for the Big 12. I see on the horizon a complete reshuffling of the AAC, CUSA, and the Sun Belt Conferences. I think we'll end up with an east coast based conference, a central based conference, and a mid-west based conference.

---

The AAC commish, Mike Aresco, was on SiriusXM late last year before their championship game. He said their presidents wanted to get back to 12 from 11. He said it just worked better for the league.

If that's the case. And they end up looking for 5 the most likely group in the running are:

From CUSA:
UAB
Tech
USM
Marshall

From the Belt:
UL-Lafayette
App. State

Wild Card:
Rice

The more I've seen and heard about this round of realignment the more I think Rice isn't going anywhere. But with the presidents you just never know.

Also, if there is a reshuffling the AAC isn't going to be part of it. And I doubt strongly there is a reshuffling within CUSA and the Belt. Tommy's quotes last summer on this topic give you an idea how the CUSA presidents really feel on the matter. There are at least 4 CUSA schools who strongly don't want to be associated with certain Belt schools.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The Historian

The AAC commish, Mike Aresco, was on SiriusXM late last year before their championship game. He said their presidents wanted to get back to 12 from 11. He said it just worked better for the league.

If that's the case. And they end up looking for 5 the most likely group in the running are:

From CUSA:
UAB
Tech
USM
Marshall

From the Belt:
UL-Lafayette
App. State

Wild Card:
Rice

The more I've seen and heard about this round of realignment the more I think Rice isn't going anywhere. But with the presidents you just never know.

Also, if there is a reshuffling the AAC isn't going to be part of it. And I doubt strongly there is a reshuffling within CUSA and the Belt. Tommy's quotes last summer on this topic give you an idea how the CUSA presidents really feel on the matter. There are at least 4 CUSA schools who strongly don't want to be associated with certain Belt schools.

---

I think it depends on who leaves the AAC.

If SMU is blocked by TCU and Tulsa is blocked by Okie State from coming over to the Big 12, and they pick up Memphis/Houston/BYU/UCF?

That leaves Tulsa/Tulane/SMU as your West side. Do they add one or two from Louisiana?

The other issue is non football sports. The teams leaving are all Baseball schools...leaving a huge issue with the lack of other Baseball playing schools in the conference.

SMU, Temple, Tulsa don't play Baseball.

UCF to the Big12 does not make sense. Why would they do it?

As I've said, I don't think BYU is an option as long as ESPN is involved.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PawDawg

UCF to the Big12 does not make sense.

---

Nor did West Virginia, but here we are ...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Champ967

Nor did West Virginia, but here we are ...

---

WV was no threat to Texas or Oklahoma. The Big12 was thinking out of the box to gain some market on the east coast (back when market mattered).

FWIW, the Big12 may be desperate, but saving money is suddenly more important than is was when WV was added.

I may be wrong. UCF may jump at the chance.

With the way things have broken, it appears the B12 will be adding schools. I think they'll add two very quickly, possibly as early as next year. That would probably be BYU and Cincy. Then when UT and OU leave, they'll add two more. That will likely be UCF, but I'm not sure on the fourth. It might be USF to give UCF a partner. The other two choices seem to be Memphis and Houston -- both of which have lots of warts in the eyes of the B12 schools.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TechDawgMc

With the way things have broken, it appears the B12 will be adding schools.

---

Pac 12 makes the decision not to expand.

BYU is at the negotiating table as we speak. Rumor is Cincy will be next. Now if they only pick those two then that will stop the expansion carousel. If they pick up three from the AAC its gonna be a free for all in CUSA. There is also a chance that BYU may rebuff the Big12.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TechDawgMc

With the way things have broken, it appears the B12 will be adding schools. I think they'll add two very quickly, possibly as early as next year. That would probably be BYU and Cincy. Then when UT and OU leave, they'll add two more. That will likely be UCF, but I'm not sure on the fourth. It might be USF to give UCF a partner. The other two choices seem to be Memphis and Houston -- both of which have lots of warts in the eyes of the B12 schools.

---

I don't know why everybody seems to think Houston's "got warts". Houston already has better TV ratings than all other G5 schools not named BYU. Yes, better than Cincinnati (who is 6th), better than Boise, and better than Memphis & UCF. Furthermore, Houston's TV ratings have a better chance of growing exponentially quickly by joining the Big XII, simply due the renewal of old rivalries with Baylor, TCU and Texas Tech, which are also of interest to the Houston TV market. None of the other schools offer that.

If I was the Big XII, the University of Houston would be the 2nd school I signed up, right behind BYU. I would never invite Cincinnati, at least not as long as West Virginia insists on courting other conferences outside of the Big XII. Why invest in Cincinnati, when WVA could easily leave, and then Cincinnati becomes your new "stranded" member way up in Ohio. Plus, Cincinnati's TV numbers are not great. IMO, it would be a foolish investment.

Everyone except BYU, Big12, and the TV networks think BYU is a good fit. They WILL NOT play on Sunday. No deal.

Houston has leadership problems. They had their chance 5 years ago with the Big12 and blew it.

Now, they would be joining a steroid injected MWC or AAC….no real major benefit….because the Big12 will be left out of the power conference alignment.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PawDawg

Everyone except BYU, Big12, and the TV networks think BYU is a good fit. They WILL NOT play on Sunday. No deal.

---

So what? How many college football games are played on Sunday? I can't recall LA Tech ever playing a football game on Sunday. Not saying it has never happened, but it certainly hasn't happened often. It should be easy for the Big XII to schedule around Sundays.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by faninmonroe

Houston has leadership problems. They had their chance 5 years ago with the Big12 and blew it.

Now, they would be joining a steroid injected MWC or AAC….no real major benefit….because the Big12 will be left out of the power conference alignment.

---

?? I don't follow your line of thinking. I just pointed out the TV ratings advantage of adding the University of Houston and the Houston TV market. IMO, it would be foolish for the Big XII NOT to add Houston. Also, I have no idea what you are referring to regarding the "steroid" comment, or the "lack of leadership" comment. Where did those comments come from? Leaders come and go anyway, so that doesn't really matter.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by HogDawg

So what? How many college football games are played on Sunday? I can't recall LA Tech ever playing a football game on Sunday. Not saying it has never happened, but it certainly hasn't happened often. It should be easy for the Big XII to schedule around Sundays.

---

So what? It's not a football only conference.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PawDawg

Everyone except BYU, Big12, and the TV networks think BYU is a good fit. They WILL NOT play on Sunday. No deal.

---

I don't think with the new Football landscape that BYU can stay Independent.

The Pac12 mega conference deal with Big10 and ACC kinda put all those Independents in no mans land scheduling wise.

Maybe ND can, but I can see them eventually having to fold into the ACC.

Independent FBS programs days are numbered.

Football drives the bus on all of these realignment issues, but it's not the only thing that ever matters. The B12 schools are all similar schools -- solid, though not top 50, academic schools who are trying to improve their research footprint. Houston is still mostly a commuter school. There isn't much enthusiasm for adding them.

Even in terms of football -- TCU, Baylor and TTech have no real motivation to add another mouth to feed in terms of recruits in Texas. There are already five power five schools in the state--and two of them are super-powers. Why would they want to have to recruit against Houston as an equal?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TechDawgMc

Even in terms of football -- TCU, Baylor and TTech have no real motivation to add another mouth to feed in terms of recruits in Texas. There are already five power five schools in the state--and two of them are super-powers. Why would they want to have to recruit against Houston as an equal?

---

Bingo
Houston ain’t being called to the Big12 and the Big12 will be left out of the P4.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by HogDawg

?? I don't follow your line of thinking. I just pointed out the TV ratings advantage of adding the University of Houston and the Houston TV market. IMO, it would be foolish for the Big XII NOT to add Houston. Also, I have no idea what you are referring to regarding the "steroid" comment, or the "lack of leadership" comment. Where did those comments come from? Leaders come and go anyway, so that doesn't really matter.

---

If leaders don’t matter, we would have been in the AAC years ago.

They do and we were saddled with no vision and failed to strike when the iron was hot.

Houston fumbled about 5 years ago with the Big12. They blew their chance.

Now, two of the 4 subcommittee for expansion members of the Big 12 are academics. No way Houston as a commuter school gets the kid.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PawDawg

So what? It's not a football only conference.

---

Well...for God's sake, how many sports are played on Sunday anyway?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TechDawgMc

Football drives the bus on all of these realignment issues, but it's not the only thing that ever matters. The B12 schools are all similar schools -- solid, though not top 50, academic schools who are trying to improve their research footprint. Houston is still mostly a commuter school. There isn't much enthusiasm for adding them.

Even in terms of football -- TCU, Baylor and TTech have no real motivation to add another mouth to feed in terms of recruits in Texas. There are already five power five schools in the state--and two of them are super-powers. Why would they want to have to recruit against Houston as an equal?

---

For starters, access to 7.1 Million potential TV Viewers in the Greater Houston area (about twice the size of the entire state of Louisiana), and the TV dollars that come with that, which could drastically improve the value of the conferences TV contract. Good SWC history (yes, history matters). Good Basketball (Final Four team) in addition to decent football. Great athletic facilities. And GREAT geography. It's that simple. It's not difficult to see the pluses.

And while I'm no fan of Houston, you always have to ask yourself, COMPARED TO WHAT? No one else offers up that kind of geography. And it's not like we're talking about Rhodes scholars attending the other candidate schools either. Cincinnati has decent basketball, but none of the other. And Cincinnati is along way from Big XII country.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by faninmonroe

If leaders don’t matter, we would have been in the AAC years ago.

They do and we were saddled with no vision and failed to strike when the iron was hot.

Houston fumbled about 5 years ago with the Big12. They blew their chance.

Now, two of the 4 subcommittee for expansion members of the Big 12 are academics. No way Houston as a commuter school gets the kid.

---

FIM, your comment about poor leadership was made with ZERO explanation. So, I'd still like to know what --and who-- you were referring to when you made that comment about Houston's leadership. Do you have an example? You just threw it out there like we all knew what you were talking about.

The problem is, you throw comments out like that --without explanation-- and I don't know what you are talking about. For example, what event happened 5 years ago that caused you to say "Houston blew it" 5 years ago? I really don't now what you are referring to. Just looking for a LITTE BIT of color behind the snarky comment. Was there some specific event 5 years ago?

Lastly, does Houston really have worse academics than Memphis and UCF? I have no idea about Cincinnati .

Is associating with a school with good "academics" really that important in conference affiliation?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by HogDawg

Well...for God's sake, how many sports are played on Sunday anyway?

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The only other ones that might matter but especially MBB. WBB and baseball need lots of Sunday games

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PawDawg

The only other ones that might matter but especially MBB. WBB and baseball need lots of Sunday games

---

I think that was only an issue for Tech this year in the NIT. I guess if we had made the CUSA Final, it would have been an issue then too.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by HogDawg

I think that was only an issue for Tech this year in the NIT. I guess if we had made the CUSA Final, it would have been an issue then too.

---

When BYU was cut as a prospect the last time it was because BYU would not agree to ANY necessary Sunday games. This was a problem for the TV guys. Imagine having a Sunday game, any game, set for 12 months, but the team playing in that game is not available. They aren't great in Baseball, but that sport alone would be a nightmare for the Big12 to work around.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by qng001

Is associating with a school with good "academics" really that important in conference affiliation?

---

For presidents, definitely and little less so for many donors. Presidents and many donors live in the academic world more than athletics. If they see Rice or App St. as possibilities, they will instantly be attracted to Rice as they want to be grouped in with them and their prestige. Obviously AD's, donors and fans will sway the opinion but I think to presidents, many already have a bias towards certain universities.

For anyone interested here is what the Big 12 will look like when everything shakes out. They will be a coast-to-coast conference, with a west and east division.

East division – West Virginia, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Iowa State, UCF, Memphis, and Cincinnati.

West division – Baylor, TCU, Texas Tech, Houston, BYU, Boise State, San Diego State, and Colorado State.

In the west Arizona and Arizona State may replace San Diego State, and Colorado State. The remaining Big 12 Presidents are working their connections hard to get the Arizona schools. Seems Louisiana and Tech are out of the running. Just joking neither were ever in the running.

We could end up in the new AAC.

The New Big 12 Would Be Just As Good, Or Better, Than The Pac 12.....And The Numbers Prove it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blbvX5PaPM4


Somebody had to say it. This guy does a great job comparing the "New Big XII" to the ACC & the Pac 12. He respectfully takes Stuart Mandel to task for using bad info --or out of context info-- to spread bad information about the Big XII and some of the midwest schools.