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Conference Realignment Thread (Hopkins Seeks Conference)

  • According to sources in the Big East, the non-football schools in the conference may now take a serious look at breaking away completely - something they have contemplated for several years. With the loss of basketball bluebloods Pittsburgh and Syracuse (to the ACC) and now West Virginia - and perhaps Louisville in the not-too-distant future - the Big East’s core of Catholic, non-football schools has reached the point where enough is enough.

    ---------------

    The ACC has already said that while it has no current plans to go beyond 14 schools, it would not object to increasing to 16 if Notre Dame (in all sports) is part of the package.

    The sticking point in that discussion is the lucrative television contract Notre Dame has with NBC, which runs through the 2015 season and pays the Irish $15 million-$16 million per year. Preliminary talks of extending that pact have begun. Notre Dame officials also are talking to the ACC about allowing them to maintain their contract for home football games with NBC and still join the ACC in all the other sports.

    If ACC officials bend on that issue, Notre Dame could seriously consider giving up its independent status in football. If Notre Dame does join, the ACC would then need a 16th school. Connecticut would be the probable leader in the clubhouse. That would advance the ACC’s quest of becoming the best conference in college basketball.

    If that happens, the Big Ten, which has said it is very comfortable with 12 teams (with the addition of Nebraska), could take one more look at expanding its television footprint. It could take a close look at ACC schools such as Maryland and Georgia Tech; that appears unlikely now, but things could change if the landscape changes considerably again.

    LOL at anyone leaving the ACC if they add Notre Dame.

    I'd have no problem letting ND keep their games on NBC but they need to share that revenue with the rest of the conference which they're probably unlikely to do until they have no other options.

    Next Big East splash could have ripple effect - The Boston Globe

    The moves of Missouri from the Big 12 to the Southeastern Conference and West Virginia from the Big East to the Big 12 should work their way through the legal and clerical process in the next several days - although, according to sources in the Big 12 and SEC, there might be more of an issue with Missouri being accepted in the SEC than West Virginia going to the Big 12.

    www.boston.com

    jsh ●

  • Frank the Tank makes a good point in his comment section that the non-Texas B12 schools may not let ND join for other sports because it would set a precedent to allow Texas to do the same thing.

    jsh ●

  • Gene Corrigan ran Notre Dame athletics from 1981-87. He ran the ACC from 1987-97. No one pines for an Irish-ACC marriage more than he.

    “I think it would be wonderful,” Corrigan said.

    But can it happen? Would Notre Dame ever relinquish its football independence and, for the first time, join a league for all sports?

    “They’re certainly going to think about it more than they ever have before,” Corrigan said from his home near the University of Virginia, “because things have changed so much. … You pick up the paper every day and you have no idea what you might read (about conferences). … It’s kind of a crazy time, isn’t it? I don’t mean that in any way to be critical of anybody. It just is (a crazy time).”

    -------------

    A Duke graduate, Corrigan was Swofford’s direct predecessor and orchestrated the expansion that brought Florida State to the league in 1991 and elevated its football. He also served as athletic director at Virginia and Notre Dame.

    But even in retirement Corrigan is connected. He wouldn’t reveal details of his conversations but said he speaks with Swofford and Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick.

    Moreover, Corrigan’s son Kevin coaches the Irish’s lacrosse team. Another son, Boo, was an associate athletic director at Notre Dame and is the AD at Army.

    -------------

    “All the (other) sports the ACC is good at, lacrosse and tennis and soccer, Notre Dame is good at,” Corrigan said. “From a competitive standpoint, it couldn’t be better.”

    Teel Time: Notre Dame considering full conference membership, says former Irish AD, ACC commissioner Corrigan

    Corrigan believes ACC, Notre Dame a perfect match in 'crazy time'

    www.dailypress.com

    jsh ●

  • jsh said...

    Frank the Tank makes a good point in his comment section that the non-Texas B12 schools may not let ND join for other sports because it would set a precedent to allow Texas to do the same thing.

    Not if UT has already granted its rights to the big 12 by the time they take ND basketball.

    PoorMike

  • The original ACC deal was $1.86 billion for 12 years, or about $13 million per school per year for all sports. Essentially only football and basketball are really worth anything and football is worth more that basketball, lets call the split $8 million for football and $5 million for basketball. From the above article, Notre Dame gets $15 million per year from NBC for football alone. Bowl payouts are roughly $1.5 million/yr from this 2010 article (http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2010/01/20100125/This-Weeks-News/The-BCS-Big-Split.aspx) due to revenue splitting, I'll assume it'll remain the same with 14 teams. So essentially as it is, each ACC school gets $9-10 million per year for football tv deals. Notre Dame pockets their bowl money.

    If you let them keep their bowl payout and tv deal for the remaining few years on their contract, they'll be around $6-7 million ahead of the rest of the schools. If you put them in the bowl pool, it would be pretty similar. However if you let them keep their bowl deals, if they make a BCS game the BCS payout would really screw over ACC schools but would still give added monetary incentive for being the ACC champ. Would be a gamble that might be worth looking in to.

    "WE WANT MORE WE WANT MORE girl is providing the rallying cry for the 2013 O's." ~dh2k3

    JDawgBBall9

  • PoorMike said...

    Not if UT has already granted its rights to the big 12 by the time they take ND basketball.

    It's not something that would happen overnight, it would be a down the road move, like in 6 years when their grant of rights is up. It would definitely be a concern if I was a B12 member.

    jsh ●


  • “All the (other) sports the ACC is good at, lacrosse and tennis and soccer, Notre Dame is good at,” Corrigan said. “From a competitive standpoint, it couldn’t be better.”

    The NCAA wouldn't even need to have a lacrosse tournament. Just give the championship to the ACC champ every year. Same goes for women's soccer.

    Lackawanna ●

  • jsh said...

    This is what I remember from the Pitt to the B12 rumor mill:

    According to Pete Thamel of the New York Times, the Big 12 is interested in Notre Dame, Arkansas, BYU and Pitt. The first three have been targets for some time now, but Pitt has reportedly become a target recently.

    Goodman, Chrispy, Spike or anyone else can chime in if they remember WVU ever being mentioned as a possible B12 team before Pitt joined the ACC but I don't.

    This is correct. There was some talk of Pitt and WVU trying to make themselves a package deal to conferences with the assumption the Backyard Brawl was worth a lot in combination with each program. But the ACC wasn't interested in WVU, as it appears Syracuse, Pitt, and UConn were all ahead of WVU as candidates for spots 13 and 14. Rutgers may have been as well.

    The only way WVU may have been mentioned as a B12 team before Pitt took the ACC offer was by riding Pitt's coattails.

    Regarding the insane ND rumor about the Big 12: in addition to the crazy idea of ND going to Lubbock, Manhattan, Waco, Stillwater, Ames, and Norman, and the idea of ND scheduling 6 Big 12 games in their independent schedule, perhaps the craziest idea is that Notre Dame is going to punt their Thanksgiving weekend game every other year at Southern Cal for Texas. It makes zero sense to blow off one of their top rivals to make such an agreement when they can play Texas anytime during the year, including conference championship weekend in December.

    This post was edited by ChrispyWF on 10/26/2011 at 8:31 AM

    ChrispyWF ●

  • The funny thing is how obvious it is that Chip Brown is getting used by the Texas AD to try and make these statements about Notre Dame that put Texas and ND on the same level. Like oh, let's just have them play each other at Thanksgiving, the two most storied programs in football blah blah blah blah. Someone forgot to tell Texas there are like 5 other programs that can make that claim.

    hgoodman ●

  • WVU to B12 hits a snag?

    But sources say the process hit a “bump in the road” last night. WVU was apparently notified by the Big 12 that it needed “more information” from WVU and that there would be a vote by the Big 12 Board, perhaps on Monday.

    There is speculation that the “bump” was a push by Louisville.

    The Dominion Post’s Drew Rubenstein reports that there was a “late push” by the University of Louisville to be considered instead of WVU.

    “Sources used terms like ‘volatile’ and ‘internal battle’ to describe the conference realignment with the Big 12,” Rubenstein reported.

    Last night, WVU called off preliminary plans for a press conference today.

    “Contrary to media reports, there is no press conference scheduled for Wednesday concerning WVU’s athletic conference affiliation. There are no further comments at that time,” the statement said.

    Big 12 Move Hits Snag - West Virginia Headline News and Talk Radio

    MetroNews delivers the most accurate and up-to-date news headlines, sports news, and outdoors news across the state of West Virginia. Seasonal coverage delves into insider news from the state capitol during the Legislative Session in Charleston, state and national elections, and comprehensive sports coverage from the locker rooms of the Mountaineers, Thundering Herd, and high schools across the state of West Virginia.

    wvmetronews.com

    fearthenoodle

  • More like WVU is thinking of declining the B12 again, amirite Nola?

    jsh ●

  • FWIW This article says if ND joins The Big Ten it would come down to Maryland v. Rutgers for the last spot
    http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/chi-west-virginias-move-could-prompt-irish-to-think-big-ten-20111025,0,5667287.story

    chicagoterp ●

  • corrected url:

    West Virginia's move could prompt Irish to think Big Ten

    West Virginia s pending move to the Big 12 could lead the Big Ten to seriously re-examine whether to expand again.

    www.chicagotribune.com

    FirstCoastTerp ●

  • fearthenoodle said...

    WVU to B12 hits a snag?

    But sources say the process hit a “bump in the road” last night. WVU was apparently notified by the Big 12 that it needed “more information” from WVU and that there would be a vote by the Big 12 Board, perhaps on Monday.

    There is speculation that the “bump” was a push by Louisville.

    The Dominion Post’s Drew Rubenstein reports that there was a “late push” by the University of Louisville to be considered instead of WVU.

    “Sources used terms like ‘volatile’ and ‘internal battle’ to describe the conference realignment with the Big 12,” Rubenstein reported.

    Last night, WVU called off preliminary plans for a press conference today.

    “Contrary to media reports, there is no press conference scheduled for Wednesday concerning WVU’s athletic conference affiliation. There are no further comments at that time,” the statement said.

    attachment

    BentleysSVP

  • I've been playing around with the pods for a 16 team conference this morning. I know everyone usually comes up with the geographic pods (North/Mid-Atlantic/Carolina/South) but I feel like that wouldn't work since 3 of your top programs (Clemson/FSU/Miami) would always be in the same conference with a strong 4th team (GT) included. UNC/NCST on the other hand would always have Wake and Duke in their division. You would have years when the divisions line up MD/UVA/VT/Pitt/Clemson/GT/FSU/Miami and then UNC/NCST/Duke/Wake/Cuse/BC/ND/UConn.

    Here are the pods I came up with which I think are a little more balanced:

    FSU
    NCST
    MD
    UConn

    ND
    Miami
    Duke
    BC

    VT
    GT
    Pitt
    Wake

    Clemson
    UNC
    UVA
    Cuse

    Each school would have 3 interdivisional rivals which would be their geographic counterparts. For example, Clemson would still face GT/FSU/Miami every year. While you still have the competitive imbalance of the southern teams facing tougher competition, they at least avoid having to be in the same division with each other year after year. This also keeps most of the rivalries in tact, UNC/UVA, makes Miami/ND an annual game.

    I think this is probably most appealing for ND to join. They get an annual game against Miami (good for FL recruiting), they play BC on an annual basis and also annual games against Pitt and Cuse.

    Thoughts? Have I thoroughly confused everyone?

    jsh ●

  • hgoodman said...

    The funny thing is how obvious it is that Chip Brown is getting used by the Texas AD to try and make these statements about Notre Dame that put Texas and ND on the same level. Like oh, let's just have them play each other at Thanksgiving, the two most storied programs in football blah blah blah blah. Someone forgot to tell Texas there are like 5 other programs that can make that claim.

    Right, it's all basically Texas being all full of themselves. But, they are no better an annual opponent than USC. ND is big on tradition. I don't see them swapping USC or Michigan for Texas, or any other regular opponent really.

    JAWTerp

  • jsh said...

    I've been playing around with the pods for a 16 team conference this morning. I know everyone usually comes up with the geographic pods (North/Mid-Atlantic/Carolina/South) but I feel like that wouldn't work since 3 of your top programs (Clemson/FSU/Miami) would always be in the same conference with a strong 4th team (GT) included. UNC/NCST on the other hand would always have Wake and Duke in their division. You would have years when the divisions line up MD/UVA/VT/Pitt/Clemson/GT/FSU/Miami and then UNC/NCST/Duke/Wake/Cuse/BC/ND/UConn.

    Here are the pods I came up with which I think are a little more balanced:

    FSU NCST MD UConn

    ND Miami Duke BC

    VT GT Pitt Wake

    Clemson UNC UVA Cuse

    Each school would have 3 interdivisional rivals which would be their geographic counterparts. For example, Clemson would still face GT/FSU/Miami every year. While you still have the competitive imbalance of the southern teams facing tougher competition, they at least avoid having to be in the same division with each other year after year. This also keeps most of the rivalries in tact, UNC/UVA, makes Miami/ND an annual game.

    I think this is probably most appealing for ND to join. They get an annual game against Miami (good for FL recruiting), they play BC on an annual basis and also annual games against Pitt and Cuse.

    Thoughts? Have I thoroughly confused everyone?

    Aside from the fact that Miami/ND hasn't been appealing since the early 90s and ND has rarely ever played Cuse, I think you're on to something.

    terpgrad05

  • terpgrad05 said...

    Aside from the fact that Miami/ND hasn't been appealing since the early 90s and ND has rarely ever played Cuse, I think you're on to something.

    It was appealing enough for the Sun Bowl and they just signed a 3 game contract including one game at Soldier Field. Plus I think getting an annual game in FL would be very appealing to ND for recruiting purposes.

    As for Cuse, they'd give ND a game in the state of NY every year which is something I'd think they'd be in favor of. If Cuse agrees than they could move the game every so often to Yankee Stadium or the Meadowlands.

    jsh ●

  • Explain the interdivisional rivals, do they change?

    A team plays 3 pod games, 3 rivals, and then rotates the rest of the league through 2 teams every 2 years (home and away). Is that right?

    Lackawanna ●

  • RT @PeteThamelNYT Just filed to NYT: After being told it was accepted to Big12, WVU in holding pattern. Its "50-50" and "too close to call" with Lville.

    LOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOL

    Epic Nolaeer sonning is imminent

    hgoodman ●

  • jsh said...

    Here are the pods I came up with which I think are a little more balanced:

    FSU NCST MD UConn

    Do not want.

    GAterrapin

  • Lackawanna said...

    Explain the interdivisional rivals, do they change?

    A team plays 3 pod games, 3 rivals, and then rotates the rest of the league through 2 teams every 2 years (home and away). Is that right?

    My understanding of the pods with rivals is:

    Two pods are put into an 8 team "division". You play all teams in your division (you pod, one rival, 2 other teams from another pod) for 7 games. You play the 2 rivals from the other division for 9 total conference games.

    After 1 or 2 years, you recombine the divisions by swapping a couple of pods. So you are always in the same division as your pod, and rotate being in the same division as other pods.

    All that said, I think the regional pods still make more sense than jsh's pods, which seem similar to the Atlantic/Coastal concept that no one can figure out.

    ChrispyWF ●

  • While this would be hilarious. The Big East has a much better chance of surviving with WVU still in it than it would with Lville wouldn't it?

    I mean, granted it wouldn't give many potential new members very much confidence knowing that WVU tried to bolt but as far as keeping the AQ status having WVU means more than Lville.

    XrisTerp ●

  • hgoodman said...

    RT @PeteThamelNYT Just filed to NYT: After being told it was accepted to Big12, WVU in holding pattern. Its "50-50" and "too close to call" with Lville.

    LOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOL

    Epic Nolaeer sonning is imminent

    I will be logged into the WVU sites if this backfires on them....the meltdown could be one of the best and you can be assured of fires happening :)

    HumphreyBogart said... Jackie Robinson isn't dirty. This isn't Pack Pride.

    tcc_dc ●

  • The interdivisional rivalries would be:

    ND/BC/Cuse/UConn
    MD/UVA/VT/Pitt
    UNC/NCST/Duke/Wake
    Clemson/GT/FSU/Miami

    Obviously whatever team you are the other three teams would be your rivals.

    You'd play against your pod (3 games), one of the other three pods (4 games) and then you'd have two games against whichever rivals weren't in the pod you played against.

    For example, every year MD would play FSU/NCST/UConn (same pod) and UVA/VT/Pitt (rivals). The 3 remaining conference games would be against the three remaining opponents in one of the other pods since they'll already be playing against whichever rival is in that pod.

    Against the ND pod their schedule would be:

    FSU (pod)
    NCST (pod)
    UConn (pod)
    VT (rival)
    UVA (rival)
    Pitt (rival, opposing pod)
    ND (opposing pod)
    Miami (opposing pod)
    Duke (opposing pod)

    *I did make a mistake in the initial pods. Pitt and BC should be flip-flopped since BC/ND are in the same pod.

    jsh ●

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