The PAC 10 expansion groundswell

[tooblue]

Utah is in and here's why.

Perfect timing; perfect location; good enough resume. They're all alone in the Great Basin among the contenders, they make a great twosome with Colorado, their all around sports are kind of miraculous (for the past six years at least), and academically they are right where they need to be, by any measure (U.S. News, research, whatever), right there with Oregon, Washington State, Kansas, Oklahoma, and better than Oregon State, Kansas State and Oklahoma State by far.

Yes, seredipity. But life is that way. Magic happens!

Utah is in because there doesn't seem to be a better alternative ... right now.

[Jacob]

Anyone who would think that the BCS would allow the MWC into their little club is delusional. There is simply not enough money generated to garner the interest of those that run the BCS to open the doors for the MWC.

If by "those that run the BCS" you mean the big time schools and conferences, then I agree. But it seems pretty clear that when the MWC teams make a BCS bowl, they sell the same amount of tickets and have better ratings than other BCS games (see ACC, Big East). So there is enough money generated for the BCS TV and ticket sales people. The problem is that you really have the big schools running the show, and they don't want to share the money. But, I'm guessing the BCS TV folks would love to do away with the auto-bid by conference so that they could get much better matchups and better ratings. They'd probably love to go to a auto-bid based solely on final rankings, though they'd also love to guarantee a few certain schools a slot every year they are good.

[jay santos]

The reason I go to the Pac if I'm Texas.

1. The way it's formed, it will be basically like a 8 team league with most of the same names you're used to playing. So in terms of travel, competition, etc. not much change.
2. Big 12 is unstable and vulnerable to future attack. You've got conferences surrounding you on every border ready to poach more teams: Pac, Big 10, SEC.

[Flystripper]

Utah is in because there doesn't seem to be a better alternative ... right now.

I could see the PAC <insert number> staying at 11 'cause it is harder to kick a conference member out than wait to invite the team you really want. I am not saying that this will happen, but it might.

[LA Ute]

Utah is in because there doesn't seem to be a better alternative ... right now.

OK, OK, OK.

[LA Ute]

I know cynicism regarding the BCS runs high around here and some of it is justified, but let's walk through this again:
BSU and TCU both go undefeated. Both of them make BCS games, BSU starts the season highly ranked (this should happen) and squeezes into the national championship game.

Then the new BCS rules come out at the end of the season and they completely ignore ignore the conference that placed two BCS teams, one of whom was in the BCS championship. The press (plenty of whom are anti-BCS) would have a field day. The timing is terrible and it would be a PR disaster. One that would be easily dispelled by throwing them the bone of an autobid.

(Note the lack of Utah anywhere in this scenario. We were on the cusp of a BCS autobid before, and BSU more than replaces them.)

[USUC]

The reason I go to the Pac if I'm Texas.

1. The way it's formed, it will be basically like a 8 team league with most of the same names you're used to playing. So in terms of travel, competition, etc. not much change.
2. Big 12 is unstable and vulnerable to future attack. You've got conferences surrounding you on every border ready to poach more teams: Pac, Big 10, SEC.

But if Texas stays in a ten team Big-12 both Texas and Oklahoma make it to a BCS game. Only one would get in if they go to the PAC-16.

[LA Ute]

At least people know that BYU exists. Most people in the south can't remember if Alex Smith played for Utah or Utah State.

LOL. Probably true. Probably the same people who make Donny and Marie or polygamy jokes at Utah games outside Utah.

[Blueintheface]

(Rubbing hands together) This sure beats the Hell out of staring at a countdown clock or actually working.

[YOhio]

(Rubbing hands together) This sure beats the Hell out of staring at a countdown clock or actually working.

[Blueintheface]

Come on. Even as a BYU fan you don't find this exciting?

[LiveCoug]

Come on. Even as a BYU fan you don't find this exciting?

Sure, exciting in the worst possible way.

[Jeff Lebowski]

We need to get LiveCoug on a suicide watch. I am worried about him.

[ERCougar]

The more I think about it (and I've already spent way too much time thinking about it...), the more I think the expansion ends here. The PAC TV contract doesn't expire until end of 11-12 season right? There's no hurry, and Utah will be there next year. Like FS said, it's much harder to go backwards. So yeah, I'll go on record saying that Utah does not get an invite this year. It may happen next year, but it won't this year. Mark it down.

And with that, I'm out of here. For at least an hour.

[LiveCoug]

We need to get LiveCoug on a suicide watch. I am worried about him.

Don't be. Like I said, I'm a pessimist. It's my defense mechanism. That way, when the bad case scenarios happen, I am more than prepared to handle it. If something positive happens, I am that much more excited.