Observations from around the College Football World today..

[Coal Harbour]

Informative and a good read, thanks SG.

 

[J.B. TexasEx]

"How anyone can say the University of Texas needs to be in a conference with K-State, West Virginia, KU, TCU, & Baylor is simply beyond me! There is NOTHING about playing any of those teams that remotely resembles "natural rivalry" like there would be if we were in a conference with other prestigious, proud programs like in the SEC. Who knows, with a guy like Luck or Patterson at the helm, maybe what was once considered faux-pas may be re-evaluated? If not, give me the ACC. With the addition of UT the ACC could be on-par with the SEC. Also, consider the great academic institutions affiliated with the ACC. Also, the last time I checked they play some pretty decent basketball and baseball over there if memory serves me correctly."

I don't disagree with this assessment of our Big 12 conference affiliation. BUT what makes Aggy playing Arky, Miss State, Ole Miss and Auburn any sexier? The SEC/ESPN hype machine? We're in this conference because of our sweetheart LHN deal and we're the lead dogs. What's a "natural rivalry" anyway? Just give me competitive, exciting football games.

The ACC is a better league for UT IF we were to move from the perspective that the Central/Eastern time zones are better for TV than the Pac-12 and the Pacific. Yes, playing FSU, Miami, and Clemson is pretty cool. Wake Forest, Syracuse, BC, and Pitt? Not so much.

Hypothetically, let's say UT, OU, Tech and Okie State bailed to form the Pac-16. What's wrong with a Mountain/Central division that includes AZ, ASU, CO and Utah? We keep one in-state rivalry in this scenario. Maybe that's a better deal than the ACC?

Thanks again for your well-written and thought-provoking posts, SG

 

[Hoekem]

Going to the ACC can't hurt when it comes to recruiting basketball and baseball players either. We would have a new coach in both sports. Getting someone in that region that could replace Barnes and Garrido would help w/ the recruiting the whole East Coast.

A baseball conference w/ NC, Miami, FSU, Clemson, GT, and UT would be pretty damn salty. No need to mention basketball w/ their well documented & rich history.