UConnSportsGuy
Addicted to all things UCONN!
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As the B12 is beginning to show signs of cooling on the idea of expansion (as many expected), the bigger G5 schools should make a move to force their hand. Because if conference realignment is delayed again, the gap between the P5 and G5 will grow exponentially by the time realignment opens back up in 10 years to a point that we may not be able to compete with even the Northwestern's, Purdue's, and Wake Forests of the world. It may be time to take an aggressive step to save the long term viability of some of the G5 athletic departments and think outside the box.
What if rumors began to emerge that, as a result of the B12 discussions, many of the bigger G5 teams have begun having exploratory talks of creating a new football only conference. If all of the most powerful programs in the G5 banded together, it could potentially create a significant problem for the P5. A rumored 10 team conference c0nsisting of an East and West division could look something like this:
East
1. UConn
2. Cincinnati
3. Navy
4. Temple
5. UCF
West
1. BYU
2. Houston
3. Colorado St
4. Boise St
5. Fresno St
Part of the advantage the "P5" has is that it has created such a huge gap between even the worst P5 conference and the best G5 conference in terms of on-field performance. But if you created a conference such as the one above, there are many years that this new conference would be one of the best 5 conferences and "bust" the P5 frame of reference that they have created. And with the programs and markets (NY, Boston, OH, Baltimore, Philly, FL, Denver, TX, CA, the Mormons) of the above conference, the potential TV money would far surpass the money that any of the programs are currently getting. This new conference would present a potential threat to the monopoly that the P5 have worked so hard to create (and in reality, the threat is to the ACC and the B12, the two lowest on the totem poll of the P5--as the B1G, SEC, and P12 are insulated from threat in reality).
If "rumors" began to surface of this coming to fruition, my guess is that the TV powers and the P5 powers would find a little more incentive to kill the potential threat of the above conference and would help grease the wheels for current expansion. For the TV powers, the potential cost of a 2-4 team B12 expansion doesn't look so bad to if the above may be about to happen (losing their current low-ball deals for the best G5 schools and having to pay for the new conference rights on the open market). And obviously the B12 (and potentially ACC) would like to protect the monopoly they have going and not have to potentially split part of the P5 pie with anyone else.
I know it is a completely crazy idea. But if the conference expansion bubble is really beginning to lose air and might pop, then it may be a last minute hail-mary idea. And hell, even if it didn't work--being in the above conference for football and the Big East in all other sports is not only better in the short term versus staying in the AAC, it also would be a better long term play to keep us relevant and viable until the next conference realignment in 10 years.
My guess is that the above idea would scare some into pushing for action in the B12 and ESPN/FOX. Anyone want to contact Blauds and "tip him off" to the discussions?!
What if rumors began to emerge that, as a result of the B12 discussions, many of the bigger G5 teams have begun having exploratory talks of creating a new football only conference. If all of the most powerful programs in the G5 banded together, it could potentially create a significant problem for the P5. A rumored 10 team conference c0nsisting of an East and West division could look something like this:
East
1. UConn
2. Cincinnati
3. Navy
4. Temple
5. UCF
West
1. BYU
2. Houston
3. Colorado St
4. Boise St
5. Fresno St
Part of the advantage the "P5" has is that it has created such a huge gap between even the worst P5 conference and the best G5 conference in terms of on-field performance. But if you created a conference such as the one above, there are many years that this new conference would be one of the best 5 conferences and "bust" the P5 frame of reference that they have created. And with the programs and markets (NY, Boston, OH, Baltimore, Philly, FL, Denver, TX, CA, the Mormons) of the above conference, the potential TV money would far surpass the money that any of the programs are currently getting. This new conference would present a potential threat to the monopoly that the P5 have worked so hard to create (and in reality, the threat is to the ACC and the B12, the two lowest on the totem poll of the P5--as the B1G, SEC, and P12 are insulated from threat in reality).
If "rumors" began to surface of this coming to fruition, my guess is that the TV powers and the P5 powers would find a little more incentive to kill the potential threat of the above conference and would help grease the wheels for current expansion. For the TV powers, the potential cost of a 2-4 team B12 expansion doesn't look so bad to if the above may be about to happen (losing their current low-ball deals for the best G5 schools and having to pay for the new conference rights on the open market). And obviously the B12 (and potentially ACC) would like to protect the monopoly they have going and not have to potentially split part of the P5 pie with anyone else.
I know it is a completely crazy idea. But if the conference expansion bubble is really beginning to lose air and might pop, then it may be a last minute hail-mary idea. And hell, even if it didn't work--being in the above conference for football and the Big East in all other sports is not only better in the short term versus staying in the AAC, it also would be a better long term play to keep us relevant and viable until the next conference realignment in 10 years.
My guess is that the above idea would scare some into pushing for action in the B12 and ESPN/FOX. Anyone want to contact Blauds and "tip him off" to the discussions?!
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