If a UTEP student gets busted for under-age drinking, would it be a "Miner" in possesion?
***Official Big 12 Expansion Thread '16***
- Thread starter cyclones500
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If a UTEP student gets busted for under-age drinking, would it be a "Miner" in possesion?
HoopsTournament
Well-Known Member
OU and UT fans are 100% convinced that there will be expansion but no GOR extension. That won't happen because networks and other 8 won't sign off on it, but they think they will get it because they are UT and OU.
At the end of the day, OU and Texas will get what they want. If they want out, there will be no GOR. If they want the B12 to stay intact then there will be a GOR extension. Expansion is just the warm up act for the million dollar question.
HoopsTournament
Well-Known Member
Not completely. They can block expansion, but they can't expand without a GOR extension. They won't have the votes. But whatever fans say or want isn't the same as reality.
HoopsTournament
Well-Known Member
Oh I agree that expansion without GOR is a moot point and serves no purpose. KSU ISU, etc do not need to give teams like Houston an opportunity to pass us if it looks like another major alignment is right around the corner. That would be suicide potentially for a school like ISU.
The problem is, bringing UH to the Big12 won't change that trend. A&M is the dominant program due to proximity. Add to that, the CBS 2:30 timeslot is awesome, so LSU will do well because they are pretty close and during the hurricane alot of people in Baton Rouge and New Orleans left LA for Houston.
Historically, UH has been fortunate to draw 30k fans to their games, so no way do they become a major player in that market. The best way for the Big12 to grow its Houston TV presence is for the Longhorns to become a top 10 team
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Houston can be solid, but juggernaut is an exaggeration.
A couple weeks ago EPSN had one of their college FB experts and a computer program project Houston (and BYU's) 2016 record if they played WVU's schedule. Both the computer simulation and the expert predicted both teams would finish the season around .500.
I am not a fan of Houston joining the Big12. I would rather have UConn and/or Cincy- but if Houston joining the Big12 is what it takes to get the GOR extended, I'm fine with it. I just prefer better geographic diversity and feel Cincy and UConn have much, much better MBB programs.
Okie and Texas would be stupid to leave this conference. They will not make a significant amount of money else ware. They would also lose their "top dog" status at any other conference. The Big12 really is the best solution for all members currently in the conference.
Although basketball is always relegated to afterthought/gravy when it comes to expansion, that's always in the back of my mind. For recency, Houston is the worst for bball w/ BYU, Cincy and UConn — Houston was strong in 60s thru 80s, but hasn't won an NCAA Tournament game since 1984.
Even with that, if Big 12 immediately added those 4 schools, though, that'd be a killer basketball conference. Still not ACC or Big Ten on the top rungs, but top-to-bottom holds its own in comparison, I think.
Oh man that'd be awesome! Even though I understand we need to do it, I've been dreading expansion because I LOVE the round robin in basketball. I hadn't even considered continuing it as a possibility. It's a long shot, but we can hope.
No Pirates.
The Big 12 has informed East Carolina that it is no longer being considered as an expansion candidate. Here's a statement from ECU chancellor Cecil Staton: "I am proud of the support Pirate Nation provided to our efforts. While I am disappointed by the decision, I remain undaunted in my commitment to ECU athletics and the excellence displayed by our wonderful student-athletes, coaches and staff."
The Big 12 has informed East Carolina that it is no longer being considered as an expansion candidate. Here's a statement from ECU chancellor Cecil Staton: "I am proud of the support Pirate Nation provided to our efforts. While I am disappointed by the decision, I remain undaunted in my commitment to ECU athletics and the excellence displayed by our wonderful student-athletes, coaches and staff."
Weird to see actual news concerning expansion rather than random speculation.
Of course Houston has not had a huge following recently... maybe because they aren't part of a P5 conference???
You are thinking about the past and the very near term. When you are talking about a 20 year GOR, you need to look long term. The masses of people moving to Houston (and TX in general) from other states generally don't give a hoot about UT or TAMU. In fact, they probably cheer for another school altogether. But, if there is a notable local program that gets coverage, those folks may take interest. The bigger prize is the kids of those people moving in. I see it here often...kids wearing TCU gear while parents are wearing gear from some other school. The concept is very similar to one of the methods that ISU is using to grow the Cyclone fan base.
Just due to the sheer size of the Houston metro area and the number of people moving in, there is a great potential for Houston's fanbase to increase significantly. Is it a guarantee that it will happen if they are added to the Big 12? Certainly not, but IMO the growth potential is far greater than anything Cincy can offer.
And again, I am not a fan of adding either Houston or Cincy...
Are they the first to be cut? I haven't been in the loop with this stuff in a while.
Good. I'm not surprised. During my 6 years at NC State I thought the ECU fans were incredibly annoying. Easily in my top 10 of my least favorite fan bases, and probably in my top 5. Also, I can't count the number of times I met people who, when asked why they chose ECU, said "because I wasn't accepted at NCSU or UNC". That's not a good look for academics for a university.
That said, they do a better job of filling stadiums than Baylor or TCU...
I honestly don't understand the Big 12's process in expansion anymore. It's like watching a game show, or reality TV. It's like the Bachelor now, and East Carolina didn't get a rose.