Fanblogs.com - Latest Comments in PAC 10 Expansion: Gridiron

Re: PAC 10 Expansion: Gridiron

Tex1836 — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 22:07:47 -0000

Why would Texas (or Colorado) want to leave the best conference in the country for the perpetually overrated PAC10?

Re: PAC 10 Expansion: Gridiron

Dave Nelson — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 22:40:19 -0000

Anybody who considers taking BYU into its conference should understand that the Mormon school won't play on Sundays, regardless of the stakes. So, if you're in the habit of Sunday softball or baseball series, you'll have to make a big accommodation. For this reason alone, I never expect BYU to join a conference that doesn't need it, as does the Mountain West.

Re: PAC 10 Expansion: Gridiron

Porcine — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 18:58:53 -0000

I've been trying to find that ever since PaulWesterDawg took it down.

Re: PAC 10 Expansion: Gridiron

Zac — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 19:28:02 -0000

Thanks, Regan!!! I've been looking for something like this. I think I'll blow it up and put it on my wall.

Re: PAC 10 Expansion: Gridiron

Zac — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 19:21:41 -0000

Too funny, big guy, too funny!!!

Re: PAC 10 Expansion: Gridiron

hricane23 — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 13:04:48 -0000

Well, you could've indicated that you were razzing me! I spent half the night sulking, and the other half applying lipstick and cleaning "Bertha", a la Steve Buscemi in "Billy Madison".

Re: PAC 10 Expansion: Gridiron

SirFartsALot — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 01:07:43 -0000

No way would any big 12 team ever leave. the conference is set up to well right now, with established rivalries and good competition.

Re: PAC 10 Expansion: Gridiron

Regan — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 00:17:48 -0000

http://www.zoudave.com/File...

Here's a fun map with helmets designating locations for geographical purposes.

It is quite interesting...

Geographically, the closest school to Tennessee is Clemson...

Re: PAC 10 Expansion: Gridiron

Zac — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 21:07:07 -0000

1st a clarification: I wasn't trying to invalidate your point. I agree; geographically Miami is a much better fit to the ACC than the former Big East. I was yanking your chain a little is all. In fact, when the Big East picked up S FL, all I could think of was WTF!?! But, Tranghese and company just had to have a piece of the FL market (I duly admit; it is a good market.) Now, if the Big East football side of the house expands, and picks up another FL team (C FL, FL Atl.) then they are at least doing S FL a service by providing an opponent which offers some geographic benefits. Otherwise, similar to Miami, I think S FL's nearest opponent is Louisville.

Re: PAC 10 Expansion: Gridiron

Warbow — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 20:43:07 -0000

The team showed up, the coaches were in SMU.

Re: PAC 10 Expansion: Gridiron

checkrazor — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 19:20:50 -0000

You're smoking crack if you think Texass will leave the Big 12 for the Pac 10. The Pac 10 needs to stand pat on membership unless there is a serious re-alignment elsewhere. It's already a pretty far-flung league and you're talking about making trips to central Texass.

If the Big 12 got carved up and they could grab Colorado, then it might make sense to look at another school so they could have an even number of teams divided into two divisions. If Hawaii had its shit together, they could be a nice pick up, but they're a mess no conference needs. Some major conference cash might make Hawaii into a respectable program.

Re: PAC 10 Expansion: Gridiron

C Day — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 17:07:04 -0000

Nevada and UNLV make the most sense, this would add another state to the Pac 10 domination list. UNR and UNLV are by far the top institutions in the state and are both large research universities with strong and growing academics (this is not UNLV 1990) They are the most up and comming academic institutions in the region and will both be top tier very soon. Nevada (the state) is in the pacific time zone so it fits the pacific theme, northern nevada and southern nevada might as well be a part of no Cal and So Cal respectively as far as politics go. Vegas is a large TV market and would add a great travel destination. As far as athletics, bothe have decent athletic programs and any problems would be easily fixed by BCS status. UNLV has the B-Ball program and some decent olympic sports, and UNR with BCS money would be respectable in football and basketball. UNLV would even be competitive in football if given BCS prestige.

Re: PAC 10 Expansion: Gridiron

Cougarfan — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 14:28:41 -0000

Also, is it valid to consider non-football sports? BYU's ranked 5th in the nation by CFN in a combination of football and basketball programs http://cfn.scout.com/2/7390... (granted I think that's a little generous, but as a cougarfan I'll take it!). Both BYU and Utah stack up very nicely in other sports (BYU mens volleyball is probably top 3 historically with many national championships, BYU and Utah's mens rugby teams have been in the championship games 5 of the last 7 years, yes they've lost everytime but still... Utah's women's gymnastics is strong and they're mens b-ball team is historically very good!)

Re: PAC 10 Expansion: Gridiron

Cougarfan — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 14:16:37 -0000

Its probably important to factor in the effects of the LDS fan-base for BYU. The school travels extremely well all over the country (I remember in 2005 vs Boston College in Boston there was a considerably large BYU fan section). Cougar fans refer to UNLV's stadium as Lavell Edwards South because there are always more BYU fans than UNLV fans its like another home game. There's a large LDS population in all the PAC 10 states and TV ratings would be noticeably bolstered in every TV market of the PAC 10 with BYU, not to mention the addition of Utah markets.

Re: PAC 10 Expansion: Gridiron

ev — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:25:43 -0000

It doesn't matter how Utah and BYU compare to Oregon State or Wazzu since those schools are not under consideration. Fact is those two probably wouldn't be invited to join either if they were not already members. The Pac10 is allowed to asked for higher requirements than some of it's existing members.

Re: PAC 10 Expansion: Gridiron

hricane23 — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:00:02 -0000

Thanks, Zac, for the geography lesson. But the fact remains... UM's ACC opponents are, collectively, MUCH closer than their former Big East brethren.

Re: PAC 10 Expansion: Gridiron

Ben Prather — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 12:33:20 -0000

Granted UCLA and USC are two of the top research universities in the nation, as are California and Stanford.

How do Utah and BYU compare with Oregon State or Washington State? ASU and Utah work very close on many joint research projects.
When viewed as a whole conference, and not just the top, Utah Hawaii and BYU are where they need to be academically.

Air Force is a better geographic fit for the BIG 12, but that is a differnt discussion.

Re: PAC 10 Expansion: Gridiron

Ben Prather — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 12:26:34 -0000

The point is Texas, Colorado, Utah, BYU and Hawaii are the only teams that already have figures, they don't need the development.

Why would the PAC 10 choose to carry the load of dragging another institution up to their standards when options are available that are very close already?

Re: PAC 10 Expansion: Gridiron

Regan — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 11:39:01 -0000

hricane23's point is still quite valid. In the Big East, Miami's closest conference neighbor was VT in Blacksburg, VA. After expansion, only 3 conference foes were further away.

Re: PAC 10 Expansion: Gridiron

Regan — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 05:41:31 -0000

I am SO in the mood for some good ol' baby-back ribs right now...

Re: PAC 10 Expansion: Gridiron

aVoiceInSC — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 01:03:41 -0000

Hmmm...I have a hard time respecting the academics of a school that accepted me after my sophomore year of high school (Hawai'i). I'm not trying to be self deprecating at all, but still.

Utah/BYU 2010

Re: PAC 10 Expansion: Gridiron

Ben Prather — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 22:35:19 -0000

Yes. And Fresno St and Nevada as well to make 12 teams.

The MWC is kind of in a rough spot. Utah, BYU, TCU, CSU and Air Force keep being tossed around whenever conference alignment is brought up. They like the membership stability the young conference has enjoyed.

When they aquired TCU I thought Boise State would have been a better fit at the time.

If any MWC team goes BCS, Boise State will be invited to the MWC. They may be invited before then.

Re: PAC 10 Expansion: Gridiron

Ben Prather — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 22:29:04 -0000

The Boise Tucson argument is not very strong. Thats about as far as Boise has to go to play anyone already.

The argument this statement was referring to was that the Big 10 and Pac 10 should form a mega conference with a championship game and no/negligable cross division play.

Re: PAC 10 Expansion: Gridiron

bevo — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 22:05:52 -0000

Utah's academic profile and resources do not compare to UCLA 's or California's. BYU's academic profile compares favorably to USC's but does not compare to Stanford's. BYU does not have the research program like USC. For example, USC offers a PhD in all business fields and economics. BYU does not.

Those four schools - UCLA, USC, California, and Stanford - wield considerable influence in the Pac 10. Utah would have the easier path for an expansion bid if the Pac 10 considers expansion. Given the feelings about BYU and its commitment to LDS principles, I would be shocked if BYU receives an invitation from the Pac 10 should the conference decide to expand.

Colorado and possibly the Air Force Academy have an easier path for an expansion bid if the Pac 10 decides to expand compared to Utah and BYU. It was indicated that some Pac 10 schools will have a problem with the Air Force Academy.

A Utah/Colorado combination appears more realistic than any other combinations. Again, it will depend on who controls any expansion effort, athletics directors or presidents.

Re: PAC 10 Expansion: Gridiron

Zac — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 18:58:07 -0000

"Now, with the exception of BC, the farthest schools are those in North Carolina."

OOPSKI!!! You forgot Maryland, UVA, & VA Tech. All 3 are much farther away from "The U" than the boyz of "Tobacco Row". But, don't take my word for it; that's what Map Quest is for.