Big 10 Report: Conference Realignment

[Mr. Laz]

A source in St. Louis familiar with the situation told NewsCenter 16 Thursday afternoon that Missouri will leave the Big XII and soon join the Big 10. Other schools expected to follow the Tigers are Syracuse, Pitt, Rutgers and Nebraska.

Many have speculated that such an expansion would include Notre Dame but ND athletic director Jack Swarbrick told me today that the Irish prefer to stay independent in football and in the Big East for other sports. Swarbrick said maintaining football Independence is such a part of what Notre Dame is.

He went on to say the Big East is a great partner for the University in other sports.

"We do have to monitor what is going on," Swarbrick said. "There will be significant shifts. "Hopefully we can navigate them by keeping our football independent and keeping our Big East affiliation because that is what we care about."

The move of Syracuse, Pitt and Rutgers to the Big Ten from the Big East could categorically change the landscape of the Big East itself. Thus, what Swarbrick is referring to when stating the University must continue to monitor what is going on.

The interview with Swarbrick was done before the late afternoon announcement.

http://www.wndu.com/sports/headlines/92447574.html

[Pants]

Originally Posted by beer bacon

I can't wait for the sour grapes if Missouri actually leaves. Damn KU fans.

Sour grapes over what? Geography? Number of BCS schools in the state? If the deciding factor of who was going to go to B10 was AD success, MU most definitely wouldn't be going.

[beer bacon]

Originally Posted by sedated

what sour grapes? congrats, you are now the Big 11 version of Arkansas.

These sour grapes are sour.

[beer bacon]

Originally Posted by Metrolike

Sour grapes over what? Geography? Number of BCS schools in the state? If the deciding factor of who was going to go to B10 was AD success, MU most definitely wouldn't be going.

Lew would have bamboozled KU into the Big Ten, but he was too busy doing interviews with federal investigators.

[DeezNutz]

Photoshop skills for KU fans? "Texas' bitch" in crimson and blue.

[Pants]

Originally Posted by beer bacon

Lew would have bamboozled KU into the Big Ten, but he was too busy doing interviews with federal investigators.

Not even Lew could've made B10 take KU over MU. Nice stinger about illegal ticket sales that didn't benefit KU in any way shape or form and was strictly done to benefit a couple individuals working for the WEF.

[DeezNutz]

KU would be well served to go to the Pac-10. Very well served.

[Pants]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Photoshop skills for KU fans? "Texas' bitch" in crimson and blue.

You were just as much of their bitch until B10 rode in on a white steed. All of a sudden MU is all like "I ain't NOBODY's bitch, right B10? Please accept us! Please?"

[Pants]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

KU would be well served to go to the Pac-10. Very well served.

I honestly think that the most realistic outcome would be the B12 adding a couple of schools to replace MU and NU and then forging an alliance with the PAC-10 for a TV deal. I don't think we'll be seeing 2 conferences merging together to create one big beast.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by Metrolike

You were just as much of their bitch until B10 rode in on a white steed. All of a sudden MU is all like "I ain't NOBODY's bitch, right B10? Please accept us! Please?"

Exactly. Thank you, Big 10, for properly recognizing our awesomeness.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by Metrolike

I honestly think that the most realistic outcome would be the B12 adding a couple of schools to replace MU and NU and then forging an alliance with the PAC-10 for a TV deal. I don't think we'll be seeing 2 conferences merging together to create one big beast.

But I could see the Texas schools interested in joining the SEC to create a football mega-conference, particularly to counter large USC and ND-led conferences.

[beer bacon]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

But I could see the Texas schools interested in joining the SEC to create a football mega-conference, particularly to counter large USC and ND-led conferences.

The rub from Texas fans is that Texas won't join the SEC because that conference is so weak academically. They would be much more likely to join the PAC-10 or Big Ten.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by Metrolike

You were just as much of their bitch until B10 rode in on a white steed. All of a sudden MU is all like "I ain't NOBODY's bitch, right B10? Please accept us! Please?"

I see it much more on the academic side. MU will gain access to an incredible amount of research funding through membership in the Big 10. Given the current push in medical research funding, MU would be positioned very well for the future.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

I see it much more on the academic side. MU will gain access to an incredible amount of research funding through membership in the Big 10. Given the current push in medical research funding, MU would be positioned very well for the future.

This is the major reason why I'm so interested in jumping ship.

[Pants]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

But I could see the Texas schools interested in joining the SEC to create a football mega-conference, particularly to counter large USC and ND-led conferences.

I highly doubt it. It's possible, but I don't think the SEC is going to buckle for Texas and I don't think Texas is going to be willing to have to share their massive profits with a crap ton more of schools found in said super conference. Besides, why would Texas want more competition on the road to conference championships? If B12 retains its BCS deal, Texas has no reason to leave, they're sitting pretty where they. There's a reason Texas didn't join the SEC in 1991.

[Reaper16]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

This is the major reason why I'm so interested in jumping ship.

Me too (I don't have formal affiliation with MU but I like the idea of a strong institution representing the state). The academic implications of the move are very exciting.