Tigers X - Number one Source to Talk Auburn Tigers Sports

Pat Dye Field => War Damn Eagle => Topic started by: Ogre on April 22, 2010, 09:15:36 AM

Title: Super-Conferences may be coming sooner than we think
Post by: Ogre on April 22, 2010, 09:15:36 AM
Aftershocks of Big Ten expansion could alter entire landscape

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz -- Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany broke his silence concerning conference expansion Wednesday and said almost nothing during a 30-minute chat/filibuster with reporters. A few hours later, SEC commissioner Mike Slive needed about 30 seconds to speak volumes.

Slive poured himself a cup of coffee, took his seat, unfolded a slip of paper and began to read.

"Given the success the SEC has experienced over the past decade, we are very comfortable with the position in which we find ourselves today," Slive said after a day of BCS meetings. "Having said that, if there is going to be a significant shift in the conference paradigm, the SEC will be strategic and thoughtful to make sure that it maintains its position as one of the nation's pre-eminent conferences."

Declarations of war have been less emphatic. Translated, Slive's statement means this: If the Big Ten expands into a superconference, the SEC will make itself just as super. Just listen to Slive himself, from a more off-the-cuff moment Wednesday. "I won't just sit back," he said, "and ignore what is going on around me."

Meanwhile, Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott said his conference should decide by year's end -- before it begins its next round of television negotiations -- whether it will expand. If it does, Scott said, the conference will use the "Noah's Ark philosophy, two-by-two." The plan, it seems, would be to add just two. But if the Big Ten and SEC supersize, who knows?

Get ready, college sports fans, because everything is about to change.

If the Big Ten expands to 14 or 16 teams and prompts the SEC to expand, everyone will go looking for shelter. If you didn't like the idea of six conferences controlling everything before, just wait until four conferences have all the power.

Big East commissioner John Marinatto and Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe are understandably nervous. Their conferences stand to be annihilated if the Big Ten, SEC and Pac-10 move simultaneously. Judging by Slive's pledge to be proactive, that's exactly what would happen if the Big Ten decides to go really big.

"It would be irresponsible of me not to be concerned about all of that stuff," Marinatto said. "It's not the elephant in the room anymore. Everybody talks about it -- although it's not on our agenda. We're all concerned about it. Not only the Big East, but everyone. How will -- if they do anything -- it expand or contract the marketplace for intercollegiate athletics?"

Moments before Delany met reporters Wednesday, the Big East e-mailed a release that former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue had signed on to provide strategic assistance. Tagliabue's main role, in the long run, may be to help the Big East pick up the pieces for the second time in less than 10 years after another raid. Marinatto and former commissioner Mike Tranghese did a brilliant job reinventing the league after the ACC snatched Boston College, Miami and Virginia Tech. The job could be considerably tougher if the Big Ten takes Pittsburgh, Rutgers and Syracuse.

Before you deluge me with e-mails about how some team would be a better choice for the Big Ten because of its football record the past few years, remember one thing. Despite the commissioners' collective ability to rattle off the number of championships their conference's teams have won, this has little to do with what happens on the field. This is about money and power and the accumulation of both.

The Big Ten has a hammer. It's called the Big Ten Network, which allows the conference to distribute $22 million to each school in the league each year. That's why even Notre Dame, which cherishes its football independence more than it cherishes money, could become a candidate for the Big Ten if that league smashes up the Big East, of which Notre Dame is a non-football member. Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick has maintained that the program will do everything to protect its independence, but if everything changes, can the Fighting Irish afford to?

The SEC also has a hammer in the form of a pair of monster deals with CBS and ESPN that allow the SEC to pay out $17 million a year to each team and -- unlike the Big Ten -- still allow teams to negotiate their own local rights deals. The Pac-10 doesn't have as much leverage, but it owns the Los Angeles and Bay Area television markets, and that's a very big deal.

So while expansion wasn't on the agenda for the BCS meetings, it hangs over the proceedings. Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione said that while he understood everyone wanted a sound bite to encapsulate the mood, he couldn't provide one. A few seconds later, he produced the perfect one.

"It's a little complicated right now," said Castiglione, who could find himself reporting to Slive instead of Beebe if realignment gets radical.

It's fitting that Castiglione used the phrase any Facebook member would use to describe a confusing courtship, because that's essentially what this is. Just ask Delany. "You're not trying to find somebody you're going to spend a year with," he said. "You're trying to figure out what you're going to be for the next 25 or 50 years."

Delany isn't going to propose this week, but he could propose soon. Big Ten athletic directors and presidents will do their homework. They will crunch the numbers. They may even go on a few dates. Then they'll authorize Delany to drop to one knee and invite one, three or five lucky schools to live in the mansion of a conference that boasts its own television network that could soon appear on the expanded basic cable systems in more than a third of American homes. That may not sound sexy to you, but to an athletic director and a university president, it's the equivalent of a flawless three-carat, round-cut diamond.

Delany said little of substance, but one nugget stood out. "It's possible," Delany said, "that we may act in a way that it would be more than a single member." That's his first public acknowledgment that the league might expand beyond 12 teams. Delany also said Big Ten presidents might not approve expansion at all, but why would the league put out a release in December announcing its plan to examine expansion without having some ducks already in a row?

As Delany spoke Wednesday, two non-media folks hung near the front of the room. The first was Ari Fleischer, the former White House press secretary who now serves as the chief spin doctor for the BCS. The second was WAC commissioner Karl Benson, who, like all of his colleagues, wanted to hear what one of the guys with a hammer had to say.

Because once Delany or Slive takes that first swing, the blow will reverberate through all of college athletics.



Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/andy_staples/04/21/big.ten.expansion/index.html?xid=cnnbin&hpt=Sbin#ixzz0lpmy6TFl (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/andy_staples/04/21/big.ten.expansion/index.html?xid=cnnbin&hpt=Sbin#ixzz0lpmy6TFl)
Get a free NFL Team Jacket and Tee with SI Subscription
Title: Re: Super-Conferences may be coming sooner than we think
Post by: AWK on April 22, 2010, 09:39:56 AM
Hmmm, I have mixed feelings about this one.  1.  It would be awesome to have a Florida State in the SEC West.  To get to play them every year would be a blast.  2.  However, this would almost kill any out of conference games and attempt to eliminate the mid majors.
Title: Re: Super-Conferences may be coming sooner than we think
Post by: CCTAU on April 22, 2010, 09:52:23 AM

Any more than 12 is too many. It will hurt the SEC more than anyone. The out of conference games would all become jokes because of the in house competition. And who would you bring in? We already have a few patsies in the league. Troy State would not be an upgrade.
Title: Re: Super-Conferences may be coming sooner than we think
Post by: GH2001 on April 22, 2010, 10:03:47 AM
The out of conference games would all become jokes because of the in house competition. And who would you bring in?
And this is different from now?

I'd say Oklahoma and FSU would be great in the SEC. Texas and T A&M will prolly go together, but them in the Big 10 is a geographical nightmare - think away games.
Title: Re: Super-Conferences may be coming sooner than we think
Post by: CCTAU on April 22, 2010, 10:07:51 AM
And this is different from now?

I'd say Oklahoma and FSU would be great in the SEC. Texas and T A&M will prolly go together, but them in the Big 10 is a geographical nightmare - think away games.
Everyone has at least one out of conference game that is against a tough opponent. These would go away altogether.
And you are really sporting big wood if you think we would have our choice of any team. Okla.? FSU? UT ? aTm?

That's funny as hell. Schools will not be jumping ship from normal conferences to run to the super conferences as easily as they make it seem. They more than likely will try to create their own. And this means bringing in lesser competition, not better.
Title: Re: Super-Conferences may be coming sooner than we think
Post by: Saniflush on April 22, 2010, 10:48:52 AM
Texas and T A&M will prolly go together, but them in the Big 10 is a geographical nightmare - think away games.

These two come to the SEC for the ties to Arkansas and the old SWC alone.
Title: Re: Super-Conferences may be coming sooner than we think
Post by: Kaos on April 22, 2010, 11:31:02 AM
I'd like to see Southern Miss, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Tulane, Florida State and either South Florida or Memphis or Bowling Green or somebody like that join the SEC.  Turn it into a three-division league.   The SEC Championship would be a two-week deal with the three division winners and one wildcard. 
Title: Re: Super-Conferences may be coming sooner than we think
Post by: Buzz Killington on April 22, 2010, 11:41:22 AM
What would probably make the most sense at least for the SEC would be to let Arkansas move into the Big XII and pick up the likes of Clemson, Florida State and Miami.  Then you could have two divisions with 7 teams.  You play all 6 in your division and 3 rotating opponents from the other division, then 3 out of conference patsies.

SEC West
Alabama
Auburn
LSU
Mississippi
Mississippi State
Tennessee
Vanderbilt

SEC East
Clemson
Florida
Florida State
Georgia
Kentucky
Miami
South Carolina
Title: Re: Super-Conferences may be coming sooner than we think
Post by: wesfau2 on April 22, 2010, 11:49:19 AM
I'd like to see Southern Miss, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Tulane, Florida State and either South Florida or Memphis or Bowling Green or somebody like that join the SEC.  Turn it into a three-division league.   The SEC Championship would be a two-week deal with the three division winners and one wildcard. 

Memphis, Tulane and BG?

What the fuck are you trying to do to our beloved conference?
Title: Re: Super-Conferences may be coming sooner than we think
Post by: Kaos on April 22, 2010, 11:53:41 AM
Memphis, Tulane and BG?

What the fuck are you trying to do to our beloved conference?

I needed a sixth school.  I hate Miami.  Don't want them.  Tulane used to be in so that made logical sense to me. 

Tried to think of something in Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky region and came up with Memphis and BG.  Besides, it might give Vandy somebody to compete with. 

I don't really care who they add but I would like Southern Miss (because it would piss off the entire state of Mississippi and be hilarious) and FSU and Clemson.  The other three beyond that if they go to six?  Irrelevant.
Title: Re: Super-Conferences may be coming sooner than we think
Post by: wesfau2 on April 22, 2010, 11:58:33 AM
I needed a sixth school.  I hate Miami.  Don't want them.  Tulane used to be in so that made logical sense to me. 

Tried to think of something in Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky region and came up with Memphis and BG.  Besides, it might give Vandy somebody to compete with. 

I don't really care who they add but I would like Southern Miss (because it would piss off the entire state of Mississippi and be hilarious) and FSU and Clemson.  The other three beyond that if they go to six?  Irrelevant.

From a revenue standpoint (and that's really what this is all about), Miami is your no-brainer amongst that collection of misfits.

I could accept SM, but I don't "want" them.  Fuck Mississippians and whatever might piss them off.
Title: Re: Super-Conferences may be coming sooner than we think
Post by: jadennis on April 22, 2010, 12:59:49 PM
Everyone has at least one out of conference game that is against a tough opponent. These would go away altogether.
And you are really sporting big wood if you think we would have our choice of any team. Okla.? FSU? UT ? aTm?

That's funny as hell. Schools will not be jumping ship from normal conferences to run to the super conferences as easily as they make it seem. They more than likely will try to create their own. And this means bringing in lesser competition, not better.

It would be a domino effect.  If the Big Ten is going to add 5 teams and have a 16 team conference, and the SEC is attempting to do the same to keep up, teams in other conferences are going to listen to any and all offers because they aren't going to want to be the one's left standing without a seat at the table.

Say the Big Ten goes after three Big East schools, as well as Nebraska and Missouri from the Big XII North.  Then the SEC is looking for four teams too.  You think Texas and Texas A&M won't want to listen to the SEC?  Otherwise the SEC could end up adding FSU, Miami, Clemson, and Georgia Tech.  All of the sudden the Big XII is down to 10 teams, the others are at 16, and the revenue power of those conferences would dwarf that of the Big XII.  And as powerful and rich as the UT athletic department is, it couldn't compete financially against those other conferences (at least not the way it does now).

Title: Re: Super-Conferences may be coming sooner than we think
Post by: jadennis on April 22, 2010, 01:15:34 PM
And this is different from now?

I'd say Oklahoma and FSU would be great in the SEC. Texas and T A&M will prolly go together, but them in the Big 10 is a geographical nightmare - think away games.

I don't think Texas and Texas A&M in the Big Ten would be too odd.  They already have Nebraska, Missouri, and Iowa State, which are all essentially as far north as Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, etc.   If they had to go to Syracuse or Penn State, that would be a long way.  But they already go about 1,000 miles to Ames and Boulder...so 1,200 miles to Columbus or Madison isn't much of a difference.

I'm sure they would come up with a Big Ten West and East that kept the really long travel to a minimum. 

West: Texas, Texas A&M, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio State.

East: Michigan, Penn State, Michigan State, Purdue, Pitt, Syracuse, Rutgers, and Northwestern.
Title: Re: Super-Conferences may be coming sooner than we think
Post by: GH2001 on April 22, 2010, 01:22:46 PM
I don't think Texas and Texas A&M in the Big Ten would be too odd.  They already have Nebraska, Missouri, and Iowa State, which are all essentially as far north as Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, etc.   If they had to go to Syracuse or Penn State, that would be a long way.  But they already go about 1,000 miles to Ames and Boulder...so 1,200 miles to Columbus or Madison isn't much of a difference.

I'm sure they would come up with a Big Ten West and East that kept the really long travel to a minimum. 

West: Texas, Texas A&M, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio State.

East: Michigan, Penn State, Michigan State, Purdue, Pitt, Syracuse, Rutgers, and Northwestern.

I actually dont think Texas and aTm will go to the SEC. I just said they would go wherever together. I really think Neb and FSU are good choices for the SEC. Neb on the West Side. FSU on the east side.   14 teams is plenty. 16 is too many IMHO.
Title: Re: Super-Conferences may be coming sooner than we think
Post by: eagleair89 on April 22, 2010, 01:32:30 PM
Tech and Clemson to the SEC East

Texas & aTm to the West

phuk FSU...they pussied out years ago.........relegate them back to a female teachers college and they can go down to Thug U every other year and get raped in front of 15,000 Cuban Exiles in the old Orange Bowl.

WAR EAGLE
 :bar:
Title: Re: Super-Conferences may be coming sooner than we think
Post by: GH2001 on April 22, 2010, 01:44:29 PM
Tech and Clemson to the SEC East

Texas & aTm to the West

phuk FSU...they pussied out years ago.........relegate them back to a female teachers college and they can go down to Thug U every other year and get raped in front of 15,000 Cuban Exiles in the old Orange Bowl.

WAR EAGLE
 :bar:

Id take FSU over those other ACC schools anyday. FSU is a big marquee name. The others get about 5-10K at their Spring Games and one is in Atlanta so.....
Title: Re: Super-Conferences may be coming sooner than we think
Post by: eagleair89 on April 22, 2010, 01:55:56 PM
Id take FSU over those other ACC schools anyday. FSU is a big marquee name. The others get about 5-10K at their Spring Games and one is in Atlanta so.....

I wouldn't slit my wrist if FSU was admitted.......just prefer Tech (former member, more history and a more traditional rival for AU and uga)..........and FSU pussied out in 1992 and the SEC ended up with Sou. Car.........aint no forgiving that in my book.

As for Atlanta.........something special about beatin Tech at Grant Field........wished Tubs had figured that out.... :)

Maybe take Tech and FSU or take Tech, FSU, Clemson and Texas............that would be sweet.....just do not think Texas moves w/o aTm.

WAR EAGLE
 :bar:
Title: Re: Super-Conferences may be coming sooner than we think
Post by: Tiger Wench on April 22, 2010, 02:16:14 PM
Maybe take Tech and FSU or take Tech, FSU, Clemson and Texas............that would be sweet.....just do not think Texas moves w/o aTm.
Out here, TX does not give one small shit about A&M.  The rivalry means a helluva lot more to A&M people.  I don't think for one minute that it would have to be a both or nothing kind of deal. 

Plus, they could still play as OOC opponents even if TX came to the SEC, kind of like Tulane and LSU do.
Title: Re: Super-Conferences may be coming sooner than we think
Post by: eagleair89 on April 22, 2010, 02:29:20 PM
Out here, TX does not give one small poop about A&M.  The rivalry means a helluva lot more to A&M people.  I don't think for one minute that it would have to be a both or nothing kind of deal. 

Plus, they could still play as OOC opponents even if TX came to the SEC, kind of like Tulane and LSU do.

Things change over time, so............

It may not be a stumbling block today....but it was a package deal in the 1990-91 SEC expansion talks.......Arkansas is a member of the SEC today because a solution could not be found to bring both Texas and aTm in 1992 and Texas would not come w/o them.....if my old and addled brain is remembering correctly. :)

WAR EAGLE
 :bar:
Title: Re: Super-Conferences may be coming sooner than we think
Post by: Tiger Wench on April 22, 2010, 02:34:21 PM
Things change over time, so............

It may not be a stumbling block today....but it was a package deal in the 1990-91 SEC expansion talks.......Arkansas is a member of the SEC today because a solution could not be found to bring both Texas and aTm in 1992 and Texas would not come w/o them.....if my old and addled brain is remembering correctly. :)
You are correct, but I think it is a "current day" situation - UT is by far the more dominant, more powerful, more financially secure  program in the state, head and shoulders above all the other teams combined.  I don't think for one minute in this "money trupms all" climate that UT would blink at leaving without A&M if it were the right thing for UT. 

The UT - OU rivalry is a much bigger game.  I would be more interested in how that would be affected since in recent years the winner of that game pretty much sewed up the Big XII South.
Title: Re: Super-Conferences may be coming sooner than we think
Post by: eagleair89 on April 22, 2010, 02:50:21 PM
You are correct, but I think it is a "current day" situation - UT is by far the more dominant, more powerful, more financially secure  program in the state, head and shoulders above all the other teams combined.  I don't think for one minute in this "money trupms all" climate that UT would blink at leaving without A&M if it were the right thing for UT.  

The UT - OU rivalry is a much bigger game.  I would be more interested in how that would be affected since in recent years the winner of that game pretty much sewed up the Big XII South.

yep....would be interesting to see what realignment will do to the Red River Shootout......along your thoughts of richest athletic programs, I found a list from Aug 2009.......:

1    Texas    $120,288,370                Big 12
2    Ohio State    $117,953,712                Big Ten
3    Florida    $106,030,895                SEC
4    Michigan    $99,027,105                Big Ten
5    Wisconsin    $93,452,334                Big Ten
6    Penn State    $91,570,233                Big Ten
7    Auburn    $89,305,326                SEC
8    Alabama    $88,869,810                SEC
9    Tennessee    $88,719,798                SEC
10    Okl St    $88,554,438                Big 12

12    LSU           $84,183,362                SEC
13    Georgia    $84,020,180                SEC

17    Oklahoma    $77,098,009                Big 12
21    Texas A&M    $74,781,640                Big 12
24    South Car    $66,545,953                SEC

So 7 out of the Top 24 are SEC schools, 6 are Big 10 schools with Texas sitting there at #1.........you think a little wheeling dealing/bidding war between the SEC and the Big 10 might break out over the "courting" of Texas?  ;)  (the Big 12 has 5 in the top 25)

WAR EAGLE
 :bar:

Full list here (apologies if this list is "old news"):  http://www.aretheyworthit.com/college-athletic-programs/richest-college-athletic-departments (http://www.aretheyworthit.com/college-athletic-programs/richest-college-athletic-departments)

ps for GH2001:  fwiw both Clemson and Ga. Tech have a wealthier ath. dept than FSU:

34    Clemson    $59,126,212                ACC
49    Ga Tech    $47,126,247                ACC
53    Fl State    $45,414,953                ACC

pps:  One more list of the "Have's":
Most Valuable football programs in 2009

Team            Conference    Net Worth    Total Profit
Notre Dame Independent    $101 Million  $46 Million
Texas             Big 12            $92M             $46M
Georgia          SEC               $90M             $44M
Michigan         Big 10            $85M             $36M
Florida            SEC               $84M             $38M
LSU               SEC               $76M             $32M
Tennessee      SEC               $74M             $33M
Auburn           SEC                $73M            $34M
Alabama         SEC               $72M             $32M
Ohio St           Big 10             $71M            $27M
Title: Re: Super-Conferences may be coming sooner than we think
Post by: jadennis on April 22, 2010, 02:58:53 PM
I actually dont think Texas and aTm will go to the SEC. I just said they would go wherever together. I really think Neb and FSU are good choices for the SEC. Neb on the West Side. FSU on the east side.   14 teams is plenty. 16 is too many IMHO.

I think maybe I fall somewhere in between adding FSU, Nebraska, Texas, etc and adding Tulsa and Southern Miss.

What I mean is, we may need to expand to stay on top, but it isn't necessarily the right answer to add two more of the greatest programs in history.  It's not like the SEC will collectively be playing the Big Ten collectively.  It's Auburn who will have to be playing the new teams in town.  Who do we want to add to the schedule?

We are already stacked.  Getting to the SEC title game is already a nightmare.  We already have an automatic bid to the BCS title game by winning the SEC.  I don't know that having to beat Nebraska, in addition to LSU, Alabama, Arkansas, etc. is going to help our national standing as much as it could easily derail a great season.

I would rather add some quality teams, like Georgia Tech or Clemson to the east, and Oklahoma State or Missouri to the west, but not necessarily add multiple other top 10 type powers to our schedule.  In the end it would hurt the conference because the East and West winners could easily have 2 losses each due to the murders row they had to go through to get there.
Title: Re: Super-Conferences may be coming sooner than we think
Post by: jadennis on April 22, 2010, 03:20:39 PM
They should just blow the whole damn thing up and go with 5 major conferences consisting of 80 programs. 

There would be a second division of 40 teams as well.  Just like English Premier League soccer, you would have teams going back and forth between divisions.  The bottom 10 of the 80 would drop down to division II, and the top 10 from D-II would move up to D-1.  Relegation happens every three years, not every year like the EPL does it.

The playoffs would be 12 teams.  The winner of each conference division (10 teams), plus two at-large teams.  Top four get a bye, the next 8 play each other to decide who plays the top 4. 

As for scheduling, I would like to see some rules....since relegation and playoff seeding is on the line every year, no one is allowed to just drift through scheduling by avoiding the big dogs.

First is you would have to play the other 7 teams in your division, nothing new there, obviously, and only those games factor into who wins the division, not overall record. 

At the end of every year, using the BCS formula, (or something like it), all 80 teams would be divided into quarters (1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80).  Then, for your four non-division games, you are required to schedule two games against teams rated in your same "quarter", and one game against an opponent rated higher than you, with the exception of the top 20, they simply have to play 3 in their quarter, not necessarily with one rated higher than them (it would get tricky for the top few teams).

That way, if USC happens to face a relatively weak division one year, they at least have to play 3 other non-divisional teams that are of their relative strength.  This keeps teams from easing into a top 4 seed, and also keeps teams from hiding from the bottom 10 and avoiding relegation.  If you have to play teams of your relative strength, but you keep losing, you're going to slide in the ratings, and may find yourself relegated to D-II.

(http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq200/jadennis100/Footballconferencemap.png)
Title: Re: Super-Conferences may be coming sooner than we think
Post by: AUsweetheart on April 22, 2010, 03:22:37 PM
Work much, jadennis? ;)
Title: Re: Super-Conferences may be coming sooner than we think
Post by: jadennis on April 22, 2010, 03:23:22 PM
The print is too small to see since you can't zoom in.


USC
Cal
UCLA
Arizona state
Fresno St
Stanford
San Diego St
Air Force

Texas
Texas A&M
TCU
Texas Tech
Baylor
SMU
New Mexico
Arizona
Title: Re: Super-Conferences may be coming sooner than we think
Post by: jadennis on April 22, 2010, 03:25:05 PM
Work much, jadennis? ;)

I think you know the answer...or at least I know you think you know the answer.

And for everyone else....not on the fourth Thursday of the month.
Title: Re: Super-Conferences may be coming sooner than we think
Post by: jadennis on April 22, 2010, 03:26:38 PM

LSU
Oklahoma
Oklahoma St
Tulsa
Arkansas
Kansas St
Colorado

Oregon
Nebraska
Oregon St
Washington
Washington St
Boise St
Utah
BYU
Title: Re: Super-Conferences may be coming sooner than we think
Post by: AUsweetheart on April 22, 2010, 03:27:46 PM
I think you know the answer...or at least I know you think you know the answer.

Too-shay.

Carry on.
Title: Re: Super-Conferences may be coming sooner than we think
Post by: jadennis on April 22, 2010, 03:28:04 PM


Alabama
Auburn
Iowa
Wisconsin
Minnesota
Southern Miss
Purdue
Illinois

Georgia
Notre Dame
Georgia tech
Ole Miss
Miss State
Missouri
Iowa St
Northwestern
Title: Re: Super-Conferences may be coming sooner than we think
Post by: jadennis on April 22, 2010, 03:29:46 PM

Florida
Tennessee
North Carolina
South Carolina
Wake Forest
Central Florida
South Florida
East Carolina

Florida State
Miami
Clemson
Louisville
NC State
Indiana
Duke
Vanderbilt
Title: Re: Super-Conferences may be coming sooner than we think
Post by: Token on April 22, 2010, 03:30:22 PM
Texas is in the west conference playing west coast teams while Oregon, Oregon St, Washington and Washington State are in the west central playing Arkansas and LSU?  

I've seen a lot of time wasted on the interwebs, but this is probably the worst.  
Title: Re: Super-Conferences may be coming sooner than we think
Post by: jadennis on April 22, 2010, 03:31:28 PM

Ohio State
Michigan
Michigan St
Boston College
Syracuse
Kentucky
Pitt
UConn

Penn State
Virginia Tech
West Virginia
Rutgers
Central Michigan
Maryland
Virginia
Cincinnati

Title: Re: Super-Conferences may be coming sooner than we think
Post by: Token on April 22, 2010, 03:33:50 PM
This reminds me of my 5 year old trying to play the "place the states" game. 

Alabama isn't next to Lake Superior, Cade. 
Title: Re: Super-Conferences may be coming sooner than we think
Post by: Buzz Killington on April 22, 2010, 03:37:52 PM
This reminds me of my 5 year old trying to play the "place the states" game. 

Alabama isn't next to Lake Superior, Cade. 
Let's just put 'em in alphabetical order.
Title: Re: Super-Conferences may be coming sooner than we think
Post by: Token on April 22, 2010, 03:39:01 PM
Let's just put 'em in alphabetical order.

Would probably be more accurate. 
Title: Re: Super-Conferences may be coming sooner than we think
Post by: jadennis on April 22, 2010, 03:40:54 PM
Texas is in the west conference playing west coast teams while Oregon, Oregon St, Washington and Washington State are in the west central playing Arkansas and LSU?  

I've seen a lot of time wasted on the interwebs, but this is probably the worst.  

Couldn't agree more.  But actually it didn't take long to draw some circles.

Really, the idea is to break everything up evenly.  Because there is such large concentration of the best programs in just a few areas of the country, it's hard to lay it out so that you don't have some division loaded with 4 of the top 10 programs, and then other divisions full of 8 mediocre programs.  In order to do it, you have to really spread it out to even it out.
Title: Re: Super-Conferences may be coming sooner than we think
Post by: jadennis on April 22, 2010, 03:43:13 PM
This reminds me of my 5 year old trying to play the "place the states" game.  

Alabama isn't next to Lake Superior, Cade.  

The point is to create somewhat competitively equal conferences, or balance.  

Why is geography the overriding factor?  To me that's something a five year old would do.  

"Well, sure, 10 of the 20 best teams in the country are all in the same conference, which isn't fair, but hey, they are all within a 4 hour drive".  

What exactly does that have to do with competitive balance?  Which was the whole point.
Title: Re: Super-Conferences may be coming sooner than we think
Post by: Token on April 22, 2010, 03:58:05 PM
 Why is geography the overriding factor?  

Because if would cost Alabama and Auburn a shit ton of money to travel to Canada 3 times a year??  Not only does the college spend more money on travel, now they are hiking up tuition to pay for it, which costs everyone.

How about the families of the players?  You really think mama is going to let 6 star Johnnie play for Auburn where she could only travel to one road game a year as opposed to letting him play for Florida where she can travel to every venue within a day? 

How about the fans?  Those guys who make every road game are now being asked to travel across the lower 48 two or three times in a month?  It would never work. 

Geography has and will always be the key.  Just on travel expense alone, your format sucks yetti balls.
Title: Re: Super-Conferences may be coming sooner than we think
Post by: jadennis on April 22, 2010, 04:15:33 PM
Because if would cost Alabama and Auburn a poop ton of money to travel to Canada 3 times a year??  Not only does the college spend more money on travel, now they are hiking up tuition to pay for it, which costs everyone.

How about the families of the players?  You really think mama is going to let 6 star Johnnie play for Auburn where she could only travel to one road game a year as opposed to letting him play for Florida where she can travel to every venue within a day?  

How about the fans?  Those guys who make every road game are now being asked to travel across the lower 48 two or three times in a month?  It would never work.  

Geography has and will always be the key.  Just on travel expense alone, your format sucks yetti balls.

From a competitive standpoint, there is no way to do it very well geographically.  By they way, this was 15 minutes of circling groups of teams that I thought would make equally competitive groups of teams...it's not supposed to be my submission to the NCAA for realignment.  "It would never work"?  really, you feel like you need to tell me that?

You're also kind of blurring reality on the travel thing.  What is the difference in expense to fly from Austin to Ames, IA or from Austin to Los Angeles?  Or from Baton Rouge to Columbia, SC (750 miles) or Baton Rouge to Manhattan, KS (850 miles).

And sorry to tell 6-star Johnnie, but his family is already not going to drive from State College, PA to his current Big Ten away games at Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Purdue.  Tell 6-star Jim Bob he will have the same problem when his family has to drive from South Florida to UConn, Syracuse, Rutgers, and West Virginia in the current Big East.

We have it kind of different here in the SEC, but look around other conferences.  As stupid as my map seems, travel is already not much different.  How many Arizona fans do you think make the road trips to Cal, or Washington, or Oregon, or Stanford?  How many Texas A&M fans make the road trip to Kansas State, or Missouri, or Iowa State.  

Almost every conference has a few road games every year that fans aren't going to make.   You're kind of acting like conferences currently take two hour bus rides to all the road games with a family convoy in tow behind the bus.  Yetti balls or not, at least keep your complaints within reason and reality.
Title: Re: Super-Conferences may be coming sooner than we think
Post by: GH2001 on April 22, 2010, 04:15:52 PM
yep....would be interesting to see what realignment will do to the Red River Shootout......along your thoughts of richest athletic programs, I found a list from Aug 2009.......:

1    Texas    $120,288,370                Big 12
2    Ohio State    $117,953,712                Big Ten
3    Florida    $106,030,895                SEC
4    Michigan    $99,027,105                Big Ten
5    Wisconsin    $93,452,334                Big Ten
6    Penn State    $91,570,233                Big Ten
7    Auburn    $89,305,326                SEC
8    Alabama    $88,869,810                SEC
9    Tennessee    $88,719,798                SEC
10    Okl St    $88,554,438                Big 12

12    LSU           $84,183,362                SEC
13    Georgia    $84,020,180                SEC

17    Oklahoma    $77,098,009                Big 12
21    Texas A&M    $74,781,640                Big 12
24    South Car    $66,545,953                SEC

So 7 out of the Top 24 are SEC schools, 6 are Big 10 schools with Texas sitting there at #1.........you think a little wheeling dealing/bidding war between the SEC and the Big 10 might break out over the "courting" of Texas?  ;)  (the Big 12 has 5 in the top 25)

WAR EAGLE
 :bar:

Full list here (apologies if this list is "old news"):  http://www.aretheyworthit.com/college-athletic-programs/richest-college-athletic-departments (http://www.aretheyworthit.com/college-athletic-programs/richest-college-athletic-departments)

ps for GH2001:  fwiw both Clemson and Ga. Tech have a wealthier ath. dept than FSU:

34    Clemson    $59,126,212                ACC
49    Ga Tech    $47,126,247                ACC
53    Fl State    $45,414,953                ACC

pps:  One more list of the "Have's":
Most Valuable football programs in 2009

Team            Conference    Net Worth    Total Profit
Notre Dame Independent    $101 Million  $46 Million
Texas             Big 12            $92M             $46M
Georgia          SEC               $90M             $44M
Michigan         Big 10            $85M             $36M
Florida            SEC               $84M             $38M
LSU               SEC               $76M             $32M
Tennessee      SEC               $74M             $33M
Auburn           SEC                $73M            $34M
Alabama         SEC               $72M             $32M
Ohio St           Big 10             $71M            $27M

Nice work EA. But I still think FSU is a more marquee program with broader appeal and more success per capita.

One question: How can ND's FB program be worth 101 million and their entire Ath Dept not even have enough (80 mill) worth to make the top 10? Are their other sports losing 20 mill +?
Title: Re: Super-Conferences may be coming sooner than we think
Post by: jadennis on April 22, 2010, 04:24:02 PM
Nice work EA. But I still think FSU is a more marquee program with broader appeal and more success per capita.

One question: How can ND's FB program be worth 101 million and their entire Ath Dept not even have enough (80 mill) worth to make the top 10? Are their other sports losing 20 mill +?

I would love to see any athletic departments breakdown on profits and losses for each sport.  There may be one floating around, but I've never seen it.

I do remember a number of years ago seeing that Georgia's gymnastics team was on the verge of becoming the first and only woman's program at Georgia to ever break even. 
Title: Re: Super-Conferences may be coming sooner than we think
Post by: eagleair89 on April 22, 2010, 05:18:39 PM
Nice work EA. But I still think FSU is a more marquee program with broader appeal and more success per capita.

One question: How can ND's FB program be worth 101 million and their entire Ath Dept not even have enough (80 mill) worth to make the top 10? Are their other sports losing 20 mill +?

have no idea.................but then accounting was never my strong suit............ :)
Title: Re: Super-Conferences may be coming sooner than we think
Post by: eagleair89 on April 22, 2010, 05:26:12 PM
I would love to see any athletic departments breakdown on profits and losses for each sport.  There may be one floating around, but I've never seen it.

I do remember a number of years ago seeing that Georgia's gymnastics team was on the verge of becoming the first and only woman's program at Georgia to ever break even. 

Auburn does print and mail out a annual report for the Ath. Dept.  Seen it myself......my Jack-a-lope brought it to me.....seriously.

 :cool:
Title: Re: Super-Conferences may be coming sooner than we think
Post by: AUChizad on April 27, 2010, 09:26:30 AM
http://blog.al.com/solomon/2010/04/slive_sec_internally_studies_e.html (http://blog.al.com/solomon/2010/04/slive_sec_internally_studies_e.html)

Quote
Slive: SEC is internally studying expansion
By Jon Solomon -- The Birmingham News
April 26, 2010, 5:26PM

SEC Commissioner Mike Slive says the conference remains comfortable with its status quo of 12 members, but is internally discussing expansion in case other leagues add schools.

During a meeting today in Birmingham with editors and reporters from the Southeast Region of the Association Press Sports Editors, Slive said the SEC hasn't talked to any potential new schools and doesn't plan to do so.

"Given the success we've experienced over the past decade, we are comfortable in the position in which we find ourselves," he said. "Having said that, if there's going to be a significant shift in the conference paradigm, the SEC will be strategic and thoughtful in order to maintain its position as one of the nation's premiere conferences."

The Big Ten is considering expansion and could be the first domino to fall in a new landscape for college athletics. It's possible the 11-member Big Ten, which has its own lucrative television network, could expand to 12, 14 or 16 schools.

Penn State coach Joe Paterno recently said he favors the Big Ten adding three members. The largest Bowl Championship Series conferences are currently the SEC, Big 12 and ACC, with 12 schools each.

Slive did not specify what would constitute a significant shift in conference realignment that would trigger the SEC to expand.

"I don't know if I can define it. I'll know it when I see it," he said. "Is one league expanding by two, three or four a paradigm shift? I don't know. Is two leagues expanding a paradigm shift? I don't know."

When asked if the SEC is being proactive or waiting to see what the Big Ten does, Slive said the conference is only talking internally about the advantages and disadvantages of expanding. He declined to say if the SEC has compiled a list of schools that would fit or what factors the SEC might look for should it expand.

SEC teams have won the past four national titles in football, and the conference has lucrative television contracts with ESPN and CBS that provides wide TV exposure.

"That doesn't cry out for change," Slive said. "Even though I might not be able to define it at the moment, we have always been known to be a creative league, be on the cutting edge. Thanks to my predecessors, and hopefully some of the things we've done, we're still on that level. We're not going to allow ourselves in any way, shape or form to be anything less than what we are now."
Title: Re: Super-Conferences may be coming sooner than we think
Post by: JR4AU on April 28, 2010, 10:56:51 AM
One of the things most people miss about all this "conference expansion" talk is what it's actually about.  What it's not about is creating more powerful/competitive conferences.  What I mean is it's not about the SEC exchanging teams like Vandy for Va Tech (an example I heard).  It's about expanding the TV market.  Which almost assure us that teams like Miami and FSU won't be joining the SEC as the SEC already has that TV market, and it won't add more TV revenue.  What you might see is teams like Maryland, North Carolina or WVU join the SEC, or maybe a couple of "mid majors" from up in the MAC.  The Big Ten isn't really concerned with creating a "super conference" in terms of powerful teams.  They're looking to cut in to the TV revenue generated by the SEC the last few years.  One quick way to do that is to get ND to join, and get that TV package ND enjoys all on it's own, and the national appeal of ND.  If they want to go to 16 teams, watch them start looking west to add teams.  All I hear on the radio, and on the net is about creating these "super conferences" in the name of making them stronger from top to bottom.  The driving force behind any conference expansion or realignment, is TV revenue, not creating a more legitimate conference or national champion.  Its the same line of thinking that has created so many bowl games.  You may think most of them are stupid and meaningless, and they are in terms of declaring a champion of anything...and sometimes it's very mediocre football.  However, they still play them because there's a profit in it from TV.