The PAC 10 expansion groundswell

[Jeff Lebowski]

Amazing how all the Utes on the board have swung so far left all the sudden, in't it? From each according to his ability...

Yes, it has been quite stunning. Then again, I have long suspected that utes are commies.

[LA Ute]

Amazing how all the Utes on the board have swung so far left all the sudden, in't it? From each according to his ability...

You've misunderstood. We have grown, the way conservative Supreme Court justices do.

[Top Ute]

This isn't happening. Maybe 7 on some years but they are going to be getting 8 homes game. Well they could if they are scheduling teams like Weber St. for those four games. Even Texas returns trips to Wyoming and Rice.

It goes without saying that if you have eight home games scheduled, you've got a FCS team in there. I would never expect to play 8 home games with no FCS teams attached.

Funny thing about Utah and home games -- only once has Utah ever had more than 6 home games in a season, and that was in 1995, when it had 7. And that was in an 11-game regular season. So getting 8 home games isn't out of the question at all.

7 home games should begin to happen fairly regularly at Utah now.

Also, Texas only returned a trip to Wyoming because the Cowboys stepped up and really helped Texas out when the 'Horns had a scheduling conflict of their own.

[Hot Lunch]

It goes without saying that if you have eight home games scheduled, you've got a FCS team in there. I would never expect to play 8 home games with no FCS teams attached.

Funny thing about Utah and home games -- only once has Utah ever had more than 6 home games in a season, and that was in 1995, when it had 7. And that was in an 11-game regular season. So getting 8 home games isn't out of the question at all.

7 home games should begin to happen fairly regularly at Utah now.

Also, Texas only returned a trip to Wyoming because the Cowboys stepped up and really helped Texas out when the 'Horns had a scheduling conflict of their own.

It would take more than just one FCS game. Utah isn't going to get 8 home games. I wouldn't even expect it. I looked at schedules for Florida, Bama, Oklahoma, SC, Texas and they only have 7 home games this season. I understand that every once in awhile they get 8 home games but they are who they are and Utah is not at that level. Those schools pay a lot of money to teams to come in every year. Utah doesn't have that money. Utah isn't going to get 8 home games in a season.

[U-Ute]

You've misunderstood. We have grown, the way conservative Supreme Court justices do.

Frankly, I'm not as concerned about the TV revenue... yet. We don't have the fan bases to demand top dollar. I'll be thrilled with a) the schedule upgrade, and b) away games being on something besides the Mtn.

Besides, at $1m, anything we get will be an upgrade from the Mtn.

U-Ute

[Coach McGuirk]

It would take more than just one FCS game. Utah isn't going to get 8 home games. I wouldn't even expect it. I looked at schedules for Florida, Bama, Oklahoma, SC, Texas and they only have 7 home games this season. I understand that every once in awhile they get 8 home games but they are who they are and Utah is not at that level. Those schools pay a lot of money to teams to come in every year. Utah doesn't have that money. Utah isn't going to get 8 home games in a season.

Not enough money to be made in a 45K stadium. Even if the stadium is expanded to 60k it isn't enough money. The teams you mention are selling out 80k+ stadiums against North Dakota State, which gives them the leverage to do this. Oh well, you already know this so enough with rational thought, how about 9 home games a year?!

[cougjunkie]

Not enough money to be made in a 45K stadium. Even if the stadium is expanded to 60k it isn't enough money. The teams you mention are selling out 80k+ stadiums against North Dakota State, which gives them the leverage to do this. Oh well, you already know this so enough with rational thought, how about 9 home games a year?!

I am surprised Utah is not in a position to play every game at home. I mean they are the highest profile team in all of college sports and I am surprised teams are not willing to pay them just for the opportunity to play at Rice-Eccles.

[Top Ute]

It would take more than just one FCS game. Utah isn't going to get 8 home games. I wouldn't even expect it. I looked at schedules for Florida, Bama, Oklahoma, SC, Texas and they only have 7 home games this season. I understand that every once in awhile they get 8 home games but they are who they are and Utah is not at that level. Those schools pay a lot of money to teams to come in every year. Utah doesn't have that money. Utah isn't going to get 8 home games in a season.

Three of those schools you mentioned take a hit in home scheduling because they have a neutral site game every year. Florida, Oklahoma and Texas could NEVER get 8 true home games in a season. But if Arizona State, Louisville and Oklahoma State can schedule 8 home games in a season (as each has on one occasion in the last three years), so can Utah.

It will be rare, but I wouldn't bet against it never happening. Probably the biggest obstacle to it happening is how we schedule USU and BYU in the future -- if you can get both at home every other year, 8 home games is definitely doable in an 8-game conference schedule.

At the very least, seven home games should be the rule.

[Top Ute]

Not enough money to be made in a 45K stadium. Even if the stadium is expanded to 60k it isn't enough money. The teams you mention are selling out 80k+ stadiums against North Dakota State, which gives them the leverage to do this. Oh well, you already know this so enough with rational thought, how about 9 home games a year?!

T. Boone Pickens capacity: 60,218

Papa John's Stadium capacity (circa 2008 when it scheduled 8 home games): 42,000

Find another argument.

[WashingtonCoug]

Three of those schools you mentioned take a hit in home scheduling because they have a neutral site game every year. Florida, Oklahoma and Texas could NEVER get 8 true home games in a season. But if Arizona State, Louisville and Oklahoma State can schedule 8 home games in a season (as each has on one occasion in the last three years), so can Utah.

It will be rare, but I wouldn't bet against it never happening. Probably the biggest obstacle to it happening is how we schedule USU and BYU in the future -- if you can get both at home every other year, 8 home games is definitely doable in an 8-game conference schedule.

At the very least, seven home games should be the rule.

Who was the idiot reporter that asked Holmoe last week if BYU would accept a 2-1 with Utah? I want to punch that person.

[Top Ute]

Who was the idiot reporter that asked Holmoe last week if BYU would accept a 2-1 with Utah? I want to punch that person.

I chuckled at the thought of seeing Holmoe's reaction to that, but I feel pretty good in saying no one affiliated with Utah has any design on making the rivalry game a 2-for-1 deal.

[Mormon Red Death]

Three of those schools you mentioned take a hit in home scheduling because they have a neutral site game every year. Florida, Oklahoma and Texas could NEVER get 8 true home games in a season. But if Arizona State, Louisville and Oklahoma State can schedule 8 home games in a season (as each has on one occasion in the last three years), so can Utah.

It will be rare, but I wouldn't bet against it never happening. Probably the biggest obstacle to it happening is how we schedule USU and BYU in the future -- if you can get both at home every other year, 8 home games is definitely doable in an 8-game conference schedule.

At the very least, seven home games should be the rule.

Another good example is Michigan St. They aren't leaving the state of Michigan to play football until Oct 23. They have 7 home games and a de facto home game at ford field against florida atlantic.

[Uncle Ted]

The timing of Colorado's move to the Pac-10+2 is still up in the air:

North vs. South? East vs. West? Pac-10 entry moved up to 2011 or remain as planned for 2012?

Colorado athletic director Mike Bohn said Monday he hopes to have the answers by the end of the month to the summer's biggest questions surrounding CU's move to the Pac-10 from the Big 12. He may learn more at the Pac-10 meetings July 30 at the Rose Bowl.

"I'm disappointed I don't have details to share," Bohn said during his annual summer roundtable with the media after the 16th Count Casotti Classic at Pelican Lakes Golf and Country Club.

[...]

"I understand people want to know, but we don't have that yet," Bohn said.

Originally announced in June as a 2012 Pac-10 addition, there is more impetus for CU to move in 2011 with Nebraska joining the Big Ten and Utah joining the Pac-10. As a result of the uncertainty, Bohn said CU is preparing two sets of scenarios for 2011 depending on its conference affiliation.

Maybe the Pac-10 will spot CU its exit fee. Also, once in the Pac-10+2, Bohn anticipates that the Buffs will play a nine-game conference schedule:

Regardless of whether the bigger Pac-10 splits into divisions, Bohn anticipates a nine-game conference football schedule in the Pac-10 — one more than the Big 12. Several division configurations have been tossed around, but current Pac-10 schools don't want their existing rivalries to end.

Hmm... If Utah, once in the Pac-10+2, has a nine-game conference schedule as well I guessing that the Utes will permanently drop BYU and/or USU from their OOC schedule.

[LA Ute]

Who was the idiot reporter that asked Holmoe last week if BYU would accept a 2-1 with Utah? I want to punch that person.

Probably the same guy who asked if the PAC10 had given Holmoe a courtesy call before announcing the invite to Utah. Sometimes you can't make this stuff up. Amazing questions.

[LA Ute]

I'm having a family beach vacation this week here in So Cal, and while out running in the morning I happened to be wearing a Utah t-shirt. As I circled the little island we are on I ran past many a vacationer in Stanford, USC, Cal, and UCLA gear. They all smiled and said "welcome." That was pretty cool.