B1G Conference, Maryland and Rutgers Spark New Conference Realignment Talks
skinnydipinacid
What was I talking about? Oh yeah, Maryland. Go Terps!
The University of Maryland has accepted an invitation to join the "Big 10" (called this despite housing 13 teams now) and could seal its 14th member by inviting the Scarlett Knights of Rutgers as early as tomorrow, causing football and basketball fans everywhere to give their opinon of what should happen to the remaining teams in the Big East, and even speculating which teams might leave the ACC next (like Florida State, who was the only other team besides Maryland to vote against a $50 million fee for leaving the conference).
This comes on the heels of Notre Dame accepting an invite to the ACC last week in every sport BUT football, leaving many to think both the B1G Conference and the Big 12 will begin negotiations with teams from both conferences, partially out of spite. Spin rumor mill, spin.
Ironically enough it was just last year the Big 12 Conference was fielding the same threats of folding after witnessing Colorado, Nebraska, Missouri and Texas A&M head for greener pastures. They eventually added TCU and West Virginia to it's list of Universities, but still look for further growth, hoping to get back to 12, but then again they did buy the rights to "Big 14" some time ago.
As for Florida State, they're keeping a close eye on how this $50 million dollar departure fee with work its way out with Maryland. If they see a cheaper break or find a way to get their money's worth out of it like Maryland has, expect them to be included in the next batch of teams leaving for a new conference.
Since Syracuse and Pittsburg have already announced their intention to leave the Big East, this still leaves Louisville and UConn (and a couple others nobody will really fight too hard for) floating out there in what seemed to be a doomed conference, along with Boise State who just accepted their invite to the Big East. I would expect Boise St to consider backing out of that plan, perhaps wishing and hoping for their own invitation from either the B1G, Big 12 or PAC Conference... but just in case they should try mending some of those bridges they've burnt over in the Mountain West.
Reader Comments (10)
She... umm... what was the topic again?
It doesn't matter what the topic is. Just stare.
No problem. Easy tasks are my specialty.
Keep staring.
The topic is,,,,the topic is,,,,, the topic was,,,,,,I dunno...
That one is scary healthy.
It seems like only yesterday that Florida State joined the ACC. I just "binged" it and it has been some 21 yrs. Dayum, time does indeed fly. I don't even want to think about where I may not be in another 21.
Still ogling cheerleaders, probably, if you haven't forgotten your priorities by then. ;-)
Thanx Redbeard. What a nice thing to say. I appreciate that and I certainly hope so. And the same to you. I might forget a lot of things but as long as my eyesight holds out I want ever forget my priorities. ;-)
Looking is required. It's the touching part that Herself wouldn't care for, so I'm always careful to observe that line. ;-)
Back to the topic (sort of). Is there any remote chance that college athletics could be transformed into amateur status, with games played by actual students who have education as their primary reason for being at the school?
Ok, yeah, I know I'm being silly. [insert rolling eyes here]