From a WVU Board

[Thegreatone]

I got this from a WVU message board:

Haters will hate, so read at your own discretion. But, this definitely is an interesting twist.

I've been texting back a forth a good friend of mine this evening. He's a tenured member of the faculty at Rutgers and has some prestige there. He's been involved in some specific discussions within his department the past few days, under a request from the administration.

Rutgers, more than the average institution, is heavily focused on research and its revenues. Conference realignment could highly affect some of their research partnerships. Specifically discussed tonight over text (and why he texted me) was that his department has been asked to writing a few executive summaries / whitepapers of their expertise on highly specific subject areas... ready for this? ... on research efforts currently underway at 1) the University of Texas, 2) Baylor University, 3) Oklahoma University, and 4) Kansas University.

He started texting me tonight based off of the growing sentiments from his inner circle.

After tonight, I expect the remaining 6 football members of the Big East to withdraw from the conference and go as a package deal to the Big 12.

I have no idea what Missouri does. However that shakes out, and whether BYU and/or TCU is included, I have no idea. So, it could mean a 14 team conference or a 16 team conference.

I've sat on this for a few hours, as I didn't want to just run and start spewing stuff. But, the more I think about all this, the more it matches up.

* TCU is not going to be in attendance at the Presidents' meeting this weekend.
* If accurate, we'd have solved the increased travel issue, as 75% of the existing football members are coming.
* It's a big middle finger to Marinatto. He may not have been fired, but his relationship with BE football is severed.
* The Big 12 gains a ton of new TV markets.

[JDBEARCAT]

Bring on the Big 12!

[blackattack]

Bring on the Big 12!

Sounding better everyday. Please let it be true!!

[bearcat25]

We should all be saying our prayers right now that this happens....or any other version of UC to the Big 12!

[RedRocker]

It wouldn't surprise me at all that the remaining schools do this forming the first superconference. Marinatto deserves to be fired by the FB schools for his mismanagement of this whole situation from the beginning last year.

Had he added Temple, UCF and Houston with TCU along with Navy and AFA for FB only, the BE may have survived. Hope he likes his new BB only league.

[waterhead]

Now this sounds like a real plan! Then the Big 12 could create divisions which could keep most Big East and Big 12 rivalries together. It also would help UC to get some big time games to Cincy each year from the other division. The Big 12 gets to tap into a huge new market and the Big East gets upgraded big time. It also solves most of the travel issue yet keeps some travel involved which most teams already do anyway. It's a win win win win!

This would be awesome for UC and the rest of Big East football schools...at the same time it's good for the Big 12 for stability and new markets.

[bearcat29]

It would make sense why UCONN is coming back to the table after trying to burn the bridge with the BE.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/...discuss-future

Herbst on Wednesday assured members of the school's board of trustees that UConn is still working with the Big East, and urged them to "ignore the gossip on the national scene."

"Big East presidents have been engaged in frequent communication by phone or in person," she said. "We're committed together to make the Big East work, to make it stronger in spite of the announcement that Syracuse and Pittsburgh will leave to go to the ACC."

[bearcatgary]

I'm not sure why the remaining schools in the Big 12 would do this? It seems that they have stabilized their league and none of the schools seem to be wanting to defect. I can see the incentive for getting back to 12 schools (championship game, stability, perception). But going beyond 12, from a current league member's standpoint, is just throwing money away.

The only way I see this happening is if the Big 12 really wanted a subset of BE schools (say UL, UC and WVU for example) and those schools said we aren't going without the rest. However, even this scenario is completely ludicrous given the lack of loyalty in college sports today.

Of course, I would really like this to be true.

--Gary

[bearcat29]

The only way I see this happening is if the Big 12 really wanted a subset of BE schools (say UL, UC and WVU for example) and those schools said we aren't going without the rest. However, even this scenario is completely ludicrous given the lack of loyalty in college sports today.

--Gary

I can see this for a few reasons. UT/OU+2 threaten to leave every year. I really think UofL would rather stay and try and rebuild the BE. If they bring everyone then there is some stability if UT/OU+2 leave.

Also, the BE has many nice markets. UT & OU taking NYC by storm. I think they like that idea.

Throw them in their own division. Cut down travel costs. Plus, now UT/OU can recruit FLA, OH/PA & NJ. KU can recruit NYC bb.

And I think ISU, KSU, BU were pretty frightened when they looked like they are on the outside looking in. Safety in numbers. Even if they lose UT/OU+2, they can keep going with the BE teams. Texas has a lot of pull, but the smaller members have the numbers.

http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/09...#ixzz1ZMUnDkuk

[waterhead]

The only way I see this happening is if the Big 12 really wanted a subset of BE schools (say UL, UC and WVU for example) and those schools said we aren't going without the rest. However, even this scenario is completely ludicrous given the lack of loyalty in college sports today.

--Gary

I think your last sentence pretty well describes why they can't feel "stabilized" even if MO says they are staying. You can't just take someone on their word that they are "committed to the conference". Universities who show all their cards are doing themselves a diservice. They have to say all the right things to all the right conferences just in case that's where they end up. If you think the Big 12 feels stable after they lost three teams recently while many of the rest may still be being courted by other conferences...they would be silly if the felt "safe"...rather than agressively trying to make it so.

[bearcatgary]

waterhead and bearcat29,

You've made some very good points.

Let's hope you are right,
Gary

[bearcat29]

http://twitter.com/#!/fbrumormill

FWIW, the scout insider board is saying BYU, UC, UofL, WVU are going to
join B12. I am not an insider, just what was reported.

[mjv780]

http://twitter.com/#!/fbrumormill

FWIW, the scout insider board is saying BYU, UC, UofL, WVU are going to
join B12. I am not an insider, just what was reported.

I clicked your link... would love for that to be true, but I kind of have a hard time believing that when all the sources point to a UC-slanted source (BearcatLair) - not to disparage the source website at all, but I would believe it a little more if it were coming from multiple outlets or some place who didn't have a dog in the fight, so to speak. If it was coming from yahoo sports or something like that, it'd be a much more credible rumor IMO

[08bearcat]

Maybe rutgers is making a bid to join the other football teams and push the league into the northeast. One of the gazillion rumors running around said that the big 12 wasn't looking to go that far east... but getting into nyc wouldn't be bad.

Also, bringing along the basketball schools for a 16/24 league and ND still along for the ride, isn't completely bad. Two divisions, four 6 team pods. A complete merge (and safety in numbers.)

(also, that same twitter feed seems to say that UofL and BYU are a done deal on Saturday.)

[GoUC11]

I don't think the entire Big East will go to the B12. I think it is us, WV, Louisville that are going. It make sense to have us three together as it keeps our rivalries and gives us schools in close proximities. I have a feeling a big announcement is going to come out this weekend regarding it.

To those who ask where I get my basis-I don't get it from anywhere. I'm a senior at UC but it is just a feeling I have that this has been brewing for a few weeks.