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

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by KcMizzou

How so? Don't they already have more money and exposure than anyone else?

personally i think joining a conference would help Notre Dame quite a bit competition wise.

They are fine with exposure and money but all the scheduling and rivalries etc that come with being in a conference would help their football team a lot imo.

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by baitism

All of the speculation about ND is worthless, though. They are not going anywhere. Why would they give up a huge tv contract with NBC to go to the big 10 and have to split their cake with the rest of the conference via the BTN? It doesn't make sense for them.

Northwestern makes more money off the Big Ten contract than ND does with NBC.

[KcMizzou]

Originally Posted by Laz

personally i think joining a conference would help Notre Dame quite a bit competition wise.

They are fine with exposure and money but all the scheduling and rivalries etc that come with being in a conference would help their football team a lot imo.

Ok... but I'm just sayin'... a mediocre (at best) ND joins the Big 10... and they instantly become a powerhouse. Mizzou joins the Big 10... and they'll be the doormat of the conference.

I'm just trying to follow wickedson's logic.

ND already has all of the perks that Mizzou would gain... and more.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by baitism

I agree they have been sucking, but between their national brand status and delusional fans they should be ok. That being said, if they have horrendous year this season that could change.

why would they get another year?

they have been sucking for awhile now ... not just 1/2 seasons.

They just had a been name guy like Charlie Weis get paid and then implode. They have a fundamental problem with their football program.

1. grades make it hard to recruit
2. no conference leads to no consistency,rivalries,scheduling,tourneys etc

Notre Dame is sort of "outside" of college football. That used to be "cool" but now it's hurting them a bit.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by KcMizzou

Ok... but I'm just sayin'... a mediocre (at best) ND joins the Big 10... and that instantly become a powerhouse. Mizzou joins the Big 10... and they'll be the doormat of the conference.

I'm just trying to follow wickedson's logic.

i'm not really paying attention to him so i dunno


Big 10 wants money and more exposure ... Notre Dame can give that to them all by itself. Notre Dame needs to be "apart" of something in football to help them improve the on-the-field product ... Big 10 gives them that.


i don't know if it's going to happen but imo that is what the Big 10 is really waiting for ... Notre Dame.

[KcMizzou]

Originally Posted by Laz

i'm not really paying attention to him so i dunno


Big 10 wants money and more exposure ... Notre Dame can give that to them all by itself. Notre Dame needs to be "apart" of something in football to help them improve the on-the-field product ... Big 10 gives them that.


i don't know if it's going to happen but imo that is what the Big 10 is really waiting for ... Notre Dame.

Understood.

I just think the 12 teams thing is done. I think it'll be 16... with, or without ND.

The Big 10 will not be late to the party.

[Bambi]

Originally Posted by KcMizzou

Ok... but I'm just sayin'... a mediocre (at best) ND joins the Big 10... and they instantly become a powerhouse. Mizzou joins the Big 10... and they'll be the doormat of the conference.

I'm just trying to follow wickedson's logic.

ND already has all of the perks that Mizzou would gain... and more.

Dude, come on. Don't compare the schools.

Not being in a conference has hurt Notre Dame's recruiting in my opinion. Regular rivalries with powerhouse programs where there are standings and records that mean something will recharge the entire program. Players will start rolling in on a national level, unlike MU who recruits locally and some of Texas which they'll surely lose once they leave the Big 12.

You really think MU is going to start beating out OSU and PSU for kids in those states?

I don't think so.

[KChiefs1]

http://www.wacotrib.com/news/breakin...he-Big-12.html

Editor's note: This column was written by Baylor President Ken Starr regarding ongoing developments of the potential realignment or dissolution of the Big 12 athletic conference. For continuing coverage on this story, see tomorrow's print edition of the Waco Tribune-Herald.

On my first day as President of Baylor University I wrote to members of the Baylor family expressing my great enthusiasm to be joining our esteemed university, my deep respect for its illustrious tradition, my abiding commitment to our important mission and my sincere vow to help advance the goals of the University in the months and years ahead.

Only a few short hours later, I would be marshalling all that enthusiasm and working to counter a significant and historic threat to the University. Our opposition has come in the form of a possible realignment of the Big 12 conference and, with it, the separation of Baylor from its fellow Texas universities in the Big 12.

Not surprisingly, our level of activity in recent days has been very high. Ian McCaw, our athletics director, and I, along with members of my executive staff and university regents, have been working hard to represent and protect Baylor’s best interests as well as those of Central Texas. I can tell you that at this time we are guardedly optimistic about the way the process is unfolding.

Let me make our perspective clear: Baylor emphatically supports the Big 12. We are proud of our role in the conference and we want to see it prosper. In particular, we appreciate our fellow Texas institutions in the Big 12 and the special rivalries that entertain and energize our alumni. We remain hopeful that the Big 12 will remain intact and continue to be one of the nation's foremost athletic conferences.

A strong athletic presence is not just good for Baylor. It’s good for Texas and it’s also good for Waco.

Exposure through television and other media helps promote our university, shining a light on both our athletic and academic quality, and further strengthening our national reputation.

For Texas a strong quartet of athletic programs such as the University of Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech and Baylor produces income and jobs and helps with student recruitment, both by keeping students in our state and by bringing others into our rolls.

And, of course, there's the great pride that we feel as Texans when our programs dominate the athletic landscape as they did during the recent basketball season.

Here in Waco, a strong athletic program at Baylor competing in a powerhouse conference brings positive recognition to central Texas, creates and supports employment opportunities, and infuses money into the economy as we host visiting alumni and other guests who stay in area hotels and eat at restaurants nearby.

A study completed by Baylor economics professor, Dr. Thomas M. Kelly, concluded that Baylor Athletics had a $155.6 million impact on the greater Waco economy during the 2008 calendar year. A similar study done more recently would document an even greater financial impact.

If Baylor remains in the Big 12, or otherwise aligned with its fellow Texas institutions in the Big 12, the future economic impact on our community will be significant.

On the other hand, any change that disrupts our current athletic affiliations in Texas would most certainly have negative financial consequences, to Baylor and to Central Texas.

The situation is extremely fluid right now. It is our understanding that the Pac-10 Conference may be preparing to invite six Big 12 members to join a proposed 16-team megaconference, Recent news reports have indicated that Baylor's stock is rising and that it could be included among the teams invited to form a new conference.

What we do know is this: the Lone Star state schools of the Big 12 should stick together. That’s what’s in the best interests of Baylor, of Texas and of our own community, here in Waco.

[KcMizzou]

Originally Posted by Wickedson

Dude, come on. Don't compare the schools.

Not being in a conference has hurt Notre Dame's recruiting in my opinion. Regular rivalries with powerhouse programs where there are standing and records mean something will recharge the entire program. Players will start rolling in on a national level, unlike MU who recruits locally and some of Texas which they'll surely lose once they leave the Big 12.

You really think MU is going to start beating out OSU and PSU for kids in those states?

I don't think so.

Really? Really??? They're ****in' Notre Dame.

I don't think they'd rocket to being a national power any more than I think Mizzou would be a door mat.

But hey... whatever makes you feel better.

[luv]

Originally Posted by Laz

personally i think joining a conference would help Notre Dame quite a bit competition wise.

They are fine with exposure and money but all the scheduling and rivalries etc that come with being in a conference would help their football team a lot imo.

Don't they basically get to cherry pick their schedule right now?

I'm not implying they do by asking, I really don't know.

[Bambi]

Originally Posted by KcMizzou

Really? Really??? They're ****in' Notre Dame.

I don't think they'd rocket to being a national power any more than I think Mizzou would be a door mat.

But hey... whatever makes you feel better.

We can have a difference of opinion. Nothing wrong with that.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by luv

Don't they basically get to cherry pick their schedule right now?

I'm not implying they do by asking, I really don't know.

They usually play half the B10 every year as it is, plus USC and usually Stanford, UCLA (or another Pac 10 team or two) and a team from the ACC, a team from the Big East - and a Service Academy.

ND has no benefit at all to move to a conference.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by KcMizzou

Really? Really??? They're ****in' Notre Dame.

I don't think they'd rocket to being a national power any more than I think Mizzou would be a door mat.

But hey... whatever makes you feel better.

Spot on.

[KcMizzou]

What we do know is this: the Lone Star state schools of the Big 12 should stick together. That’s what’s in the best interests of Baylor, of Texas and of our own community, here in Waco.

Sounds like someone knows the writing's on the wall.

This screams "Texas! We're brothers! F Colorado!"

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by Wickedson

Dude, come on. Don't compare the schools.

Not being in a conference has hurt Notre Dame's recruiting in my opinion. Regular rivalries with powerhouse programs where there are standings and records that mean something will recharge the entire program. Players will start rolling in on a national level, unlike MU who recruits locally and some of Texas which they'll surely lose once they leave the Big 12.

You really think MU is going to start beating out OSU and PSU for kids in those states?

I don't think so.

Notre Dame has regular rivalries... maybe not every single year, but they play Michigan, Michigan State, USC, etc; just about every year... and like KcMizzou said, they're Notre f***ing Dame.

On top of that, the Big 10's image has taken a huge hit in the past few years... why would Notre Dame want to be associated with the perception of that conference being left behind?