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

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by healthpellets

is this some angry KU/KSU fan that writes for some no name paper in the middle of the dust bowl?

or does he just hate the fact that someone is talking about a B12 team not named OKLA?

Nope.

This is pretty much all I'm hearing in Oklahoma right now.

Mostly it appears to be a whole bunch of terrified OSU fans that realize they don't have shit to offer anyone. They're the #2 school in a backwater state with the academic standards of your average community college.

If the Big XII goes down, the SEC isn't going to bring in OU and OSU if they can avoid it and OU isn't going to burn itself to protect their reeruned little brother either. OSU is doing anything it can to protect its meal ticket, even if that means discrediting anyone that presents a threat to the conference.

[healthpellets]

so what's the word on OK being able to move on without OKST if need be?

i'm assuming that's been discussed on the talking box.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by healthpellets

so what's the word on OK being able to move on without OKST if need be?

i'm assuming that's been discussed on the talking box.

In the air.

There seems to be a handshake agreement between TX and A&M that one doesn't leave without the other. Nobody can really figure out if such an animal exists between OU and OSU, but the prevailing opinion is that it does not.

Right now you have OSU fans yelling that the legislature needs to step in and ensure that OU is unable to leave without OSU. They're yacking about Ann Richards pulling strings to get Baylor in the Big 12 so someone in Oklahoma needs to do something similar to save OSU.

Ultimately, nobody seems to be real sure. The smart money is on OSU following OU, but if Texas leaves the Big 12, OU may not be in the position to make demands.

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

Eh, maybe I'm being a homer, but IMO Nebraska is the linchpin here. If Mizzou leaves, yes, that hurts the Big XII, but it can still move on from that. However, if Mizzou and Nebraska both leave, that WILL screw the Big XII, because then the north will have no credibility whatsoever.

I think you're being a homer. Missouri brings Saint Louis and Kansas City to the table. Nebraska doesn't have a major media market in the state. Texas subsidizes the entire conference as it is in terms of major markets. If they lose KC and Saint Louis, that's 2 of the 3 biggest markets outside of the state of Texas. If there's a lynch pin besides MU, it's Colorado. If they break once MU leaves, there will no longer be a Big XII. It just can't survive without a market outside of Texas.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

I think you're being a homer. Missouri brings Saint Louis and Kansas City to the table. Nebraska doesn't have a major media market in the state. Texas subsidizes the entire conference as it is in terms of major markets. If they lose KC and Saint Louis, that's 2 of the 3 biggest markets outside of the state of Texas. If there's a lynch pin besides MU, it's Colorado. If they break once MU leaves, there will no longer be a Big XII. It just can't survive without a market outside of Texas.

Well if this is all about grabbing TV markets and nothing else, then what you're saying is the future of college sports is one where a school's relevancy is going to be dictated by the market they're in (which I find disturbing). And if that's the case, why has the Big 10 courted Notre Dame in the past? What market do they deliver that isn't already covered by the Big 10?

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

Well if this is all about grabbing TV markets and nothing else, then what you're saying is the future of college sports is one where a school's relevancy is going to be dictated by the market they're in (which I find disturbing). And if that's the case, why has the Big 10 courted Notre Dame in the past? What market do they deliver that isn't already covered by the Big 10?

Notre Dame is a national team. They have a following all over the country plus they are a great academic institution. This isn't all about market share, but it's at least 50% of the equation. That's why you get teams like Rutgers tossed around.

[Braincase]

Which has a bigger impact - where MU football goes or where KU basketball goes? I believe one has a significantly greater impact on the college sports landscape than the other.

[Pants]

Originally Posted by healthpellets

is this some angry KU/KSU fan that writes for some no name paper in the middle of the dust bowl?

or does he just hate the fact that someone is talking about a B12 team not named OKLA?

Well, he's right about MU's AD being pretty much complete garbage. It's not being jaded to say that the only reason MU is getting an invite is because of their location and the big TV markets. That's the only quality they have as far as B10 is concerned.

I 100% agree that this is horrible for the B12, though, and have no qualms saying that MU is doing the right thing by moving. I know KU would do it in a heartbeat along with the other 9 or 10 schools in the Big 12.

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by Braincase

Which has a bigger impact - where MU football goes or where KU basketball goes? I believe one has a significantly greater impact on the college sports landscape than the other.

Basketball has almost no impact on the college sports landscape, so it would be MU football by a mile. Throw in the fact that the state of Missouri has triple the population of Kansas, and it's kind of a silly question.

There is a reason that one team is preparing to leave for much greener pastures while the other is going to be clamoring to join a mid-major.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

Well if this is all about grabbing TV markets and nothing else, then what you're saying is the future of college sports is one where a school's relevancy is going to be dictated by the market they're in (which I find disturbing). And if that's the case, why has the Big 10 courted Notre Dame in the past? What market do they deliver that isn't already covered by the Big 10?

"all about...and nothing else" - no, of course not.

But let's face it, Mizzou is the only major school in Missouri, a state with a top 20 population base and 2 major metropolitan areas (with a combined 6 major leage sports teams between them).

Very few schools can claim that kind of market saturation in a relatively major state.

Combine that with the #1 journalism school in the country (not altogether unimportant when you're looking for media exposure; program directors are still loyal to their schools) and things like the nuclear reactor and MU has an incredibly strong argument for inclusion and a whole lot to offer the Big 10.

And the Big XII will absolutely miss Mizzou if it walks. Stiff upper lip and all that, but losing MU (as well as most of the Big XII's motivation for holding any major conference events in KC) will absolutely leave a mark.

[Pants]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

...why has the Big 10 courted Notre Dame in the past? What market do they deliver that isn't already covered by the Big 10?

The same market that allows Notre Dame Football to sustain itself without being in a conference (i.e. the entire United States). ND is probably right up there with Texas, tOSU and other money giants in the college world. Those schools get to dictate their own terms.

[Pants]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

Basketball has almost no impact on the college sports landscape, so it would be MU football by a mile. Throw in the fact that the state of Missouri has triple the population of Kansas, and it's kind of a silly question.

There is a reason that one team is preparing to leave for much greener pastures while the other is going to be clamoring to join a mid-major.

When basketball is a national brand, it matters a lot. Ask Duke, Kansas, NC and Kentucky. KU AD generates a lot more money than MU even though our football has been absolute shit. Of course the bluebloods in football make a shit ton more money than bluebloods in basketball do, but I assure you, MU football vs KU basketball has nothing to do with the B10 invite.

[Braincase]

Originally Posted by Metrolike

When basketball is a national brand, it matters a lot. Ask Duke, Kansas, NC and Kentucky. KU AD generates a lot more money than MU even though our football has been absolute shit. Of course the bluebloods in football make a shit ton more money than bluebloods in basketball do, but I assure you, MU football vs KU basketball has nothing to do with the B10 invite.

If you had a choice between getting your ass beat for 8 million a year and getting your ass beat for 22 million a year, by all means, take the money. The primary fact still remains... you're getting your ass beat regardless of who's doin' the beating.

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by Metrolike

It's not being jaded to say that the only reason MU is getting an invite is because of their location and the big TV markets. That's the only quality they have as far as B10 is concerned.

Maybe not jaded, but it's stupid. MU has the highest average ACT score of incoming freshmen in the Big XII. They are a strong research school and will fit in well with the rest of the Big 10. They have played in 2 Big XII championship games in the last 3 years in football and are bringing in strong recruiting classes every year. They were in the Elite 8 2 years ago in basketball and also won the Big XII tourney that year. They won a tournament game last year and are a preseason top 10 this year in some polls.

The academics are a good fit, maybe the best fit in the Big XII outside of Texas.
The demographics are a good fit, maybe the best fit in the Big XII outside of Texas.
The location is a good fit, probably the best fit in the Big XII.
The athletics are a good fit, probably the best overall in basketball and football in the North.

Other than that, it really doesn't make any sense.

[Pants]

Originally Posted by Braincase

If you had a choice between getting your ass beat for 8 million a year and getting your ass beat for 22 million a year, by all means, take the money. The primary fact still remains... you're getting your ass beat regardless of who's doin' the beating.

I have to admit that the school is going to be better off no matter what happens to their AD, though. I don't think Deaton cares one bit that their football (or any other sport for that matter) might suffer.