The ultimate NCAA Football thread!!!!!!!!! OMG

[Sakuraba]

Of course it's all about the money, but when is it going to be about winning and having a respectable conference? When are the fans going to go away? The Big Ten is a cash cow but it's a horrible conference.

The funny thing about this whole thing is that Notre Dame is basically being phased into the ACC.

[Ironfan72]

Originally Posted by The Incredible Hulk

uhh you basically just added the NYC and Washington DC markets to your conference. It doesnt matter that the teams in those markets aren't good, you can expand your conference footprint in a huge way which means big bucks for the TV Network,

Besides you werent getting West Virginia, who just joined the Big 12, and Notre Dame, who doesnt need conference. Pitt is already in the B1G footprint and I believe is committed elsewhere for hoops at least. and Missouri just just joined a much better conference. None of those schools were options.

True, we did get those markets, but, as some have said, Rutgers has no real following in the New York market, Maryland brings the Washington market, but again they have no real following, as football programs, they dont make the big ten better, as of now, Maryland becomes the worst team in a bad big ten, the only real powers in the conference are Michigan and Ohio State, both would not fair well against SEC or Pac 12 teams.
For me, i want a competative conference, I know the schools I mentioned would not join, Notre Dame thinks their to good to join a conference and the others are committed to others, my point was they were better fits for a midwest conference, would make better rivals and improve the over all competativness of the conference.
Right now, the conference as basically 4 "powers" Ohio State, Michigan, Nebraska and Wisconsin, followed by Purdue, Michigan State, Penn State, Illinois, Iowa and Northwestern, and Indiana & Minnesota bringing up the rear.

[Ironfan72]

Originally Posted by Sakuraba

Of course it's all about the money, but when is it going to be about winning and having a respectable conference? When are the fans going to go away? The Big Ten is a cash cow but it's a horrible conference.

The funny thing about this whole thing is that Notre Dame is basically being phased into the ACC.

I agree, being a Big Ten conference fan, I want a respectable conference. Do I want or expect a SEC of the Midwest, no, but i am tired of Minnesota, Indiana and other teams in this conference getting money for not winning, they should be held by their fans to a higher standard, i can not imagine Minnesota fans going to games hoping for an 0-8 season and think thats acceptable, but why change, its always been the big 2 and little 8, as long as Indiana and Minnesota get money to build stadiums and facilities and not earn it, like Ohio State and Michigan, this conference will never be better.

[dnno1]

Originally Posted by Sakuraba

Of course it's all about the money, but when is it going to be about winning and having a respectable conference? When are the fans going to go away? The Big Ten is a cash cow but it's a horrible conference.

The funny thing about this whole thing is that Notre Dame is basically being phased into the ACC.

I think it's the opposite. There are too many good teams in the Big Ten and they just beat each other up (and out of the BCS situation). The Big Ten has had an at large BCS bowl bid in the past seven seasons and Ohio State was the 2003 BCS champion. In fact, Ohio State would arguably be the number one team in the country today if they didn't have sanctions.

[Sakuraba]

Originally Posted by dnno1

I think it's the opposite. There are too many good teams in the Big Ten and they just beat each other up (and out of the BCS situation). The Big Ten has had an at large BCS bowl bid in the past seven seasons and Ohio State was the 2003 BCS champion. In fact, Ohio State would arguably be the number one team in the country today if they didn't have sanctions.

Or Ohio State is the only decent team in the conference. Without their presence, man, the Big Ten is looking really bad. I don't buy that they're knocking each other out of the BCS title game, especially when the Big Ten didn't even add a conference championship game until last season. It was actually a much easier road than elsewhere. Look at their bowl record over the past decade, look at the record against ranked noncon opponents, consider that there have only been two national titles for the Big Ten since 1968, and one of those was Michigan who probably would have been flattened by Nebraska that year. The Big Ten is facing demographic problems, and Urban Meyer recognizes that and Ohio State will be better for it.

Originally Posted by Ironfan72

I agree, being a Big Ten conference fan, I want a respectable conference. Do I want or expect a SEC of the Midwest, no, but i am tired of Minnesota, Indiana and other teams in this conference getting money for not winning, they should be held by their fans to a higher standard, i can not imagine Minnesota fans going to games hoping for an 0-8 season and think thats acceptable, but why change, its always been the big 2 and little 8, as long as Indiana and Minnesota get money to build stadiums and facilities and not earn it, like Ohio State and Michigan, this conference will never be better.

The Big Ten made more money than the SEC last year thanks to the Big Ten Network. I don't know where the money goes at the Indianas and Minnesotas of the world. Do the alumni and the fans at those schools care as much about football as they do at, say, Ole Miss and Arkansas? Those are middle rung schools in the SEC and they're willing to pay coaches $3 mil per year, and do $100 mil renovations on their stadiums.

I know the fans care at the Michigans and Ohio States, but does the enthusiasm end there? There's a reason the south produces more and better talent. Part of it is population shift but there's also an enthusiasm gap between the regions.

[Sakuraba]

Just to reiterate a point I made earlier, Notre Dame has to add five ACC opponents to its football schedule every year in order to play basketball there, and here we are talking about the Big Ten absorbing two ACC teams.

I mean, it was kind of a given that ND was going to be phased into a full-time ACC football member. It says a lot that ND has to surrender nearly half its football schedule for basketball purposes, but now we have the resurgence of their program under Brian Kelly which could slow down the ACC integration.

I guess my point here is why didn't the Big Ten just take on ND's basketball program in exchange for the five games ND already plays against Big Ten teams, knowing the ND would be a full member within a decade?

[The Incredible Hulk]

Originally Posted by Ironfan72

True, we did get those markets, but, as some have said, Rutgers has no real following in the New York market, Maryland brings the Washington market, but again they have no real following, as football programs, they dont make the big ten better, as of now, Maryland becomes the worst team in a bad big ten, the only real powers in the conference are Michigan and Ohio State, both would not fair well against SEC or Pac 12 teams.

I'm calling shenanigans on that comment. Rutgers has gained a pretty steady following the past 10-15 years. This isn't your grandfather's Rutgers program anymore. I grew up in their backyard and am amazed when I go back and see the transformation that's taken place there. It's an up an coming program that's markedly improved from where it used to be, and they're in line this season for a BCS bid provided they win their remaining games. I'd wager that outside of OSU, Rutgers would likely beat any of the other B1G teams. (also I'm a huge Michigan fan and lol'd when you refereed to us as a "power")

Not to mention, the football program is 140+ years old at Rutgers as they played in the first college football game EVER in 1869, so for all the B1G people who love their "tradition" it doesn't get any more "traditional" than that.

As for the B1G being a "midwestern" conference, so what? You've had a team in Pennsylvania in the conference for how many years? And PA hasnt at any time ever been confused for being part of the Midwest.

[Venom'sDad]

So now whose looking to replace Maryland in the ACC?

[Ironfan72]

Watching the Big Ten network and they have been debating all this, and are split on whether this was good or not for the Big Ten, but they all agreed, the Big Ten will add 2 more teams, most likely from the Southeast, in my mind and listening to local sports talk, programs that might fit, Tennessee & Kentucky, both not doing well in the SEC, both would make a big splash in the Big Ten, Tennessee's football program while down now, does have a tradition of winning, and Kentucky makes the basketball conference even stronger, maybe the Big Ten goes with other teams, but that is a couple programs mentioned as good fits.
For me, still, getting a West Virginia, Pitt or lure a Missouri (Missouri really wanted to be in the Big Ten) or Texas to join would be good fits and make good rivals for Penn State (Pitt & West Virginia) and Nebraska (Missouri).

[Sakuraba]

That's kind of shooting for the stars.

If they could pull off Texas and Oklahoma by extension, that'd be huge, but the obstacle there is the Longhorn Network. Texas has carte blanche in the Big XII. The only thing that kept the Pac-16 from being a reality.

Tennessee, there's no way they're leaving the SEC. The campus would riot. I don't think it would be a bad idea for them per se, but the fans there wouldn't want it.

They dropped the ball on Pitt and WVU, and they need to reconcile it. Also, there's Notre Dame being phased into the ACC. Why is the Big Ten letting that happen?

[Dr. Evil]

Thanks to Notre Dame for preventing an All SEC National Championship for the second year in a row.

Having said that, the SEC will win it's seventh consecutive national championship.

[Cory]

Originally Posted by Dr. Evil

Thanks to Notre Dame for preventing an All SEC National Championship for the second year in a row.

Having said that, the SEC will win it's seventh consecutive national championship.

it would have been crazy for a UGA FLA championship...

UGA or Bama will beat Notre Dame pretty easily.

[Venom'sDad]

I certainly hope USC fire Lane Kiffin....the program has regress under his lack of leadership.

[Immortalfire]

Auburn has fired Gene Chizik. The third SEC coach to go..Smith of Arkansas is next.

[Sakuraba]

It's going to be interesting. There's a lot of jobs opening up that pay big money. Tennessee, Auburn, Arkansas, and then maybe GaTech and USC. What if Chip Kelly makes that jump to the NFL like everybody thinks he'll eventually do? There's only so many proven, up and coming, or NFL types to go around.

One name that isn't getting tossed around enough is Mack Brown. The man is sitting on the biggest gold mine in college football and he's sucked for three years now, and despite all the ten-win seasons, he's underperformed at Texas. He's better off at a mid-level program like UNC where his recruiting acumen carry the day, but it's time for him to retire and go out gracefully.

And what about Jeff Tedford? Is he gonna get the Ken Hatfield at Rice treatment where he can suck forever without getting fired? You have to feel a little for the guy. He rebuilt Cal and his name was being tossed around for every major opening at one time. Now Cal has been mediocre to terrible for years now. He's got to get fired this year.

If Paul Johnson does get fired at GT, I really hope he lands back at one of the service academies. I adored his Navy teams and his offense is fun to watch.

[Cory]

Tech won't fire Paul Johnson.... they don't give a crap about football. lol

[Immortalfire]

Tech can't afford to fire Johnson. lol

[Sakuraba]

So Arkansas has reportedly offered Les Miles 5 years 27.5 MILLION dollars. Um, okay. Now is Les going to use that to wrangle more money out of LSU? Is LSU crazy enough to try to match that offer? I mean, that's an absolute assload of base money, and ol Les despite all his wins and a title, isn't exactly beloved in Cajun country.

Tennessee is supposedly going to hire Jon Gruden but that sounds like BS. They also apparently made runs at Bob Stoops and Jimbo Fisher.

[Sakuraba]

There are rumors swirling that Gruden has been offered a stake in the Cleveland Browns in addition to his salary to coach TN. This is getting crazy

[Immortalfire]

Les ain't leaving LSU.

The Gruden rumors are 100% BS too. For one, they'd be breaking several NCAA rules if he owned stake in a professional franchise. Probably even offering such a thing is a violation. lol

[Sakuraba]

Is that an infraction? I haven't heard anything about that breaking rules.

If I'm LSU, I think I'd let Les walk. LSU is a goldmine job and unless they hire a Jerry DiNardo or Ron Zook type, I just don't think it's in their interest to cave to another Les money grab. Let him walk, make a move on Gundy.

It has gotten to the point where there is ownership in college football. Phil Knight owns Oregon, Jerry Jones Arkansas, Pickens Okie State, and this Haslem guy apparently owns Tennesee.

[Cory]

Les Miles just turned down the Arkansas offer and agreed on an extension in LSU

[Mister J]

Louisville to the ACC (ostensibly to replace Maryland)

[Immortalfire]

Let's come up with our own crazy coaching and conference changes

[Cory]

why wont the ACC just roll over and die. I'd rather of had Clemson or FSU join the SEC over Mizzou.