Conference realignment "Rumors" "tweets" "etc"

[JTrue]

Tuxedo Yoda ‏@TuxedoYoda  Feb 17

Source tells me there are schools in the G5 that would like to become P5. 

[BullsFanInTX]

15 hours ago, CPR said:

This is wrong. It happened last time and it could happen again, whether it's us again or UCF this time.

And last time was a mistake.  If the BE had taken UCF, TCU, ECU, and Houston back when we joined, it may still be together today.

The B12 won't create more islands, when they are trying to get rid of one island already (WVU). 

[Triple B]

5 hours ago, Knightfan41 said:

Actually as a history lesson originally the Big East was going to offer UCF a football only membership.  But as Boston College bailed the basketball schools wanted a school with a better basketball program which USF had.  so at that point UCF actually was on the radar for football. 

 

4 hours ago, Triple B said:

Actually, real lessons are backed up by facts. That "lesson" is what this awesome thread is chock full of ....... unfounded rumors.

 

2 hours ago, Knightfan41 said:

I am sure if you care to search the archives it will confirm my statement. 

No problem. Just point me in the direction of the archived Big East meetings from back then where the talks about offering UCF a football only invite would be and I'll be more than happy to pore over them until I find the info. Even one BE official on record stating it would confirm your statement ..... until then, it's nothing more than the awesome 600+ pages we have here of gossip and rumors.

[Dogma]

2 hours ago, Knightfan41 said:

I am sure if you care to search the archives it will confirm my statement. 

 

Since this is what you are claiming to be true.. then it's up to you to provide the reputable sources to back this up.

[Knightfan41]

5 minutes ago, Dogma said:

 

Since this is what you are claiming to be true.. then it's up to you to provide the reputable sources to back this up.

If you had been around at that time you would know what I say is accurate.  You could look back at the discussions here on this message board and find it.  This was just a response to someone saying that UCF was not even on the Big East's radar which was just not accurate.  The whole scene was different at that point.  This was well before either program had accomplished anything.  USF selling point to tip the balance was its basketball program.  Remember that the Big East was controlled by the basketball schools at that point.  UCF's program was still playing in a gymnasium. 

[BullsFanInTX]

A lot more mentions today.  B12 serious candidates seem to be finalized down to UC, UConn, BYU, USF, and UCF according to almost all articles coming out now.  Boise and Houston to a lesser extent, but not serious due to small market (Boise) and B12 already having Houston covered.

http://www.kctv5.com/story/31244027/big-12-expansion-decision-could-come-this-summer#WNPoll151410

KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -

A decision on whether to expand the Big 12 could be decided this summer, according to University of Oklahoma president David Boren.

Here's a list of possible additions:

• BYU: A rich football history with excellent athletic facilities, the Cougars are truly a national brand. They would bring in Salt Lake City, along with a number of smaller TV markets.
• Cincinnati: They compete with Ohio State and the Cincinnati Bengals for recognition. They often play in a half-empty Paul Brown Stadium. They would bring a number of large TV markets into the mix. They are not a national football brand, although hoops have been good.
• UCONN: The big-time basketball power has spent millions on their football program reaching a Fiesta Bowl where they were beaten by Oklahoma. Because of hoops, they are nationally known. They would bring in some major TV markets and would provide a neighbor for West Virginia.
• South Florida and Central Florida: I do radio in Tampa, and for years they've been pushing these schools as perfect targets for Big 12 expansion. Their argument: both USF and UCF boast massive enrollments, and reside in great TV markets (Tampa and Orlando). They both play in nice stadiums and have access to tremendous high school talent. With membership in the Big 12, they'll be able to grow their athletic programs. Just look at what Baylor and TCU have done. Since joining the Big 12, both schools have built or expanded their football stadiums and have heavily invested in basketball. The Florida schools would follow that path and bring Big 12 football into a state that loves college football. Neither school has a national following, but neither did Baylor- until they started winning.
• Boise State: Purely in terms of football success, the Broncos are a slam dunk. They've played in - and won - BCS bowl games (remember their epic Fiesta Bowl win over Oklahoma?). And they have turned their blue astro turf field into one of football's most recognized locations. They would be a neighbor for BYU, but they bring little else to the table. Their stadium is small (although it is filled). They would mean little in terms of adding TV markets to the mix.
• Houston: The Cougars are rolling right now, attracting national attention for their football success, but in all other ways, they would add nothing to the mix. The conference footprint already includes the city of Houston, and the other Texas schools have no desire to add another Texas school (some still see  TCU as a mistake).

There are a few other possible candidates, but no one that appears to be a serious contender.

 

http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/02/17/expand-or-not-to-expand-come-this-summer-big-12-to-decide/

 

As for potential expansion candidates, the data shows there are a handful of possibilities — or the usual suspects as some would label them. In addition to Cincinnati, Boise State, BYU, UConn, UCF and USF have been mentioned to varying degrees as fits for an expanded Big 12. Houston would seemingly be an ideal candidate as well, although there would likely be pushback from the state of Texas contingent in the league.

 

[Dogma]

11 minutes ago, Knightfan41 said:

If you had been around at that time you would know what I say is accurate.  You could look back at the discussions here on this message board and find it.  This was just a response to someone saying that UCF was not even on the Big East's radar which was just not accurate.  The whole scene was different at that point.  This was well before either program had accomplished anything.  USF selling point to tip the balance was its basketball program.  Remember that the Big East was controlled by the basketball schools at that point.  UCF's program was still playing in a gymnasium. 

Your counter argument is:

Actually as a history lesson originally the Big East was going to offer UCF a football only membership. 

to which you fail to provide any evidence of.

[Mike Stuben]

I googled and found one reference to a football only membership to the Big East for UCF ./.. and it is dated 2010. lol

 

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2010-11-04/sports/os-bianchi-ucf-big-east-football-20101104_1_ucf-football-program-ucf-athletic-director-football-only-invitation 

[Atlanta Bull]

http://newsok.com/boren-says-big-12-expansion-decision-should-come-this-summer/article/5479305?custom_click=rss&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

The University of Cincinnati is excited about a possible invitation to the Big 12, and the Bearcats ought to be optimistic.

But not because of some emails between UC president Santa Ono and OU president David Boren. The excitement should stem from the growing belief that expansion indeed is in the Big 12's future.

Boren on Tuesday told The Oklahoman that Big 12 presidents have agreed that they need to make a decision, perhaps by this summer, on the reforms Boren has championed: expansion, a football championship game and implementation of a conference network.

“We're in a fact-finding mode, we're in a data-gathering mode,” Boren said. “In other words, what will it mean to the stability of the conference? What will it mean financially to the conference?

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“We've sort of said to ourselves, come this summer, we're going to have to finally make a decision about what we do. We cannot indefinitely postpone decisions. That's what I had gotten frustrated about. I thought we were spinning our wheels.”

But Boren says the presidents have agreed to research the numbers and let the data decide.

“And I think a consensus is forming around these three reforms,” Boren said. “So I'm in a personal mode of patience. Trying to be patient, because sometimes it takes time to work through.”

Cincinnati doesn't mind waiting. Like the other prime candidates — Brigham Young, Connecticut, Central Florida, Boise State — the Bearcats have no other viable options for inclusion into the Power Five conferences.

The Cincinnati Enquirer released emails it obtained from Ono's office, in which Boren lauded Ono, writing, “…knowing that you are at the helm in Cincinnati makes me even more inclined to support your cause.”

+2photos

Very nice and quite possibly true and completely irrelevant to the discussion. First, I would assume Boren and other Big 12 power-brokers sweet-talk all kinds of potential expansion candidates. No reason not to. No reason not to encourage every potential school, to beef up their cause.

Last October, Boren volunteered his pending campaign to push for expansion and other reforms. I asked him who he liked. He said he didn't care. He mentioned all the usual suspects. BYU, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Boise State. Maybe Boren has a personal favorite, but those Cincinnati emails are no clue.

In fact, Boren said Tuesday that in the same way he favors letting the data determine whether the Big 12 adds new members, a title game and network, he favors letting the data determine who the new members would be.

“I think people are being very sincere about trying to look at the figures and the facts,” Boren said. “Not be emotional about it or ‘I want this school' or ‘I want that.'

“Well, what are their academics? What's their research base? How well do they fit our academic profile? How well do they fit our fan base profile? How many dollars in their market do they bring to the table? We're looking at all that. In terms of the network and those dollars, we're looking with our TV consultants to tell us.”

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Of course, not every question can be answered with facts and data. How important is geography in the expansion talks? That's not a data question. That's a subjective question.

If the Big 12 decides to expand totally East, as it did with West Virginia, then Cincinnati is sitting pretty. If the Big 12 decides to add Brigham Young, which seems to be the strongest candidate outside geography, then Cincinnati could be competing with UConn for only one spot. If the Big 12 decides to add the two best football schools, the league could sweep up the West duo of BYU and Boise State.

But Boren is promoting the data. The Big 12 might let the data do the talking.

Cincinnati brings solid football and good academics. Cincinnati would not strongly impact the Big 12's network television contract, but Cincinnati potentially could impact the value of a conference network, since getting onto cable systems in Ohio would be a bonanza.

Lots of moving parts. That's why first things first. If there were obvious candidates, the Big 12 long ago would have expanded.

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For now, the prime directive is convincing the holdouts that expansion is necessary and convincing Texas to give up The Longhorn Network for the greater good of a Big 12 Network.

“What's good about it, I would say, no one's slammed the door shut on any possibilities,” Boren said. “We're doing what we should do. We're being prudent, we're being diligent. We're reviewing all the data."

The Big 12 is in better shape than it's been at any time since the major realignment of 2011. Oklahoma made the College Football Playoff. The Big 12 has been dominant this basketball season. The financial TV payouts have been strong. But Boren says that's why now is the time to decide.

"“It's a good time to act," Boren said. "Let's don't wait until we have a crisis or we're about to lose a member or two. We're stable right now, we like each other. Most people in the Big 12 want to stay in the Big 12. It's the right time to make progress.”

So be optimistic, Cincinnati. Just not too excited. The data, not year-old emails, will decide your future.

[Triple B]

29 minutes ago, Knightfan41 said:

If you had been around at that time you would know what I say is accurate.  You could look back at the discussions here on this message board and find it.  This was just a response to someone saying that UCF was not even on the Big East's radar which was just not accurate.  The whole scene was different at that point.  This was well before either program had accomplished anything.  USF selling point to tip the balance was its basketball program.  Remember that the Big East was controlled by the basketball schools at that point.  UCF's program was still playing in a gymnasium. 

 

After the first sentence, not too much I have a problem with. It's when you started out by wanting to give us uninformed Bulls fans a "history lesson", about the BE originally going to give UCF a football only invite, based on nothing more than Internet message board postings is when it gets laughable.