Conference realignment "Rumors" "tweets" "etc"

[flsportsfan83]

BYU has history and a fanbase, we have neither.

[NewEnglandBull]

Call me a unicorn, but I still believe the west side stays in tact (relative to financial considerations if these schools move out). Further, the BB schools who may want to leave simply do not have the votes. Villanova may get the greenlight to move to FB in the BE conference in return for a no vote. If the west stays in tact and we lose just Ville or UCONN this conference is still better than past or current Conf USA. Further, this would still be the conference that gets the access bid in most years and this issue should not be forgotten. Again, I still feel that long term we are ACC bound. Just need FSU to get their asses on the move.

You are a flaming unicorn.

So what happens here "Great Predictor of the future?"

[NewEnglandBull]

Call me a unicorn, but I still believe the west side stays in tact (relative to financial considerations if these schools move out). Further, the BB schools who may want to leave simply do not have the votes. Villanova may get the greenlight to move to FB in the BE conference in return for a no vote. If the west stays in tact and we lose just Ville or UCONN this conference is still better than past or current Conf USA. Further, this would still be the conference that gets the access bid in most years and this issue should not be forgotten. Again, I still feel that long term we are ACC bound. Just need FSU to get their asses on the move.

You are a flaming unicorn.

So what happens here "Great Predictor of the future?"

I have no idea. I just minored in Flaming Unicorns in USF so felt like a good spot to use that muscle.

Oh, you're the one.

[NewEnglandBull]

Call me a unicorn, but I still believe the west side stays in tact (relative to financial considerations if these schools move out). Further, the BB schools who may want to leave simply do not have the votes. Villanova may get the greenlight to move to FB in the BE conference in return for a no vote. If the west stays in tact and we lose just Ville or UCONN this conference is still better than past or current Conf USA. Further, this would still be the conference that gets the access bid in most years and this issue should not be forgotten. Again, I still feel that long term we are ACC bound. Just need FSU to get their asses on the move.

You are a flaming unicorn.

So what happens here "Great Predictor of the future?"

I have no idea. I just minored in Flaming Unicorns in USF so felt like a good spot to use that muscle.

Oh, you're the one.

I figured it would be a niche market I could corner. That will now be $5000.

You choose the wrong minor. With the "fiscal cliff" taking place the unicorn market will be decreasing substantially.

[Who'sYourData?]

I did want to remind everyone the disaster for football that being an independent was in our past. We were a I-A Independent in 2001 and 2002. The results: in 2001 we went 7-4 but were bowl ineligible because we scheduled two games that didn't count. So for bowl purposes we were 5-4 (we played two I-AA's, and both didn't count because they didn't award enough scholarships to count, the rules allow you to count 1 win vs. I-AA, but only if you schedule the right I-AA) .... then in 2002 we went 9-2 but as an Independent, 9-2 was not good enough for a bowl game, despite the fact that many 6-5 teams went.

100% accurate.

Anyone who thinks being an independent provides any benefit for any team other than. A military academy (questionable) and not named Notre Dame simply doesn't understand what would be involved in scheduling, obtaining TV time and what would be required to get in a bowl game. In addition, being in a conference still provides some bowl money for every conference member. Regardless of bowl participation or not.

There is no benefit whatsoever for USF to not have a conference affiliation.

This is exactly what would happen. Virtually every bowl is tied to a conference. The only spots available for independents are when a conference does not have enough teams to fill their spots. So USF would get a chance to fill a spot in the 6th best ACC bowl, the 8th best SEC bowl, etc. If you didn't think a bowl game at the Trop was prestigious, wait until USF goes 10-2 and you play in the Blue Bonnet bowl in Perioa, Iowa or something similar. And the $500k bowl payout would barely pay for expenses. BYU gets $4mil/year in TV money. USF would be lucky to scrape together $1mil as an independent. Even C-USA is better than Independence, unless you have a large national following and the long standing relationships to be able to fill a schedule. We have neither.

[MikeG]

independent is so tough -- even if you have a sterling record, the bowls think you don't travel well and shun you

I think when some people make the comment about going back to CUSA, it's kind of a joke in that CUSA has pretty much moved to the Big East already. We are pretty much all CUSA teams left behind. ANd if we go over to the ACC-- there will be some of those former CUSA teams in there too.

so the distinction is a bit fuzzy-- except for the bowl affiliation and tv contracts. That is our saving grace-- the TV market we are situated in along with some other factors like size and Florida recruiting trips.

Don't fret too much-- I think we end up somewhere as good if not better than where we are today. My guess is ACC with a possibility of the Big 12-- I would prefer the ACC in all honesty from a travel perspective. It may not be the better of the two conferences but it seems like a more natural fit.

[charsibb]

Even going back to 1AA would be better than going indie.

We MUST be in a conference, end of story.

[jd77]

Ryan Pence †@ pencerm

I'm hearing the # Bearcats to the ACC is a done deal. Maybe even to the point of a signed agreement. Working to confirm.

This guy is the 247 sports Cincy publisher. This would be the equivalent of Josh Newberg or Larry Weisbaum tweeting something like this.

[WoolyBully]

I agree Mike. I'd probably make more road trips since I wouldn't have to veer that far off of 85 or 95!

I'd prefer the ACC, that's just me. I do think, however, that the BE two years down the road, whether

we are in it or not, will be CUSA Phase II. In the wonderful world of college sports, it really does come

down to bowl affiliation and media contracts. I can't see where CUSA Phase II would be that attractive.

[Who'sYourData?]

Ryan Pence †@ pencerm

I'm hearing the # Bearcats to the ACC is a done deal. Maybe even to the point of a signed agreement. Working to confirm.

This guy is the 247 sports Cincy publisher. This would be the equivalent of Josh Newberg or Larry Weisbaum tweeting something like this.

Twitter is ablaze with Cincy, UL and UConn to the ACC on Monday.

Crap.