The Big 12 expansion groundswell

[Uncle Ted]

How the Pac-12 could make it not worth going to the state fair anymore...

If Oklahoma chooses to withdraw from the Big 12 and seek admission into the Pacific-12 Conference without Texas, the schools’ annual Red River Rivalry game could be forced to a September date -- if it’s played at all.

Oklahoma football coach Bob Stoops sparked interest Tuesday when he said the traditional game -- which has been played continuously in Dallas since 1929 -- could be jeopardized by pending conference realignment, especially if the Sooners and Longhorns end up in different leagues.

“I don’t think it’s necessary to keep the OU-Texas game if we do move out of a conference with Texas,” Stoops said. “I know no one wants to hear that, but things change. If it changes, you’ve got to change with it. I love the game, but if it doesn’t work out, we will find other places to play and get excited about.”

[...]

Further confounding the issue are existing Pac-12 rules that restrict the scheduling of non-conference opponents beyond the first three weeks of the season.

Exceptions have been grandfathered in, specifically scheduled USC and Stanford non-conference games with Notre Dame. Waiver requests to schedule a non-conference game outside those first three weeks — or first four weeks in years where the calendar allows for a 15-week regular season — would be reviewed by Pac-12 athletic directors.

Corn dogs would never taste the same.

BTW, this is why scheduling Weber St the second F'in game of the year is stupid even in 2012.

[Jeff Lebowski]

How the Pac-12 could making it not worth going to the state fair anymore...



Corn dogs would never taste the same.

BTW, this is why scheduling Weber St the second F'in game of the year is stupid even in 2012.

Unbelievable to me how nonchalant he is about dropping a tradition like that.

[LA Ute]

Tax lawyers are bright and interesting people. They do tend to live in an alternate universe, however, which makes it hard for them to bond with normal people. It's called Revenue Ruling Affective Disorder, or RAD.

[Omaha 680]

Unbelievable to me how nonchalant he is about dropping a tradition like that.

Makes me sick. Reminds me of when Oklahoma/Nebraska went to 2 on/2 off with the advent of the Big 12. Everyone said moving the game from Thanksgiving wouldn't matter and that not playing every year would only make the games more intense. Instead one of the greatest rivalries in sports fizzled and died. It's a shame and so is this.

[shoganai]

That's ideal, and what I believe they thought they could do when they went indipendent. However, what they've since learned is that they're aren't going to get any of those BCS games when conference play is in full swing, and the number of BCS teams willing to do an actual home/home is miniscule. Also, they assumed the BYU-Utah game would stay as the last game of the season, and it hasn't. So not only does BYU end up with a less-than-pleasing home slate, but there are no games late in the year to keep BYU on the national radar.

I disagree. I think this opinion is based on a lot of assumptions. I think they will be able to pull off at least one BCS game a year in October/November other than Notre Dame. And, I remain optimistic that some of these deals will be announced sooner than later.

I may end up looking like a fool in this, but I believe what Bronco and Tom have been telling us.

[Flystripper]

If you don't know why they scheduled Weber St early in the season yet than you are late to the party...think Big.

there is always that and that is what I would be hoping for.

[Paperback Writer]

Makes me sick. Reminds me of when Oklahoma/Nebraska went to 2 on/2 off with the advent of the Big 12. Everyone said moving the game from Thanksgiving wouldn't matter and that not playing every year would only make the games more intense. Instead one of the greatest rivalries in sports fizzled and died. It's a shame and so is this.

Was going to also write this. This wouldn't be the first time OU has dumped a rivalry. The Huskers tried to continue the anual game with the Sooners but there was no interest in Norman. I guess OU will always have Okie St. to play.

[shoganai]

Another thing, if you don't want BYU to play more than 6 BCS teams in a given season then can see why you don't want to join a BCS conference.

The Pac 12 plays at least 9
The Big 12 plays at least 8
The Big 10 plays at least 8
the SEC plays at least 8
The ACC plays at least 8
The Big East plays at least 7

I guess you don't think BYU belongs...

You're partially right. I do not believe BYU is ready to play that many BCS games as an independent. Not yet. They need enough big opponents to make the schedule respectable, but they also need a manageable schedule that can get them 9 wins a year.

That doesn't mean BYU doesn't belong in one of these conferences. It just means they need to be realistic if they don't have a conference to fall back on. The worst thing that can happen to BYU right now isn't scheduling Weber State - it's going 5-7.

[Flystripper]

You're partially right. I do not believe BYU is ready to play that many BCS games as an independent. Not yet. They need enough big opponents to make the schedule respectable, but they also need a manageable schedule that can get them 9 wins a year.

That doesn't mean BYU doesn't belong in one of these conferences. It just means they need to be realistic if they don't have a conference to fall back on. The worst thing that can happen to BYU right now isn't scheduling Weber State - it's going 5-7.

Why is 9 wins the magic number? BYU needs to be bowl eligible every year and if they feel like they can't be bowl eligible by playing 8 "BCS" games then that is pathetic. Considering that they will be scheduling 4 wins every year winning 2-3 games against BCS opponents is more than doable and if BYU thinks that is too difficult then God help them when they play in the Big 12.

[shoganai]

Why is 9 wins the magic number? BYU needs to be bowl eligible every year and if they feel like they can't be bowl eligible by playing 8 "BCS" games then that is pathetic. Considering that they will be scheduling 4 wins every year winning 2-3 games against BCS opponents is more than doable and if BYU thinks that is too difficult then God help them when they play in the Big 12.

I think nine wins is the threshold to be ranked. Being ranked is more important than just being bowl eligible.

And, if you study Bronco's track record against certain types of opponents, I think you'll find that wining six games with eight BCS opponents would be much less likely than you think based on the last six years.

[Flystripper]

I think nine wins is the threshold to be ranked. Being ranked is more important than just being bowl eligible.

no way in hell will a 9 win BYU be ranked with 6 shitty non AQ teams, 2 shitty BCS teams, 3 so-so BCS teams, and one good BCS team on their schedule todays world of COllege football.

[shoganai]

no way in hell will a 9 win BYU be ranked with 6 shitty non AQ teams, 2 shitty BCS teams, 3 so-so BCS teams, and one good BCS team on their schedule todays world of COllege football.

Someone hasn't been paying attention to our history of being ranked in the MWC...

What you're saying completely contradicts everything that has happened in Bronco's six-year tenure to this point.

[TripletDaddy]

What's with the fear and self-loathing? BYU should definitely schedule up, not down. There will be some rough patches, but what team doesn't have those?

There were 3 independents prior to this season. 2 of them play a lousy schedule and lose a ton. 1 of them plays a slaughterhouse schedule and loses a ton.

Guess which one of the three is always in the conversation, selling lots of tickets to home games, and on TV every week? And doing well financially, to boot.

[Flystripper]

What's with the fear and self-loathing? BYU should definitely schedule up, not down. There will be some rough patches, but what team doesn't have those?

There were 3 independents prior to this season. 2 of them play a lousy schedule and lose a ton. 1 of them plays a slaughterhouse schedule and loses a ton.

Guess which one of the three is always in the conversation, selling lots of tickets to home games, and on TV every week? And doing well financially, to boot.

[shoganai]

What's with the fear and self-loathing? BYU should definitely schedule up, not down. There will be some rough patches, but what team doesn't have those?

There were 3 independents prior to this season. 2 of them play a lousy schedule and lose a ton. 1 of them plays a slaughterhouse schedule and loses a ton.

Guess which one of the three is always in the conversation, selling lots of tickets to home games, and on TV every week? And doing well financially, to boot.

I agree with the sentiment that emulating some aspects of the Notre Dame model is a good idea.

But I think it's pretty short-sighted to just assume that scheduling a murderer's row slate every year is the way to independent glory.

You can still schedule up, while finding a happy medium.