*****The Super, Mega, Huge Big 12 Expansion Thread*****

[Rods79]

I am happy to be safe in this round of realignment, but I wouldn't say I am happy about it. I remember how it felt thinking that there was a chance ISU wouldn't be playing BCS football anymore, and quite frankly getting very emotional about it. I imagine fans of some schools in the ACC are feeling the same way right now.

I find all of this fascinating, but, if I had my way, I'd return everything to the way it was before Nebby and Colorado left the Big 12. Let ND join the Big 10 and be done with it.

I have nothing but respect and empathy for the fans of teams that are in danger. Obviously they usually aren't the ones dogging on us. Those last two years had me stressed beyond belief, and we can all understand where they are coming from.

However, to the general elitist fans of the ACC or Big East, or even the other more established conferences that were constantly chiding us and praying our conference would be destroyed to "purge" the forgotten 5 and eliminate them from relevance...karma.

I would not return everything to the way it was, because we are better off, but I would like conferences to make sense. We are beyond that though.

 

[snowcraig2.0]

In fairness to Beebe, he didn't negotiate the current Tier 1 deal, Kevin Weiberg did. He did negotiate the new favorable Tier 2 deal with Fox and had a hand in keeping the current Tier 1 deal as-is when NU and CU bolted.

I think from a business sense the Beebster knew what needed to be done. His problem was that he was a terrible leader, and didn't command the respect that a Delany, Slive, or Scott does. Because of that, he couldn't make everyone play nice together. I think Bowlsby will be able to garner that respect.

 

[snowcraig2.0]

I have nothing but respect and empathy for the fans of teams that are in danger. Obviously they usually aren't the ones dogging on us. Those last two years had me stressed beyond belief, and we can all understand where they are coming from.

However, to the general elitist fans of the ACC or Big East, or even the other more established conferences that were constantly chiding us and praying our conference would be destroyed to "purge" the forgotten 5 and eliminate them from relevance...karma.

I would not return everything to the way it was, because we are better off, but I would like conferences to make sense. We are beyond that though.

I don't think we are better off. With the right leadership the original Big 12 could have been a huge money maker.

 

[cyman05]

I'm extremely squirmish about 16, but some are saying it could happen if the right teams are available. It'd make sense geographically, and I think it'd be helpful to ISU instead of some other possible senarios.

-Texas pod
-OK/KS pod
-SE pod (FSU, GT, Clemson, NCST...some are saying that UNC is positioning for the SEC. If they would go there, the B10 wouldn't take NCST, so they would fit in nicely w/ the B12 and would be worth an add)
-North pod (ISU, ND, WV, 4th team of either Maryland, Pitt, Louisville, Boston College)

I'm sure this has a 1% chance of happening, but I think I'd prefer this to a 14 team B12 where ISU rarely plays the current B12 teams.

 

[Wesley]

"We feel that the Missouri Tigers could be replaced by the Clemson Tigers."

 

[Cyclophile1]

I don't think we are better off. With the right leadership the original Big 12 could have been a huge money maker.

If we end up expanding into Florida, South Carolina, Atlanta and nationally with a Notre Dame, that might not make sense geographically but monetarily it will dwarf what the old Big12 could do. In this age of football, the electronic footprint trumps geography. I'm old school and would have preferred everything remain as it was with implementing Tier1 and Tier 2 reveue sharing and everyone remain committed. Emotions took over, whether envy, anger and/or fear and the world goes topsy-turvy.

Frankly, we should all feel pretty good. I'm going to miss going to Columbia and Lincoln to watch Iowa State, but I can adapt. The prospect of playing FSU and Notre Dame takes some of the sting out of that. That the money is going to be SO SUBSTANTIAL that it gives us a chance to go to the next level means a lot. If we have the right people in leadership, we could do unprecedented things for ISU in the next decade and I'm excited to see how it unfolds.

 

[Wesley]

I don't think we are better off. With the right leadership the original Big 12 could have been a huge money maker.

I use to think that, but a spread out conference can attract more TV viewers than the old Big 12. Having two time zones (central/eastern) for a football conference is a real advantage to ESPN. I know fans traveling will be less, but more eyeballs will watch.

 

[RayShimley]

My preference would be to add two strong teams, get back to 12, and then shut it down. That way we keep our identity, get our CCG back, and don't contribute further to this super conference insanity.

I think adding just GT/ND would be best. Adds another northern school to help balance out our geography, a historic rival for ND, and also adds Atlanta, GA, the fastest growing metropolis in the country (and a cheap flight out of DSM!).

Doubt it would happen, but would be similar to the boondoggle the B1G pulled on us when they swooped in and grabbed NU after Mizzou was the only one publicly courting them.

 

[Acylum]

My preference would be to add two strong teams, get back to 12, and then shut it down. That way we keep our identity, get our CCG back, and don't contribute further to this super conference insanity.

I think adding just GT/ND would be best. Adds another northern school to help balance out our geography, a historic rival for ND, and also adds Atlanta, GA, the fastest growing metropolis in the country (and a cheap flight out of DSM!).

Doubt it would happen, but would be similar to the boondoggle the B1G pulled on us when they swooped in and grabbed NU after Mizzou was the only one publicly courting them.

I agree with you in principle, but trying to be the goody-two-shoes almost killed us once already. We've( Big XII ) learned it's much better to be predator than prey.

 

[RayShimley]

I agree with you in principle, but trying to be the goody-two-shoes almost killed us once already. We've( Big XII ) learned it's much better to be predator than prey.

I'm not saying we should be the goody two-shoes. I'm just saying that 14 teams is uncharted territory and we could be having buyer's remorse down the road. I think 12 teams is the limit if you want a cohesive conference.

 

[cykadelic2]

I think from a business sense the Beebster knew what needed to be done. His problem was that he was a terrible leader, and didn't command the respect that a Delany, Slive, or Scott does. Because of that, he couldn't make everyone play nice together. I think Bowlsby will be able to garner that respect.

The problem with Beebe was that he was already an insider when he took over for Weiberg. Weiberg left because he was frustrated with the bickering and the conference compounded the mistake by hiring his assistant, Beebe.

The conference should have never hired Steve Hatchell (who was a d-bag) as its first commish. The conference would have been much better off starting from square one with an "outsider" at that time. Hatchell was the SWC commish and a "yes" man for Texas.

 

[Acylum]

I'm not saying we should be the goody two-shoes. I'm just saying that 14 teams is uncharted territory and we could be having buyer's remorse down the road. I think 12 teams is the limit if you want a cohesive conference.

Yeah, we should be relatively safe at 12, if 11 and 12 are the right schools.

 

[Bestaluckcy]

I'm not saying we should be the goody two-shoes. I'm just saying that 14 teams is uncharted territory and we could be having buyer's remorse down the road. I think 12 teams is the limit if you want a cohesive conference.

I don't remember 12 being all that stable. The South was always trying to claim they were better than the North. Things were never shared equally. I could care less whether we are at 12, 14 or even 16. In my opinion if this is about money, lets go to the number that gives us the greatest long term payout. If that is 10 then I vote no. (simple). I also do not want to buy any teams. They can have some aide in joining our conference, but repay the conference on the installment plan by going stepped up shares until their bill is repaid. Didn't WVU and TCU agree to pay or repay their way? I am not into the Big 12 being the ACC benefits and relief program. Ditto for Big East teams.

 

[Mr Janny]

This kid needs shown the door, yesterday. Do the right thing here Paul.

what does that mean?

 

[Let's Go State]

No matter how much I want to throw Beebe under the bus.... I don't blame him. He started in a situation of coddling Texas and OU and Nebraska which quickly turned to just coddling Texas. He couldn't get out of it.... And thought all success was built there which was poor leadership on his part, but he was trapped because he wasn't creative enough to find the negotiation levers to keep status quo...

When Texaspuffed out their chest and really evaluated all their options, they realized that they need to play nice and Nienas helped them realize that, with some opportunistic endevours.

Beebe didn't kill the big 12, but Nienas did save it.

 

[Let's Go State]

I don't remember 12 being all that stable. The South was always trying to claim they were better than the North. Things were never shared equally. I could care less whether we are at 12, 14 or even 16. In my opinion if this is about money, lets go to the number that gives us the greatest long term payout. If that is 10 then I vote no. (simple). I also do not want to buy any teams. They can have some aide in joining our conference, but repay the conference on the installment plan by going stepped up shares until their bill is repaid. Didn't WVU and TCU agree to pay or repay their way? I am not into the Big 12 being the ACC benefits and relief program. Ditto for Big East teams.

I Kindly disagree. I like 10. But will accept 12.... 14 better really fatten our pockets cause it seems messy. 16 is just a greedy effort to take out the ACC.

 

[Bestaluckcy]

I Kindly disagree. I like 10. But will accept 12.... 14 better really fatten our pockets cause it seems messy. 16 is just a greedy effort to take out the ACC.

The way I understand it 16 is less messy than 14. Once you get beyond 10 you play some teams more often than others, whether that be 12, 14 or 16. As far as 16 being "greedy" that is highly debatable. I think the Pac 12 and Big and SEC are far more greedy than the Big 12. I want to see the Big 12 survive and do what it takes to accomplish that. If that means moving to 16, we could be going that direction. I doubt very much if we are going to 16 teams. I don't think it will be economical to be at that number. We'll see what we shall see.

 

[cyhiphopp]

I also prefer 12. The thing is, if the ACC does crumble and the Big12 has the opportunity to pick up several quality teams, it might make sense to go to 14/16 now rather than wait. If we wait, then the SEC and B1G get their pick of the top 6 ACC/BigEast leftovers and we end up with teams 13-16 that don't add enough to the conference to make it equitable to add them.

 

[twojman]

I'm not saying we should be the goody two-shoes. I'm just saying that 14 teams is uncharted territory and we could be having buyer's remorse down the road. I think 12 teams is the limit if you want a cohesive conference.

Agreed, 12 is perfect. ND and FSU please. :v_SPIN:

 

[KnappShack]

I'm not saying we should be the goody two-shoes. I'm just saying that 14 teams is uncharted territory and we could be having buyer's remorse down the road. I think 12 teams is the limit if you want a cohesive conference.

Agreed, 12 is perfect. ND and FSU please. :v_SPIN:

Buyers remorse cannot be good for ISU.