Did you read the article that was posted? The whole thing is about USC wanting out of the Pac. If they want out, as does the Arkansas schools and possibly Utah, you have to take them. USC Texas and Oklahoma can form the bases of a conference that would rival the SEC and the B1G as the best conference in the country. We don't have to add any Californication state schools thus avoiding all their crappy politics. I'm on the fence about Stanford because they are tied to the hip with Berkley, but schools like Arizona and ASU, Utah, BYU would be good fits to a new conference that gets rid of many of the anchors that have been weighing us down.
I think this is probably right. The future favors the big powerhouse programs with huge fan bases. The weaker programs within a conference may be on the losing end of what comes next in the media world. They’ve had a pretty sweet free ride on the backs of the big boys for a long time. As for the in-betweeners—the pretty good programs with a decent, but not huge, fan base (Tech, Okla St, etc), who knows how they will fare...? Some of the state schools may be successful at playing the politics to keep them chained to in-state powerhouse schools for conference and media $.
This is exactly why none of the Pac12 state schools will come to the B12 except for AZ, maybe. Also why the private schools USC and Stanford may well come.
Bill, Not putting you down, but how many people of influence do you know at USC or in Washington County? The article was written to create clicks and sell advertising and certainly not by anyone with any “inside knowledge” or pull. USC is in the middle of a civil war that precludes them from changing toilet paper much less any thing more important. As long as the conference has two Christian schools, there is no way BYU gets in. While I would love to have Stanford, it’s hard to forget that they are the ones that sunk the “new SWC”. I can’t see Johnny letting Arkansas return even though that would help them immensely in recruiting. Maybe if all current members agreed to sell chicken sandwiches and wings at games and all the current members could replace all their dormitory mattresses. I’ve never understood what Arizona schools bring to the table. So, yes, I would take USC and Stanford, not that either is doing anything but posturing for a bigger piece of the PAC pie. Arkansas? I have friends with a condo on Beaver Lake and that own four hotels in Washington County. Who knows, I might even get to drive a golf cart for a round at The Promises.
It was noted that USC needs to improve before it moves when the TV agreement expires in a couple of years. BYU is not a fit, "Christian schools" or not. Never heard the story or account of Stanford sinking adding Texas to the Pac whatever it was then. Is there an account online? AAC would not take Arkie if they applied now. A sad state of affairs for them. AZ brings two more schools that connect to USC and Stanford geographically. Their academics are improving and there is athletic talent there. Also, there seems to be an impression they are more aligned culturally with Texas culture than with California culture. If we offered to import 93 octane gasoline and cheap diesel, they would join in a minute.
Arkansas: A historically strong program that has been down for quite a while. They are also in a small population state with no major media markets. The old SWC historical rivalry would be fun, but objectively speaking, the hogs don't bring much to the table. Further, they may poach a few East Texas/NE Texas athletes we wanted each year in recruiting.
Well, now that we've removed some of the historic statuary, USC's new president might find us less objectionable... [100 Days in Office] Here are the decisions and statements USC President Carol Folt has made "Folt is no stranger to scandals and controversies, and during her tenure at Chapel Hill, she faced two major ones that made national headlines. The first was that the Chapel Hill’s African American studies department created dozens of fake courses that were taken by thousands of student athletes over the years so that they could earn high enough grades to remain eligible to play on their teams. This threatened Chapel Hill’s accreditation, potentially forcing the school to shut down until Folt created a new system for courses to be approved, fired or disciplined nine employees and avoid NCAA sanctions. Years later, Folt faced another controversy regarding a Confederate statue at the main entrance of UNC-Chapel Hill known as “Silent Sam.” While some UNC alumni and state lawmakers wanted the statue to remain, many students protested for years for it to be taken down and eventually toppled the statue in August 2018. The statue was removed to a secure location by university authorities. In her resignation letter dated 2019 January, Folt ordered the removal of the pedestal base and inscription plaques."
Since Arkansas is at the point of having more Texas kids than Arkansas kids enrolled, maybe those parents (many of whom are loyal Texas Exes, but Willie Cunningham would rather have foreign students who give nothing back than Texas legacies) can lobby to have Arkansas renamed "Northeast Texas University".
To my knowledge, no. It was the mid to late 80s. Brilliant plan Deloss had, but after Stanford scuttled it, Deloss went "Plan B", aka, The Big XII. These things take great time and secrecy. It was at that time that I learned the disdain USC had for the northern schools. Of course, if the alums had their way, USC would move to Orange County.
True, but the real estate would be a little spendy. Turn the wrong way when you leave campus and you are in Watts.
Only school I've ever visited with burglar bars on the football dorm. Fortunately, you can get up on the 110 right at Exposition, but as you indicated, head South and you get lovely views of Watts, Compton, Downey; head north and 10 is before downtown and you can get to The People's Republic of Santa Monica.
SM is nice, but prefer Venus Beach. Pacific Palisades was by far the nicest place I stayed on the coast. That and La Jolla further South. Have not been on USC campus since 1968. I think Left was South where we exited..
SI Longhorn Wire wants the B12 to take the AZ schools and Buffaloes and Utes. Why the latter two, I could not tell you. Schools from the Pac 12 that the Big 12 should consider for expansion
I hate The People's Republic of Santa Monica. I agree with Pacific Palisades. Huntington Beach and Redondo have lots of scenery. Venice Beach is the most entertaining place with the best cheap food in the state. As for that expansion article, drop Utah & add UNM. Then with both UNM and CU, we would have the two most mismanaged schools in the country. Didn't look at the article, but another classic example of why I quit reading SI decades ago.
You likely turned let onto Exposition when leaving campus. Not sure the 110 was there in 68, but 10 was (Santa Monica Frwy). If you went north out of campus, it is about 10 blocks to 10, which would have taken you down to the 405.
They need better coaches or at least UofA does. ASU is doing better under Herm Edwards, they are improving. Everything else out here as far as culture is similar to Texas. More mountains though. Except Phoenix, where lots of Cali tax refugees are flooding in. Amen to that brother! My thoughts as well. Those folks are downright weird. I have noticed the men only bring one wife to football games.
Lived here in “SoCal” since 77 and have been to the Coliseum just once, when we played them. I’ve turned down USC tickets more times than I can remember. Not interested in being in that neighborhood after about 3PM...
Ha ha ha! The Texas legislature will have to set up a draft to select kids to send up there. Anyone with an IQ over 50 is labeled "4F - Too Smart"
I wouldn't expand for just the Arizona schools, though I don't understand Sabre's dislike for them. I'd take the Arizona and Cali schools. Add Utah, CU (also don't understand Sabre's hate). Southwest Conference MidWest Division UT Tech ouSUX osu baylor tcu cu OPEN SLOT Pacific Division usc ucla asu ua stan cal utah byu let uw, wsu, uo, osu, byu, bsu, isu, etc figure out their own. Create a new Southwest Conference that includes the whole southwest (minus NM because, well you know). Kansases are gone. We'd add LA, San Frisisco, Phoenix, and Denver markets. Give up Kansas City. PAC gives up PNW.
I don't think it's a matter of the Pac giving up anything, it's a matter of schools wanting out. USC is the prize, don't care about anyone else. Arizona schools bring the Phoenix market with them. Utah brings the SLC market. USC brings the west coast. This is about getting TV markets. CU left because they have always thought they belonged in the Pac, well they can stay there. I don't want any California state schools because that state thinks they have a right to dictate their policy on the rest of the country. I'm not as into politics as one might think, but I do believe it's in the best interest of the conference, ours or a new one that we might create that the members be from Red states. Utah is red, Arizona is Red, and USC is Red (for the most part). UCLA, Berkley are as Liberal/Progressive as they come. Yes, I know Texas is very progressive these days, but UT doesn't try to dictate policy and the state of Texas doesn't try to dictate policy. California state schools, and California state government does try to force other schools to adopting their policies. That is something we should avoid. If USC wants out of the Pac, then I would be all for us and blowu leaving the Big 12 to form a new conference with a few select schools from both conferences. I'm pretty sure Nebraska has figured out they made a mistake, and I'm sure we can come up with a few others. I think the smart money is to gobble up as much TV market as possible, as long as it's the right schools.
No to BYU (Utah covers SLC); Baylor (they had a chance to come clean and chose to stonewall) and UCLA (USC is the prize in SoCal and at the end of the day the State of California controls them).
Same for UW and WSU, UO and OSU, UCLA and UCB. None of those state legislatures will let the state schools leave the Pac X until the water is flooding over the gunnels.
You do realize that for the last 65 years the UT System has been modeled on the California University System, the most successful and prestigious in the world?