The PAC 10 expansion groundswell

[Blueintheface]

If the four from the B12 South really are coming out here (I still can't accept it; it challenges many of my most cherished beliefs and prejudices), I don't see why, even if the convoy includes TAMU and Kansas and K-State, they can't just add the Utes. They want two BCS automatic invitations. Why not have nine or ten teams in a division?

They need us to round out the Rockies.

This may still happen for you, SU. No need to sound desperate.

[Uncle Ted]

I still can't believe you signed up for Orangbloods. What a dork.

Like I previously mentioned my son was at UT camp earlier this week... so I had to sign up to get the scouting reports anyway.

My son was only briefly mentioned once so I may not be on orangebloods very long. Did I mention he is going to Utah this summer for camp as well?

[Jeff Lebowski]

Like I previously mentioned my son was at UT camp earlier this week... so I had to sign up to get the scouting reports anyway.

My son was only briefly mentioned once so I may not be on orangebloods very long. Did I mention he is going to Utah this summer for camp as well?

Meh, don't mind SU. He is shooting everything that moves this week.

[Jarid in Cedar]

A few thoughts:

First, is aTm using a chance to go to the SEC to bully Texas to stay in the Big 12 and not bolt to the Pac-10. UT badly does not want the SEC to have a beachhead in Texas. I have read a few quotes from aTm officials that they would prefer that the Big 12 stay intact. Are they telling Texas, "Fine, if you really want to go to the PAC-11, we will just go the the SEC instead. Are you sure you want to do that?"

I think A&M has much more leverage than some of the national media is giving them credit.

Second, none of the Big 12 school are reported to have an invite in hand. I am sure that Texas, OU and TAMU have one if they want one. OSU or TT, maybe not.

[LA Ute]

Today a caller on The Dayton Sports Scene on 1410 ESPN Radio said that the MWC should make a strong push to get Kansas and New Mexico. That way with BYU and Utah's basketball programs we could have a nice hoops conference. I thought the addition of New Mexico was a pretty interesting idea.

Wait! Wait! I thought NOBODY sees Utah as a basketball school.

[LA Ute]

Anybody who follows college basketball in the state of Utah?

seriously, LA Ute, you're way off base with this one. I'd almost think you were trolling.

Irony noted.

As for E. Jones and Killer Dog, I really hope you're trolling too. By any measure - NCAA tourney wins, for one - Utah has a very rich hoops tradition. And I never said the Utes are comparable to Kansas.

[Uncle Ted]

Dan Beebe gave a teleconference today and mentioned a some interesting things:

• He still thinks there is tremendous value in the remaining 10 teams. Even more value that the current 11 in the Pac-10.
• He believes that 16 team super conference are big risk.
• He talked to the Big Ten commissioner Jim Delaney today and was told that Nebraska is the only team they are considering for future membership. (i.e. Missouri may not be going to the Big Ten.)
• He indicated the remaining 10 teams could do it along but would be open to adding teams. He didn't mention any teams by name that would be added.
• He said there are differences of opinion on the Big 12 bylaws to potential buyouts. (Does this imply that NU and CU think they can leave without paying the buyout?)

[Uncle Ted]

I think A&M has much more leverage than some of the national media is giving them credit.

There are some rumors floating around that the SEC has come back to A&M saying that they will take A&M without either OU or UT now. If this is the case then A&M does have some leverage.

Second, none of the Big 12 school are reported to have an invite in hand. I am sure that Texas, OU and TAMU have one if they want one. OSU or TT, maybe not.

I believe I have read that OSU does, indeed, have (or claim to have) an invite from the Pac-10 in hand.

[Jarid in Cedar]

I believe I have read that OSU does, indeed, have (or claim to have) an invite from the Pac-10 in hand.

I had read that as well, but the source was TMZ so I had some doubts to the veracity. However, rumor seems to be ruling the day.

[Jarid in Cedar]

Dan Beebe gave a teleconference today and mentioned a some interesting things:

• He still thinks there is tremendous value in the remaining 10 teams. Even more value that the current 11 in the Pac-10.
• He believes that 16 team super conference are big risk.

These two points are a big deal. The remaining 10 teams have the same cache as the P-11 at this point. There must be a ton of money(more than the ton that they pull now) to consider blowing up a known commodity.

[Jarid in Cedar]

The Groundswell thread has become the Mt. Everest of The Stadium

[myboynoah]

I had read that as well, but the source was TMZ so I had some doubts to the veracity. However, rumor seems to be ruling the day.

I think you were correct. But the four may have them by the end of the weekend. This was contained in one of the linked articles about 2-3 pages back (this thread really moves):

Get ready for the Pac-16, with at least four transplanted Big 12 South teams, led by Texas, multiple sources confirmed Friday.

Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott, fresh from welcoming Colorado to the conference Friday, was flying to the states of Texas and Oklahoma with invitations to the nation's first mega-conference, a source familiar with the scenario said.

Interestingly, the guys at ESPN Insider College Football Rumors think that also means Scott will be delivering an invitation to aTm as well. They make the point that invitations are rarely handed out withou some assurance that they will be accepted.

[ERCougar]

Wait! Wait! I thought NOBODY sees Utah as a basketball school.

Yup...right along with BYU.

[myboynoah]

From ESPN Insider College Football Rumors:

It's always strange when you find yourself in situations when you are rooting for a conference rival. Generally it happens during bowl season or the NCAA tournament (assuming your team is not involved), but Kansas fans and officials should also be doing it now, for Texas A&M.

A source tells Chuck Carlton of The Dallas Morning News that if the Aggies reject the Pac-10's overtures, and presumably join the SEC, Larry Scott & Co. would move quickly to offer Kansas in A&M's place. It's been reported that the Aggies have a 72-hour window to accept the invite, at which point the Jayhawks would no doubt jump right in and say yes. (Kind of like a few years ago in the NFL draft when the Vikings exceeded their time limit and two teams drafted ahead of them before they could recover.)

This would actually be a best-of-both-worlds scenario. The Jayhawks, obviously, would be thrilled, but if the Aggies chose the SEC of their own free will, then obviously they would be happy with their decision.

That said, a source told ESPN's Andy Katz that while A&M is looking hard at the SEC, he believes that the Aggies will ultimately follow the migration west. Which would leave Kansas waiting on other suitors. (Would KU's availability allow the Big East to issue an ultimatum to Notre Dame?)

[LA Ute]

Yup...right along with BYU.

Troll!