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

[Stewie]

Originally Posted by HolyHandgernade

Why do you think I'm a PAC person?

I never said you were, but you put up the PAC reasoning for bringing in Texas.

[HolyHandgernade]

Originally Posted by Stewie

Again, you don't understand Texas. We've dealt with them for 15 years in our conference. If they move to the PAC, good riddance. They will dominate (and benefit) every discussion concerning sports ad nauseum in your league. The money in Texas buries anything on the west coast and they know it.

It sure sounds like you think I am.

[Stewie]

Originally Posted by HolyHandgernade

It sure sounds like you think I am.

Honestly, I really don't know who you are.

[HolyHandgernade]

Originally Posted by Stewie

Honestly, I really don't know who you are.

That's fine. I'm a KU fan and attended there. I'm originally from the midwest. Believe me, I understand. But, Texas is not the only ego in play here. OU is trying to remove the stranglehold Texas has in this conference, so they are taking their leverage and OSU to the PAC. Texas wants to rule its fiefdom, but now has to choose between splitting the Red River Rivalry (just after they lost the A&M one), or swallow some pride while making more money in the PAC. Texas is about power and money, but mostly money.

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by HolyHandgernade

Yeah, the reason I posted it is because of the "polls" regarding which conference Missouri fans "choose" to go to. You may not have a choice and you're only real option may not be with either of them. I know the local media has you thinking you're in some catbird seat right now with "options". I'm not saying this to incite MU fans. You show me one thing that I posted that isn't correct, and I'll retract it. I'm not saying KU is in a good position, and I'm not saying MU isn't in a slightly better position. I'm just saying that neither of our positions have any validity right now and everything is based on media assumptions about what the SEC and B!G are "going to do". They may very well do nothing. There is no obligation by them to pick up "stray" teams.

Let me put it this way. MU, A&M, OSU are all fine programs. But their real worth was tied to Texas-OU. There's no doubt the programs could be added, but does any network think, on your own, you are a $17 million dollar a year program? Is there a conference who's members are prepared to add your program if it means taking a financial hit to their own bottom line?

If chips start falling and Super Conferences start being created, then MU becomes more than just a "stray" team. Mizzou has markets that both the SEC and Big 10 would love to have. For the Big 10 that pretty much sews up everything in the state including the coveted St. Louis market. If the SEC manages to capture MU, then they steal away something that the Big 10 pretty much feels they can add at their convenience and catches the Big 10 with their pants down.

Super Conferences are going to happen.....it's just when and how. And quite frankly MU's situation isn't just slightly better than KU's...it's much better.

[Stewie]

Originally Posted by Mosbonian

And quite frankly MU's situation isn't just slightly better than KU's...it's much better.

Says who? MU was snubbed by the Big 10 just last year. Suddenly they're the golden child?

[HolyHandgernade]

Originally Posted by Mosbonian

If chips start falling and Super Conferences start being created, then MU becomes more than just a "stray" team. Mizzou has markets that both the SEC and Big 10 would love to have. For the Big 10 that pretty much sews up everything in the state including the coveted St. Louis market. If the SEC manages to capture MU, then they steal away something that the Big 10 pretty much feels they can add at their convenience and catches the Big 10 with their pants down.

Super Conferences are going to happen.....it's just when and how. And quite frankly MU's situation isn't just slightly better than KU's...it's much better.

I highlighted the only pertinent point of the discussion. "IF". IF all that happens, then yes, Missouri is in a good place. All I'm saying is that there has been no concrete message from either conference they want to expand. You assume the networks will say the St. Louis market is worth it. Fans throw around terms like "X metropolis" market like its some big bloc that will all automatically go where MU football goes.

When TV execs look at the numbers, they actually dissect it a bit more than that. They'll look at what percentage of St. Louis fans actually watch college football, what percentage of fans actually watch MU football (don't act like there's no Illini fans there). What percentage of fans watch SEC football anyway.

IF superconferences are the wave of the future, then yes, your situation is much brighter. But IF said conferences don't think it is advantageous to expand right now, they aren't going to expand just to expand.

And this, by the way, goes right into another of these myths about superconferences: "The good thing is that when we have four superconferences we're finally going to have a playoff system."

Yeah, right. The BCS, the organization that wants to preserve the bowls, is going to gather their teams together so they can get rid of the bowls. That's fan logic for you at its finest!

[Rams Fan]

Originally Posted by HolyHandgernade

They'll look at what percentage of St. Louis fans actually watch college football, what percentage of fans actually watch MU football (don't act like there's no Illini fans there).

There are way more Mizzou fans in St. Louis than there are Illini fans.

[Stewie]

Originally Posted by Rams Fan

There are way more Mizzou fans in St. Louis than there are Illini fans.

Who knew?

[HolyHandgernade]

Originally Posted by Rams Fan

There are way more Mizzou fans in St. Louis than there are Illini fans.

I'm sure that there are. You guys are so blind sometimes you completely miss the point. Don't tell me "Mizzou can deliver the St. Louis market". That's obvious. Instead tell me what that actual TV share is. If its a significant number, then maybe Mizzou is a 17 million/year institution. Do you know what that actual number is and how much revenue that actually translates to for marketers?

[Rams Fan]

Originally Posted by HolyHandgernade

I'm sure that there are. You guys are so blind sometimes you completely miss the point. Don't tell me "Mizzou can deliver the St. Louis market". That's obvious. Instead tell me what that actual TV share is. If its a significant number, then maybe Mizzou is a 17 million/year institution. Do you know what that actual number is and how much revenue that actually translates to for marketers?

No, I do not.

[LiveSteam]

Originally Posted by Rams Fan

No, I do not.

I think a gram of Meth goes for around 30 bucks in Mizoo

[HolyHandgernade]

Originally Posted by Rams Fan

No, I do not.

I don't either. But that's the point. When fans say "such and such market", they speak in hype, not real numbers. I agree that the MU portion in Missouri markets represents the largest potential market share that may be a "free agent". But, if that real projected revenue is not more than what each school in a particular conference currently takes in, these conferences will not expand just to expand.

The PAC is going aggressively forward because they can answer that question with a bold affirmation. In fact, they think so much of the Texas-OU market, they don't really care what two schools they add on to them.

Missouri has to show they are worth their take. If they can, Missouri may indeed have choices. If they can't, they may be the most valuable "stray" on the market.

[Stewie]

Originally Posted by HolyHandgernade

I'm sure that there are. You guys are so blind sometimes you completely miss the point. Don't tell me "Mizzou can deliver the St. Louis market". That's obvious. Instead tell me what that actual TV share is. If its a significant number, then maybe Mizzou is a 17 million/year institution. Do you know what that actual number is and how much revenue that actually translates to for marketers?

This is my point. Who cares about TVs in St. Louis? The point is, what does MU bring to the national TV audience? That's the question.

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by Stewie

Says who? MU was snubbed by the Big 10 just last year. Suddenly they're the golden child?

I guess by reading all of the post you missed the point I was trying to make. The Big 10 is confident...almost cocky about it, that they can have MU anytime they wish.