http://espn.go.com/blog/bigeast/post/_/ ... ing-in-mwc

The way this will ultimately affect the SBC is really unknown. At best they have to add more teams (good for us) - at worst they become merger target with C-USA.

Yes, this could shake things out (or up.) A lot depends on if SDSU stays committed to the BE or whether they go back to the MWC. I think that this is a case of less being more for our chances of getting an invitation in the near term...

The Mountain West will honor Boise State’s existing non-conference scheduling commitments for future games and the league will not regulate Boise State’s uniform colors or designs. Specifically the Bronco’s will be permitted to wear all blue uniforms at home.

I'm curious. Was the BE going to restrict Boise's use of all blue on the all blue field? Talk about home field advantage.

I don 't know about the color thing; to me it isn't a big thing. What about Michigan State or that school in W. Va that wear green?

One of the terms for Boise State joining the Mountain West is that they couldn't wear all-blue for a conference home game. Sounds like they got that dropped for staying.

I tried to watch a game on tv with those blue on blue and couldn't do it. The field is bad enough but the uniforms on that field made me dizzy. I turned it off.

bcoach wrote:I tried to watch a game on tv with those blue on blue and couldn't do it. The field is bad enough but the uniforms on that field made me dizzy. I turned it off.

Still, its better than watching Eastern Washington's red on red. Oy vey.

AppinVA wrote:

bcoach wrote:I tried to watch a game on tv with those blue on blue and couldn't do it. The field is bad enough but the uniforms on that field made me dizzy. I turned it off.

Still, its better than watching Eastern Washington's red on red. Oy vey.

Very true. I lasted about 5 min on that one. Red on red was terrible.

appsfan wrote:Yes, this could shake things out (or up.) A lot depends on if SDSU stays committed to the BE or whether they go back to the MWC. I think that this is a case of less being more for our chances of getting an invitation in the near term...

SDSU wrote into their contract with the BE if Boise doesn't follow through that SDSU's exit fee from the BE would be waived. Smart move by them and I think you'll see them announce they will remain in the MWC with Boise. BE responds by taking who they want from CUSA. I would not be surprised to see "markets" be picked up along the east coast. Our friends with no football and location may be BE bound without ever playing a down. Crazy world we live in.

I agree with your comments Saint. While there is no guarantee that the MWC would take SDSU back, I think it is likely. I read somewhere that SDSU would have the fee waived provided the BE doesn't have another team west of the Rockies and I don't see them adding anyone out there now.

The remaining Big East is looking less and less attractive by the day. I'm not convinced that they can automatically "pick" a new member from C-USA or MAC -- they retain virtually none of the original schools that made them "high profile", look very unstable, geographically messy, and offer no AQ access; big fail.

I really believe there is a strong posibility they are gone as a football conference after 2014. Their TV contract has to be shrinking to danger levels.

appsfan wrote:Yes, this could shake things out (or up.) A lot depends on if SDSU stays committed to the BE or whether they go back to the MWC. I think that this is a case of less being more for our chances of getting an invitation in the near term...

With the additions of Utah State and San Jose State, If SDSU comes back, the Mtn West will be at 11 football schools. As I look into my crystal ball I see long been rumored UTEP and New Mex State becoming #'s 12 & 13. Followed by Tulsa, Houston & SMU. The Mtn West will have their two 8 team divisions and championship game.

Over in the east will ND rethink the move to the ACC in favor of the new Catholic Conference? If so the ACC would be wise to add Cinn & UConn for 16 all sport schools. If ND stays they need to add another strong basketball / non football school to even out the basketball schools.

All those moves drops BE football down to 8 schools. Adding UMass & So Miss for 9 all sports schools then Army in f'ball only gets them to a very good scheduling number of 11 for football and 9 for basketball.

Obviously all this is good news for ASU.

Another possibility that is being talked about in whispers among people who cover or are connected to the SEC, PAC-12, Big-12, Big-10 and ACC (and a few coaches and AD's from other conferences as well).

This whole thing can be illustrated using a NatGeo show. The Elite 4 conferences are a pride of lions circling a herd of wildebeest trapped in a canyon (all remaining FBS teams except one conference). The ACC is the lone Water Buffalo standing beside the herd. And the FCS teams wanting to move up are the Thomson's Gazelles watching from the outside, too small for the lions to take notice but really wanting to be in the herd of wildebeests.

Alone, no lion can attack the water buffalo because it’s still too strong so the lions are deciding which way to go since the wildebeests aren’t going anywhere, just moving back and forth among themselves. The key to the whole situation is do they gang up and take the Water Buffalo down and then pick off the wildebeests they want while letting the rest go fend for themselves or do they leave the Water Buffalo alone?

No matter what happens anywhere else (i.e. Boise staying in the MWC) this whole thing boils down to one thing. Does the ACC cave any at all on Maryland’s exit fee or does Swofford stand strong and demand the full $50 mil. If he caves, even a little, then the lions will attack. The ACC can afford to lose a couple (Ga. Tech, Va. Tech, even FSU), with who they have coming in. But if they take any of the core Carolina teams (UNC, NCSU, Duke) then its feeding time, all bets are off, and the frenzy is on. There will be nothing but scraps left for the Hyenas’ (aka the NCAA) to clean up. We will be left with 4 Mega Conferences who will be, in all but name, the NFL/CFL development league (or a semi pro league if one chooses to call it that), the rest of FBS and possibly a few FCS teams will be a lesser division, not as low as the current level of FCS but with scholarships in the 70’s, and the current FCS teams with no desire to move up or those who are not picked will become D-II, with the current D-II teams having to make a decision to grow enough to fit the new division or drop back to D-III. And everyone will have a playoff system in place.

Anyway you cut it the lynch pin is Swofford (makes you feel warm all over, doesn’t it). A few other surprise things could happen but the foundation rests on what the ACC does. I know all conferences outside of the big 4 and the ACC will fight for their lives but if the ACC goes down then all bets are truly off and the repercussions are going to be far and wide. And once again we are the not so pretty girl (at least in their eyes) hoping to be asked to dance by someone.

I know this is an extreme scenario but I've spent the last few days reading a lot of stories and blogs from reporters who cover the SEC, PAC-12, Big-12 and Big-10 and they aren't talking about the Big East or MWC. They are mainly talking about the ACC and what happens to the exit fee for Maryland. And most are saying they are standing pat until the Maryland issue is resolved.

never thought I would see the day where the ACC is at the mercy of the SEC and Big Ten. The ACC no longer controls their own destiny, your right, the only thing between the SEC/Big ten destroying the ACC is the 50 million exit fee for Maryland, if they get the fee reduced to a managable amount, the ACC will only survive with the blessing of the Big Ten/SEC.

firemoose wrote:Another possibility that is being talked about in whispers among people who cover or are connected to the SEC, PAC-12, Big-12, Big-10 and ACC (and a few coaches and AD's from other conferences as well).

This whole thing can be illustrated using a NatGeo show. The Elite 4 conferences are a pride of lions circling a herd of wildebeest trapped in a canyon (all remaining FBS teams except one conference). The ACC is the lone Water Buffalo standing beside the herd. And the FCS teams wanting to move up are the Thomson's Gazelles watching from the outside, too small for the lions to take notice but really wanting to be in the herd of wildebeests.

Alone, no lion can attack the water buffalo because it’s still too strong so the lions are deciding which way to go since the wildebeests aren’t going anywhere, just moving back and forth among themselves. The key to the whole situation is do they gang up and take the Water Buffalo down and then pick off the wildebeests they want while letting the rest go fend for themselves or do they leave the Water Buffalo alone?

No matter what happens anywhere else (i.e. Boise staying in the MWC) this whole thing boils down to one thing. Does the ACC cave any at all on Maryland’s exit fee or does Swofford stand strong and demand the full $50 mil. If he caves, even a little, then the lions will attack. The ACC can afford to lose a couple (Ga. Tech, Va. Tech, even FSU), with who they have coming in. But if they take any of the core Carolina teams (UNC, NCSU, Duke) then its feeding time, all bets are off, and the frenzy is on. There will be nothing but scraps left for the Hyenas’ (aka the NCAA) to clean up. We will be left with 4 Mega Conferences who will be, in all but name, the NFL/CFL development league (or a semi pro league if one chooses to call it that), the rest of FBS and possibly a few FCS teams will be a lesser division, not as low as the current level of FCS but with scholarships in the 70’s, and the current FCS teams with no desire to move up or those who are not picked will become D-II, with the current D-II teams having to make a decision to grow enough to fit the new division or drop back to D-III. And everyone will have a playoff system in place.

Anyway you cut it the lynch pin is Swofford (makes you feel warm all over, doesn’t it). A few other surprise things could happen but the foundation rests on what the ACC does. I know all conferences outside of the big 4 and the ACC will fight for their lives but if the ACC goes down then all bets are truly off and the repercussions are going to be far and wide. And once again we are the not so pretty girl (at least in their eyes) hoping to be asked to dance by someone.

I know this is an extreme scenario but I've spent the last few days reading a lot of stories and blogs from reporters who cover the SEC, PAC-12, Big-12 and Big-10 and they aren't talking about the Big East or MWC. They are mainly talking about the ACC and what happens to the exit fee for Maryland. And most are saying they are standing pat until the Maryland issue is resolved.

You have really summed it up. Swofford being in the drivers seat makes me want to vomit. What i would add to your great post is that the TV money will be flowing to the big 4 also. There will be less to go around for the rest of the FBS.

firemoose wrote:Another possibility that is being talked about in whispers among people who cover or are connected to the SEC, PAC-12, Big-12, Big-10 and ACC (and a few coaches and AD's from other conferences as well).

This whole thing can be illustrated using a NatGeo show. The Elite 4 conferences are a pride of lions circling a herd of wildebeest trapped in a canyon (all remaining FBS teams except one conference). The ACC is the lone Water Buffalo standing beside the herd. And the FCS teams wanting to move up are the Thomson's Gazelles watching from the outside, too small for the lions to take notice but really wanting to be in the herd of wildebeests.

Alone, no lion can attack the water buffalo because it’s still too strong so the lions are deciding which way to go since the wildebeests aren’t going anywhere, just moving back and forth among themselves. The key to the whole situation is do they gang up and take the Water Buffalo down and then pick off the wildebeests they want while letting the rest go fend for themselves or do they leave the Water Buffalo alone?

No matter what happens anywhere else (i.e. Boise staying in the MWC) this whole thing boils down to one thing. Does the ACC cave any at all on Maryland’s exit fee or does Swofford stand strong and demand the full $50 mil. If he caves, even a little, then the lions will attack. The ACC can afford to lose a couple (Ga. Tech, Va. Tech, even FSU), with who they have coming in. But if they take any of the core Carolina teams (UNC, NCSU, Duke) then its feeding time, all bets are off, and the frenzy is on. There will be nothing but scraps left for the Hyenas’ (aka the NCAA) to clean up. We will be left with 4 Mega Conferences who will be, in all but name, the NFL/CFL development league (or a semi pro league if one chooses to call it that), the rest of FBS and possibly a few FCS teams will be a lesser division, not as low as the current level of FCS but with scholarships in the 70’s, and the current FCS teams with no desire to move up or those who are not picked will become D-II, with the current D-II teams having to make a decision to grow enough to fit the new division or drop back to D-III. And everyone will have a playoff system in place.

Anyway you cut it the lynch pin is Swofford (makes you feel warm all over, doesn’t it). A few other surprise things could happen but the foundation rests on what the ACC does. I know all conferences outside of the big 4 and the ACC will fight for their lives but if the ACC goes down then all bets are truly off and the repercussions are going to be far and wide. And once again we are the not so pretty girl (at least in their eyes) hoping to be asked to dance by someone.

I know this is an extreme scenario but I've spent the last few days reading a lot of stories and blogs from reporters who cover the SEC, PAC-12, Big-12 and Big-10 and they aren't talking about the Big East or MWC. They are mainly talking about the ACC and what happens to the exit fee for Maryland. And most are saying they are standing pat until the Maryland issue is resolved.

Great analogy. Well written. Rep point.

bcoach wrote:You have really summed it up. Swofford being in the drivers seat makes me want to vomit. What i would add to your great post is that the TV money will be flowing to the big 4 also. There will be less to go around for the rest of the FBS.

I had planned to bring up the money when I talked about the scraps but I wrote so much I just plain forgot about it. I e-mailed a copy of this whole thing to a friend of mine who isn't on here and I added the money and TV stuff to it but you already brought it up so I didn't feel the need to change the OP. For that I thank you.

And thank you JC for your kind words and rep point.

firemoose wrote:

bcoach wrote:You have really summed it up. Swofford being in the drivers seat makes me want to vomit. What i would add to your great post is that the TV money will be flowing to the big 4 also. There will be less to go around for the rest of the FBS.

I had planned to bring up the money when I talked about the scraps but I wrote so much I just plain forgot about it. I e-mailed a copy of this whole thing to a friend of mine who isn't on here and I added the money and TV stuff to it but you already brought it up so I didn't feel the need to change the OP. For that I thank you.

And thank you JC for your kind words and rep point.

FWIW. Reminder. John Swofford is a former UNC-Chapel Hill football stand-out as well as a former Tarheell AD and ACC Commishioner.
PS. You're deservedly welcome.

firemoose wrote:

bcoach wrote:You have really summed it up. Swofford being in the drivers seat makes me want to vomit. What i would add to your great post is that the TV money will be flowing to the big 4 also. There will be less to go around for the rest of the FBS.

I had planned to bring up the money when I talked about the scraps but I wrote so much I just plain forgot about it. I e-mailed a copy of this whole thing to a friend of mine who isn't on here and I added the money and TV stuff to it but you already brought it up so I didn't feel the need to change the OP. For that I thank you.

And thank you JC for your kind words and rep point.

Having a hard time convincing my ECU friends they will not see the millions in TV revenues being promised. No way TV exec's are going to pay the same cash for the new line up. They have a solid argument the conference they made the deal with no longer exists and might try to renegotiate the contracts now. The new basketball conference could get a better deal than the reconfigured BE.

If you are outside the Big 4-5 you better be in a regional conference. The SB is a better football conference than CUSA now but there isn't enough TV revenue to offset the travel unless we go in for football only and to another conference in all other sports. With a few more changes CUSA will be a much better geographic fit but when / if those changes come will it be too late?