I may do some more on other aspects of the Big 12 meetings, TV deals and such, but I just want to get this portion out there.
The Big 12 has continued to claim that they have no interest in expanding. It has also been noted that the SEC claimed they had no interest in any other teams after taking Texas A&M as the 13th member. Then 3 weeks later Mizzou became the very obvious 14th team they were going to add. So, just because they say it, doesn’t mean it will stay that way beyond the moment they make the claim.
I wonder, though, if the Big 12’s denial of any planned expansion to 12 is driven much the same way that the Big 10 did not expand to 12 teams for 20-some years after taking Penn State as the 11th member: Waiting for Notre Dame.
We mock. We laugh at the thought. It seems like such a bad fit — academically, geography, reputation, and so on. It smacks of more Texas-driven arrogance that they believe they could land Notre Dame. It also smacks of a Texas long-term plan of at least luring ND to park all but football in the Big 12, to eventually become a full member. Or to be the wedge to let Texas go independent in football as well.
Yet it isn’t just Texas’ AD DeLoss Dodds and outgoing Big 12 Commissioner Chuck Neinas spouting off about the idea of Notre Dame coming to the Big 12. Other Big 12 members seem to be infected with the idea.
“I’ve got real positive feelings about Notre Dame,” said Dodds, who held court Thursday at the Big 12 spring meetings. “I think the possibility they would be part of our conference would be a great discussion to have.”
Oklahoma State president Burns Hargis, the chairman of the Big 12’s board of directors, agreed.
“Notre Dame is a brand like no other,” Hargis said. “If they have some interest, that’s something we should consider.”
The same could be said for every single conference in the country.
Indeed. Just 8 months ago, the speculation picked up that Notre Dame would be much more interested in the ACC at some point in the future. The visions of ND in the ACC seemed so enticing. So possible. It was natural. High academic conference. Plenty of traditional (and recent) opponents in Pitt, Syracuse, Boston College and Miami. The faltering situation of the Big East versus the seeming stability of the ACC. The population shift from the midwest. And of course, the money. All sorts of really rational reasons that suggested that the ACC might be positioned in the medium- or long-term to lure ND.
Now it’s the Big 12 with the stability and money. Plus a willingness to be flexible (at least at first) on the whole maintaining football independence.
The news that the new Big 12 TV deal won’t vary much — per team — even if expansion happens lends some credence to this concept.
The new Big 12 TV deal is expected to be announced any day, perhaps here this week as a celebration of the league’s new-found strength. Within that deal is a clause that will give any new expansion candidates the same money as the current members (estimated to be at least $20 million per year).
One industry source said that number applies whether the Big 12 invites, “Appalachian State or Florida State.”
You can obviously look at it as saying that the deal will automatically up the deal when/if they expand. But it can also be seen as saying that FSU being added wouldn’t significantly up the money per team. Providing something of a neutral situation with expansion at least until there is a look-in window — presumably 5 years down the road.
Notre Dame being part of expansion, however, would change that equation. With the conference’s new-found stability. Their secure place in whatever new college football playoff scenario. And the coming TV money windfall. All that adds up to the Big 12 being able to take a longer view on things.
This is especially true for expansion and waiting for Notre Dame. They may not wait 20 years like the Big 10 did before saying, “eff it,” and grabbing Nebraska. But they can definitely wait at least 3 years to see how the whole playoff situation shakes out (any playoff scenario doesn’t take place until 2014) and see how it plays out for a while to see what Notre Dame does.
Like the Big 10, if a team doesn’t add significant enough value to change their money, there isn’t a pressing need to expand. What this TV deal appears to say, is that short of Notre Dame there isn’t a team out there for the Big 12 at this point.
• Eight conference game per season?
• Two 7-team divisions?
• Pitt’s division: Pitt, Syracuse, BC, MD, VA, VT, GT? Or will Pitt, Syracuse, BC and MD, i.e. potential rivals, be separated between the two divisions?
• Other division: the 4 NC schools, Clemson, Miami, FSU?
• Each school plays everyone in their division every year?
• Therefore, Pitt plays Clemson, Miami, and FSU every other year and possibly once in three years? Or perhaps, Pitt plays Syracuse, BC and/or MD every other year?
• Miami, Clemson and FSU come to Heinz, at most, every four years?
• Gone is WVU?
And this is an upgrade?
It upset you???? Interesting. I never gave it a (negative)thought. The only thing upsetting to me about the arrangeent was that Brey appeared to have Jamie’s number.
If they join a conference that they dont fit into
then join the SEC becuse if you join were you dont fit then join the best which is the sec.
but it wont be the big 12 .
If they ever have to join it will be the big 10 or the ACC and no outher.
Football:
The Atlantic and Coastal divisions will remain the same with Syracuse joining the Atlantic and Pitt joining the Coastal. The current primary crossover partners will remain consistent with Syracuse and Pitt becoming primary crossover partners with each other.
When Pitt and Syracuse join the ACC, the league will play a nine-game conference schedule. The format will consist of each team playing all six in its division each year, plus its primary crossover partner each year and two rotating opponents from the opposite division. This six-year cycle allows each team to play each divisional opponent and its primary crossover partner six times (three home and three away) while also playing each rotating crossover opponent two times (one home and one away)
I’d much rather play UCONN, S. Florida and Rutgers….
Wow!!!!!! Ha ha ha!!!
Enjoy your games with San Diego St, SMU, Houston and Temple. Those teams will really pump up your olympic sports programs.
Not to mention, you’ll have to play a few of them every year in football as the agreement goes.
Can’t wait for that ND-San Diego St showdown in football.
Hey, no wonder you are excited about the FB schedule in anticipation of playing Duke, WF, BC, VA, and some team that WVU recently scored 73 points on. But that is why they manufacture both a Ford and a Chevy: different strokes for different folks.
Not dismissing our rivalry with WVU.
However, if I have two choices, one being in the ACC with out WVU, or…….
Being in the BE with them………
really no choice for me.
Like you say, different strokes.
the orange and duke so duke is not mutch the
outhers are good games.the outher two games could be maryland and fsu we dont know yet who but you chose the worst i the best. But better than south flordia better than ucon or get over the big east football it wasent a great line up.
Don’t blame Pitt for the break-up. Pitt did everything to make this relationship work. The Big East only has itself to blame. And, now the Big East is being petty and vindictive to Pitt and the Orange.
I’m looking forward to driving the ACC BMW. Neither the Big East’s Ford or Chevy works for me.
Steve1, first, there were more than 20 alums at those events when the events that were preceded by a dinner and a rally. (The Seton Hall game doesn’t usually start at noon on a Sunday.)
Second, those of us in attendance were always appreciative of the effort that you and the working members of the Alumni Association put into organizing the events.
And, yes, I will miss not having the venue to get together with fellow alumni and will miss the opportunity to drive a half an hour to watch Pitt in action.
Headin’ South!!!!!!!!!
Thank You!!!
You picked the worst three teams to use!!!
That’s fine, teriffic. Duke, Wake Forest, UVA.
Now, I am willing to bet, 90% of Pitt fans, if not a higher percentage, would rather see
Duke, Wake Forest and Virginia, than
USF, UCONN and Rutgers on the football field!!!!
And, they certainly aren’t going to have less fans for any of those three. I mean it’s almost impossible to have less fans than the USF and UCONN games.
Now, who you failed to mention, are
Virginia Tech
Miami
Georgia Tech
Syracuse
Boston College
Maryland
Florida St
North Carolina
North Carolina St.
Clemson
Wait, maybe we should have stayed, I know you’re gonna come back with
Cental Florida
SMU
and Houston!!!
Oh, wait, Boise St. Yes, that’s in Idaho, out by Washington state right??
And San Diego St. That’s in California, right??
Or is there a San Diego in Virginia I don’t know about?? Maybe a Boise in Maryland?? No, that’s Bowie!!!
Yes, of course, the Keystone Grudge Match!!!
Well, it would rival the River City Trophy with
Cincinnati!!!
Big East football and playing West Virginia have really made the Pitt Ath. Dept exceptionally fluid!!!!
I think the last home game against WVU, there were about 30k Pitt fans, 20k WVU fans and 10k empty seats.
That will be missed!!!
Do any of you ?
Veritas et Virtus
I mean seriously, the Big 12 AD’s must be smokin some really good shit.
Yes count me in, I was dying to see PITT vs UCF, PITT vs Houston, Pitt vs SMU, Pitt vs SDSU, traveling to Boise to play on the Smurf Turf, and of course the great yearly matchups(not) with Rutgers, Uconn, L-ville & Cincy & USF. I had my checkbook out already with much anticipation to renew my 4 season tickets into infinity with those sterling football schools & their traditions(?). (lol)
Oh crap I forgot Pitt is a no/win position against ALL these teams, if you beat em, WHO CARES and if you lose to em, you look really bad.
My bad, don’t count me in, sorry bud.
I might even up my season ticket package to 8 tickets since I know this will be such a hot ticket in Pittsburgh, I’ll be able to scalp 4 of em to the hordes of Temple alumni who will flock to Heinz Field for the big matchup with PITT.
My bad, the inclusion of the Temple Owls has certainly changed my mind about this years home schedule. Wake me when the season is over, btw.
as you did 9 posts up.And you are right EMel
If the BE Commish would have acted more decisively and if Pitt and Syracuse would not have panicked, the BE would probably be comprised of:
Pitt
Syracuse
Louisville
Cinci
WVU
USF
UCF
Houston
TCU
Rutgers
UConn
SMU or Temple
Toss in the best basketball conference in the country, established rivalries in both sports and my living in NJ, the choice for me is obvious. Don’t forget, there is a clue how it may all play out: ask Boston College and their fans about how pleased they are about their decision to bolt the BE.
had the big east added teams 3 or 4 years ago as they should have then we might not have left.
but they did not becuse of the BB schools so the big east brought this on them selves.
blame them not us.
it would take to long but SDSU paid a to find out
what the new tv deal would pay the big east to see if they still wanted to join they were told that they would likey get 6 milliom and that full members would likey get 10 million that the big east would not get the 13 million that the deal would have paid that they turned down last time.
espn has the first chance and after 60 days
if no deal is reached then nbc and com cast will have a chance to make a deal.
i do not belive that espn will low ball them as bad as some think becuse if espn says 10 million per team than all nbc has to do is wait the 60 days and offer 11 million to wrap up the big east or comcast could do the same.
I think espn has to offer at least the 13 mllion
that thay offered last time or lose them but maybe they dont want them what do you think.
I would be disappointed also. Sincerely.
And without rehashing who’s fault it is, I think most of us would have liked to have seen an Eastern Football League that JoePa wanted.
Not worth going over who’s fault, Pitt says PSU, PSU says Pitt, so what’s the point.
It didn’t happen though.
Perhaps if the BE had been more pro active, I mean before even Miami Va Tech and BC were taken.
Maybe to have gone after Maryland and UVA??
Who knows.
I’ve always loved the BE. Not so much in football, but at least we had Miami and VA TECH.
After they got poached, the writing was on the wall, and with the moves and non moves of the BE, there was no other choice.
You’re a big Pitt fan, as am I, and Frank and EMEL.
Yes, maybe we won’t do so well, who knows. I wouldn’t base anything on BC though.
However, I believe we all want them to do well in the future, only time will tell.
I hope for your sake, they end playing a rotation schedule, which is a serious consideration, for the ACC tourney to be in NYC..
Hopefully you can get to that, and hopefully if bridges arent’ burned, perhaps Pitt will still play Seton Hall and Rutgers in the future.
So, yes, I am pro ACC, however, I would be pro ACC even if I wasn’t, because that is where Pitt is going to be.
Hope you get to enjoy some games this year, and hopefully they play close enough to you in the future that you’ll get to see some games.
becuse we and the orange and wvu have left do you think espn will try to low ball them if they dont deal with espn in 60 days they can try nbc or com cast .
Regards
and as you have said it was the big east fult for not adding teams sooner.
had they added two teams even 3 years ago to bring us to ten i think we might still be there now.
but you know we could not stay for just BB not when the teams that were doeing the best in BB were the football teams ucon pitt wvu and the orange.
it is and was the bb schools fult becuse they thought they would be out voted bye the football schools so they killed the golden goose not us.
I guess the bottom line with all this is we are screwed if Clemson and FSU leave, right?