The chase for more television money and prestige is killing the fun of old fashioned regional rivalries.
When the University of Pittsburgh exits the Big East, it's going to try to keep the Backyard Brawl going with West Virginia who's a mere 75 miles down the road, but no guarantees.
Looks like a growing blood feud is going to keep Texas and A&M from playing its traditional Thanksgiving weekend matchup, when the Aggies jump ship to the SEC.
The constant barrage of rumors of schools trading up, is nearly as annoying as the excuses they give during the shuffle. The real reason behind any move these days is money.
Still it doesn't stop school admins from spouting their spin.
Take mid-major darling TCU, which became the latest team to jump conferences this week, moving from the Mountain West to the Big East to the Big 12 in just 315 days.
Take mid-major darling TCU, which became the latest team to jump conferences this week, moving from the Mountain West to the Big East to the Big 12 in just 315 days.
TCU's athletic director Chris Del Conte made sure to puff up academics during the switches.
Del Conte on the Big East, Nov. 2010:"Every single time we have an opportunity to think about where we're going to go, that's the leadership of our chancellor that says, 'Guess what? We dare to be great academically and athletically.' This decision [to go to the Big East] is great for TCU. ... The academic institutions that we're going to be associated with is unbelievable."
Del Conte on the Big 12, Oct. 2011: "Joining the Big 12 connects us not only to schools with whom we share a rich tradition in sports, but also to schools committed to academic excellence."
Conference changes are going happen. But it used to be based on geographic and academic ties.
I'll give TCU the benefit of the doubt here, because it is now linked to a Texas-centric conference, than one centered around NYC.
Could the conferences at least wait until summer to do their school shopping?
It's crazy, it's distracting and at the end of the day it's ruining the fun of college sports. I just hope the revolving door stops spinning soon.
I'll give TCU the benefit of the doubt here, because it is now linked to a Texas-centric conference, than one centered around NYC.
Could the conferences at least wait until summer to do their school shopping?
It's crazy, it's distracting and at the end of the day it's ruining the fun of college sports. I just hope the revolving door stops spinning soon.
3 comments:
I know the whole idea is, if we just have a bunch of super conferences then we'll all get lots of dollars and be super duper closer to having a playoff, and then we'll have a definitive number one and everyone will be happy. Well guess what, bowl games are tons of money, hence having so freaking many of them.
I understand the constant quest for money, it is right now the only thing that Americans seem to think makes anything worthwhile. But I think that there is a lot being lost in this quest for a definitive "winner" of college football and the race after the best tv contract, and that's the joy of playing the game and the tradition of long time rivalries.
New isn't always better, just make the choice between 30 year old scotch and jumbo Jim's grape scotch. Thanks Barney Stinson.
Wait 'till the summer! Agree!
What you aren't touching on here is the possibility that the NCAA becomes the big loser here as the super conferences gain power to manage themselves without the help from the NCAA.
Do you think football schools will leave the NCAA if the super conferences gain enough power?
Peter, you bring up a good point.
I think the NCAA is going to change dramatically, but not because of the so-called super conferences. The student-athletes are beginning to fight back against a system in which they have no rights. That is more likely to bring the system to its knees, than Penn State and Texas working together.
That's based on my watching the Big 12 basically tear itself apart over the Longhorns TV Network.
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