Smoke your cigars and enjoy the band while you can....

[Kat Kid]

As a society and as fans, we deserve this because we let ESPN and tv markets pervert the only thing unique to college sports, which is traditional rivalries within small geographical areas and accessibility and for fans.

I actually think ESPN is our only hope. They know the geographic rivalries are valuable.

We've already conceded the moral high ground as fans.  Hoping ESPN does the right thing in the name of profitability is all we have left.  We all should've seen the writing on the wall long ago.  The NCAA is not going to arbitrate when there are profits at stake.  We are all pawns that are participating in the slaughter of something we hold dear, all the while largely celebrating this grand progress toward meaningless classifications that obscure the true nature of what is at hand.

It is incomprehensible to me that TV markets are actively spoken about as reasons for conference realignment with absolutely no pretense or awareness that this model announces the death of not only Kansas State, but of many other schools like us.  This is being done on sports radio and on message boards and no one ever stops to so much as question why this must be so.

[Kat Kid]

Academics = Money. Why do people insist on thinking they are anything different? Academics is a nice word to cloak people's desire for prestige and money.

Prestige, Money, Exclusivity. 

[Fuktard]

I have thought about this as well...if tv markets are driving the train, I can't see how schools like Oregon State, Vanderbilt, Minnesota, Utah, etc have any chance of staying in a conference that knows that they can kick them out and replace them with a school with more tv sets = more value. 

[felix rex]

I have thought about this as well...if tv markets are driving the train, I can't see how schools like Oregon State, Vanderbilt, Minnesota, Utah, etc have any chance of staying in a conference that knows that they can kick them out and replace them with a school with more tv sets = more value.

I think its tougher to kick a team out than to leave a team behind. But WTF do I know.

[wazucat]

Academics = Money. Why do people insist on thinking they are anything different? Academics is a nice word to cloak people's desire for prestige and money.

Prestige, Money, Exclusivity. 

I realize money and football is driving this train but what I don't understand is how the leaders of schools like Stanford and Cal, Michigan and Northwestern are ostensibly willing to take schools like Nubb ,  Tech and Okie State just to get Texas and OU.   The only school that holds academic cache in the whole deal is the Longhorns??    TIA   I'll listen off the air

[Pete]

kerkhoff: http://www.ydr.com/sports/ci_18824261

lol at equal revenue sharing advocate, T Boone Pickens

"This conversation is going to come up every year as long as the conference is not equal," he said. "You've got to have an equal deal like the SEC. You can fix the Big 12 now, but it's got to go to an equal deal, and it's not equal."

These are the quotes of two neutered men...no power, no influence...simply saying the ONLY thing they can say and playing the only card that they have.

His comments struck a nerve with Zenger.   "We were disappointed to hear the comments yesterday," he said. "I thought we had nine schools that were strongly committed to the conference."

Currie said Kansas State isn't communicating with other conferences.

"We're not having any specific discussions with anybody about anything specific other than our continued commitment along with the rest for the Big 12 presidents to make this thing work.

"Until somebody says the Big 12 is dead we're going to be continuing to work with our partners in the Big 12 to strength the league and sustain the perpetuate the league."

[felix rex]

When a fat guy notices his sexy wife flirting with other dudes, he can either hit the gym and get a job or bake some cookies and pledge his commitment to her.

[ChiComCat]

Trim, when did that Olive Garden Gift Card expire?  We may be in trouble in this whole thing if Schultz gets hungry at the wrong time...

[wabash909]

The tuck leadership is beginning to lay the groundwork to start pacifying the masses should the inevitable occur.

Leland

GoPowercat Ring of Fame member
Post #15121
Nunavut, Canada

POLL: Assuming it is inevitable that D1A will become two-tiered...

Assuming it is inevitable that D1A will become two-tiered with 64 teams in "mega" conferences and 56 "have-nots", do you want KSU to be in a mega-conference?

Yes. The benefits heavily out-weigh the negatives, and I want KSU to play in the "big-time".

No. It is already difficult for KSU to compete against the huge money schools, and it will be even more difficult once there are only 64 "major" programs.
 
with 64 teams in "power" conferences and 56 "have-nots", do you want KSU to be in the 64, or not?



Posted on 9/4 1:31 PM | IP: Logged

I fully realize they will rationalize mediocrity at all levels.  But wow.

[joda]

I have thought about this as well...if tv markets are driving the train, I can't see how schools like Oregon State, Vanderbilt, Minnesota, Utah, etc have any chance of staying in a conference that knows that they can kick them out and replace them with a school with more tv sets = more value. 

What sucks the most in all of this is that those schools (and I'd probably throw Wazzou in there too) don't really bring anything more to the table than we do, but they're sitting pretty while we're waving in the wind simply because their wagon wasn't hitched to such inferiority complex riddled fan bases like Nubb and A&M.

[Cartierfor3]

The tuck leadership is beginning to lay the groundwork for pacifying the masses.

Leland

GoPowercat Ring of Fame member
Post #15121
Nunavut, Canada

POLL: Assuming it is inevitable that D1A will become two-tiered...

Assuming it is inevitable that D1A will become two-tiered with 64 teams in "mega" conferences and 56 "have-nots", do you want KSU to be in a mega-conference?

Yes. The benefits heavily out-weigh the negatives, and I want KSU to play in the "big-time".

No. It is already difficult for KSU to compete against the huge money schools, and it will be even more difficult once there are only 64 "major" programs.
 
with 64 teams in "power" conferences and 56 "have-nots", do you want KSU to be in the 64, or not?



Posted on 9/4 1:31 PM | IP: Logged

I fully realize they will rationalize mediocrity at all levels.  But wow.

I am speechless.  I am without speech.

[FHSU92]

If we're looking at 4 * 16 and we have PAC, SEC, Big10, ACC, Big East (and remnants of Big 8).  If PAC, SEC, and Big10 are 3, then those latter 3 will be vying for the 16 spots of the Big Leftovers Conference.

That said, I would not be surprised if Wazzu doesn't find itself looking in when UT, OU and the big boys do to them what they did to the Big12N.

[wabash909]

The tuck leadership is beginning to lay the groundwork for pacifying the masses.

Leland

GoPowercat Ring of Fame member
Post #15121
Nunavut, Canada

POLL: Assuming it is inevitable that D1A will become two-tiered...

Assuming it is inevitable that D1A will become two-tiered with 64 teams in "mega" conferences and 56 "have-nots", do you want KSU to be in a mega-conference?

Yes. The benefits heavily out-weigh the negatives, and I want KSU to play in the "big-time".

No. It is already difficult for KSU to compete against the huge money schools, and it will be even more difficult once there are only 64 "major" programs.
 
with 64 teams in "power" conferences and 56 "have-nots", do you want KSU to be in the 64, or not?



Posted on 9/4 1:31 PM | IP: Logged

I fully realize they will rationalize mediocrity at all levels.  But wow.

I am speechless.  I am without speech.

Conceding athletic competitiveness is ONE part of this equation.  Dropping to a mid-major will have far reaching effects accross every level of the University and community as a whole.

The mere suggestion of the idea that there may by "benefits" to losing our major conference status is literally so asinine on so many levels it is almost incomprehensible.

[sonofdaxjones]

I got my K-State Athletic Annual Report Yesterday, and it was impressive, and the great thing about it for John Currie is that he doesn't need to do a resume, just hand that thing over.

[Houstoncat93]

http://texas.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1260448

...and on cue......the texas legislature

[wabash909]

http://texas.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1260448

...and on cue......the texas legislature

Yep. It was only a matter of time before the Texas lawmakers got in the mix.

As Chip said, things are about to get real messy.  I'm sure there are a number on the Texas side of the table that want to preserve their own interest by keeping UT put, but you can bet your ass Ken Starr and the boys are not going down without a fight as well.

[Cartierfor3]

http://texas.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1260448

...and on cue......the texas legislature

merely a speed bump.  you can't stop what's coming.

[Houstoncat93]

http://texas.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1260448

...and on cue......the texas legislature

merely a speed bump.  you can't stop what's coming.

Not stop...but this bump knocked baylor into the big 12 last time.  Not sure what way this will take us but this will make things interesting for the a holes destroying college football.  Wouldn't want this too be easy for them

[steve dave]

@ChipBrownOB Texas A&M will be hearing from legislators that Aggies' departure from the B12 no longer has their blessing, sources say.

[sonofdaxjones]

It makes no sense at all for those schools to want to go to the Pac-12 (not that common sense has anything to do with this).    They are perfectly suited to rule the football in the conference for years and if they're smart about it, they can have a conference full of other teams that could easily make winning the conference a legit feat and worthy of high BCS poll rankings.  

As BITB said last week, it's going to be extremly strange to have such a large geographic area that does not have a BCS conference headquartered in in it if this all plays out.  

[ew2x4]

I hope we go to the MWC so Fitz goes out of business because nobody cares about a lack of info from a shitty team in a shitty conference.

[jtksu]

Maybe the MWC wouldn't be so bad?  In basketball, you can still compete at a high level in a small conference.  (See: Gonzaga, Utah, Byu, UNLV, etc)  Also,we should be able to go bowling like every year in a mid-major conference. 

[ew2x4]

No, the shitty part is we would still finish in the bottom half of the MWC.

[Panjandrum]

http://texas.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1260448

...and on cue......the texas legislature

merely a speed bump.  you can't stop what's coming.

People keep saying this, but what is 'what's coming'?

What person of real power and influence has gone on record to say that it's 4x16 other than Larry Scott?  Who?  Other than columnists with a blatant playoff agenda, who says this is truly inevitable?

What's inevitable is that about 20-30 teams will totally outpace everyone else and have the potential to break off from the NCAA.  Some strange 64 team division that results in a playoff is some mythical creation by the media dreaming of a playoff.

[doom]

Maybe the MWC wouldn't be so bad?  In basketball, you can still compete at a high level in a small conference.  (See: Gonzaga, Utah, Byu, UNLV, etc)  Also,we should be able to go bowling like every year in a mid-major conference. 

Shut the eff up.