Topic: NHR: Will NCAA Force Big 12 to Expand?

[Ovaltine Jenkins]

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/writer/jon-solomon/25444865/will-ncaa-vote-force-big-12-to-expand-for-conference-title-game

[_sturt_]

Title CBS chose is somewhat misleading, though not totally. The gist of the article is that SEC and B1G are now saying publicly that they aren't inclined to vote for deregulation, and so Bowlsby's Big XII is dealing with potential compromise options in their clear intent to eventually stage a championship game. The simplest and seemingly most politically expedient is to pursue a change that eliminates the 12 school requirement but maintains the division champ one.

Big implications for us b/c if anyone would benefit from deregulation, it's us and CUSA.

What's left unsaid in the article, and is odd by its absence, is no mention of where the 5th autonomy conference (PAC-12) appears to stand. That is, they are after all the swing vote... or so it would seem, assuming schools in each conference would vote as a bloc.

[breckjimison]

They mention BYU and Cincy as possible candidates. UC helps out WVU logistically and helps us get to AAC but do you think BYU or B12 would come to a compromise about playing games on Sunday's?

[breckjimison]

I would expect all G5 schools to vote in favor of division champs playing conference championship game. Our vote only counts for half of P5 schools but adds weight to the pressure for B12 to expand.

[_sturt_]

Not clear to me that either of those statements are necessarily true, breck... or even necessarily likely.

[breckjimison]

Not clear to me that either of those statements are necessarily true, breck... or even necessarily likely.

Its kinda more like my opinion than a statement. How does UC joining the B12 not help WVU logistically and not help us to get to the AAC, Sturt?

[_sturt_]

I would expect all G5 schools to vote in favor of division champs playing conference championship game. Our vote only counts for half of P5 schools but adds weight to the pressure for B12 to expand.

Should have been more precise... sorry. These are the two parts of your statements to which I was referring. To the former, there's not any evidence either way. To the latter, the writer specifically says:

Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby said the conference does not want to add members or be forced to play two divisions. If there's any sort of compromise, "those two provisions would have to be considered," Bowlsby said.

The SEC commish suggests an out for the Big XII at the top of the story that perhaps legislation could be introduced that says any conference that plays a full round-robin schedule is allowed to conduct a championship game. That, in fact, would resolve the issue effectively for the Big XII... that, or the B1G's Delaney's suggestion that they simply seek a waiver from the rule... except that Bowlsby and Swafford (ACC) both maintain that conferences have their own membership's best interests at heart no matter what, and so, it's just illogical for the conferences to be made to conform to a universal standard for determining their champion:

“It's mainly a philosophical belief in our league that the conferences should have that autonomy without having their hands tied.” (Swafford)

"We want to deregulate something that ought to be deregulated and we believe that's the right thing to do.” (Bowlsby)

The AAC ambition is, to me anyhow, misplaced and unproductive.

Deregulation empowers a league like ours that is, so far, failing to crack the access bowl invite, and design our season schedule in a way that significantly raises the likelihood that our champ finishes the season undefeated, and avoid having a SOS hampered by playing more of the conference's lesser programs--remember, we are the LONE program that plays ALL of its division games against recent SBC and FCS programs.

And deregulation is still alive... it's expected to actually be voted upon this year. That makes it our next best shot at advancing our interests.

[breckjimison]

The AAC ambition is, to me anyhow, misplaced and unproductive.

Deregulation empowers a league like ours that is, so far, failing to crack the access bowl invite, and design our season schedule in a way that significantly raises the likelihood that our champ finishes the season undefeated, and avoid having a SOS hampered by playing more of the conference's lesser programs--remember, we are the LONE program that plays ALL of its division games against recent SBC and FCS programs.

And deregulation is still alive... it's expected to actually be voted upon this year. That makes it our next best shot at advancing our interests.


[/quote]The Sunbelt conference is made up entirely of former FCS schools. They don't have divisions but they are playing ALL of their conference games against former FCS programs that have recently moved up.

[_sturt_]

The Sunbelt conference is made up entirely of former FCS schools. They don't have divisions but they are playing ALL of their conference games against former FCS programs that have recently moved up.

Sorry again... same offense... wasn't precise enough...

What I meant was that while every other left-behind CUSA school at least has the benefit of other left-behinds to play, we're left playing programs that are newcomers, and lesser regarded... so we inevitably are in a more disadvantaged division situation, in a conference that itself is disadvantaged.

[chris88]

There is no point holding a B12 champ game unless they expand as all members play each other.  Their champ is a true champ by that measure. While it's true playing the extra game in a champ game is another chance to lose (or impress), it doesn't take into account the inbalance of the divisions.  The Big10 division with OSU, Mich State, Mich, and Penn State is superior to the other division.  OSU, Mich, and Mich State would have likely all been best team in West. The ACC div with Fla State and Clemson is far superior to the other. The SEC West is far superior to East.  Florida played for SEC title but was probably 4-5 best team in SEC. I realize all that can change, but not playing everyone in your league and/or playing in a weaker division gives you a clearer path to a title game than playing everyone in your league like B12 teams do.

Let leagues determine their own champion and see who's schedule matches up at end....just like this year.  Now if B12 or anyone else doesn't play every team in league and doesn't hold a champ game, that is a different matter entirely IMO.

[MUonium]

don't care if the big anything picks its nose and ass and licks its fingers.  when Marshall is forced to close down its athletic programs, i'm done.  the ncaa, the spineless bunch that wanted to continue to exist, should have called the hand of the A5 terrorists and force them to form their own pro league ath assoc.