Negative Media is Going to Impact This Process

[UConnRock]

Pitt, Syracuse, conference commissioners and university presidents and ADs are getting raked over the coals by the "traditionalists" who are questioning both the integrity and necessity of all the conference realignment. I just think that this is really going to slow down the process if Texas and Oklahoma don't make their respective moves in the next 48 hours. Sadly, it is guys like Tranghese that are venting to the detriment of some BE teams.

What could happen is that all stay put, ACC at 14, SEC at 12 without A&M, B-12, B1G and PAC at status quo. That really screws the BE. The BE would have to react by adding UCF and maybe Houston, but it is only a matter of time before the ball starts rolling again and we are all in the same situation. Competitively we don't loose much (trading Pitt and 'Cuse for UCF and Houston) but again the perception gods are against the BE in a big way.

 

[UConnJim]

Well, Texas A&M is going to the SEC with one more at least, so SEC is going to at least 14. Oklahoma and OK State are leaving the Big 12 for the PAC 14 as is possibly Texas and Texas Tech. ND needs to find a home, so they are probably joining the Big 10.

In my opinion, the negative press means realignment will happen faster, not slower as the more schools that do it now, the more diluted the negative press is towards your school. Example, first Texas and Texas A&M took the heat and now Pitt and Syracuse. They have cleared the way for Oklahoma, OK State, UConn, Rutgers, WV, ND and possibly others to move without looking bad.

 

[UConnSportsGuy]

There was a lot more negative press back in 2003..that didn't seem to dissuade anybody from realigning this time.