Key tweets, and it's all gone to Hell.

[UCFBfan]

At this point 3 schools are pretty much considered locks. UConn and Memphis are probably very close with w/e other schools behind. You can throw that out there and pull some "blah blah blah this crazy thing happened. .."

I can't even begin to describe the level of disgust that arises in me that we are even thinking Memphis is on the same level for getting a seat at the big boy table as we are....Memphis, who has accomplished a whole lot of nothing and as of three years ago or so was in C-USA might all of a sudden be in the Big 12 while we basically die as an athletic department? I get so sick over this crap.....

 

[Peacefrog]

That airport is also technically in Kentucky

FWIW, I don't think CVG is a hub anymore. It used to be for Delta but at the very least has been severely de-emphasized. I doubt there would be any non-stop flights from Big12 country to CVG on Delta. There would be non-stop flights from hub airports such as DFW (American) and IAH (United). So absent Houston as a conference member, everybody except TCU would be taking connecting flights to get to Cincinnati.

 

[Hoophound]

You guys are looking on one random post by an anonymous poster on a general message board and having a coronary. Meanwhile, we are likely in according to most posts by actual sports writers as of this AM. I don't think anyone should be too stressed.

 

[JMick]

You guys are looking on one random post by an anonymous poster on a general message board and having a coronary. Meanwhile, we are likely in according to most posts by actual sports writers as of this AM. I don't think anyone should be too stressed.

I'll be stressed until we're in the ACC/Big XII/B1G

 

[BoatShow]

Here is Matt's podcast with Sam Mellinger (KC Star)


Cliff notes:
-Mellinger talked to some Big 12 administrators...specifically mentioned 2 (one a "power broker" the other a more lower-level administrator)
-Power Broker likes UConn's ability to bring in new market in northeast (refers to Neal Pilson's comment on NE exposure)
-Lower-level admin worries about geography and logistics of sending "Baylor women's volleyball to Storrs on a Tuesday"
-No consensus on top expansion candidates from administrators
-Perception of UConn athletics: "respected" in that part of the country
-UConn football would NEED to expand stadium
-Mellinger's opinion on candidates: BYU (FB only), UConn, Cincy, Houston...mentions Big 12 administrators worried about Memphis academics

Love the stadium size crap. We have to expand but Cincy and Houston are fine at 40,000. The access to NFL stadiums the difference?

 

[BoatShow]

Take it a step further. MSG was, supposedly, St. Johns second home. The St. Johns' athletic department was so upset by the overwhelming number of UConn fans that filled MSG, that they actually changed their ticket plan. To purchase a UConn/St. Johns MSG ticket, one had to purchase a package including two or three horrible St. Johns games all, I believe, at Alumni Hall.

How many "away" teams have that kind of power?

While the UConn-Army game at Yankee Stadium didn't set any attendance records there was still probably 3x as many UCONN fans (not including cadets who I think had to be there) at what was considered an Army home game.

 

[kyleslamb]

You guys are looking on one random post by an anonymous poster on a general message board and having a coronary. Meanwhile, we are likely in according to most posts by actual sports writers as of this AM. I don't think anyone should be too stressed.

I'm just an observer, but I haven't seen anyone having a coronary over that post, t.bh. There's some general concern, but there always has been given the track record of near misses.

Also, I think the general agreement is the "actual sports writers" also don't have much of a clue what's going on. They all seem to just be speculating like everyone else. I think you're right to suggest people shouldn't have a heart attack over this random message board poster (though they're not anyhow), but the sports writers are just guessing like everyone else. Outside of a few folks, no one has consistently had realignment pegged these past five or six years.

 

[HartbeatHusky]

 

[Waquoit]

Expanding the stadium is a given. I can't believe that would be a deal breaker.

 

[Adios]

I'm just an observer, but I haven't seen anyone having a coronary over that post, t.bh.

You underestimate message board posters.

 

[huskymedic]

SMU is pouring $150M into its facilities to impress the Big 12

 

[Slasher]

FWIW, I don't think CVG is a hub anymore. It used to be for Delta but at the very least has been severely de-emphasized. I doubt there would be any non-stop flights from Big12 country to CVG on Delta. There would be non-stop flights from hub airports such as DFW (American) and IAH (United). So absent Houston as a conference member, everybody except TCU would be taking connecting flights to get to Cincinnati.

This topic won't die, but I posted a chart earlier. CVG has direct flights to Austin, Kansas City, Dallas, Houston in Big 12 country and Memphis, Hartford, Orlando, Tampa - both airports, for prospective members.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Take it a step further. MSG was, supposedly, St. Johns second home. The St. Johns' athletic department was so upset by the overwhelming number of UConn fans that filled MSG, that they actually changed their ticket plan. To purchase a UConn/St. Johns MSG ticket, one had to purchase a package including two or three horrible St. Johns games all, I believe, at Alumni Hall.

How many "away" teams have that kind of power?

PC did that at the Dunk as well.

 

[junglehusky]

eeek...

There’s a key caveat here that hasn’t been discussed publicly, however. League officials may lean toward adding two schools as a way to leave their options open to poach Pac-12 schools. There’s a feeling around the Big 12 that the Pac-12 could be vulnerable when its contract expires in 2024. (Much in the same way there’s feeling around college sports that the Big 12 will be vulnerable the following year.)

The Pac-12 network isn’t working as currently configured, and there’s lingering animosity on some campuses regarding the network’s failure to produce similar revenue to the Big Ten Network and SEC Network.

If the Big 12 thinks it can snag schools like Colorado, Arizona or Arizona State when the Pac-12 deal ends in 2024, then it grows to 12 and waits. While there’s a lot of variables involved, this line of thinking is a factor in the Big 12’s decision making. Would the Arizona schools really leave their West Coast comfort zone and more logical geographic markets? That may sound nice in a meeting room, but it’s a potential $400 million gamble. That’s a heck of a risk for the Big 12, which has never exactly specialized in long-term planning or thinking.

#PrayFor4

#PrayFor4

#PrayFor4

#PrayFor4

#PrayFor4

#PrayFor4

#PrayFor4

#PrayFor4

#PrayFor4

#PrayFor4

 

[ConnHuskBask]

What a colossal joke.

The Big 12 wants to add a team that was in Conference USA a few years ago but still holds out hope that Arizona may want to leave their league they've been in since the 1970's to play on the Plains and be held hostage by Texas.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

What a colossal joke.

The Big 12 wants to add a team that was in Conference USA a few years ago but still holds out hope that Arizona may want to leave their league they've been in since the 1970's to play on the Plains and be held hostage by Texas.

Journalism 101: Never use the Dude as a source.

 

[junglehusky]

Another passage from that Thamel piece might be a clue as to why the ACC isn't rushing to scoop us up before the B12...

Texas’s options would likely come down to the ACC, Big Ten or being an independent. (The independent option becomes more viable as the broadcast paradigms change. More on that later.) The school’s Longhorn Network deal runs through 2030. But that ESPN-run property could potentially be folded into another ESPN property like the ACC Network. (Texas has always thumbed its nose at the SEC.)

 

[CL82]

Another passage from that Thamel piece might be a clue as to why the ACC isn't rushing to scoop us up before the B12...

ND and Texas as members is pretty big for them, though they both have the rep for being clubhouse poison.

 

[uconNYC]

So another round of expansion around 2024-2025. This forum will never die.

 

[Penfield]

Ya this really just made me worry that there doesn't need to be any foresight put into this decision. Pick which ever schools are willing to take the smallest cut and disband after 8 years.

 

[amory]

Ya this really just made me worry that there doesn't need to be any foresight put into this decision. Pick which ever schools are willing to take the smallest cut and disband after 8 years.

This is what makes Big 12 expansion such a cluster. The 2 most important schools in the conference probably don't really care long-term who gets added. It's about getting money now, and keeping things convenient before making a jump in 8 years.

If saving the Big 12 in the long run is the goal, you need UConn. There's no way around that. But I don't think that's really the goal.

 

[noeynox]

Journalism 101: Never use the Dude as a source.

Where have we heard this before?

One wise veteran of realignment said that making an average of about $100 million extra per year, as the Big 12 is slated to do, is like getting TV network money without adding a TV network. The Big 12 would get that money, essentially, if it added four intramural programs.

 

[ramses 2.0]

ND and Texas as members is pretty big for them, though they both have the rep for being clubhouse poison.

They both can be difficult but that deal would give the ACC a ton of leverage during the next round of CFP negioations.you have to believe that the other conferences would rather have ND&UT as independents rather than full members of the ACC therefore making that a viable option for both. They could also package their TV rights with the ACC & create ultimate TV value for all parties

 

[CL82]

Ya this really just made me worry that there doesn't need to be any foresight put into this decision. Pick which ever schools are willing to take the smallest cut and disband after 8 years.

I have to believe UConn, and the other schools, will put together their positions but add the caveat that they are flexible enough to match any other offer. The dark horses will realize that they need to low ball to have a shot. End result: best teams will be picked and will be paid pennies on the dollar. At this point I really don't care if the seats on the life boat are covered in pooh. I just want to get on.

 

[upstater]

This is what makes Big 12 expansion such a cluster. The 2 most important schools in the conference probably don't really care long-term who gets added. It's about getting money now, and keeping things convenient before making a jump in 8 years.

If saving the Big 12 in the long run is the goal, you need UConn. There's no way around that. But I don't think that's really the goal.

But not every school will be able to leave so there should be a lot of incentive to get this right, especially since they are probably pissing off their TV partners with the 4 new pro-rated adds.