Well, the dominoes started falling last year when the Big 12 started to crumble with the departures of Colorado and Nebraska to the Pac-12 and Big Ten respectively. Now, a few weeks ago, Texas A&M decided to depart from the Big 12 and join the SEC. Then, yesterday, word came out that Pitt and Syracuse are moving from the Big East to the ACC. Today word came that the Big 12 will officially no longer exist when Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech all decided to jump ship to the Pac-12. So, after that, even more conference realignment will take place to make four super conferences, with the Pac-16, Big Ten which will have 16 schools, the ACC, and the SEC. Now, I will give you my thoughts on this.
I think it sucks for college sports. I'll tell you why, because college sports is becoming more and more of a money grab, and these schools are just going after where the television contract money is. The Pac-12 just signed a long term deal with ESPN and Fox for $2.7 Billion dollars over 12 years. Then last year, the ACC also signed a big television deal with ESPN for exclusivity for $1.86 Billion over 12 years. The SEC already had a contract with CBS and ESPN worth over $3 Billion over 15 years in 2009. Plus, the Big Ten has its own network which is gaining revenue plus a huge contract from ESPN and CBS worth a lot, (cannot find the info). So, all of these schools have a ton of money coming in through the television contracts.
Here is another reason why it sucks for college sports: you will be seeing fewer and fewer upsets and "cinderella" stories in the NCAA tournament. Because the more you see of the big name schools playing the smaller schools like TCU and Boise State in football because the conference schedule will not allow for playing these teams. Then, as speculated, these four superconferences may just form their own form of the NCAA and separate themselves from it completely, so there would be no more upsets and having dream runs like Butler these past two seasons in the NCAA tournament.
The final reason why I think it sucks for college sports is the fact that the students aren't going to be going to as many games. As Darren Rovell of CNBC points out, students are not going to be willing to drive 12 to 20 hours to see a football game between Texas and USC. Or, to see a game between Texas A&M and LSU. As while these games are very intriguing, students cannot afford to go. Plus, the time commitment is way too much to commit to. Rovell also points out that it's one of the joys to go to another college campus and go to a game and just heckle the fans and have a good time with your buddies. Plus, if your school wins, it's all the better just to walk around and smile.
Now, to those Independent schools in football who don't have a conference affiliation. For those who don't know who those schools are, it's Army, Navy, Notre Dame and BYU. These schools need to join a conference quick, or otherwise just be completely lost in the shuffle of all this realignment. All of this realignment is football driven, and all of these schools have a rich football history and tradition and any conference would be happy to have them. My suggestions are that Army and Navy each go to the ACC, BYU should join the Pac-16 and Notre Dame should join the Big Ten, as most of their schedule consists of Big Ten schools.
Those are the reasons why I find these "superconferences" being just absurd and really crappy for the fan in general. Please comment if you disagree with my views. Oh, and the info for my blog will be at the end here.
SEC TV deal: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/stewart_mandel/07/24/sec-espn/index.html
ACC TV deal: http://www.aolnews.com/2010/05/17/report-espn-wins-acc-television-contract/
Pac-12 TV deal: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=6471380
Rovell's story: http://www.cnbc.com/id/44522319
First of all, where did you get your source for the Big 12 officially disintegrating. The headline on ESPN.com still says the Pac 12 is courting Texas and Oklahoma, but nothing official yet.
ReplyDeleteSecond, college football has been about the money long before this. Schools want to make money...this is not news.
As for cinderella stories, let's just say life is not fair. Cinderella stories are over-rated anyway. As much as people say they like them the ratings are always bigger when big-name teams are in. A Yankees-anybody world series will outdraw any other two teams in ratings. I imagine a Duke-Butler final may get good ratings because Duke is well-known, a Duke-Kansas final would get more. As much as people claim to love Boise St or TCU there are more ratings when Texas plays USC.
And if this is a step towards a playoff, rock on. The NCAA is slow in moving to a playoff so maybe 4 superconferences get there. Maybe they will end up with an 8 team playoff including a wildcard or two from non-superconferences. Either way, my opinion is that I don't care about TCU or Boise.
You mention "dream runs" like Butler but we don't have those in college football anyway because there is no playoff. Boise beating one highranked team to open the season, cake-walking through a weak schedule, and winning a bowl game is not a dream run.
As for driving, I imagine students will go. Did Rovell complain when Washington has to play Arizona? South Florida vs. Boston College? Texas AM is a lot closer to Louisiana and I am sure students would love to drive from California to Texas. If not, they'll be fine and they can still go see USC play UCLA, Stanford, Cal and a myriad of other schools.
I love superconferences!
I disagree with above comment and agree with you PJ. I'm not liking this move at all. And as you always say, I definitely think it's stupid the Big 10, is still called the Big 10. As a former college student, I would NEVER drive that far. Unless you're some rich kid who has your parents pay for everything, no college student has that kinda money to shell out on gas, tickets, and food. Even if you sleep in the car it's still pricey. Maybe 10 years ago when gas and food was cheaper... but not now. Granted they might not have complained before, but now these farther apart games will happen more often. I am for a playoff in the college world, but not for this particular alignment, and not a fan of money being the controlling factor of any sport, especially at the college level.
ReplyDeleteSouth Florida and Boston College are already in the same conference. How far is it from Penn State to Iowa? You are complaining about things that already exist.
ReplyDeleteACC - Florida State travels to BC or Maryland so Syracuse and Pitt are not much farther.
Pac 12 - if they add teams in Texas they will have two 8 team divisions and probably only play 2 crossover games a year. So it is not like USC will be playing half their games in Texas and Oklahoma. Maybe two a year. But again, they already have teams in Oregon and Washington playing as far away as LA and Arizona. So this is nothing new.
My point is I don't think the far apart games will happen more often, at least not enough to worry about. I couldn't afford to go either, but I am sure lots of alumni and others will. Plus they have TV which is great.
If we are for a playoff what other option is there? Moving to 4 superconferences is the only way to get a playoff. Besides which, playoff games will be a far drive and they won't all be able to happen over the holiday break! So in a playoff we might have USC playing Texas anyway...but in a playoff they might really be playing Florida which is even farther and it would be not over Christmas break.
Heck, maybe they'll get enough money from television deals to give students a good deal to get there!
I think Penn State should try to join the ACC!
ReplyDeleteMostly, it would make more sense geographically (so Andrew, I do agree that shorter drives are better :). Plus, Joe Pa wanted an eastern conference back in the 80s.
Imagine this:
ACC North - Syracuse, Pitt, Penn State, Boston College, Maryland, UCONN, Rutgers, Virginia
ACC South - Florida State, Miami, GA Tech, NC, NC State, Wake Forest, Duke, VA Tech
Of course, I forgot Clemson!
Yeah, that's an 16 team conference. Play all 7 teams on your side each year, plus 2 crossover games. And two out of conference.
Those would be some short trips for pSU fans!
Of course, it won't happen and Notre Dame will probably join ACC while PSU fans get Kansas or something.