A valid point from the Athletic article in the post above:
Another Big Ten coach, who was granted anonymity in exchange for candor, agreed. “Football is only a 12-game season. We’re playing 30 games,” he said. “It’s more feasible and more logistically sound to keep things a little bit regional.”
Also from that article: It’s also expensive. When West Virginia left the crumbling Big East in 2011, joining the Big 12, its closest conference neighbor became Iowa State — 862 miles away. Per the school’s NCAA fiscal year reports, WVU spent $4.3 million in travel in its last year as a Big East member; this year it cost $8.2 million to shuttle the Mountaineer athletes around. And that number will only go up after the league’s Westward expansion.
A valid point from the Athletic article in the post above:
Another Big Ten coach, who was granted anonymity in exchange for candor, agreed. “Football is only a 12-game season. We’re playing 30 games,” he said. “It’s more feasible and more logistically sound to keep things a little bit regional.”
Also from that article: It’s also expensive. When West Virginia left the crumbling Big East in 2011, joining the Big 12, its closest conference neighbor became Iowa State — 862 miles away. Per the school’s NCAA fiscal year reports, WVU spent $4.3 million in travel in its last year as a Big East member; this year it cost $8.2 million to shuttle the Mountaineer athletes around. And that number will only go up after the league’s Westward expansion.
And the challenge is how to you handle travel for other non revenue or outlying sports like volleyball, baseball, swim/dive, etc. in addition to sports like basketball who may need to turnaround in a couple of days.
It goes beyond costs. It is also the toll that travel takes on the "students" both physically and academically.
A valid point from the Athletic article in the post above:
Another Big Ten coach, who was granted anonymity in exchange for candor, agreed. “Football is only a 12-game season. We’re playing 30 games,” he said. “It’s more feasible and more logistically sound to keep things a little bit regional.”
Also from that article: It’s also expensive. When West Virginia left the crumbling Big East in 2011, joining the Big 12, its closest conference neighbor became Iowa State — 862 miles away. Per the school’s NCAA fiscal year reports, WVU spent $4.3 million in travel in its last year as a Big East member; this year it cost $8.2 million to shuttle the Mountaineer athletes around. And that number will only go up after the league’s Westward expansion.
And the challenge is how to you handle travel for other non revenue or outlying sports like volleyball, baseball, swim/dive, etc. in addition to sports like basketball who may need to turnaround in a couple of days.
It goes beyond costs. It is also the toll that travel takes on the "students" both physically and academically.
A nightmare situation for sure. BTW there is one sport (the only one that I know of) that really won't be affected at all other than travel to the end of year league tournaments, and that is golf. As opposed to travel for direct competition against another school, collegiate golf competition involves schools playing in medal play tournaments that can be hosted by anyone and anywhere and involve any number of other programs. So with that in mind, kids who are on these teams can still be called true "student-athletes" I guess (unlike those in other sports).
Someone connected to Oregon State posted on Twitter/X that the AAC is going to dissolve, join with the 4 remaining PAC-12 schools and add 3 more schools to become the PAC-18.
We’ll have to see if this (or something similar to this) does actually happen.
UCONN fans have to be wondering why the ACC picked SMU over UCONN. You would think that the former #1 hoop conference would prefer UCONN,s hoop pedigree.
UCONN fans have to be wondering why the ACC picked SMU over UCONN. You would think that the former #1 hoop conference would prefer UCONN,s hoop pedigree.
Like it or not, football is king and UConn just doesn't have what it takes. If they can elevate football, then they would have to be of great interest to other conferences.
They have a few games against higher profile programs this year (lost 24-14 last night to NC State). If they can show they belong, someone will pick them up, and it will be bye-bye Big East (again).
UCONN fans have to be wondering why the ACC picked SMU over UCONN. You would think that the former #1 hoop conference would prefer UCONN,s hoop pedigree.
Like it or not, football is king and UConn just doesn't have what it takes. If they can elevate football, then they would have to be of great interest to other conferences.
They have a few games against higher profile programs this year (lost 24-14 last night to NC State). If they can show they belong, someone will pick them up, and it will be bye-bye Big East (again).
With Jim Mora in charge the Huskies have a fighting chance for that very thing to happen. They actually had the Wolfpack in a bit of trouble before a stupid unsportsmanlike conduct penalty (but one that common sense suggests didn't actually have to be called) changed the whole momentum of the contest. I think they'll win quite a few this season and, same as last year, make a bowl game. If that is what happens, yes their stay in the BE might indeed be in question.
There’s only two schools remaining in the PAC-12 and there’s 11 schools in the Mountain West Conference. However, if Oregon State and Washington State decide to join that 11 team conference, there’s at least two reasons why that 13 team conference might decide to refer to itself as the PAC-12.
First, a so-called reverse merger between the MWC and Pac-12 is in play because the Pac-12 name carries significant relevance and value. It may behoove the league to bear the Pac-12 brand. Nevarez said: "I think it has an incredible brand. So, that to me is an asset. But again, it's part of the greater calculation of assets and liabilities." What's also there? Tens of millions of dollars in NCAA tournament financial units owed to the Pac-12 over the next six years. If a school leaves a conference to join another league – and the former conference remains operational – the Basketball Performance Fund units previously earned by the school remain with the former conference. But if a conference notifies the NCAA that it has ceased operations, "each institution retains the units it earned in the performance fund," the NCAA's revenue distribution plan states. So, will the Pac-12 formally cease operations next summer? How diligently will OSU and WSU work to keep the league's lights flickering? The only guarantee: Plenty of billable hours for attorneys.
All those units UCLA, Arizona, Oregon and to a lesser extent ASU and USC built up in the last few years in the NCAA tournament go to the PAC-12 conference once those schools move to their new conferences next year. Far more units than the Mountain West have coming their way, even with San Diego State getting to the championship game last season. But if they decide to add OSU and WSU to the existing MWC and dissolve the PAC-12, those units end up going to the schools that played in the NCAAT for the PAC-12 since there would no longer be a PAC-12 to send the money to.
There’s only two schools remaining in the PAC-12 and there’s 11 schools in the Mountain West Conference. However, if Oregon State and Washington State decide to join that 11 team conference, there’s at least two reasons why that 13 team conference might decide to refer to itself as the PAC-12.
First, a so-called reverse merger between the MWC and Pac-12 is in play because the Pac-12 name carries significant relevance and value. It may behoove the league to bear the Pac-12 brand. Nevarez said: "I think it has an incredible brand. So, that to me is an asset. But again, it's part of the greater calculation of assets and liabilities." What's also there? Tens of millions of dollars in NCAA tournament financial units owed to the Pac-12 over the next six years. If a school leaves a conference to join another league – and the former conference remains operational – the Basketball Performance Fund units previously earned by the school remain with the former conference. But if a conference notifies the NCAA that it has ceased operations, "each institution retains the units it earned in the performance fund," the NCAA's revenue distribution plan states. So, will the Pac-12 formally cease operations next summer? How diligently will OSU and WSU work to keep the league's lights flickering? The only guarantee: Plenty of billable hours for attorneys.
All those units UCLA, Arizona, Oregon and to a lesser extent ASU and USC built up in the last few years in the NCAA tournament go to the PAC-12 conference once those schools move to their new conferences next year. Far more units than the Mountain West have coming their way, even with San Diego State getting to the championship game last season. But if they decide to add OSU and WSU to the existing MWC and dissolve the PAC-12, those units end up going to the schools that played in the NCAAT for the PAC-12 since there would no longer be a PAC-12 to send the money to.
Excellent information. I have always felt the disbanding of any conference could create a significant opportunity for someone. One of the primary reason why a school will not join a newly formed conference is the loss of the automati to the NCAA tournament. If for example, the ACC were to dissolve, or the MWC schools were to move to the PAC 12, could a group of school like Fordham, Fairfield, and others come together to essentially form a new conference, taking over a conference that would have otherwise dissolved? I would think so and it is something Fairfield should be looking at leading.
Among the many things I don’t know is ——- if a conference dissolves, would the NCAA simply replace that conference bid with an additional at-large bid for the national tournament or would the NCAA be open to the formation of a new conference that would keep the number of guaranteed conference bids at 32 as it presently is. RF’s post seems to indicate the NCAA would want 32 guaranteed conference bids, which would seem to provide an opportunity for schools to create a new conference that would fill the void created by having an existing conference dissolve.
Among the many things I don’t know is ——- if a conference dissolves, would the NCAA simply replace that conference bid with an additional at-large bid for the national tournament or would the NCAA be open to the formation of a new conference that would keep the number of guaranteed conference bids at 32 as it presently is. RF’s post seems to indicate the NCAA would want 32 guaranteed conference bids, which would seem to provide an opportunity for schools to create a new conference that would fill the void created by having an existing conference dissolve.
No I think the NCAA wants more at large and less automatic. But if every team left the mountain west, what would stop 8 new teams from joining? And then renaming the conference the East Coast conference? The established conference has a value. the Value is the future payouts associated with the NCAA tourney and the automati. So there is an opportunity here for someone schools that are thinking. No one should let an existing conference dissolve.
Last Edit: Sept 6, 2023 13:22:17 GMT -5 by reindeerfan