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Big 12 to begin exploring expansion

CoolieMan

CoolieMan

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http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/17108512/big-12-begin-exploring-expansion-candidates

IRVING, Texas -- The Big 12 Conference announced Tuesday that it has authorized commissioner Bob Bowlsby to begin exploring expansion candidates.

The Big 12 board of directors met in Irving and deliberated on the merits of expansion, hearing presentations from two paid consultants on the issue.

Bowlsby is expected to begin contacting schools to gauge their interest in the Big 12 in the coming days.
 
Will be fun to see some non-exciting teams no where near the Big 12 geographical footprint join the conference...

Maybe they could convince Colorado, Nebraska and Texas A&M to come back.
 
they need to add Houston to make up for taking Baylor instead of them when the SWC fell apart
 
Uc just did a major renovation addition to their football stadium and is now doing an 88 million dollar renovation on their basketball venue. They are expecting something to happen to put out all this money.
 
SteelerInLebanon said:
Uc just did a major renovation addition to their football stadium and is now doing an 88 million dollar renovation on their basketball venue. They are expecting something to happen to put out all this money.
Click to expand...

Houston opened a new football stadium two years ago and left the capability to easily expand if necessary....the basketball facility also received renovations along with the training facilities. They are coming off a Peach Bowl victory over FSU.

While UT gives them some TVs in Houston...UH playing anyone else will give them more Houston viewers than Kansas or OK or OK St playing each other...

One of UT's big donors, Red McCombs has stated several times the Houston should have already been added....hopefully that helps sway UT's vote......

after that, I don't care who else gets in
 
All that matters is SEC football on saturdays. Sic 'em Dawgs!
I do live in UNM territory now. The school does have their hardcore fans despite a losing record on a yearly basis. Their basketball program is even going down the *******
 
My guesses would be Houston and...... A team to step up into the big time like North Dakota who has been cleaning up in the 1AA much like App State did before going bowl sub division...

And by the way.... seriously Bowlsby? the Commissioners name is BOWLSby? You cant make that up..
 
well the Governor of Texas and UT's President have tweeted support of UH joining the Big 12........
 
Follow the money... Memphis will be one of the teams.
 
Cincinnati and BYU considered the favorites at the moment. Cincinnati gives a top 40 market and a travel partner for WVU as well as a natural rival. BYU brings a good program and new region.
UC also has major corporate sponsors Like Kroger and P&G backing the move.
 
SteelerInLebanon said:
Cincinnati and BYU considered the favorites at the moment. Cincinnati gives a top 40 market and a travel partner for WVU as well as a natural rival. BYU brings a good program and new region.
UC also has major corporate sponsors Like Kroger and P&G backing the move.
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Yes, a "natural rival" that they need to manufacture because WVU doesn't have anything in common with the rest of the Big 12 teams. Not sure that either of these teams (or any of the other options for that matter) bring anything positive to the conference.
 
SteelerInLebanon said:
In Basketball there is some history between UC and WVU particularly in Bob Huggins. UC has a very good Basketball History.
Click to expand...

If basketball was the reason for expansion, the Big East would be a power conference.
 
The college format with a final four that plays for a championship has been excellent. I'd like to see one less season game and an 8 team format.

This way the undefeated teams will make the cut.
 
SteelerInLebanon said:
Cincinnati and BYU considered the favorites at the moment. Cincinnati gives a top 40 market and a travel partner for WVU as well as a natural rival. BYU brings a good program and new region.
UC also has major corporate sponsors Like Kroger and P&G backing the move.
Click to expand...

UH would step in an revitalize historic rivalries with all the Texas schools in the BIG 12...especially UT.....and help the Big 12 keep some of the Houston market stolen by the SEC when A&M switched leagues
 
Texas ****** up that whole conference. They thought they didn't need a conference. They were Texas. It was arrogance but also stupidity as it was obvious the college football was becoming more about conferences and a playoff was looming.

When the Big Ten started their own network, everybody laughed. Then they saw how much money it made and every conference's goal then became getting their own network, which meant expansion.

Texas started the Longhorn network and unlike the Big Ten network where all the schools get the same cut, Texas was pretty much taking it all and the other schools got almost nothing. That is why Texas A&M and Nebraska jumped ship.

Now Texas has been humbled (for now) and if they want a real conference, they need a network where each school profits. That means the as usual, TV will probably be the driving factor in expansion.

That's bad news for Houston. They may end up getting skipped over like Pitt when the Big Ten expanded. The B1G added Rutgers and Maryland instead of Pitt. Why? Because Penn State already delivered TV sets in Pennsylvania. Pitt did not bring anything new.

The key to conference expansion is "Footprint" Basically that means the geographic area covered by the conference and the # of TVs in that area. Pitt did not expand the Big Ten footprint so they were never considered.

Houston may be in that same boat. Texas may not want them either because Houston could possibly become a thorn in their side if they had a major conference to sell to recruits.

Let's look at some teams that may make sense

First, you have to try to get Texas A&M and Nebraska back. Promise them equal cuts. It probably won't work but you have to try. Both schools would probably rather be in the Big 12 for competition but the money of the Big Ten and SEC is hard to turn down.

After they turn you down, go after

BYU
Footprint - Yes, they push footprint into Utah and they do have a national following because of Mormons.
Competition - Yes, they are generally a solid team
Verdict - No Brainer. They should be the top target

Colorado State
Footprint - Yes, they add Colorado area
Competition - Average. Usually a middle tier team
Veridict - Yes, add a key area to footprint and should be able to get them away from Mountain West

Central Florida
Footprint - Yes, they get you into Florida and UCF is actually one of the largest schools in the country
Competition - Yes, the program has come a long way and is now competitive most years
Verdict - Yes, i feel UCF is a no brainer. The bring a lot to the conference

I feel those should be the top 3 choices. They should add 4 teams to get to 14, so we need 1 more

Memphis
Footprint - Yes, brings in Tennessee and a large city
Competition - OK. not great but won't embarrass themselves
Verdict - Maybe

Tulane
Footprint - Maybe, it's possible the Big 12 network would get on TV in New Orleans even without Tulane
Competition - average, might get crushed in Big 12
Verdict - depends if the need Tulane to get on TV in New Orleans area.

Southern Miss
Footprint - Yes, but not many TV sets in Miss
Competition - average - they are usually decent
Verdict - No

Air Force
Footprint - Yes, they bring Colorado into play and have a national following
Competition - Yes, they are usually pretty good
Verdict - Yes, it seems wise to add either Colo State or Air Force to get into Colorado market. You could add both.

South Florida
Footprint - Yes,
Competition - Yes, they have become respectable
Verdict - Yes if you can't get Central Florida. Maybe if you can get UCF. You may want to add both to shore up the Florida area.


Houston
Footprint - No
Competition - Yes
Verdict - Maybe, Probably best team to add in terms of competition but money rules.

SMU - same as Houston but not as good in competition
Verdict - last resort

New Mexico or New Mexico State - No, they both suck and not many TVs in the area to bring in a **** team.

UNLV - the wildcard
Footprint - Yes
Competition - not really
Verdict - Maybe. What if Vegas gets an NFL team and NFL stadium? Now it makes sens to add UNLV and get on TV in Vegas. Not to mention the fans will love making it a road trip.



If i'm the Big 12, i am adding

1 BYU
2 Central Florida
3 Colorado State
4 Houston

The top 3 are all about money. The 4th team is for competition and the fans.
 
tapeANaspirin2it said:
That's bad news for Houston. They may end up getting skipped over like Pitt when the Big Ten expanded. The B1G added Rutgers and Maryland instead of Pitt. Why? Because Penn State already delivered TV sets in Pennsylvania. Pitt did not bring anything new.

The key to conference expansion is "Footprint" Basically that means the geographic area covered by the conference and the # of TVs in that area. Pitt did not expand the Big Ten footprint so they were never considered.
Click to expand...

Thank goodness Pitt didn't end up in the B1G. Too many huge state schools. No way Pitt could keep up with OSU and Michigan with their huge, always filled stadiums. Pitt has a chance to be competitive with most of the teams in the ACC. They'd be Purdue in the B1G.
 
steelermania said:
Thank goodness Pitt didn't end up in the B1G. Too many huge state schools. No way Pitt could keep up with OSU and Michigan with their huge, always filled stadiums. Pitt has a chance to be competitive with most of the teams in the ACC. They'd be Purdue in the B1G.
Click to expand...

Playing Penn State every year would be fun, but teams can work that out with the OOC schedule. Beyond this, not much (if anything) in common with the B1G. The ACC was a much, much better fit for Pitt.
 
the Big 12 is losing the Houston market to the SEC....A&M and LSU both have huge amounts of fans in this city. The Big 12 has a footprint here, but it is a small one....adding Houston would help stem the tide and give them a bigger piece of the 10 largest TV market in the country.....
 
CoolieMan said:
the Big 12 is losing the Houston market to the SEC....A&M and LSU both have huge amounts of fans in this city. The Big 12 has a footprint here, but it is a small one....adding Houston would help stem the tide and give them a bigger piece of the 10 largest TV market in the country.....
Click to expand...

That may be true, but Texas is still probably calling the shots in the conference. If they don't want Houston, that may be the end of it.
 
tapeANaspirin2it said:
That may be true, but Texas is still probably calling the shots in the conference. If they don't want Houston, that may be the end of it.
Click to expand...

well, Texas has come out publicly supporting Houston's bid to get in....one of their biggest donors, Red McCombs, has publicly stated Houston should be in....the Governor of Texas has stated Houston should be in...

now the Texas support could be part of a plan to get Houston to drop complaints about some land UT bought in Houston for a possible satellite campus...if that is the case, I would bet UH drops their complaint for a chance to move up.....
 
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