Gazette: WVU should support Boren's Big 12 Identity

[WVBlue]

excerpt:

Gee's response

When reached on Monday, WVU president E. Gordon Gee was anything but shocked at the comments.“I think [the remarks] are fairly consistent with the thinking in the Big 12,” he said.

“It’s nothing new. I’m in favor of expansion. I think he’s expressing what we’ve been thinking.

”Those words are significant. And so is this from Gee, a member of the Big 12’s expansion committee: “I think the notion of going to 12 [schools] is most likely.”

“Some of these issues will be discussed and resolved in February,” Gee added. “It’s all part of a package.

”More significant yet. The league presidents and chancellors will meet Feb. 4-5. And both Boren and Gee are respected within that circle. Boren, especially, has much clout.


ARTICLE

http://www.wvgazettemail.com/sports/20160118/mitch-vingle-wvu-should-support-borens-big-12-identity

Charleston Gazette

 

[CAJUNEER_rivals]

excerpt:

Gee's response

When reached on Monday, WVU president E. Gordon Gee was anything but shocked at the comments.“I think [the remarks] are fairly consistent with the thinking in the Big 12,” he said.

“It’s nothing new. I’m in favor of expansion. I think he’s expressing what we’ve been thinking.

”Those words are significant. And so is this from Gee, a member of the Big 12’s expansion committee: “I think the notion of going to 12 [schools] is most likely.”

“Some of these issues will be discussed and resolved in February,” Gee added. “It’s all part of a package.

”More significant yet. The league presidents and chancellors will meet Feb. 4-5. And both Boren and Gee are respected within that circle. Boren, especially, has much clout.


ARTICLE

http://www.wvgazettemail.com/sports/20160118/mitch-vingle-wvu-should-support-borens-big-12-identity

Charleston Gazette

I also think the B12 should expand. But if Texas is unhappy and bolts then OU will follow closely behind, and WVU will be in Big East, Midwest Edition.

 

[ColoradoMountaineer]

This probably is the same article from a different source

http://www.sbnation.com/college-foo...sident-gordon-gee-big-12-expansion-12-schools

 

[eerdoc]

excerpt:

Gee's response

When reached on Monday, WVU president E. Gordon Gee was anything but shocked at the comments.“I think [the remarks] are fairly consistent with the thinking in the Big 12,” he said.

“It’s nothing new. I’m in favor of expansion. I think he’s expressing what we’ve been thinking.

”Those words are significant. And so is this from Gee, a member of the Big 12’s expansion committee: “I think the notion of going to 12 [schools] is most likely.”

“Some of these issues will be discussed and resolved in February,” Gee added. “It’s all part of a package.

”More significant yet. The league presidents and chancellors will meet Feb. 4-5. And both Boren and Gee are respected within that circle. Boren, especially, has much clout.


ARTICLE

http://www.wvgazettemail.com/sports/20160118/mitch-vingle-wvu-should-support-borens-big-12-identity

Charleston Gazette

Not sure I understand the desire to expand now that they have the championship game guaranteed. Adding two more just to have two more and then go to a division scheme that restricts who sees whom when seems counter productive. Also have two more mouths to feed and, maybe, less than the necessary money to pay for it. Seems dumb to me. Can somebody explain the rush to add inferior eastern teams or make the western weight all the greater for WVU?

 

[VaultHunter]

Remember how the Big12 was the best decision for WVU? People slamming other people for being apprehensive about WVU joining the Big12. Welcome to the Big12 WVU! Caught in the middle of the Oklahoma/Texas power struggle and watching the future of WVU's program being decided by to schools 1000 miles away who could care less what happens to WVU. Awesome

 

[skygusty_rivals]

Remember how the Big12 was the best decision for WVU? People slamming other people for being apprehensive about WVU joining the Big12. Welcome to the Big12 WVU! Caught in the middle of the Oklahoma/Texas power struggle and watching the future of WVU's program being decided by to schools 1000 miles away who could care less what happens to WVU. Awesome

Well if those two schools are so greedy that they would rather split apart, join another conference and destroy the BIG12 than compromise then we are hardly any worse off than we would have been in the AAC, traveling all over the country for peanuts and not playing any traditional rivals. I'm all for hoping they work out a compromise that STILL makes them a **** pile of money. How much is enough for these people anyway?

 

[Samuel S]

Remember how the Big12 was the best decision for WVU? People slamming other people for being apprehensive about WVU joining the Big12. Welcome to the Big12 WVU! Caught in the middle of the Oklahoma/Texas power struggle and watching the future of WVU's program being decided by to schools 1000 miles away who could care less what happens to WVU. Awesome

It's better than our forseeable future having already been decided because we didn't get in a Power 5 conference then. We are to a large extent, as I said in another thread, just an interested bystander with very little power or influence over what happens, and we are a terrible fit in the Big 12, but it still beats the only alternatives we had.

 

[ThePunish-EER]

I also think the B12 should expand. But if Texas is unhappy and bolts then OU will follow closely behind, and WVU will be in Big East, Midwest Edition.

when there are viable schools worth expanding, the big 12 will expand. You don't expand just to expand. Byu needs a partner.

 

[Buckaineer]

Not sure I understand the desire to expand now that they have the championship game guaranteed. Adding two more just to have two more and then go to a division scheme that restricts who sees whom when seems counter productive. Also have two more mouths to feed and, maybe, less than the necessary money to pay for it. Seems dumb to me. Can somebody explain the rush to add inferior eastern teams or make the western weight all the greater for WVU?

It's simple. They aren't adding teams that are inferior and they won't be losing money.

The real question is why people are on a message board claiming they are and will. That and who are these people.

 

[skygusty_rivals]

It's better than our forseeable future having already been decided because we didn't get in a Power 5 conference then. We are to a large extent, as I said in another thread, just an interested bystander with very little power or influence over what happens, and we are a terrible fit in the Big 12, but it still beats the only alternatives we had.

So when our own fans (or I assume so) think we are a terrible fit in the Big12, what do you think the fans of teams in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Iowa think? Yet we are being given the hard sell that it is a slam dunk that they want to double down and add more teams in the east that are as bad or worse geographically, and definitely worse culturally. I am afraid that if they do expand it is going to be to teams where it is OUR travel budget and schedule that gets worse. I just can't see Texas saying OK we are willing to give up 7 or 8 million bucks a year on the LHN AND we are willing to schedule Home and Homes with teams like UCONN, Cincy, Memphis or UCF.

 

[Buckaineer]

when there are viable schools worth expanding, the big 12 will expand. You don't expand just to expand. Byu needs a partner.

The conference has identified 6 or 7 viable schools. No one has talked about expanding just to expand. There are disadvantages that must be overcome.

 

[Buckaineer]

It's better than our forseeable future having already been decided because we didn't get in a Power 5 conference then. We are to a large extent, as I said in another thread, just an interested bystander with very little power or influence over what happens, and we are a terrible fit in the Big 12, but it still beats the only alternatives we had.

Gordon Gee is ON the expansion committee-hardly a bystander except in fantasies.

 

[Buckaineer]

So when our own fans (or I assume so) think we are a terrible fit in the Big12, what do you think the fans of teams in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Iowa think? Yet we are being given the hard sell that it is a slam dunk that they want to double down and add more teams in the east that are as bad or worse geographically, and definitely worse culturally. I am afraid that if they do expand it is going to be to teams where it is OUR travel budget and schedule that gets worse. I just can't see Texas saying OK we are willing to give up 7 or 8 million bucks a year on the LHN AND we are willing to schedule Home and Homes with teams like UCONN, Cincy, Memphis or UCF.

No one is asking UT to give up anything.

 

[Buckaineer]

I also think the B12 should expand. But if Texas is unhappy and bolts then OU will follow closely behind, and WVU will be in Big East, Midwest Edition.

Texas can't bolt, they are under a grant of rights agreement. Expansion isn't going to make Texas want to leave the conference even so.

 

[Darth_VadEER]

Well if those two schools are so greedy that they would rather split apart, join another conference and destroy the BIG12 than compromise then we are hardly any worse off than we would have been in the AAC, traveling all over the country for peanuts and not playing any traditional rivals. I'm all for hoping they work out a compromise that STILL makes them a **** pile of money. How much is enough for these people anyway?

Make no mistake - everyone involved is that greedy, WVU included. College football realignment is a nice micro-study in geo-politics and I think a few chess pieces still need to be moved.

 

[Shipyard Dog]

How many years are the same people, going to repeat the same opinion, about the same subject? Seriously.. how do you guys not get tired of this? I don't get it.

 

[Orlaco]

How many years are the same people, going to repeat the same opinion, about the same subject? Seriously.. how do you guys not get tired of this? I don't get it.

Why do you keep making that type of reply regarding this topic ? Don't you get tired of it ....?

----------

Are we all trapped in an endless forum loop and simply can't help ourselves... ...because I know I've expressed the same observation before...?

I don't get it.

 

[Rootmaster]

I too am tired of the expansion discussion but firmly agree that the Big 12-2=10 must do it for all the regularly discussed reasons. I am also amazed that the anti-expansion folks don't get it...that expansion is in WVU's interest if nothing else. Expansion and two divisions means the same monies or more...it means a CCG and easier path to a playoff spot...and a more stable conference with a wider base that could be a better position to withstand any future defections. As far as the there "are no teams out there worthy" of being in our little club...that is so myopic and silly that it defies logic. I love my alma mater WVU but we are Oklahoma and/or Texas in football tradition.

 

[Orlaco]

...pretty detailed post for being tired of the discussion.

You too are trapped in this paradox....

 

[michaelwalkerbr]

I also think the B12 should expand. But if Texas is unhappy and bolts then OU will follow closely behind, and WVU will be in Big East, Midwest Edition.

If Texas and/or Oklahoma leave the Big 12, it won't be for ten years. The GOR has never been challenged and is very unlikely to be.

 

[torontoeers]

I also think the B12 should expand. But if Texas is unhappy and bolts then OU will follow closely behind, and WVU will be in Big East, Midwest Edition.

I honestly don't see them bolting anywhere CAJUN...they're both making money on their terms and others should be wary of putting up with their ********...expansion? Not unless the $ goes well up for WVU or at minimum we can poach an unhappy quality program or 2 from an existing P5...Those who say BYU....well they are another pain in the *** and do nothing for WVU...just my 2 cents...

 

[Mountaineer Steve]

No one is asking UT to give up anything.

You can't have BIG12 network as long as LHN exists. Texas is making 15m from it, how is that not giving something up.

Regardless, expansion is the right way to go, and is long term thinking. I don't know if they will have the votes to get it done

 

[Rootmaster]

LOL. Orlaco...You are right...I am also trapped in this discussion.[laughing]

 

[michaelwalkerbr]

Looking at this from another direction, what is the biggest difference in numbers between the Big 12 and other power 5 conferences? It's not the number of ranked teams in basketball or usually football. It's the number of bottom feeders. The Big 12 usually has 3, sometimes 4. The others have 5, 6 or more. Why does the Big 12 have to add top 10 teams, making it much harder for WVU to compete for the conference crown? If teams fit, they fit. Facility and program upgrades can be and are part of the conditions of joining the conference.

Should WVU really have to beat Oklahoma, Texas, Oklahoma State, Baylor, and TCU plus the likes of FSU and Clemson just to compete for a conference title? No other school in any other conference has to do that. Be careful what you ask for.

 

[Buckaineer]

You can't have BIG12 network as long as LHN exists. Texas is making 15m from it, how is that not giving something up.

Regardless, expansion is the right way to go, and is long term thinking. I don't know if they will have the votes to get it done

Texas isn't going to give up 15 million and no one is going to ask them to. Texas will get its $15 million through its contract term and others will get more than now. Boren already explained this-it doesn't change because a message board poster from another conference tells you it's not so.