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

[ben ji]

From a local sports radio show last night. Didn't get the guys name, but he was a spokesman for the ACC:

Louisville is an excellent pick up for the ACC. We would like to think that things will settle down now, but over the past couple of years we have had several schools very interested in joining the ACC. Schools like Cincinnati and Navy. So this puts as in a very strong position through this conference realignment process to know that we have quality big name schools wanting to join our conference.

 

[Belvis Noland]

for starters, has the DudeofWV ever corrrectly predicted anything? 

more importantly, why would we want 4 more teams in the Conference after our TV contracts have been negotiated?  Our 30mil/year revenue stream drops to 21mil/year.       

[slobber]

Yes, indeed. I nearly caused an 87 car pile up when that guy said that.

[wabash909]

for starters, has the DudeofWV ever corrrectly predicted anything? 

more importantly, why would we want 4 more teams in the Conference after our TV contracts have been negotiated?  Our 30mil/year revenue stream drops to 21mil/year.       

The short answer is no.

[Pete]

for starters, has the DudeofWV ever corrrectly predicted anything? 

more importantly, why would we want 4 more teams in the Conference after our TV contracts have been negotiated?  Our 30mil/year revenue stream drops to 21mil/year.       

The short answer is no.

On the why would we want 4 teams thing, there was some chatter about how the Big 12 built in an agreement that the TV deal could get re-worked or whatever if we were to go to 14 teams.  I don't know if that is true, but there were a number of media types bantering about that last week.

[TheHamburglar]

for starters, has the DudeofWV ever corrrectly predicted anything? 

more importantly, why would we want 4 more teams in the Conference after our TV contracts have been negotiated?  Our 30mil/year revenue stream drops to 21mil/year.       

The short answer is no.

He's spent the past few days claiming he is in the know because he knew about Rutgers and Maryland to BigTen 2 months ago, but didn't say anything because he was asked not too.  He's like Norm MacDonald on that old SNL skit where he goes to a catholic trivia gameshow where they give you the answer and you win by saying "yeah, I knew that."

He also claims that WVU is behind the ACC falling apart, including a small role played by himself.  WVU is conspiring to make the ACC fall apart just to get back at UNC because they are academic elitist and bigots towards WV.  The guy is delusional.

[Panjandrum]

for starters, has the DudeofWV ever corrrectly predicted anything? 

more importantly, why would we want 4 more teams in the Conference after our TV contracts have been negotiated?  Our 30mil/year revenue stream drops to 21mil/year.       

The short answer is no.

On the why would we want 4 teams thing, there was some chatter about how the Big 12 built in an agreement that the TV deal could get re-worked or whatever if we were to go to 14 teams.  I don't know if that is true, but there were a number of media types bantering about that last week.

This plus the desire to get a second access bowl, which may be easier if we get more quality teams.

That's how they'll make the money work.

["storm"nut]

More money will come if ESPN/FOX have fewer mouths (conferences) to feed.

[Belvis Noland]

More money will come if ESPN/FOX have fewer mouths (conferences) to feed.

More money per conference, yes.  But each conference will have many more teams.  So, not more money per school. 

[Panjandrum]

More money will come if ESPN/FOX have fewer mouths (conferences) to feed.

They already do.  ESPN shares the load with Fox for the Big 12 and Pac 12, and they will no longer pay the Big East.

[Trim]

for starters, has the DudeofWV ever corrrectly predicted anything? 

more importantly, why would we want 4 more teams in the Conference after our TV contracts have been negotiated?  Our 30mil/year revenue stream drops to 21mil/year.       

The short answer is no.

He's spent the past few days claiming he is in the know because he knew about Rutgers and Maryland to BigTen 2 months ago, but didn't say anything because he was asked not too.  He's like Norm MacDonald on that old SNL skit where he goes to a catholic trivia gameshow where they give you the answer and you win by saying "yeah, I knew that."

He also claims that WVU is behind the ACC falling apart, including a small role played by himself.  WVU is conspiring to make the ACC fall apart just to get back at UNC because they are academic elitist and bigots towards WV.  The guy is delusional.

That was the most applicable analogy you could think of?

[TheHamburglar]

for starters, has the DudeofWV ever corrrectly predicted anything? 

more importantly, why would we want 4 more teams in the Conference after our TV contracts have been negotiated?  Our 30mil/year revenue stream drops to 21mil/year.       

The short answer is no.

He's spent the past few days claiming he is in the know because he knew about Rutgers and Maryland to BigTen 2 months ago, but didn't say anything because he was asked not too.  He's like Norm MacDonald on that old SNL skit where he goes to a catholic trivia gameshow where they give you the answer and you win by saying "yeah, I knew that."

He also claims that WVU is behind the ACC falling apart, including a small role played by himself.  WVU is conspiring to make the ACC fall apart just to get back at UNC because they are academic elitist and bigots towards WV.  The guy is delusional.

That was the most applicable analogy you could think of?

I love that skit.  First thing I thought of where an answer is given, then someone immediatly goes "I didn't say anything before, but I knew that."

["storm"nut]

More money will come if ESPN/FOX have fewer mouths (conferences) to feed.

More money per conference, yes.  But each conference will have many more teams.  So, not more money per school.

And that's how it will work. Getting to 14 one way or the other will kill the ACC. By them going away the money will be there to make sure we get the same  or a little more that the Big 12 does now plus add a conference champ game and maybe a second tie in bowl and it pays off. I don't know if the money is there without killing the ACC.

[Panjandrum]

More money will come if ESPN/FOX have fewer mouths (conferences) to feed.

More money per conference, yes.  But each conference will have many more teams.  So, not more money per school.

And that's how it will work. Getting to 14 one way or the other will kill the ACC. By them going away the money will be there to make sure we get the same  or a little more that the Big 12 does now plus add a conference champ game and maybe a second tie in bowl and it pays off. I don't know if the money is there without killing the ACC.

The ACC won't die.  That's not how this works.

If the Big 12 takes teams, they'll fill from other conferences, and those other conferences will take from lesser conferences, and those lesser conferences will either elevate from FCS or die.

When the Big East stole from C-USA, I tweeted yesterday that Karl Benson (Sun Belt) had to be scared.  The next day, two Sun Belt schools accepted invites from C-USA.  Schools are pulled up from lesser conferences to fill in major conferences as they lose teams.  It's just the circle of life.

[Willesgirl]

More money will come if ESPN/FOX have fewer mouths (conferences) to feed.

More money per conference, yes.  But each conference will have many more teams.  So, not more money per school.

And that's how it will work. Getting to 14 one way or the other will kill the ACC. By them going away the money will be there to make sure we get the same  or a little more that the Big 12 does now plus add a conference champ game and maybe a second tie in bowl and it pays off. I don't know if the money is there without killing the ACC.

The ACC won't die.  That's not how this works.

If the Big 12 takes teams, they'll fill from other conferences, and those other conferences will take from lesser conferences, and those lesser conferences will either elevate from FCS or die.

When the Big East stole from C-USA, I tweeted yesterday that Karl Benson (Sun Belt) had to be scared.  The next day, two Sun Belt schools accepted invites from C-USA.  Schools are pulled up from lesser conferences to fill in major conferences as they lose teams.  It's just the circle of life.

So, eventually we should expect Fort Hays State and Pitt State to be in the WAC or C-USA? Surely, this conference realignment ends before then, right? (Assuming eventually lesser conferences have to move to DII schools or lower to fill in.)

[Panjandrum]

Is the SEC going to expand again?

Probably.  Because all hell is breaking loose across the country.  Matt Hayes of The Sporting News this week wrote that one ACC source told him that Duke and North Carolina have been “chased,” (Hayes’ word) for “the last three years,” (source’s words).

Everyone knows that the SEC would want into the Tarheel State for television purposes if/when the age of superconferences truly dawns.  And — as we’ve shown you on this site dating back three years — Duke and North Carolina would help the conference in terms of cash (thanks to those cable households), in terms of academic reputation (SEC presidents would love to add two more AAU institutions), and in terms of basketball reputation.

Carolina and Duke are the cream of the ACC crop in terms of having it all — great academics, nationally-known brand names, and regional drawing power.  Any league landing UNC and Duke would own North Carolina.  No offense, NC State, Wake Forest and East Carolina fans.

All that said, we still believe the SEC would prefer things stay as they are for a bit longer.  We’ve heard that from sources across the league and from one school to another.  That wasn’t the case when the SEC added Texas A&M.  Everyone whispered that A&M made sense and that’s one reason we stated so forcefully in 2010 — when A&M re-upped with the Big XII — that the Aggies would eventually land in the SEC.  We’re not hearing that kind of chatter this time around.  Instead, we’re hearing a bit of worry.  People realize that leagues and schools are making moves now solely because everyone else is making moves.  Reacting is never as good as acting.

But as long as everyone else continues to act, we suspect the SEC will react with a full-court press to grab North Carolina and Duke. If they could be split, North Carolina and Virginia would accomplish the same goals.  From there, who knows?

http://www.mrsec.com/2012/11/youve-got-questions-weve-got-answers-from-why-your-search-is-taking-so-long-to-sec-expansion/

1. I don't want to get on a soapbox, but ...

The Big East on Tuesday shot its popgun in the air and thumped its chest at the latest round of conference realignment.

But understand this: The big, bad howitzer is coming, everyone. Stand back and cover your ears.

When Maryland finds a way to get out of paying the full $50 million buyout to the ACC for joining the Big Ten; when the Terps show the rest of the ACC how to leave a conference on the cheap despite signing what are supposed to be binding legal documents, conference realignment will reach the final, end-game stage.

The dismantling of the ACC and strengthening of the Big Four is coming. The only things that can stop it are high-priced lawyers.

“We’d be absolutely foolish to not watch Maryland,” one FSU official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Sporting News. “If or when they get out of (the $50 million buyout), everything changes. It’s almost like free agency.”

If that’s true, Maryland is the Curt Flood of college football. And it could lead to the one remaining mega move still out there: Florida State and Clemson to the Big 12.

If that happens, the two crown jewels of the ACC become available. Duke and North Carolina, which an ACC source said have been chased by the SEC for “the last three years,” will choose between the Big Ten and the SEC.

For those who don’t think this is serious, consider this: The ACC announced Tuesday it had filed suit against Maryland to force the university to pay the full $50 million exit fee. Maryland and Florida State were the only two ACC schools to vote against the league’s $50 million buyout fee.

“There is the expectation,” said ACC commissioner John Swofford, “that Maryland will fulfill its exit fee obligation.”

Conferences expand for two reasons: television markets (for future media rights deals) and desperation. Right now, there’s a whole lot of desperation going on, including the Big East’s inclusion of Tulane and East Carolina.

The SEC started this by adding Texas A&M and Missouri for prime TV markets Houston and St. Louis/Kansas City. The Pac-10 became the Pac-12 by adding critical Mountain Time Zone markets Salt Lake City (Utah) and Denver (Colorado).

Sensing what he called a “paradigm” shift, Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany did what he said his conference wouldn’t do: expand beyond 12 teams. Last week’s addition of Maryland and Rutgers proved realignment is all about television dollars.

That brings us to the Big 12, which has 10 teams and a compact geographic market footprint (West Virginia notwithstanding) that limits future television growth. By adding FSU and Clemson, the Big 12 reaches into the South to compete with the SEC for television dollars – and as important, high school recruits (just like the SEC did with Texas A&M).

Expanding to 12 teams means the return of the Big 12 Championship Game, which generates consistent revenue for the conference and can be the difference in playing for it all – or playing for nothing. Case in point: Kansas State.

Once the new prince of 2012, one loss has K-State completely out of contention in the race for the BCS National Championship. If this were 2014 with the new four-team playoff, the Wildcats would still be out.

Like it or not, voters – and in the future, the playoff selection committee – are more impressed by teams forced to take a huge gamble by playing a conference championship game than those who don’t. That and television market potential will eventually bring the Big 12 back into conference expansion.

And end realignment once and for all.

http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football/feed/2012-08/firstand10/story/college-football-realignment-maryland-acc-50-million-buyout-sec-big-ten-pac-12

[TheHamburglar]

More money will come if ESPN/FOX have fewer mouths (conferences) to feed.

More money per conference, yes.  But each conference will have many more teams.  So, not more money per school.

And that's how it will work. Getting to 14 one way or the other will kill the ACC. By them going away the money will be there to make sure we get the same  or a little more that the Big 12 does now plus add a conference champ game and maybe a second tie in bowl and it pays off. I don't know if the money is there without killing the ACC.

The ACC won't die.  That's not how this works.

If the Big 12 takes teams, they'll fill from other conferences, and those other conferences will take from lesser conferences, and those lesser conferences will either elevate from FCS or die.

When the Big East stole from C-USA, I tweeted yesterday that Karl Benson (Sun Belt) had to be scared.  The next day, two Sun Belt schools accepted invites from C-USA.  Schools are pulled up from lesser conferences to fill in major conferences as they lose teams.  It's just the circle of life.

So, eventually we should expect Fort Hays State and Pitt State to be in the WAC or C-USA? Surely, this conference realignment ends before then, right? (Assuming eventually lesser conferences have to move to DII schools or lower to fill in.)

No, it ends at the FBS level when lowest level conferences die or consolidate.  The WAC will officially die as a football conference after Saturdays NMSU-Texas State game.  Next season we go from 11 FBS conferences to 10. 

Also, this is going on at the DII level as well.  Look at what has happened with the MIAA the last 5 years. 

["storm"nut]

Big East is a walker from walking dead. ACC minus FSU, Clemson, Duke, UNC will be the same. A walker but really dead.

[Panjandrum]

And with further expansion, we'll probably see another conference die.

Joe Castiglone basically said it best.  The lower level conferences are going to need to restructure or die.  The money just isn't there at the lower levels now that the top 5 conferences are sucking so much money out of the market.  I think there will be merging and restructuring.  Ultimately, conferences like the Big East, MWC, and C-USA are going to have to find a way to take the best of what's left and cobble a reasonably profitable and manageable conference.  The rest will then have follow that model until there's nothing left or whatever is left goes independent or drops to FCS.

[theKSU]

I think the ACC is strong if they can manage to stand pat with Louisville. The question is will we be able to pluck FSU and Clemson to the Big 12? With the 13 year grant of rights maybe 10 isn't such a bad number.

[Pete]

I am convinced that the best long term financial move it to get FSU no matter what it takes, even if it means paying their buyout.

[mocat]

When the Big East stole from C-USA, I tweeted yesterday that Karl Benson (Sun Belt) had to be scared.  The next day, two Sun Belt schools accepted invites from C-USA.  Schools are pulled up from lesser conferences to fill in major conferences as they lose teams.  It's just the circle of life.

I get it that the lions eat the antelope, but when do the antelope eat the grass in this analogy?

[MadCat]

When the Big East stole from C-USA, I tweeted yesterday that Karl Benson (Sun Belt) had to be scared.  The next day, two Sun Belt schools accepted invites from C-USA.  Schools are pulled up from lesser conferences to fill in major conferences as they lose teams.  It's just the circle of life.

I get it that the lions eat the antelope, but when do the antelope eat the grass in this analogy?

The Big East in that scenario is actually the antelope.  The C-USA is the grass.  Sun Belt is the stuff that gets excreted when the SEC plays their non-conference games. (Sorry, 42)

[ben ji]

Still think the Big East survives and won't get torn apart like lots of people are claiming.  Penn State doesn't want Pitt in the Big 10, I just don't see WVU in the SEC or the ACC for that matter.   I don't see the ACC basketball powers all that excited to bring Syracuse in, and the Big 10 has that market captured already with Penn State . . . Penn State brings Penn, NY and Jersey, they don't need Cuse or Rutgers.   I also don't see the ACC all that excited about Louisville or Cinncy and neither of those schools are Big 10 material.

When do we fit dax for a clownsuit?

[michigancat]

Still think the Big East survives and won't get torn apart like lots of people are claiming.  Penn State doesn't want Pitt in the Big 10, I just don't see WVU in the SEC or the ACC for that matter.   I don't see the ACC basketball powers all that excited to bring Syracuse in, and the Big 10 has that market captured already with Penn State . . . Penn State brings Penn, NY and Jersey, they don't need Cuse or Rutgers.   I also don't see the ACC all that excited about Louisville or Cinncy and neither of those schools are Big 10 material.

When do we fit dax for a clownsuit?

seems odd to single out dax in this thread.