Conference Expansion: Louisville, BYU Targeted By Big 12 And How It Could Affect The Mountain West

Basketball is the reason for the Big East, even when it was a semi-power in football (back when VCU and Miami were members). But if they are missing Syracuse, Louisville, Pitt, and WVU, I wonder if even that’s viable. And UConn and Rutgers are begging to get into the ACC, not that those two matter much in football.

The Big East will probably remain in name (Villanova, St. Johns, Georgetown, Marquette, and Cinci is a good core for a basketball only conference), but definitely falling to mid-major level. It’s kind of sad.

that the Big East will settle for a boat load of cash.

First of all. Marinatto is a dumb twit. He could have gotten a boatload of money by packaging the Big East Football and Basketball to ESPN. Instead, he sat on his butt while the Pac-12, SEC, and ACC moved forward. WVU will probably not leave in 2012, but I’ll bet quite a bit that the Cuse, WVU and Pitt will be long gone before the 2013 season starts.

Amusingly, the Big East cashed a $2.5 million check from WVU as the first half of the $5 million early departure fee. In law, cashing that check is tantamount to accepting the contention of the plaintiff. I bet some dollar amount will let the three schools go. Say $20 million each.

But they will be in the Big 12 next year, as litigation consultant let me tell you that contracts are broken everyday, and very rarely can the court force a party to complete a contract with the exception of property agreements (rental contracts, mortgages, investments, buying/selling of companies) and since WVU is an agent of the state I doubt the Big East will be able to to argue that. Their best argument would be to claim that WVU athletics are separate from the university and the state and that by entering into the Big East they treated as such. And that is a huge stretch, and since now the Supreme Court has ruled that organizations are protected by the same laws as people are, forcing WVU to stay in the Big East would be similar to a form of slavery. Schools can’t force coaches to stay and coach their teams if they get a better job, so conferences shouldn’t be able to do that either. WVU will have to pay for breaking their contract but they won’t be in the Big East next year…

If these institutions are out this year, or next year: they are out! They do not want to come back in! If others get a chance, they will begin the process as well. If enough go, ND will get cold feet and join the ACC to be with Duke, etc. If ND is not in the Big East and the ACC needs another team, it will invite U-Conn. Game over. Even if the teams can’ t go until next year, it’s death to the Big East. if the ACC goes to 16, do you think that the almighty SEC will stay at 14? It will try to fill in the gaps as well. The more area covered, the more money it can bilk out of CBS. If the SEC raids the ACC, which is expected (even with a $20 dollar exit fee) the ACC will take more Big East teams. Then there would be NO WAITING and all would hit the door. The question is: will the B1G go after Maryland and Rutgers? It desperately wants the New York – Baltimore markets for its network. The dominoes are wobbling, the question is: will they fall. There could be no fee or waiting for Pitt, Syracuse or WVU, if they fall right.

http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2012/2/8/2785690/west-virginia-big-east-settlement-million-big-12-negotiation/in/2257910

Between $11 Million and $20 Million. Should be announced Thursday. So, what will happen with Pitt and Syracuse? No Louisville will be free to bolt if the opportunity presents itself.

And still not much of basketball one.

In what way does the Pac 12 benefit from adding Boise State and Air Force, though? They have a title game, they have a hugely profitable network and TV deal, they have national respect, they have a strong hold on one of the top three states for recruiting (California). What do Boise State and Air Force bring to the table for the Pac-12? Yes, Boise State has an excellent football program, but are they going to mean more dollars for the Pac 12 in TV revenue? No, they will mean less money as Boise and Air Force bring virtually nil to the table market wise. They have Colorado to cover the Colorado market and the Idaho market is totally negligible- not nearly enough to offset splitting the TV contract an additional way, even if you give Boise and Air Force a lesser stake. Additionally, a 14 team league means that the monstrous scheduling alliance made with the Big Ten would be a wonky exchange- there would be Pac 12 teams without a guaranteed date against the Big Ten which again hurts the money intake for the Pac 12 network. Taking Boise and Air Force also removes any chance of ever being able to take the Southwest powers Texas and Oklahoma (and their anchors Tech and Okie State) which Larry Scott has been entirely unwilling to close the door on. There is absolutely no upside for the Pac 12 in adding Boise and Air Force, even as football only members.