Now What - PAC 12 Won't Expand

[Wbbfan1]

ESPN - Link

Conflicting reports about Missouri going to the SEC. PAC 12 not expanding due to Texas apparent unwillingness to share revenue.

 

[jdubct]

Certainly, there's a lot of uncertainty to say the least.

The ACC is in control of its own destiny. They could add a 15th school and challenge Notre Dame (if indeed it is strongly interested in the potential move) to accept membership with the ACC's conditions. If ND accepted, the would be a major gain for the ACC. If not, they could choose another school and still be a major winner in the football sweepstakes.

As for the Big 12, who knows. Will Missouri go to the SEC? Who knows. Oklahoma and Oklahoma State might still be attractive to the Pac12. Texas has refused to share revenue from the Longhorn network. Could the school go to the SEC? Probably with revenue sharing. Will the SEC agree? Who knows. The Big12 will stay together (for now) with whatever schools remain.

 

[Kibitzer]

The word greed is getting redefined by these educators of our nation's youth.

 

[Wonkster]

The word greed is getting redefined by these educators of our nation's youth.

You mean "The word greed is getting redefined by these administrators of the educators of our nation's youth."

 

[Vowelguy]

Certainly, there's a lot of uncertainty to say the least.

The ACC is in control of its own destiny. They could add a 15th school and challenge Notre Dame (if indeed it is strongly interested in the potential move) to accept membership with the ACC's conditions. If ND accepted, the would be a major gain for the ACC. If not, they could choose another school and still be a major winner in the football sweepstakes.

As for the Big 12, who knows. Will Missouri go to the SEC? Who knows. Oklahoma and Oklahoma State might still be attractive to the Pac12. Texas has refused to share revenue from the Longhorn network. Could the school go to the SEC? Probably with revenue sharing. Will the SEC agree? Who knows. The Big12 will stay together (for now) with whatever schools remain.

Oklahoma is much less attractive w/o Texas.
The SEC has absolutely said no to any team having its own deals, so TX is definitely out. If TX agrees to revenue sharing, they'd probably go to Big 10. But that's highly unlikely.

The big 4 conferences now seem to be in pause mode - other than the resolution to the SEC/TAMU issue. There will now be scrambling by Big 12 & BGE to replace lost members.

 

[HuskyNan]

What now? Now we wait for the big dominos (Pac 10, Big 12, ACC, SEC, Big 10, Texas, Notre Dame) to indicate if/how they're going to proceed. UConn isn't in a position to force anyone's hand, unfortunately.

 

[Tidepool]

Would some kind soul please explain: are these realignments intended to create purely athletic conferences, or is there some kind of other inter-connectedness among the conference members as well, academic or policy-wise?

And if it's a purely athletic conference, is it all or nothing with respect to athletics -- all sports in each university get included in the one conference, as opposed to different sports belonging to different conferences? I know there's been a smattering of talk on the board about this, but based on Notre Dame football, I am assuming everything can be negotiated, everything could potentially be up for grabs.

 

[Vowelguy]

Would some kind soul please explain: are these realignments intended to create purely athletic conferences, or is there some kind of other inter-connectedness among the conference members as well, academic or policy-wise?

And if it's a purely athletic conference, is it all or nothing with respect to athletics -- all sports in each university get included in the one conference, as opposed to different sports belonging to different conferences? I know there's been a smattering of talk on the board about this, but based on Notre Dame football, I am assuming everything can be negotiated, everything could potentially be up for grabs.

They're athletic conferences, but each conference has its own rules and principles, so there needs to be some degree of a similar culture across the schools. Also the conferences are increasingly intertwined with the schools' reputations and branding, so you'd want to be affiliated with similar-minded institutions.

It's all or nothing, with only a few rare exceptions. Money the conference generates in a sport (eg, FB), in turn supports conference activities (like league championship tourneys) in other sports.

 

[rjp172]

Certainly, there's a lot of uncertainty to say the least.

The ACC is in control of its own destiny. They could add a 15th school and challenge Notre Dame (if indeed it is strongly interested in the potential move) to accept membership with the ACC's conditions. If ND accepted, the would be a major gain for the ACC. If not, they could choose another school and still be a major winner in the football sweepstakes.

As for the Big 12, who knows. Will Missouri go to the SEC? Who knows. Oklahoma and Oklahoma State might still be attractive to the Pac12. Texas has refused to share revenue from the Longhorn network. Could the school go to the SEC? Probably with revenue sharing. Will the SEC agree? Who knows. The Big12 will stay together (for now) with whatever schools remain.

I think ND is going to have to face the fact that if not now then eventually it will have no choice but to join a conference in football. The ACC still may be it's best option for both ND and the conference. ACC has a weak media deal that would possibly allow ND to grandfather it's NBC contract into the deal. ND would still have it's home games broadcast on NBC and the ACC would benefit from having some of it's conference games on a major network.

 

[Wbbfan1]

As long as ND has a conference that will allow them to play their non-football sports and compete for championships, they'll keep their NBC Football Contract. They play a competitive schedule in football and their games have enough interest to have a nationwide audience. They could easily be 3-0 this season and their games would be drawing more national attention. If Kelly or any other coach is able to restore ND so that they on a yearly basis will win 9 or more games NBC is receiving value for their contract with ND.

 

[EricLA]

What now? Now we wait for the big dominos (Pac 10, Big 12, ACC, SEC, Big 10, Texas, Notre Dame) to indicate if/how they're going to proceed. UConn isn't in a position to force anyone's hand, unfortunately.

correct . and even worse, if the rest decide to stay put, the big east won't be able to merge with the big 12 cast offs, so that leaves adding schools like ECU and UCF to replace pitt and syracuse. of course, it will be 2 years before they leave so plenty of time, but boy will that leave people nervous...

 

[Blakeon18]

Well...I'm still hoping [with TonyC like optimism]...that we wind up in the ACC. It would benefit the conference and us....period.

The 27 months requirement is interesting. Suppose Syracuse/Pitt....whoever else leaves for another conference [like UConn].....officially informs the BE today that they are leaving. The league says you have to give 27 months notice. That would be in late December 2013. All the winter sports teams would have started play by then. It would be a hideous mess to start the season in one conference and then transfer and have already missed games....and have to make them up....or miss them....etc. It would screw up both the BE and the ACC or any other conference they are headed to.

I would think that pragmatically the switch would take place after that academic year....May 2014....a long way away. I would guess that the transfers could ask for a waiver to leave earlier....like after May 2012.
What are the odds that the remaining BE teams will feel kindly towards the ones leaving and grant the waiver?

If the Big 12 stays together in some form with Texas and OU on board a landing spot for UConn has been eliminated...the merger of the other Big 12 schools and the BE.

I trust President Herbst is being quietly effective as the days go by....a significant part of her legacy may well be
if UConn parachutes into a pleasing conference.....or not. Geno and JC seem to be unified in their hope that the ACC is it....might be the start of something new in terms of their relationship too.

 

[ctchamps]

I would say no university or conference is in control of their destiny. I would say there is a range from high to low on who has the most power in making decisions and who has the least power. As things stand while I compose this, the strongest drivers are the SEC, PAC, B!G, Texas, and ND. The next tier are OU, OSU because of OU, Texas Tech because of Texas, Mizzou, TAM, and FSU. Everyone else is currently pawns for these players.

President Herbst, UConn, the BE and its members, the ACC and its members, and the Big 12 and those members not listed above are treading water and whether they drown or make it to shore is dependent on the above players, as things currently stand.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

Would some kind soul please explain: are these realignments intended to create purely athletic conferences, or is there some kind of other inter-connectedness among the conference members as well, academic or policy-wise?

And if it's a purely athletic conference, is it all or nothing with respect to athletics -- all sports in each university get included in the one conference, as opposed to different sports belonging to different conferences? I know there's been a smattering of talk on the board about this, but based on Notre Dame football, I am assuming everything can be negotiated, everything could potentially be up for grabs.

Apparently, the Big 10 has some sort of shared grant program on the academic side - in fact, the University of Chicago is in the Big 10 on the academic side, or, at least, was a couple of years ago. That said, I don't know the details. The PAC 12 is apparently concerned about academic fit of any new members, but not sure that factored into any recent decisions.

 

[huskeynut]

The chess match is not done yet. Texas A & M still wants to go to the SEC. Evidently Mizzou has an SEC offer.

Miami & FSU and a couple of others are not happy with the ACC.

So even though Texas, Oklahoma and the counterparts/ sidekicks and Notre Dame may stay pat, moves can and will be made.

We have to sit and wait.

 

[HuskyNan]

Evidently Mizzou has an SEC offer.

SEC officials are denying this.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I haven't heard any news on an Ivy League reconfiguration. It seems to have worked well for nearly 60 years.

 

[Phil]

The 27 months requirement is interesting. Suppose Syracuse/Pitt....whoever else leaves for another conference [like UConn].....officially informs the BE today that they are leaving. The league says you have to give 27 months notice. That would be in late December 2013. All the winter sports teams would have started play by then. It would be a hideous mess to start the season in one conference and then transfer and have already missed games....and have to make them up....or miss them....etc. It would screw up both the BE and the ACC or any other conference they are headed to.

(I thought I posted this, but I don't see it, so I'll try again)
I can imagine scenarios where the 27 month, and even the 5 million gets waived. To take the simplest, extreme example, suppose more than half the BIG East teams are invited to, and are interested in accepting invitations to other places. then they constitute a majority, and could change the rules (Subject to the possibility of super-majority requirements) A more realistic situation is several, but less than half the teams are leaving, however, there is talk of a merger with the B12. There might be existing and staying members of the BE who would vote to waive the 27 months if that means the subsequent merger would occur faster. In other words, there are various situations in which a majority might be interested in changing the rules.

 

[Icebear]

Oklahoma is much less attractive w/o Texas.
The SEC has absolutely said no to any team having its own deals, so TX is definitely out. If TX agrees to revenue sharing, they'd probably go to Big 10. But that's highly unlikely.

The big 4 conferences now seem to be in pause mode - other than the resolution to the SEC/TAMU issue. There will now be scrambling by Big 12 & BGE to replace lost members.

I can't imagine Texas deciding it wants to play that many cold weather football games a year.

 

[Wbbfan1]

In all of the conference realignment the Football Schools have to realize they have start looking out for themselves and can't let the non-football schools dictate what happens.

 

[Dairyair]

I would think that the 27-month rule could hurt UConn in trying to get into the ACC--maybe they wouldn't want to wait two years. I like Phil's thinking on this...

 

[Vowelguy]

I would think that the 27-month rule could hurt UConn in trying to get into the ACC--maybe they wouldn't want to wait two years. I like Phil's thinking on this...

This is a long-term decision. 27 months isnt going to be a deciding factor.

 

[alexrgct]

Oklahoma is much less attractive w/o Texas.
The SEC has absolutely said no to any team having its own deals, so TX is definitely out. If TX agrees to revenue sharing, they'd probably go to Big 10. But that's highly unlikely.

The big 4 conferences now seem to be in pause mode - other than the resolution to the SEC/TAMU issue. There will now be scrambling by Big 12 & BGE to replace lost members.

Ever heard of The Sunshine Network? It's a network heavily affiliated with the University of Florida. Further proof, if any were needed, that A&M is run by a bunch of idiots.

Texas won't join the SEC because it's a conference filled with cheating outlaw programs.

 

[alexrgct]

And for the record, the revenue sharing that Texas isn't interested in sharing are revenues related to Tier 3 TV rights, rights which are most closely associated with its own branding, and rights that any other program in the Big XII had the right to turn into their own network as well. In fact Texas approached A&M years ago with a proposal for a joint network that A&M balked at. Texas approached the entire Big XII with a proposal for a Big XII Network which also was not embraced. So they venture out on their own and now all of a sudden it's a big deal. The whining about this is silly, especially proportional to how little anyone knows about it.

Texas gets $15 million a year from the LHN, 17% of which it owes a production partner, and $5 million of which goes back to the academic side of the school. That's right, Texas manages its own house so well that, not only do public funds not go to support Texas athletics, but it gives millions back to the University (and that was true before the LHN). Why should it have to support less popular and less visionary schools?

Oh wait, here's the punchline: Texas DOES support less popular and less visionary schools. It has long supported equal revenue sharing related to Tier 1 and 2 TV deals with the Big XII, despite the obvious fact that Texas, and not Baylor or Iowa State, is driving the big bucks ESPN and Fox are shelling out to broadcast the league.

So it's already a collegial, somewhat socialistic system, but rather than putting their necks out and innovating on their own and creating their own brand extentions, the big babies want to whine about the LHN and/or leach the profitability thereof. Ain't gonna happen. Want proof? Look how disinterested the PAC came in Ok State, Texas Tech, and even OU, once Texas wouldn't budge past a certain point.