West Virginia to the Big 12, are you kidding me? It seems like every week we have another team playing hop scotch between the major conferences. I understand the Big East might be dying and West Virginia is covering their rear end but when will all of this stop. And we all know the motivation behind this conference shuffle, greed.
Universities are looking to put themselves in a position to capitalize on lucrative T.V. contracts and sold out stadiums. Sure West Virginia might also be looking for a stable conference with the demise of the Big East looming ahead, but why did they even leave? Why did Syracuse and Pittsburgh all vacate the conference they have called home all these years? Money!
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| Could WV and Oklahoma become a new rivalry? |
It is not just the Big East teams either; it is Texas A&M, Missouri, Colorado. You would think maybe the schools care about tradition and history and rivals. Nope, the Big East, one of the most storied basketball conferences is now in shambles. What about Rivalries? Calhoun – Boheim, the Backyard Brawl, Nebraska –Oklahoma, all are after-thoughts.
Now we all know the football is the money maker, it is the music behind this game of musical chairs. This might be why we see schools leaving the Big East. I mean it is no surprise to anyone that the Big East has the weakest BCS football conference. Yah, they might be the powerhouse in college basketball but what does that mean these days. Out of the top 50 revenue generating athletic teams in college sports, only 12 were basketball.
West Virginia will get a tremendous upgrade in their athletic program. Imagine being able to tell a recruit they get to play schools such as Texas and Oklahoma versus Rutgers and Syracuse (and it will be nationally televised). With the better recruits come better programs, which lead to sold out stadiums. How about a school like Texas A&M, not only are they joining the best football conference in the country, they also join the conference with the best T.V. contract. No matter which you way you look at, it will always come down the greenback.
I think the ACC was a big winner by grabbing Syracuse and Pittsburgh. Not that they were programs that the B1G would have ever taken, but their assertion over the Big East solidifies their spot in the "top 4" (Big 12 excluded because Texas' attitude WILL eventually kill that conference once and for all.)
ReplyDeleteFrom inside that "top 4" looking out, it's a lot of fun to watch everyone panic and bicker and try to stay afloat. It's too bad there's some good programs out there yet, or the SEC/B1G/ACC/PAC could just get a four-team playoff system off the ground already.
100% percent agree, with the idea about Texas. The Longhorn network is going to drive that conference into the ground. But for now, it is not going anywhere as long as Oklahoma is there.
ReplyDeleteOnce it does, i think it would be a no brainer to at least to a +1 playoff with the four major conference champions but there would be outrage from the mid major conference... My answer to their outrage, JOIN A REAL CONFERENCE!
kennedy, why are u angry about realignment then proceed to get pissed at the mid majors for not moving conferences. The biggest joke of them all is TCU just switching conferences like they are on a bar crawl.
ReplyDeleteI can care less about the Mid Major conferences, if they want to join a BCS conference that is fine with me. It is the already established schools.
ReplyDeleteTCU is a joke. They are like girl at the dance who had no date but then got asked by the lineman (Big East). Only to then be recognized and asked by the WR (Big 12) who everyone likes (BCS)yet it still was not the QB (SEC).
i totally agree with the conference realignment bullshit...i'm shocked west virginia didnt leave a while ago..maybe academics arent up to par with other conferences...and as for all the other sports...it may be sad but noone gives a damn about them, they have no say and i think its fair since they dont bring in much of those dolla bills you talking about
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