The music starts
The BCS game of musical chairs has officially begun with Colorado accepting an invitation to join the Pac-10. Today we may hear word of Nebraska bolting to the Big 10. Clearly the music has started. What we don’t know yet is how many chairs are out there, 64, 65 or some number much smaller.
From a Syracuse tinted lens, it appears fortuitous that the first moves have been made against the Big XII conference and not the Big East. This gives some hope that the when the music does stop, that Syracuse will be in the location that gives them the best fit.
Still that is not the plan of the BE right now. Just ask our own AD Darryl Gross who had this to say about the Pac-10′s realignment salvo:
“In the Big East, we’re working to position ourselves in a way that makes us better today than we were yesterday,” Gross said. “We have a lot of assets. We’re in a lot of media markets.”
I’m curious if the BE does have a plan, will they look to poach any Big 12 leftovers and would it lead to a split of the basketball only vs BCS schools.
Overall, I am holding out hope for a merging of the northern ACC teams with the BCS football parts of the Big East forming a new East Coast Conference (an even split in naming).
It’s fascinating theater being played out across the country. No use in speculating at this point. The music has just started.
June 13th, 2010 at 6:29 pm
I think the BE should be proactive, starting this monday. I have listed some of the schools that might make the BE stronger. Remember as you read the list that we are already strong enough to be a BCS conference and that both football and basketball contribute to our name recognition. Personally, I would favor SU and the football BE schools splitting from the conference to form a new East Coast Conference. I would be surprised if the ACC is willing to share anything with us; but without them we could have two divisions as listed:
East
Syracuse
Pittsburgh
West Virginia
Connecticut
Rutgers
USF
West
Louisville
Cincinnati
Houston
Baylor, SMU, Texas Christian
Memphis
Missouri, Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State
If Rutgers goes to the BT you could replace any of the schools above for them and not lose a beat.
June 22nd, 2010 at 8:29 am
The solidarity of the remaining Big XII members prevented anything catastrophic. I did like Walter’s split off scenario, that had some real merit to it. Could you imagine a hoops conference with those teams? Downright nasty.