It is pretty safe to say that we all think a 10 team Big Twelve is a very tough, competitive conference. It is also a good number for all sports - except football. But - football is the engine that drives the train. It is pretty obvious to me that we need to expand to 12 teams for the long-term viability of the Conference.
Now we know all the obstacles to that expansion.
1. How do we expand and not lose individual team revenue? Who could we add?
2. What teams are really available? Can we realistically "raid" other conference? Are there non-P5 teams that are available?
3. Do we expand the footprint? Or stay, with the exception of WVU regional?
4. What about the AAC? That conference has some legitimate heavy hitters. Some of those, I think, could be heavier hitters if they upped their profile in the Big XII (Temple, Memphis, Houston, Cincinnati). I would prefer anyone but Houston, as we don't need any more Texas schools. Temple intrigues me. Big populations area, and stick it to the Big Ten a bit. We really need to be careful that the AAC doesn't pass us and become a P6 Conference.
I think the Big XII is in a critical time. That contract will run out quicker than we think and we have to get ahead of the curve.
Now we know all the obstacles to that expansion.
1. How do we expand and not lose individual team revenue? Who could we add?
2. What teams are really available? Can we realistically "raid" other conference? Are there non-P5 teams that are available?
3. Do we expand the footprint? Or stay, with the exception of WVU regional?
4. What about the AAC? That conference has some legitimate heavy hitters. Some of those, I think, could be heavier hitters if they upped their profile in the Big XII (Temple, Memphis, Houston, Cincinnati). I would prefer anyone but Houston, as we don't need any more Texas schools. Temple intrigues me. Big populations area, and stick it to the Big Ten a bit. We really need to be careful that the AAC doesn't pass us and become a P6 Conference.
I think the Big XII is in a critical time. That contract will run out quicker than we think and we have to get ahead of the curve.
