My personal preference for expansion of the Big XII:

[BoremanEer]

GO TO 14 teams:

Western Division:

Add BYU and Colorado State with Texas, Texas Tech, Baylor, Oklahoma State, and TCU.

BYU would be attractive for its huge Mormon TV market and a new market in Utah that the Big XII does not have. Colorado State is building a new football stadium, has been decent in the past in basketball and already has a football program on par with Colorado, and once again, opens a new market to the Big XII.

Eastern Division:

Add Connecticut and either Memphis, Tulane, or Cincinnati.

with Oklahoma, Kansas State, WVU, Kansas, and Iowa State.

Allow one crossover game to allow for rivalries like OU-Texas and OU=OSU and play seven conference games. Two crossover games if it will keep the TV big wigs happy.

We have to be honest that if TVs did not matter, Rutgers would not be in the Big 10, and Pitt and Syracuse would not be in the ACC, and we would be. In fact, it is probable that we would be in the SEC instead of Missouri. UCONN would add a lot of leverage to a renegotiated contract with our TV sponsors. I was impressed with the facility at the Liberty bowl facility last year and Memphis would open up a new market for the big XII as well. Snicker if you will at Tulane, but Texas officials were big on Tulane when expansion came up before, a bridge to New Orleans would be nice, as well as the Superdome. And Texas must be made OK with expansion. Texas is the main reason WVU is in the Big XII right now instead of Louisville.
Cincinnati has a decent football and basketball program and is the best "bridge school" for WVU out of the group.

If Oklahoma wants expansion, it had better be done for the good of the conference.

I am sure there are problems with this that this humble fan has not seen, so feel free to fire away.

 

[Woody in Helvetia]

GO TO 14 teams:

Western Division:

Add BYU and Colorado State with Texas, Texas Tech, Baylor, Oklahoma State, and TCU.

BYU would be attractive for its huge Mormon TV market and a new market in Utah that the Big XII does not have. Colorado State is building a new football stadium, has been decent in the past in basketball and already has a football program on par with Colorado, and once again, opens a new market to the Big XII.

Eastern Division:

Add Connecticut and either Memphis, Tulane, or Cincinnati.

with Oklahoma, Kansas State, WVU, Kansas, and Iowa State.

Allow one crossover game to allow for rivalries like OU-Texas and OU=OSU and play seven conference games. Two crossover games if it will keep the TV big wigs happy.

We have to be honest that if TVs did not matter, Rutgers would not be in the Big 10, and Pitt and Syracuse would not be in the ACC, and we would be. In fact, it is probable that we would be in the SEC instead of Missouri. UCONN would add a lot of leverage to a renegotiated contract with our TV sponsors. I was impressed with the facility at the Liberty bowl facility last year and Memphis would open up a new market for the big XII as well. Snicker if you will at Tulane, but Texas officials were big on Tulane when expansion came up before, a bridge to New Orleans would be nice, as well as the Superdome. And Texas must be made OK with expansion. Texas is the main reason WVU is in the Big XII right now instead of Louisville.
Cincinnati has a decent football and basketball program and is the best "bridge school" for WVU out of the group.

If Oklahoma wants expansion, it had better be done for the good of the conference.

I am sure there are problems with this that this humble fan has not seen, so feel free to fire away.

 

[Woody in Helvetia]

Olkahoma and OSU will be in the same division because the OU crossover game will be Texas.

UConn and Cincy along with CSU and BYU would be fine with me.

I am not sure geography will have anything to do with the divisions. I do not see all the Texas schools in the same division. Maybe 3 but not 4.

 

[skygusty_rivals]

Oh Thank God! Someone finally started a thread about the Big12 Conference expanding! [jumpingsmile]

 

[BoremanEer]

I know it might not be what you want to see on the board, Skygusty, but I hope we can discuss it in an intelligent manner, because I have a feeling expansion is coming.....

 

[Orlaco]

I know it might not be what you want to see on the board, Skygusty, but I hope we can discuss it in an intelligent manner, because I have a feeling expansion is coming.....

I tried to avoid this thread because I was scolded by V for posting in one that was similar.... ..but I seemingly have no self-discipline.

Sky was simply, possibly in an aggressive manner, pointing out that there's multiple well established threads similar to your topic. Remarkably.... ....most of the posts in those threads are actually expressed in an 'intelligent manner'. There is an issue with redundancy though (somewhat ironic)...

 

[GetYaNumbersUp]

The thought of UConn in the Big 12 is about as bad it gets. The Big 12 is a football oriented mid west conference. UConn couldn't possibly be any more of the opposite.

 

[VaultHunter]

The thought of UConn in the Big 12 is about as bad it gets. The Big 12 is a football oriented mid west conference. UConn couldn't possibly be any more of the opposite.

I would argue the same could have been said about WVU by fans of Big12 schools.

 

[GetYaNumbersUp]

I would argue the same could have been said about WVU by fans of Big12 schools.

at least we are a football school, with a football culture. Uconn wasn't even a d1 football school 20 years ago.

 

[skygusty_rivals]

I know it might not be what you want to see on the board, Skygusty, but I hope we can discuss it in an intelligent manner, because I have a feeling expansion is coming.....

Just giving you a hard time. Seriously there are at least 3 other threads, one of them 11 pages long, and there has been a lot of intelligent comment and more than a little redundancy. I think if you read through them you will find a few people who think like you and a few people who have strong reasons why it might not happen the way you want, and maybe not at all. I've grown weary of the discussion and am just waiting to see what the Big12 comes up with at the meeting in Feb. Carry On!

 

[BoremanEer]

My biggest concern is keeping Oklahoma in the conference. I have this uncomfortable feeling that there is a power struggle between Texas and Oklahoma. The last four times Texas "won" a power struggle: Colorado, Missouri, Texas A&M, and Nebraska. I do not want Oklahoma to follow suit, and the SEC or the Big 10 would fall over themselves to get Oklahoma. If expansion keeps the Sooners in the Big XII, I am almost to the point that I do not care if the Big XII takes Corn County Community College....

 

[Pitt4Life34]

GO TO 14 teams:

Western Division:

Add BYU and Colorado State with Texas, Texas Tech, Baylor, Oklahoma State, and TCU.

BYU would be attractive for its huge Mormon TV market and a new market in Utah that the Big XII does not have. Colorado State is building a new football stadium, has been decent in the past in basketball and already has a football program on par with Colorado, and once again, opens a new market to the Big XII.

Eastern Division:

Add Connecticut and either Memphis, Tulane, or Cincinnati.

with Oklahoma, Kansas State, WVU, Kansas, and Iowa State.

Allow one crossover game to allow for rivalries like OU-Texas and OU=OSU and play seven conference games. Two crossover games if it will keep the TV big wigs happy.

We have to be honest that if TVs did not matter, Rutgers would not be in the Big 10, and Pitt and Syracuse would not be in the ACC, and we would be. In fact, it is probable that we would be in the SEC instead of Missouri. UCONN would add a lot of leverage to a renegotiated contract with our TV sponsors. I was impressed with the facility at the Liberty bowl facility last year and Memphis would open up a new market for the big XII as well. Snicker if you will at Tulane, but Texas officials were big on Tulane when expansion came up before, a bridge to New Orleans would be nice, as well as the Superdome. And Texas must be made OK with expansion. Texas is the main reason WVU is in the Big XII right now instead of Louisville.
Cincinnati has a decent football and basketball program and is the best "bridge school" for WVU out of the group.

If Oklahoma wants expansion, it had better be done for the good of the conference.

I am sure there are problems with this that this humble fan has not seen, so feel free to fire away.

Not real attractive schedule for WVU. Not sure about this.

 

[michaelwalkerbr]

I realize this is redundant to my postings on other threads, but in addition to the well over $100 million already spent on Nippert Stadium remodeling and expansion, Cincinnati is proceeding with rebuilding their basketball arena also. You don't do that if you expect to stay in the AAC. Who else is busy upgrading facilities for all Big 12 sports should be a telling factor. I'll bet someone is, or already meets expectations. Any ideas?

 

[eerdoc]

GO TO 14 teams:

Western Division:

Add BYU and Colorado State with Texas, Texas Tech, Baylor, Oklahoma State, and TCU.

BYU would be attractive for its huge Mormon TV market and a new market in Utah that the Big XII does not have. Colorado State is building a new football stadium, has been decent in the past in basketball and already has a football program on par with Colorado, and once again, opens a new market to the Big XII.

Eastern Division:

Add Connecticut and either Memphis, Tulane, or Cincinnati.

with Oklahoma, Kansas State, WVU, Kansas, and Iowa State.

Allow one crossover game to allow for rivalries like OU-Texas and OU=OSU and play seven conference games. Two crossover games if it will keep the TV big wigs happy.

We have to be honest that if TVs did not matter, Rutgers would not be in the Big 10, and Pitt and Syracuse would not be in the ACC, and we would be. In fact, it is probable that we would be in the SEC instead of Missouri. UCONN would add a lot of leverage to a renegotiated contract with our TV sponsors. I was impressed with the facility at the Liberty bowl facility last year and Memphis would open up a new market for the big XII as well. Snicker if you will at Tulane, but Texas officials were big on Tulane when expansion came up before, a bridge to New Orleans would be nice, as well as the Superdome. And Texas must be made OK with expansion. Texas is the main reason WVU is in the Big XII right now instead of Louisville.
Cincinnati has a decent football and basketball program and is the best "bridge school" for WVU out of the group.

If Oklahoma wants expansion, it had better be done for the good of the conference.

I am sure there are problems with this that this humble fan has not seen, so feel free to fire away.

For the life of me I do not understand the drive to add schools especially in light of true recent decisions that would allow a 'championship' game with a ten member conference. Why the rush to dilute the conference just for the sake of numbers? None of the 'eastern' additions will add substantially to the stature of the BigXII or bring in at least the amount of money they will be given. BYU and Colo State just adds to the travel woes WVU is facing. BYU might have National appeal because of the religion, but Colo.State is a far lesser appealing addition. Neither have had overwhelming recent success. I see any such additions as a display of poor judgement and inadequate consideration of all involved factors. STICK WITH 10.

 

[michaelwalkerbr]

For the life of me I do not understand the drive to add schools especially in light of true recent decisions that would allow a 'championship' game with a ten member conference. Why the rush to dilute the conference just for the sake of numbers? None of the 'eastern' additions will add substantially to the stature of the BigXII or bring in at least the amount of money they will be given. BYU and Colo State just adds to the travel woes WVU is facing. BYU might have National appeal because of the religion, but Colo.State is a far lesser appealing addition. Neither have had overwhelming recent success. I see any such additions as a display of poor judgement and inadequate consideration of all involved factors. STICK WITH 10.

I certainly respect your opinion and see the point of your argument, but there is indeed strength in numbers. From all I can determine, both Cincinnati and Memphis are ready or committed to be facilities wise and have usually been playing like power 5 teams stranded in a lower conference. Could they come in and compete immediately for the conference title? No, but who wants that? They would likely be middle of the conference teams that add to everyone's SOS. Twelve teams allow for two divisions and decrease the likelihood of a rematch in the CCG.

Would any of these teams bring in enough viewers to support their inclusion? Only ESPN and FoxSports truly know the answer to that question. If so, I'm for it. If not, it is not going to happen. But all of these teams will likely end up in a power 5 conference before long. If they meet the criteria, why not at least two in the Big 12?

 

[xgunnx]

I thought i read or seen Southern Mississippi mentioned somewhere. IMO Southern Miss should be considered in any Big XII expansion talk.

 

[michaelwalkerbr]

I thought i read or seen Southern Mississippi mentioned somewhere. IMO Southern Miss should be considered in any Big XII expansion talk.

I realize you are being facetious, but I'm a stickler for research. Football stadium, 36k seating and out of date. Basketball arena, 8k and just way too small. Facilities for several Big 12 sports, non-existent. If they were to spend $150 - $200 million to upgrade their athletic programs and facilities, who knows?

Winning and top notch facilities solves a lot of problems. UM is still a small private school (smaller than Marshall) and I remember when the Hurricanes were no more than an afterthought in sports. They seem to be doing OK. Even with just over 11k on campus students, I'll bet the Big 12 would take them now!

Ya just never know!

 

[ColoradoMountaineer]

I just wanna know when basketball season starts

 

[xgunnx]

@ michaelwalkerbr, you got me at my attempt at weak troll'ish reply.

But seriously Cincinnati and Memphis would be good programs to add. Both have TV markets and potential to become very competitive in football. Both have very good basketball programs.

WVU
Memphis
Kansas
Cincinnati
Kansas State
Iowa State

Texas
oSu
Texas Tech
Oklahoma
Baylor
TCU

 

[eerdoc]

@ michaelwalkerbr, you got me at my attempt at weak troll'ish reply.

But seriously Cincinnati and Memphis would be good programs to add. Both have TV markets and potential to become very competitive in football. Both have very good basketball programs.

WVU
Memphis
Kansas
Cincinnati
Kansas State
Iowa State

Texas
oSu
Texas Tech
Oklahoma
Baylor
TCU

Footballwise the two are VERY unbalanced. Might be great for WVU getting to the 'championship' game ,but it championships the real meat of the conference from being seen ,except very occasionally, in WV. Doubt the 'western' division would relish beating up on one another all the time while the east deliys Big East diluted.

 

[ThePunish-EER]

@ michaelwalkerbr, you got me at my attempt at weak troll'ish reply.

But seriously Cincinnati and Memphis would be good programs to add. Both have TV markets and potential to become very competitive in football. Both have very good basketball programs.

WVU
Memphis
Kansas
Cincinnati
Kansas State
Iowa State

Texas
oSu
Texas Tech
Oklahoma
Baylor
TCU

geographically, it makes sense. Competively, not so much. The west division looks like the big east versus the big 12. Most years, if kstate or WVU don't win the east, the conference championship would be a massacre. I would think one of the western teams should replace Kansas in the east.

 

[GetYaNumbersUp]

geographically, it makes sense. Competively, not so much. The west division looks like the big east versus the big 12. Most years, if kstate or WVU don't win the east, the conference championship would be a massacre. I would think one of the western teams should replace Kansas in the east.

Actually, even if KSU or WVU won the east, there's a good chance it would still be a massacre. Short of winning twice against BU, Oklahoma has whooped up on us and we are 1-3 vs TCU. If Texas ever gets their **** together, look out. Dana's teams do not typically play well against physical units.

 

[ThePunish-EER]

Actually, even if KSU or WVU won the east, there's a good chance it would still be a massacre. Short of winning twice against BU, Oklahoma has whooped up on us and we are 1-3 vs TCU. If Texas ever gets their **** together, look out. Dana's teams do not typically play well against physical units.

idk, WVU has been able to hang with all the better teams the last 2 years, including Alabama OOC in 2014. Kstate is always a tough out with Snyder. If you trade out Kansas with OSU or TCU, you got something there. Plus, it's easily the best BBall in the country with Memphis and Cinci added. I still would rather have BYU in there.

 

[Round Hillbilly]

I realize this is redundant to my postings on other threads, but in addition to the well over $100 million already spent on Nippert Stadium remodeling and expansion, Cincinnati is proceeding with rebuilding their basketball arena also. You don't do that if you expect to stay in the AAC. Who else is busy upgrading facilities for all Big 12 sports should be a telling factor. I'll bet someone is, or already meets expectations. Any ideas?

here is a team upgrading their stadium:

http://www.carolinahuddle.com/boards/topic/87529-ecu-plans-to-expand-stadium-to-60000-by-2016/

 

[Buster68_rivals]

GO TO 14 teams:

Western Division:

Add BYU and Colorado State with Texas, Texas Tech, Baylor, Oklahoma State, and TCU.

BYU would be attractive for its huge Mormon TV market and a new market in Utah that the Big XII does not have. Colorado State is building a new football stadium, has been decent in the past in basketball and already has a football program on par with Colorado, and once again, opens a new market to the Big XII.

Eastern Division:

Add Connecticut and either Memphis, Tulane, or Cincinnati.

with Oklahoma, Kansas State, WVU, Kansas, and Iowa State.

Allow one crossover game to allow for rivalries like OU-Texas and OU=OSU and play seven conference games. Two crossover games if it will keep the TV big wigs happy.

We have to be honest that if TVs did not matter, Rutgers would not be in the Big 10, and Pitt and Syracuse would not be in the ACC, and we would be. In fact, it is probable that we would be in the SEC instead of Missouri. UCONN would add a lot of leverage to a renegotiated contract with our TV sponsors. I was impressed with the facility at the Liberty bowl facility last year and Memphis would open up a new market for the big XII as well. Snicker if you will at Tulane, but Texas officials were big on Tulane when expansion came up before, a bridge to New Orleans would be nice, as well as the Superdome. And Texas must be made OK with expansion. Texas is the main reason WVU is in the Big XII right now instead of Louisville.
Cincinnati has a decent football and basketball program and is the best "bridge school" for WVU out of the group.

If Oklahoma wants expansion, it had better be done for the good of the conference.

I am sure there are problems with this that this humble fan has not seen, so feel free to fire away.

Sounds like a reasonable expansion option. Adding 4 instead of 2 would be an aggressive move.

 

[Buckaineer]

When it expands, creating a conference wide network of some sort needs to accompany that move.

With cable subscribers dwindling and expected to continue to do so, and expecting that one day these conference networks will be based financially on people paying more directly for them, the conference needs to add major media markets and/or teams with a demonstrated ability to have people pay for product.

BYU and UConn immediately come to mind for this because they both already have "networks". BYU-tv has millions of subscribers, and UConn has some agreements with NYC based distributors in the New York market paying them millions already.

There are some difficulties with adding BYU though such as no Sunday play, and they want certain rights kept with them which harms the chances of a conference network.

UConn makes alot of sense-other than geographically.

Some creative thinking will have to come into play for travel for sports outside of Football and basketball

 

[michaelwalkerbr]

here is a team upgrading their stadium:

http://www.carolinahuddle.com/boards/topic/87529-ecu-plans-to-expand-stadium-to-60000-by-2016/

Looks great and they have been a tough out for WVU at times. They are determined to move it on up, also. But they have 'tobacco row' written all over them and you know what that means. Future ACC?

 

[Round Hillbilly]

Looks great and they have been a tough out for WVU at times. They are determined to move it on up, also. But they have 'tobacco row' written all over them and you know what that means. Future ACC?

i don't know about all that man...tobacco road looks at them about the same way they look at us, unwashed masses that are beneath the acc. while i find these expansion threads interesting, i miss my childhood weekends where i could just turn on the radio and root for the eers. now along with injury reports, recruiting, coaching concerns etc we have to hear about population, tv sets, markets, branding, realignment, conference strength, blah blah blah...

 

[WVex-pat in GA]

I vow to never read another Expansion thread again until it is reviewing the decision made by the B12 members to expand and invite selected schools.

 

[ThePunish-EER]

Looks great and they have been a tough out for WVU at times. They are determined to move it on up, also. But they have 'tobacco row' written all over them and you know what that means. Future ACC?

if the ACC ever expands again, it's likely WVU and UConn. Unless they wanted Temple for their market. Nobody else really for them

 

[michaelwalkerbr]

i don't know about all that man...tobacco road looks at them about the same way they look at us, unwashed masses that are beneath the acc. while i find these expansion threads interesting, i miss my childhood weekends where i could just turn on the radio and root for the eers. now along with injury reports, recruiting, coaching concerns etc we have to hear about population, tv sets, markets, branding, realignment, conference strength, blah blah blah...

I kind of miss Jack Flemming and Woody O'Hara in their heyday, too.

 

[xgunnx]

geographically, it makes sense. Competively, not so much. The west division looks like the big east versus the big 12. Most years, if kstate or WVU don't win the east, the conference championship would be a massacre. I would think one of the western teams should replace Kansas in the east.

Now that i look at it again. I agree the and i was just thinking in geographical locations and didn't take the competitive side into consideration. Maybe switch Kansas with either TCU or Baylor to balance it some.

 

[Buckaineer]

For its initial expansion the BIG 12 should add schools that can best help the conference get to a succesful conference network which is probably going to be needed for future revenues to keep pace with the Big Ten and SEC. Even though cable subscriptions will decline, they won't dissapear over night, and the conference still needs to be able to generate revenues and get exposure if things shift to a new model.

 

[GetYaNumbersUp]

what about New Mexico? I'd rather have state flagships than city schools, and at least the Lobos are kind of close to the Big 12 footprint.

 

[ThePunish-EER]

what about New Mexico? I'd rather have state flagships than city schools, and at least the Lobos are kind of close to the Big 12 footprint.

if you're going that direction (scraping the barrel), I would go for UNLV before New Mexico.