The PAC 10 expansion groundswell

[cougjunkie]

Fixed.

Good edit, someone needs to take off the crimson goggles.

[Uncle Ted]

Kansas v. Utah:

The State of Kansas has almost 100,000 more people than Utah (KS population 2,881,747 vs. UT 2,784,572) so in terms of TV eyeballs I am not sure there's much difference.

Travel is easy to Salt Lake City. There are few, if any, direct flights to Lawrence.

Kansas is a legendary basketball power year in and year out. Utah has a great hoops tradition but is a tier below the Jayhawks.

In football Utah is simply better and has been for 20 years.

Beyond that I can't say. I think it might be a close call for the PAC.

Average football attendance for 2009:

Kansas 50,581
Utah 45,155

(Not much of a difference.)

The thing that might kill the deal for Utah is that Kansas has a Big-12 vote to approve the deal. Of course, that may not be needed.

Also, if KSU ends up going to a MWC or CUSA then KU will most likely be able to recruit the better football players in their state and their football program may improve.

What about academics?

[tooblue]

Yeah, this was all just about academics for us. Even if it was Texas academics > BYU academics.

Listen, you can at least try to be objective. Again, I have emphatically stated that BYU was never ever in a billion years getting an invite to the PAC 10. Furthermore, BYU's sports fortunes wouldn't be any better than Utah's in the PAC 10. The truth is a PAC 12 adding CU and Utah is by far the best case scenario for both the University and it's sports. Yes, academics and the potential financial boon to the University is a primary reason you make the move.

In a scenario with a PAC 16 it's not so cut and dry. But hey, who am I to deny you your delusions.

[landpoke]

But hey, who am I to deny you your delusions.

You're too mother#$%^@#$ blue, that's who you are. Now get out there and deny

[DU Ute]

Listen, you can at least try to be objective. Again, I have emphatically stated that BYU was never ever in a billion years getting an invite to the PAC 10. Furthermore, BYU's sports fortunes wouldn't be any better than Utah's in the PAC 10. The truth is a PAC 12 adding CU and Utah is by far the best case scenario for both the University and it's sports. Yes, academics and the potential financial boon to the University is a primary reason you make the move.

In a scenario with a PAC 16 it's not so cut and dry. But hey, who am I to deny you your delusions.

Even in a PAC16 East Division, Utah would likely be in with Texas, CU and Arizona, all as good or better than any schools they'd leave behind and would still have a solid tie to the West teams. To claim that a PAC16 scenario would be anything other than a huge upgrade for Utah across the board is not objective.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

I wonder if MikeWaters is reveling in A&M's grand moment as lynch pin of the whole deal?

[Hot Lunch]

Even in a PAC16 East Division, Utah would likely be in with Texas, CU and Arizona, all as good or better than any schools they'd leave behind and would still have a solid tie to the West teams. To claim that a PAC16 scenario would be anything other than a huge upgrade for Utah across the board is not objective.

Stop it!

[tooblue]

You're too mother#$%^@#$ blue, that's who you are. Now get out there and deny

[YOUTUBE]pdIHqu8fXIY[/YOUTUBE]

[LA Ute]

Fixed.

Ha-ha. Sorry, but Kansas has never been a football power in the modern era, or am I misisng something? Gale Sayers?

As for hoops, the difference between Kansas and Utah is clear, but not nearly as clear as in football. You can trash a lot of things about the U., but not its basketball tradition.

[LA Ute]

Good edit, someone needs to take off the crimson goggles.

junkie, I love your Cougar-loving little heart but if you think this statement betrays red goggles then you are thinking with a Utah County-based demented Cougar brain:

Kansas is a legendary basketball power year in and year out. Utah has a great hoops tradition but is a tier below the Jayhawks.

People who actually know college basketball knkow that is a fair and accurate statement, you miserable vomitous mass. Change that brain out for a real one!

[YOhio]

Fixed.

Your fix was appropriate. Thank you.

[tooblue]

Even in a PAC16 East Division, Utah would likely be in with Texas, CU and Arizona OU, all as good or better than any schools they'd leave behind and would still have a solid tie to the West teams. To claim that a PAC16 scenario would be anything other than a huge upgrade for Utah across the board is not objective.

Whatever floats your boat. It's two major sports upgrades period. Again, I wish Utah nothing but the best.

[Solon]

Academically it's hard to argue against it but PSU has been to 2 Rose Bowls since joining so from a football perspective it may have not been the boon they were hoping for.

The general consensus on PSU campus is that joining the big-10 has hurt football but helped all the other sports. Recruiting-wise, PSU in football no longer automatically gets the PA kids because these kids know they'll play in Happy Valley at least twice and the other games are driving-distance close.

Since joining the Big-10, PSU has had good success in wrestling and men's/women's volleyball, as well as soccer, fencing, lacrosse, and other sports that don't get much play in other conferences.

There's also a lot of competition to keep up with the other big-ten schools in research facilities, libraries, etc. A lot of the really big library donors are also really big football donors. This guy] is a big football fan and has donated a lot more since this story was written.

[KillerDog]

I may be overly cautious but it looks to me like the Nebraska is already in the Big Ten rumors are a bit premature. Nebraska has decided to apply. The application is a mere formality IF it isn't derailed by a better prospect. Let's not kid ourselves, for the Big Ten, Nebraska is nice but Notre Dame is gold. If ND decides to play ball and places conference size conditions on their impending nuptials, Nebraska is still in the Big XII north. The Big Ten will do anything do lock up the national presence Notre Dame would bring the BTN.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I may be overly cautious but it looks to me like the Nebraska is already in the Big Ten rumors are a bit premature. Nebraska has decided to apply. The application is a mere formality IF it isn't derailed by a better prospect. Let's not kid ourselves, for the Big Ten, Nebraska is nice but Notre Dame is gold. If ND decides to play ball and places conference size conditions on their impending nuptials, Nebraska is still in the Big XII north. The Big Ten will do anything do lock up the national presence Notre Dame would bring the BTN.

Why would ND not want to join the Big Ten at this point?