The Big 12 has survived. Texas, Tex Tech, Oklahoma and Ok St are committed to the success of this conference. Dan Bebee is out and the Big 12 has become a proactive conference rather than reacting to poaching. The Big 12 is stable now. Missouri will soon be gone but replaced. Unfortunately, Missouri leaving provides a great opportunity for college football reform. What is my suggestion? 5 14 team almost super-conferences.
Let's start with the easiest one to predict, the SEC:
SEC East:
Florida
Georgia,
South Carolina,
Kentucky
Tennessee,
Vanderbilt
Missouri
SEC West:
Alabama,
Auburn,
Ole Miss,
Mississippi St,
LSU,
Arkansas,
Texas A&M
Next up let's look at what the Big 12 could do to establish themselves as one of the premier conferences
Big 12 East:
Baylor,
TCU,
USF,
UCF,
Louisville,
Cincinnati,
West Virginia
Big 12 West:
Texas,
Texas Tech,
Oklahoma,
Oklahoma St,
Kansas,
Kansas St,
Iowa St
The ACC has already committed to 14 teams:
ACC North:
Boston College,
Syracuse,
Pittsburgh,
Maryland,
Virginia,
Virginia Tech
Miami
ACC South
Duke,
UNC,
NC State,
Wake Forest,
Clemson,
Georgia Tech,
Florida State
Next would be the Big 10 who would take up the remnants of the Big East like so...
Big 10 East:
Ohio State,
Wisconsin,
Indiana,
Purdue,
Penn State,
Rutgers,
UConn,
Big 10 West:
Michigan,
Michigan State,
Illinois,
Northwestern,
Minnesota,
Nebraska,
Iowa,
and finally, the fifth conference of 14, the Pac:
Pac 14 North:
Washington
Washington State,
Oregon,
Oregon State,
Stanford,
California,
Pac 14 South:
Arizona,
Arizona State,
Colorado,
Utah,
USC,
UCLA,
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Notre Dame: The embodiment of everything wrong in college athletics
Disclaimer: I have nothing against Notre Dame or the Catholic religion. I recognize Notre Dame as being a program rich in tradition, with a national following and respectable athletics
However, I feel that Notre Dame embodies everything that is currently wrong with college athletics...don't believe me? That's your call, but let me share my two cents.
1. Notre Dame is viewed as the holy grail- tons of revenue. Instant prestige and credibility. As of today, the ACC, Big 10 and Big 12 all would love to welcome Notre Dame to their fold. What is the problem? The closest school in the ACC would be Pittsburgh, an 8 hour drive to Indiana. If Notre Dame joins the ACC, UConn will probably be team #16. The Big 10 has no reason to expand unless Notre Dame is available. Ya Louisville will probably get picked up by the Big 12. Maybe Cincy will too in this scenario. But Rutgers and South Florida will be alone with no AQ conference potential and none of that BCS money.
Big 12? Now that West Virginia is joining has their closest school 7 hours away. Everyone is giving up the potential to develop great regional rivalries for the almighty dollar of Notre Dame. The Big 12 could pick up West Virginia, Louisville and Cincinnati, three programs with similar cultures, history and rivalries stemming from the Big East days. UConn and Rutgers would probably get picked up by the ACC to create regional rivals with Syracuse and Boston College.But Cincy and South Florida would be left out in the cold if the Big 12 can make Notre Dame join..even if it means adding BYU for football and Notre Dame for everything else.
How about the Big 10, who has everything they want? I'll be honest, I don't know who the Big 10 would pick up as team 14 if Notre Dame joined. I have heard Rutgers, and that would probably be my first guess. ACC won't add anyone unless Notre Dame is part of the deal...sorry UConn. How about you, USF with the Tampa market? Nah, we got that covered with Florida State.
Regardless of what happens, if Notre Dame joins ANY conference and gives up their independence, it will be at the expense of someone else. Regardless of whether Notre Dame is a better geographical or cultural fit is a moot point. Because with the money of Notre Dame, who cares? Someone is gonna get left out.
Nevermind the incredible rivalry opportunities of the Big 12 adding WVU, Louisville, Cincy, USF and UCF to make a 14 team conference with a triad of close rivals and a rivalry in-state that would be passionate and intense every year.
Nevermind the Big 10 adding UConn and Rutgers to reach 14 and pick up NY and NE markets while retaining that Big East rivalry.
Nevermind the ACC adding UConn and Rutgers to develop a NE rivalry between Boston College and UConn, and a NY rivalry between Rutgers and Syracuse.
Finally, Notre Dame's approach regarding conference affiliations embodies the current collegiate psyche. I am a strong advocate of Notre Dame staying independent because it works out nicer. But let's face it. Notre Dame has decided it would rather put it's schools own interests ahead of what is best for the college landscape. It is this attitude which has been adopted by the Pac 12, the Big 10, the Big 12, the SEC and even the ACC which is truly disturbing. Despite the options laid out to develop 5 14 team conferences loosely based on geographic rivals (like the Pac) everyone has decided they are too content with what they have. Which will leave the remnants of the Big East stranded in isolation. Why? Because Cincinnati isn't an attractive option for the Big 10 with Ohio State around. The SEC wouldn't dare consider USF, UCF or Louisville because they already have Florida and Kentucky.
The simple matter is teams will get left out for one of two reasons:
1. They got replaced by the more attractive beauty queen known as Notre Dame.
2. The greediness of conferences and lack of desire to seek what is in the best interest of college football as a collective, but rather solely what is in the best interest of the 12-14 conference members.
None of these will happen despite the attractiveness of these options because none of these programs bring in the financial revenue of Notre Dame. Which is too bad. It really is a damn shame that the almighty dollar is more important than the rivalries which have made college football great for so long.
However, I feel that Notre Dame embodies everything that is currently wrong with college athletics...don't believe me? That's your call, but let me share my two cents.
1. Notre Dame is viewed as the holy grail- tons of revenue. Instant prestige and credibility. As of today, the ACC, Big 10 and Big 12 all would love to welcome Notre Dame to their fold. What is the problem? The closest school in the ACC would be Pittsburgh, an 8 hour drive to Indiana. If Notre Dame joins the ACC, UConn will probably be team #16. The Big 10 has no reason to expand unless Notre Dame is available. Ya Louisville will probably get picked up by the Big 12. Maybe Cincy will too in this scenario. But Rutgers and South Florida will be alone with no AQ conference potential and none of that BCS money.
Big 12? Now that West Virginia is joining has their closest school 7 hours away. Everyone is giving up the potential to develop great regional rivalries for the almighty dollar of Notre Dame. The Big 12 could pick up West Virginia, Louisville and Cincinnati, three programs with similar cultures, history and rivalries stemming from the Big East days. UConn and Rutgers would probably get picked up by the ACC to create regional rivals with Syracuse and Boston College.But Cincy and South Florida would be left out in the cold if the Big 12 can make Notre Dame join..even if it means adding BYU for football and Notre Dame for everything else.
How about the Big 10, who has everything they want? I'll be honest, I don't know who the Big 10 would pick up as team 14 if Notre Dame joined. I have heard Rutgers, and that would probably be my first guess. ACC won't add anyone unless Notre Dame is part of the deal...sorry UConn. How about you, USF with the Tampa market? Nah, we got that covered with Florida State.
Regardless of what happens, if Notre Dame joins ANY conference and gives up their independence, it will be at the expense of someone else. Regardless of whether Notre Dame is a better geographical or cultural fit is a moot point. Because with the money of Notre Dame, who cares? Someone is gonna get left out.
Nevermind the incredible rivalry opportunities of the Big 12 adding WVU, Louisville, Cincy, USF and UCF to make a 14 team conference with a triad of close rivals and a rivalry in-state that would be passionate and intense every year.
Nevermind the Big 10 adding UConn and Rutgers to reach 14 and pick up NY and NE markets while retaining that Big East rivalry.
Nevermind the ACC adding UConn and Rutgers to develop a NE rivalry between Boston College and UConn, and a NY rivalry between Rutgers and Syracuse.
Finally, Notre Dame's approach regarding conference affiliations embodies the current collegiate psyche. I am a strong advocate of Notre Dame staying independent because it works out nicer. But let's face it. Notre Dame has decided it would rather put it's schools own interests ahead of what is best for the college landscape. It is this attitude which has been adopted by the Pac 12, the Big 10, the Big 12, the SEC and even the ACC which is truly disturbing. Despite the options laid out to develop 5 14 team conferences loosely based on geographic rivals (like the Pac) everyone has decided they are too content with what they have. Which will leave the remnants of the Big East stranded in isolation. Why? Because Cincinnati isn't an attractive option for the Big 10 with Ohio State around. The SEC wouldn't dare consider USF, UCF or Louisville because they already have Florida and Kentucky.
The simple matter is teams will get left out for one of two reasons:
1. They got replaced by the more attractive beauty queen known as Notre Dame.
2. The greediness of conferences and lack of desire to seek what is in the best interest of college football as a collective, but rather solely what is in the best interest of the 12-14 conference members.
None of these will happen despite the attractiveness of these options because none of these programs bring in the financial revenue of Notre Dame. Which is too bad. It really is a damn shame that the almighty dollar is more important than the rivalries which have made college football great for so long.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Saving the Big 12
Well nonexistent readers, we have some interesting developments. Let's catch you up...
Texas and Oklahoma have set their differences aside to try and make the Big 12 work. As a result, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State are staying put as well. Texas A&M has left the conference and Missouri is looking for the exit sign, hoping the SEC calls their name. Meanwhile, The ACC picked up Syracuse and Pittsburgh to expand to 14 teams.
Jim Delaney has stated that the Big 10 is sitting out this round of re-alignment roulette. Ditto for Larry Scott and the Pac 12. The SEC has 1 or 3 vacancies depending on if they are looking at going to 14 or 16. The Big 12 (which just picked up TCU) is currently at 10 teams, and looking into further expansion. The Big East is also looking to expand, but no one wants to join until they know what they are getting into.
I have a new plan. One which allows the Big 10 and the Pac 12 to sit by and enjoy their new companions. One in which the current members of the Big East all get to retain the BCS bowl berth, as well as the Big 12, albeit in a different format. The one flaw to my plan? The ACC would have to pick up UConn and Rutgers to expand to 16 teams. Let's also assume the SEC decides to pick up West Virginia to get to 14 teams and pick up an Eastern team instead of splitting up Alabama & Auburn. My plan works almost as well if the SEC picks up Missouri, but not quite as neat. For now let's assume WVU is off to the SEC
Our new look Big East:
Rutgers
Syracuse
Uconn
Pittsburgh
West Virginia
Louisville
Cincinnati
South Florida
The Big 12 currently looks like:
Texas
Texas Tech
TCU
Baylor
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
Iowa State
Missouri
Kansas
Kansas State
Strategy: We want to improve the strength of the conference while expanding the conference footpirnt. Let's add BYU and Air Force from Independence and the Mountain West to pick up the Utah (and actually national Mormon) TV sets as well as Denver. Next let's pick up South Florida and Central Florida to gain the Tampa and Orlando markets. Yes USF, it is time to let in your little brother UCF. The Big 12 would pick up more TV markets, but you get to keep your BCS eligibility which you would have otherwise lost. Lastly, if any conference knows what it is like to be a smaller market team in a state and get passed over it should be the Big 12. Don't be jerks and pick up Cincinnati and Louisville. They actually do increase the conference footprint. We have expanded to 6 new markets (I guess 5 if you count Orlando and Tampa together), and have acquired a number of up-and-coming programs (UCF, USF, Cincinnati) as well as some with a history of success (BYU, TCU, AF).
Next up is how to organize our new super-conference . I propose an East West split with certain rivalries preserved. There are two options...here is option 1:
Big 12 West:
Air Force
BYU
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
Texas
Texas Tech
Kansas
Kansas State
Big 12 East:
UCF
USF
Baylor
TCU
Iowa State
Missouri
Louisville
Cincinnati
Alternatively, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State could be shifted to the East to make them more competitively balanced. In addition, if Missouri decides they still want out and the SEC takes them, you can substitute West Virginia. No one gets left out in the cold. Well except Boise State...
This would however spell the ultimate demise of the Big East. Let's look at the damages left for our basketball only compadres:
Big East Basketball Conference:
DePaul (Chicago)
Georgetown (Washington DC)
Maquette (Milwaukee)
Notre Dame (The Notre Dame National TV Market)
Providence (New England/Rhode Island)
St. Johns (New York City)
Seton Hall (New Jersey)
Villanova (Philadelphia)
If this is not satisfactory, Army and Navy could also join this conference as basketball only members and maintain Independence in football. Other schools potentially available include UMass, Charlotte and Temple. By adding these any of these schools, the quality and strength of the conference will improve.
Texas and Oklahoma have set their differences aside to try and make the Big 12 work. As a result, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State are staying put as well. Texas A&M has left the conference and Missouri is looking for the exit sign, hoping the SEC calls their name. Meanwhile, The ACC picked up Syracuse and Pittsburgh to expand to 14 teams.
Jim Delaney has stated that the Big 10 is sitting out this round of re-alignment roulette. Ditto for Larry Scott and the Pac 12. The SEC has 1 or 3 vacancies depending on if they are looking at going to 14 or 16. The Big 12 (which just picked up TCU) is currently at 10 teams, and looking into further expansion. The Big East is also looking to expand, but no one wants to join until they know what they are getting into.
I have a new plan. One which allows the Big 10 and the Pac 12 to sit by and enjoy their new companions. One in which the current members of the Big East all get to retain the BCS bowl berth, as well as the Big 12, albeit in a different format. The one flaw to my plan? The ACC would have to pick up UConn and Rutgers to expand to 16 teams. Let's also assume the SEC decides to pick up West Virginia to get to 14 teams and pick up an Eastern team instead of splitting up Alabama & Auburn. My plan works almost as well if the SEC picks up Missouri, but not quite as neat. For now let's assume WVU is off to the SEC
Our new look Big East:
Louisville
Cincinnati
South Florida
The Big 12 currently looks like:
Texas
Texas Tech
TCU
Baylor
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
Iowa State
Missouri
Kansas
Kansas State
Strategy: We want to improve the strength of the conference while expanding the conference footpirnt. Let's add BYU and Air Force from Independence and the Mountain West to pick up the Utah (and actually national Mormon) TV sets as well as Denver. Next let's pick up South Florida and Central Florida to gain the Tampa and Orlando markets. Yes USF, it is time to let in your little brother UCF. The Big 12 would pick up more TV markets, but you get to keep your BCS eligibility which you would have otherwise lost. Lastly, if any conference knows what it is like to be a smaller market team in a state and get passed over it should be the Big 12. Don't be jerks and pick up Cincinnati and Louisville. They actually do increase the conference footprint. We have expanded to 6 new markets (I guess 5 if you count Orlando and Tampa together), and have acquired a number of up-and-coming programs (UCF, USF, Cincinnati) as well as some with a history of success (BYU, TCU, AF).
Next up is how to organize our new super-conference . I propose an East West split with certain rivalries preserved. There are two options...here is option 1:
Big 12 West:
Air Force
BYU
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
Texas
Texas Tech
Kansas
Kansas State
Big 12 East:
UCF
USF
Baylor
TCU
Iowa State
Missouri
Louisville
Cincinnati
Alternatively, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State could be shifted to the East to make them more competitively balanced. In addition, if Missouri decides they still want out and the SEC takes them, you can substitute West Virginia. No one gets left out in the cold. Well except Boise State...
This would however spell the ultimate demise of the Big East. Let's look at the damages left for our basketball only compadres:
Big East Basketball Conference:
DePaul (Chicago)
Georgetown (Washington DC)
Maquette (Milwaukee)
Notre Dame (The Notre Dame National TV Market)
Providence (New England/Rhode Island)
St. Johns (New York City)
Seton Hall (New Jersey)
Villanova (Philadelphia)
If this is not satisfactory, Army and Navy could also join this conference as basketball only members and maintain Independence in football. Other schools potentially available include UMass, Charlotte and Temple. By adding these any of these schools, the quality and strength of the conference will improve.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Major League Baseball: a broken system
Fall is upon us and that means the playoffs for MLB. I have always struggled to follow baseball. I have tried multiple times to become a fan and develop an interest for the sport. Perhaps the ineptitude of the Mariners has hindered my ability to create a passion that is similar to other sports. Regardless, MLB is the one sports league that relishes living in the past and prides itself on traditionalist procedures. However, the MLB is probably the most flawed sports league in the country at the moment.
If you grew up playing baseball, you probably have a love for the game
If you live in Boston or New York, you probably have a love for the game
If you are old enough to remember the golden age, you probably have a love for the game
Everyone else is probably a casual fan. Ya, I'll support my home team, but that's just because nothing else is on in the spring. It's too early for football, and soccer is really the only other sport being played at the moment. If MLB isn't careful, they will find themselves the fourth most popular league in the nation. So what's wrong with the system? Let's take a look-
1) Payroll...If you aren't the Yankees or the Red Sox, you are already at a huge disadvantage. No team from the AL West or Central will get the wild card. The fact that Tampa got it this year is an oddity, not a norm. However, the majority of the US population does not live in Boston or NY. Yes a fair number of people do, but there are other markets too. As of now, its' whoever can afford the payroll. If there was a salary cap, smaller venues could actually compete. I find myself rooting for the Brewers this season...why? Because they don't have the payroll of the Yankees or Rangers or Phillies, but are still finding a way to be successful. Introducing a salary cap would allow other AL markets to get excited about baseball and that their team might one day make the playoffs.
2) expand the playoffs...MLB has 30 teams in the league right now. Only 8 teams are in the playoffs. The NFL has a 32 team league and 12 teams in the playoffs. NBA or NHL? Try 16 teams of the 30. I think 16 is excessive. No way should a team that finished in the bottom half of the league be playing for a title. But 12 is a pretty good number. It's enough teams to have increased interest, but not too many teams to make the regular season lose relevance. Speaking of that regular season...
3) Shorten it...This is probably the biggest flaw of MLB. The season should not be 162 games + postseason. There is no way any fan can catch every single game. If you are in a struggling market like Seattle, the season just becomes torture after a while. Supporting the 0-16 Lions is easier because despite the ineptitude, it is only 16 games. Even a casual fan can watch their team 16 times and pray for a miracle. But when you start being 20 games down, there is no hope. No light at the end of the tunnel. And for some teams, they are in this hole with 60 games left to play. They may get on a streak, but the probability the cards land correctly to make the comeback? Highly unlikely. I could actually follow the Astros if the season was only 80 games. By the time my team has proved their ineptitude, there's only about 20-40 games left. I don't have to recognize that we aren't even halfway to the end of the season. Besides, who has time to follow their team every single night for 3 months? Not very many people. For those of us who want to become supporters of our team, please help us out by shortening the season.
In addition...the postseason started just this last week. The ALDS and NLDS had game 1 Friday/Saturday nights. It is currently October. With no offense to baseball, I am more inclined to watch #7 Wisconsin taking on #8 Nebraska than I am to watch the Yankees play the Tigers. Why? Because football is the dominant sport in the country. In August, NFL preseason starts. I would probably watch championship caliber baseball instead of NFL preseason. I may even watch it in the beginning of September when the only college football games on are Florida vs Florida Atlantic University. But when the marquee matchups start happening, you can bet baseball is taking a backseat. I know I am not the only one who feels that way. Perhaps if baseball played their playoff games on non-football nights, it might get better followings. But with Thursday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday all having games, that only leaves a few nights available. If you finish up the World Series in September, I won't have to choose between McNeese St.-Michigan or Phillies-Yankees. It's better for the MLB, and it's better for the casual fan. Because let's face it, if you can't appeal to a casual sports fan, your league will continue to decline. There are only so many die-hards, and MLB already makes it difficult to be a true die-hard. So help me follow baseball more. Me and the rest of the nation. Because what's happening now just isn't working.
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