The Big 12 expansion groundswell

[YOhio]

Now the Chronicle of Higher Education stirs the pot.

Further Big 12 expansion is “very possible,” two high-ranking sources told The Chronicle. An expansion committee, dormant for months after the conference accepted West Virginia and TCU into league play, will meet today to discuss its options.

While conference officials stressed that no decision is imminent–and there is some opposition to moving beyond the current 10 member institutions–two schools are at the top of the list, should the league make a move.

Louisville, which the Big 12 considered adding last year, is the likeliest choice, according to people with knowledge of the talks. And Brigham Young, another university the conference has considered, continues to be a possible target. One official said the league was open to adding just one institution. “The Big Ten made 11 work for a number of years,” the source told The Chronicle.

[dabrockster]

Kansas City SBNation now has an article (Assume they copied most of the one posted by YOhio)..

http://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansa...-football-2012

Louisville, BYU Considered Possible Targets, According To Report:

The Big 12's membership structure is set for now, but that could still change in the future. The conference is set to examine adding more members, according to a report by The Chronicle of Higher Education's Brad Wolverton, with BYU and the University of Louisville considered to be the next likely targets.

[Paperback Writer]

Now the Chronicle of Higher Education stirs the pot.

“The Big Ten made 11 work for a number of years"

And the wheels on the bus go 'round and 'round. "The Big Ten made 11 work for a number of years"...until the Big Ten kept finding their conference on the cusp of irrelevency after Thanksgiving, gave up on waiting for Notre Dame to join, and finally adding Nebraska.

I don't know what to think anymore about BYU and the Big 12. First thought it was a no brainer for the Big 12 to add BYU. Now, I'm not so sure BYU wants to join the Big 12.

[Omaha 680]

I don't have any hope of an invite. The Big 12 has gone from complete incompetence under Beebe to extreme reactionary behavior inder Neinas. He seems to be in a fantasy world where the 10 teams they currently have (in reality it's 9) is a stable conference. His katest comments in those articles are perfect examples.

[dabrockster]

I will be surprised that they do not go to 11 (Hopefully 12). They have to add another team as the WVU thing is not looking likely to be resolved by Football season next year (I bet this will be on the topic of discussion as well). So they will add one more team to get the conference to 10 for one year and when WVU is added that will move them to 11.

They are idiots to think 10 or 11 is going to work. Look at what is happening.. everyone is wanting a Conference Championship.. Big 1G new it was necessary to try and be competitive to the SEC.

[byu71]

Now, I'm not so sure BYU wants to join the Big 12.

I am not so sure either. BYU has a niche right now. They get good money from ESPN being their "filler". Certainly ESPN does better showing BYU on ESPNU than they do "bowling with the stars".

BYU gets to call all their own shots. They are under no pressure to compete at a "higher level".

They will still get enough good recruits who want the BYU experience.

Fans who want to compete at the highest level are probably a minority compared to the fans who like to watch BYU on TV and don't really care who they are playing. My bet is most BYU fans don't know why the price of food at Ruth Cris is so much more expensive than at McDonalds.

[cougjunkie]

I will be surprised that they do not go to 11 (Hopefully 12). They have to add another team as the WVU thing is not looking likely to be resolved by Football season next year (I bet this will be on the topic of discussion as well). So they will add one more team to get the conference to 10 for one year and when WVU is added that will move them to 11.

They are idiots to think 10 or 11 is going to work. Look at what is happening.. everyone is wanting a Conference Championship.. Big 1G new it was necessary to try and be competitive to the SEC.

That team can't be Louisville as they will run in to the same problems as WVU.

[TripletDaddy]

That team can't be Louisville as they will run in to the same problems as WVU.

Bingo. Plus, add an extra year onto that because Louisville hasnt even given notice yet.

Back to: BYU

[dabrockster]

That team can't be Louisville as they will run in to the same problems as WVU.

And as DDD would say.. BACK to BYU


EDIT: Mutha eff'er.. Had this sitting idle while I was on the phone...

[Paperback Writer]

I will be surprised that they do not go to 11 (Hopefully 12)...They are idiots to think 10 or 11 is going to work. Look at what is happening.. everyone is wanting a Conference Championship.. Big 1G new it was necessary to try and be competitive to the SEC.

Totally agree.

From YOhio's link: Chronicle of Higher Education

"Adding two schools would allow for a conference championship in football, but Chuck Neinas, the conference’s commissioner, said Big 12 programs had not shown much enthusiasm for a title game."

One of the great ironies of the Big 12 is that back when the Big 12 was formed, a vote was taken on having a CCG. It was approved 11-1 with the lone desenter being Nebraska. The Huskers feared (with good reason) that a CCG could cost them a shot at another national title (and it did in its first year -1996). The other power brokers in the conference (Texas and OU) wanted a CCG but were "down" at the time and not contending for national titles. Now that they are, a CCG doesn't look so great to them. And Nebraska joined the Big Ten so that conference could hold a CCG and the Huskers are all in favor of one now...and are not contending for national titles.

It does make me respect the SEC a little more. Don't remember hearing SEC programs whine about their CCG costing a team a shot at a national title.

[TripletDaddy]

Looks like "Operation: Amistad" is working

[beefytee]

BYU would have to drop 5 games to play in the Big 12 next year, right?

They currently have 8 games scheduled and there is a 9 game Big 12 schedule and that would leave 3 non-conference games. 8-3 = 5.

Is this correct?

I assume this would have to happen really fast as those 5 dropped teams wouldn't be happy as it is being bought out this late.

[Green Monstah]

:igiveup::igiveup2:

[Paperback Writer]

I am not so sure either. BYU has a niche right now. They get good money from ESPN being their "filler". Certainly ESPN does better showing BYU on ESPNU than they do "bowling with the stars".

BYU gets to call all their own shots. They are under no pressure to compete at a "higher level".

They will still get enough good recruits who want the BYU experience.

Fans who want to compete at the highest level are probably a minority compared to the fans who like to watch BYU on TV and don't really care who they are playing. My bet is most BYU fans don't know why the price of food at Ruth Cris is so much more expensive than at McDonalds.

Very good insights. I'd just add that for many years, BYU will be 4-4 in the Big 12 and those will be some of the better years. If they are rebuilding, BYU could easily go 2-6 in the Big 12. So a decent BYU team could very well end up going 7-5 into Bowl Season. The 10+ win seasons will be rare. I'm not sure the BYU fans you describe will understand the improved competition while they eat their Big Mac and fries.

Also worth mentioning is that those BYU fans will probably have to subscribe to enhanced sports cable packages to watch BYU play and will no longer be able to watch a recent rebroadcast on BYUTV. Their Big Mac and fries may not taste the same as they watch BYU lose to Texas Tech and Kansas St. And then there will be pressure for BYU to recruit players who reluctantly agree to the "BYU experience".

So I think it's very possible BYU sizes this up and thinks many BYU fans will be happy and enjoy their Big Mac and fries as they watch BYU defeat San Jose St. and New Mexico St. on BYUTV or on ESPN on a Thursday night.

[LiveCoug]

Make this quick, Big 12. Just invite Louisville and Cincy and put us out of our misery for good. Do NOT draw this out. Please.