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

[Dr Rick Daris]

i have a friend who told me that ku is looking into dropping football and possibly trying to join/create a bball only conference. guy is usually right about stuff like this fwiw.

[EMAWzified]

Mods, please move this to the football board, because that's the only reason anyone is talking about realignment.

[Dugout DickStone]

Mods, please move this to the football board, because that's the only reason anyone is talking about realignment.

Nailed it.  basketball has no role in realignment.

[CNS]

Mods, please move this to the football board, because that's the only reason anyone is talking about realignment.

Nailed it.  basketball has no role in realignment.

Which is exactly why KU fans shouldn't believe they are discussing realignment with anyone.

[Dugout DickStone]

Mods, please move this to the football board, because that's the only reason anyone is talking about realignment.

Nailed it.  basketball has no role in realignment.

Which is exactly why KU fans shouldn't believe they are discussing realignment with anyone.

No one in the Big 10 front offices can even name the basketball coach at Nebraska.

[Pete]

From Currie to the alumni and ticket holders today...

As you may have read, the Big 12 and Pac-10 athletic directors and commissioners met informally for a few hours last week in Phoenix to discuss different ideas and potential synergies. This was the latest in a series of proactive steps and communications over the last year or so that we have taken to continue to strengthen the position of K-State and the rest of the Big 12 relative to both conference alignment and our next round of television negotiations.

It is important to remember that the Big 12 currently has two separate national agreements, the largest of which is with ABC/ESPN and primarily covers broadcast football and cable/broadcast basketball. This agreement runs through the 2015-2016 year, while our FSN cable football package runs through the 2011-2012 year. Essentially the focus of the Big 12 pertaining to television is to how to best navigate the marketplace for our next cable negotiations (next year) while positioning ourselves properly for the 2015-2016 phase.

Currently the average annual value of our league's total TV package is $80 million which places us behind the Big Ten and SEC, but ahead of the ACC ($67 million), Pac-10 ($53 million) and Big East ($33 million). The ACC's contracts expire this year and they are likely to be announcing the results of their negotiations in the very near future.

So what does all this mean for K-State?

First, we believe in the continued viability and strength of the Big 12. As I said in my last note I have confidence in our commissioner, president and AD's and am very encouraged by our ongoing dialogue. Should there be changes in our membership roster, I believe the extended core of the league will remain intact and committed to a future together. There are plenty of institutions in various leagues around the country who would love to be in the Big 12 if we decide that expanding (or replacing a member who departs) is in our best interest.

During my time recently visiting with AD's, bowl partners, TV executives, presidents, and other college athletics stakeholders, I am regularly reminded of how much K-State is respected nationally and of the relevancy of our brand - thanks to the awesome support of our fans and efforts through the years of our student-athletes and coaches. There is absolutely no question in my mind that K-State will continue to be amongst the "big leagues" of college athletics.

Second, our focus should be on creative approaches that are best fits for our leagues and institutions rather than trying to merely copy or match what the SEC or Big Ten has done.

Third, you as our fans have an opportunity to show (as you traditionally have) the power of K-State's grassroots family approach every time the Wildcats take the field and courts of competition. Your presence sends the signal of K-State's relevance to the nation.  So for instance, when we play UCLA in LHC Bill Snyder Family Stadium on September 4, having a full stadium when the game kicks off absolutely makes an impact on the perception of our entire University. Because of conference rules I am not allowed to share the details yet, but you can certainly expect there to be a significant TV audience watching that day!

I appreciate that they (the Big 12 stakeholders) appear to be "thinking outside the box," but I personally think that whatever the Big 10 and SEC decide to do in terms of conference size, will ultimately be the de facto rule on how all conference will need to be shaped in the future.  Similarly, I believe that failure to recognize that EVERYONE is at the mercy of the Big 10 and SEC in this regard is foolhardy and merely postponing the inevitable.

A TV deal with the PAC-10 as they describe may likely stave off a worst-case-scenario unraveling of the Big 12, which is a good thing.  However, we will not be "out of the woods" until we are in a conference that mirrors the structure and operation of the Big 10 and SEC (should they go the mega-conference route).

[Pete]

If Mizzou and Nebraska both go Big 10, this is the scenario that's being talked about in regards to conference realignment....

 I just hope to God that the Board of Regents doesn't require KU to carry little brother along with us. 

They will keep us together, forever.  It's as guaranteed as death and taxes, my man.

[Pete]

From Currie to the alumni and ticket holders today...

As you may have read, the Big 12 and Pac-10 athletic directors and commissioners met informally for a few hours last week in Phoenix to discuss different ideas and potential synergies. This was the latest in a series of proactive steps and communications over the last year or so that we have taken to continue to strengthen the position of K-State and the rest of the Big 12 relative to both conference alignment and our next round of television negotiations.

It is important to remember that the Big 12 currently has two separate national agreements, the largest of which is with ABC/ESPN and primarily covers broadcast football and cable/broadcast basketball. This agreement runs through the 2015-2016 year, while our FSN cable football package runs through the 2011-2012 year. Essentially the focus of the Big 12 pertaining to television is to how to best navigate the marketplace for our next cable negotiations (next year) while positioning ourselves properly for the 2015-2016 phase.

Currently the average annual value of our league's total TV package is $80 million which places us behind the Big Ten and SEC, but ahead of the ACC ($67 million), Pac-10 ($53 million) and Big East ($33 million). The ACC's contracts expire this year and they are likely to be announcing the results of their negotiations in the very near future.

So what does all this mean for K-State?

First, we believe in the continued viability and strength of the Big 12. As I said in my last note I have confidence in our commissioner, president and AD's and am very encouraged by our ongoing dialogue. Should there be changes in our membership roster, I believe the extended core of the league will remain intact and committed to a future together. There are plenty of institutions in various leagues around the country who would love to be in the Big 12 if we decide that expanding (or replacing a member who departs) is in our best interest.

During my time recently visiting with AD's, bowl partners, TV executives, presidents, and other college athletics stakeholders, I am regularly reminded of how much K-State is respected nationally and of the relevancy of our brand - thanks to the awesome support of our fans and efforts through the years of our student-athletes and coaches. There is absolutely no question in my mind that K-State will continue to be amongst the "big leagues" of college athletics.

Second, our focus should be on creative approaches that are best fits for our leagues and institutions rather than trying to merely copy or match what the SEC or Big Ten has done.

Third, you as our fans have an opportunity to show (as you traditionally have) the power of K-State's grassroots family approach every time the Wildcats take the field and courts of competition. Your presence sends the signal of K-State's relevance to the nation.  So for instance, when we play UCLA in LHC Bill Snyder Family Stadium on September 4, having a full stadium when the game kicks off absolutely makes an impact on the perception of our entire University. Because of conference rules I am not allowed to share the details yet, but you can certainly expect there to be a significant TV audience watching that day!

I appreciate that they (the Big 12 stakeholders) appear to be "thinking outside the box," but I personally think that whatever the Big 10 and SEC decide to do in terms of conference size, will ultimately be the de facto rule on how all conference will need to be shaped in the future.  Similarly, I believe that failure to recognize that EVERYONE is at the mercy of the Big 10 and SEC in this regard is foolhardy and merely postponing the inevitable.

A TV deal with the PAC-10 as they describe may likely stave off a worst-case-scenario unraveling of the Big 12, which is a good thing.  However, we will not be "out of the woods" until we are in a conference that mirrors the structure and operation of the Big 10 and SEC (should they go the mega-conference route).

I'd like to point out to BMW that all figures discussed in the John Currie email above relate to football.  No discussion of basketball has EVER taken place.

[Pete]

i have a friend who told me that ku is looking into dropping football and possibly trying to join/create a bball only conference. guy is usually right about stuff like this fwiw.

Big East would be a nice conference for them after the football schools leave.  Villanova, Georgetown, Temple, Marquette, KU, etc.......that's some pretty darn good basketball right there.  Would be a great move for them, IMO, but the damn legislators in this state will never let KU and KSU break apart so it will never happen.

[chum1]

It's not like the proposed Big 10/SEC Mega conference structures would necessarily last past the next TV contract either.  And given that there's never been anything close to symmetry in the past, so why would we expect it in the future?  If they can come up with something that is good enough for now, it will be good enough period.

[Pete]

It's not like the proposed Big 10/SEC Mega conference structures would necessarily last past the next TV contract either.  And given that there's never been anything close to symmetry in the past, so why would we expect it in the future?  If they can come up with something that is good enough for now, it will be good enough period.

I understand that argument, and it is a very good one.

However, if they go the mega conference route, the ACC will almost certainly follow suit.  If this happens, there are few scenarios where the Big 12 isn't gobbled up.  If this occurs and you are not in a "power conference," you'll be playing a waiting game until the next round of TV deals and simply hoping that you'll get a chance to rise up out of the crap to join to the big conferences.  I find it very, very hard to believe that a school in that position will have much of a chance to "re-join" a power conference.  It seems like a long shot, at best.

[chum1]

I'm not sure I'm following that.  Wouldn't the Big 12/Pac 10 deal be worth a lot more than anything the ACC could piece together? 

[Pete]

I'm not sure I'm following that.  Wouldn't the Big 12/Pac 10 deal be worth a lot more than anything the ACC could piece together? 

My point is that if the Big 10 and SEC go "mega conference" then our TV deal will likely fall apart because we'd probably lose teams to provide the means for the other conferences to reach "mega" size.  (e.g. some mix of UT, aTM, OU, OSU to SEC for example).

If they don't go full out 16-team (or more) mega size, then our TV deal with the PAC looks very attractive indeed.



I suppose there isn't anything we can do about it either way, and the "we" includes John Currie.  He's as much of a mere observer in this as we are, I suppose.

[The42Yardstick]

synergies

 

[The42Yardstick]

ESPN of ESPN Fame Projects Kansas State of Big 12 Fame to Pac 16 of West Coast Elite Fame On World-Famous Blog

http://espn.go.com/blog/sportscenter/post/_/id/50126/mega-conferencescollege-football-conference-jumble

JMO, the incoming conference of the elite should consider taking Tech over TCU. Larger fanbase, and they'll deliver Dallas just as well as the horny toads

[michigancat]

Ben's just parroting Phognet . . . poor kid hasn't had an original thought in weeks now.

I just want to say I love how terrified phog.net is of getting left out of the Pac 20 because of "little brother holding them down".  LOL, what a bunch of insecure losers.

[WavetheWheat]

CATS ARE INCLUDED!@!!!!@@!!

http://espn.go.com/blog/sportscenter/post/_/id/50126/mega-conferencescollege-football-conference-jumble

[Pete]

CATS ARE INCLUDED!@!!!!@@!!

http://espn.go.com/blog/sportscenter/post/_/id/50126/mega-conferencescollege-football-conference-jumble

I rough ridin' TOLD YOU SO!  http://goEMAW.com/forum/index.php?topic=3724.0

[Pete]

The ACC is going to fight to grab as many Big East teams as they can, which will drive the SEC to grab more of the Big 12, as in the above.

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/campusrivalry/post/2010/05/acc-could-get-left-behind-if-expansion-plans-by-big-ten-sec-go-through/1

If the PAC doesn't want us, we are dead.

[ew2x4]

CATS ARE INCLUDED!@!!!!@@!!

http://espn.go.com/blog/sportscenter/post/_/id/50126/mega-conferencescollege-football-conference-jumble

Take that conference and run, IMO.

[WavetheWheat]

CATS ARE INCLUDED!@!!!!@@!!

http://espn.go.com/blog/sportscenter/post/_/id/50126/mega-conferencescollege-football-conference-jumble

I frackING TOLD YOU SO!  http://goEMAW.com/forum/index.php?topic=3724.0

We better go find some California recruiters, because our Texas recruits would be GONE in this scenario.  One we won't play in Texas but one time to a lesser school and Texas would be opening up their state to LSU, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, etc.  My opinion is Cats and Hawks would struggle in this conference.  We would be the dregs.

[kcchiefdav]

CATS ARE INCLUDED!@!!!!@@!!

http://espn.go.com/blog/sportscenter/post/_/id/50126/mega-conferencescollege-football-conference-jumble

I frackING TOLD YOU SO!  http://goEMAW.com/forum/index.php?topic=3724.0

We better go find some California recruiters, because our Texas recruits would be GONE in this scenario.  One we won't play in Texas but one time to a lesser school and Texas would be opening up their state to LSU, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, etc.  My opinion is Cats and Hawks would struggle in this conference.  We would be the dregs.

I still don't think there's a chance that OU and Texas would join the SEC. In years when they're good, both of these teams have a one game season (that game is against the other) for a spot in the national championship game in football. I think they'd want to join the PAC10. SEC football >>> PAC10 football. Maybe they wouldn't make out $-wise as well as would going to the SEC, but they'd still be solidifying their future competitiveness and upping their dollars.

[The42Yardstick]

We better go find some California recruiters, because our Texas recruits would be GONE in this scenario.  One we won't play in Texas but one time to a lesser school and Texas would be opening up their state to LSU, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, etc.  My opinion is Cats and Hawks would struggle in this conference.  We would be the dregs.

That's why you scrap the Mormons and bring in Texas State

[sonofdaxjones]

I am not sold at all on Texas going to the SEC.   Texas doesn't like the SEC schools at all, they hate Arkansas, they hate LSU.   They'll be bitching 17 ways from Sunday about the lack of academic standards in the SEC.    They will go up against 3 schools that just like Texas, spend over $100 million dollars a year on athletics in Fla, Bama and Tenn, and several others that spend between $85 and $95 million a year like Auburn.  

BYU . . . no conference wants to deal with the Mormon Sunday game issue . . . they're a pain in the a$$.

[sys]

by adding Kansas and Kansas State, that would give the conference a boost in basketball.

don't really care about the conference talk, but reading this phrase is more or less the culmination of a (really good) dream.  suck a sugar dick, kstate fball fans.