What I wouldn't give, to see the aloof Nebraska fanbase after the Big Ten votes to deny them membership. All these articles put it as a foregone conclusion that they will be accepted.
Does anyone believe the OK/OK State/Texas/TAMU/TTech to PAC 10 on Tuesday rumor? Did Colorado do these schools a favor by joining the PAC 10 ahead of time?
Thanks for the update b-dowd. It's been a really interesting couple days in the college sports world considering there is no football an basketball. I'm conflicted as to who I'd like to see next. I'm not a big fan of inviting Texas, Rutgers, or Syracuse. I'd like to see a Missouri or a Pittsburgh or dare I say it, Notre Dame.
It is a foregone conclusion that they will be accepted, Ryan. While technically the process involves a school applying to be accepted, the conference meets with the school in advance to ensure that schools aren't hung out to dry (and thus presumably to encourage other schools to consider future expansion possibilities).
The process seems to work in almost the exact opposite direction: the conference does some work to identify the most qualified candidates, looks at those they think are the best, apparently decides whom they'd accept if they apply, and then touches base with the school to let them know they've been pre-approved. (Of course this is the stage where Notre Dame says "The Big Ten wants us and of course we do not need to be part of a conference because WE ARE SO GREAT." Except they already are part of a conference in everything but football schedule.)
I don't buy the Pac-10 rumor just yet. There have been a number of package rumors from that side of the country that did not pan out (just like the five-pack the Big Ten was supposed to be inviting).
In theory, Colorado did UT a favor by getting in ahead of the rush: it ensured that Texas couldn't take all three of the other schools anywhere (the Big Ten wouldn't take the four-pack and the Pac-10 was supposedly looking at the entire South Division). If that were the case, then Texas could presumably make up its own mind and leave the other schools to their own fates (thus the UT/Tech/OU/OSU rumor more recently).
Frankly, that seems even less likely than the six-pack rumor ... three sub-par academic schools plus Texas? (If A&M becomes the 16th school, I guess it's about the same as the earlier deal, just with Colorado replacing Baylor.) But the Pac-10 does need to add some big markets, and the only reasonable ones left to them are Dallas and Houston, I think. (Salt Lake City isn't that big ... if the Texas schools don't go, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Pac-10 make a play for Utah and BYU.)
My gut (which is sizable and filled with donuts and wisdom) says Texas and the others are as much of a done deal to the Pac16 as Nebraska was to the BT 5 days ago.
I think we might see Delany continue the mostly-silent treatment for a while in regard to further expansion. I think he wants to see everyone else scrambling.
Also, I now have a Big 12 team to pull for. I'd love to see Nebraska mow down the conference in their last season playing in it.... before moving on to the big boys.
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What I wouldn't give, to see the aloof Nebraska fanbase after the Big Ten votes to deny them membership. All these articles put it as a foregone conclusion that they will be accepted.
Does anyone believe the OK/OK State/Texas/TAMU/TTech to PAC 10 on Tuesday rumor? Did Colorado do these schools a favor by joining the PAC 10 ahead of time?
This will be on the BTN at 6EST
I'll bet the Loosiers already have them penciled in for Picture Day.
Thanks for the update b-dowd. It's been a really interesting couple days in the college sports world considering there is no football an basketball. I'm conflicted as to who I'd like to see next. I'm not a big fan of inviting Texas, Rutgers, or Syracuse. I'd like to see a Missouri or a Pittsburgh or dare I say it, Notre Dame.
It is a foregone conclusion that they will be accepted, Ryan. While technically the process involves a school applying to be accepted, the conference meets with the school in advance to ensure that schools aren't hung out to dry (and thus presumably to encourage other schools to consider future expansion possibilities).
The process seems to work in almost the exact opposite direction: the conference does some work to identify the most qualified candidates, looks at those they think are the best, apparently decides whom they'd accept if they apply, and then touches base with the school to let them know they've been pre-approved. (Of course this is the stage where Notre Dame says "The Big Ten wants us and of course we do not need to be part of a conference because WE ARE SO GREAT." Except they already are part of a conference in everything but football schedule.)
I don't buy the Pac-10 rumor just yet. There have been a number of package rumors from that side of the country that did not pan out (just like the five-pack the Big Ten was supposed to be inviting).
In theory, Colorado did UT a favor by getting in ahead of the rush: it ensured that Texas couldn't take all three of the other schools anywhere (the Big Ten wouldn't take the four-pack and the Pac-10 was supposedly looking at the entire South Division). If that were the case, then Texas could presumably make up its own mind and leave the other schools to their own fates (thus the UT/Tech/OU/OSU rumor more recently).
Frankly, that seems even less likely than the six-pack rumor ... three sub-par academic schools plus Texas? (If A&M becomes the 16th school, I guess it's about the same as the earlier deal, just with Colorado replacing Baylor.) But the Pac-10 does need to add some big markets, and the only reasonable ones left to them are Dallas and Houston, I think. (Salt Lake City isn't that big ... if the Texas schools don't go, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Pac-10 make a play for Utah and BYU.)
Notre Dame is still pissed about the Fielding Yost snub.
My gut (which is sizable and filled with donuts and wisdom) says Texas and the others are as much of a done deal to the Pac16 as Nebraska was to the BT 5 days ago.
I think we might see Delany continue the mostly-silent treatment for a while in regard to further expansion. I think he wants to see everyone else scrambling.
Dozer -- excellent point.
Also, I now have a Big 12 team to pull for. I'd love to see Nebraska mow down the conference in their last season playing in it.... before moving on to the big boys.
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