Memphis Potential BIG12 Expansion Candidate?

[isu2014]

If/when the Big 12 expands, do you think Memphis would be a good addition? I know that they started to consider Memphis last time (and Memphis showed obvious interest), but they dropped them from the potential candidates list pretty fast. I'm not too educated on conference expansion talks, but there are several points that I thought about that would be definite advantages (in no particular order):

1) They have a proven history of basketball success.
2) Their football team seems to be on the upswing, with 9 of their 11 bowl appearances coming since the turn of the century (4 this decade)
3) Good sized football stadium (61,000, would make it 4th largest in Big 12)
4) Expanding eastward, toward West Virginia
5) Inserts Big 12 into SEC territory

Would love to get some of our new Memphis friends in on this thread as well.

 

[CyGuy5]

Like I said in the last thread, I will take Colorado State, and then Cincinnati to even things out

 

[CYphyllis]

No.

 

[isu2014]

No.

Great analysis.

 

[cycfan1]

They are #1 on my wish list - assuming no other P5 schools available.

 

[heitclone]

Maybe I'm wrong but wasn't Memphis lumped in with the schools thats academics weren't up to snuff? Sorry in advance to the Memphis people if I'm mistaken. I know with L'ville, UCF etc...that was a concern. I may have mistakenly grouped them together.

 

[CYphyllis]

Great analysis.

Analysis isn't needed for the obvious.

 

[CYCLNST8]

They have a lot of growth potential.

 

[weR138]

It all depends on TV. Who owns the rights to games, how are they distributed, would Memphis add value, etc.

 

[Gorm]

 

[CYCLNST8]

It all depends on TV.

Eh... It used to. It still does, but the presidents who make the decisions really do care about academics, geography, cultural fit, competitiveness, etc. If Memphis football can keep rolling the way they have, they'll be a much more attractive candidate in a few years. Especially if Tennessee continues to struggle.

 

[weR138]

Maybe I'm wrong but wasn't Memphis lumped in with the schools thats academics weren't up to snuff? Sorry in advance to the Memphis people if I'm mistaken. I know with L'ville, UCF etc...that was a concern. I may have mistakenly grouped them together.

Yes.

But the big 12 isn't an academic power conference. The SEC has more AAU schools than the big 12.

It's down to us, KU and UT now...

 

[Playboi Carti]

http://www.commercialappeal.com/sto...gers-basketball-attendance-problem/937338001/
Had about 2,000 people for their last basketball game.

 

[weR138]

Eh... It used to. It still does, but the presidents who make the decisions really do care about academics, geography, cultural fit, competitiveness, etc. If Memphis football can keep rolling the way they have, they'll be a much more attractive candidate in a few years. Especially if Tennessee continues to struggle.

I just don't see any more realignment unless it's TV $$$ driven. And I think the delivery system (TV/web) might be such that no more realignment happens for a long while.

It would be nice, however, for WVU if we committed to add some schools closer to them.

 

[srjclone]

CSU and Cincy are the two best options in my mind.

 

[CYCLNST8]

CSU and Cincy are the two best options in my mind.

Agreed; but perhaps we're in a position to add four in a few years. In that case, I'd be in favor of Memphis making the cut. [shrugs] Who knows...

 

[srjclone]

Agreed; but perhaps we're in a position to add four in a few years. In that case, I'd be in favor of Memphis making the cut. [shrugs] Who knows...

If it were go to 4, there is no doubt going to be questions about some of the candidates. There is no "power" looking for a home currently.

 

[dinger]

Maybe I'm wrong but wasn't Memphis lumped in with the schools thats academics weren't up to snuff? Sorry in advance to the Memphis people if I'm mistaken. I know with L'ville, UCF etc...that was a concern. I may have mistakenly grouped them together.

I feel like I remember this too. I also dont care. Academics cant be THAT bad, its still a university. Blue bloods make up classes for athletes to take. I think they shouldve been added.

 

[FinalFourCy]

No.

Well said.

No non-P5’s unless the Big 12 loses current members, and even then Memphis isn’t near the top of the list.

 

[Gorm]

If I remember correctly, every school that left from a P5 to another P5 was an AAU school. (Nebby was at the time.)

Bodes well for us...