****The official NEW new conference realignment thread.****

[Saul Good]

the second thread has been pronounced dead.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by bandwagonjumper

As a notre dame fan I definetly would prefer to join the ACC if we had to join a conference. The fanbase is mostly based on the east coast and recruiting wise with the Carolinas and Florida. The fanbase and recruiting wise is pretty weak in the Big XII.

lol whut? You know how many Texas kids would come to ND? ND has been getting out recruited now for a while, time for you guys to join a conference.

From the FSU rivals board, 66% support a move to the Big 12, 25% said to stay in the ACC, the rest are split between the B1G and waiting for the SEC. But really, if FSU, Clemson come to the Big 12, that automatically makes it an SEC type conference moneywise. No need to wait for the SEC

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by alnorth

Rumors now saying that VPI is reaching out to the SEC.

Abandon Ship! All hands, abandon ship! (unless you are a basketball school, in that case stick around, because ACC hoops will become pretty sweet soon)

Pardon my ignorance, but what is VPI?

[BryanBusby]

Originally Posted by alnorth

Rumors now saying that VPI is reaching out to the SEC.

Abandon Ship! All hands, abandon ship! (unless you are a basketball school, in that case stick around, because ACC hoops will become pretty sweet soon)

Where is this coming from? Virginia Tech would be a nice grab for the SEC.

E: VPI = Virginia Polytechnic Institute = Virginia Tech

[KcMizzou]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

Pardon my ignorance, but what is VPI?

Stumped me as well.

Virginia Polytechnic Institute aka Virginia Tech

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

Pardon my ignorance, but what is VPI?

I only saw the acronym a few days ago. People trying to be witty have begun using Virginia Polytechnic Institute's full name instead of their commonly-known nickname.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by BryanBusby

Where is this coming from? Virginia Tech would be a nice grab for the SEC.

E: VPI = Virginia Polytechnic Institute = Virginia Tech

Its only at the lowest of the low message board rumor stage, might just be hopeful fans, but it is sorta obvious. The only unknown is the SEC's interest, but if Clemson/FSU goes, then the ACC is a sinking ship as far as the BCS goes, and people looking at the map and the SEC's ambitious plans for a network naturally think of the state of Virginia.

[qabbaan]

Originally Posted by BWillie007

if FSU, Clemson come to the Big 12, that automatically makes it an SEC type conference moneywise. No need to wait for the SEC

[BryanBusby]

I think the SEC's interest would depend on if they could also draw in another big name to even things out.

Seems like the ACC is about to become a basketball conference.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by BryanBusby

I think the SEC's interest would depend on if they could also draw in another big name to even things out.

Seems like the ACC is about to become a basketball conference.

If the ACC is falling apart and the SEC decides that they do want VPI, then I'd imagine it would most likely be NCS. (NC State might expand their footprint into NC for their future network plans)

[alnorth]

Florida State's football coach abruptly fell into line today, and told a bunch of boosters that, though there's been no talks (yeah, right), FSU should explore all of their options, including the Big 12.

This is gonna be a big ego-bruiser for the mainstream sports media. They've been dismissing the blogs and internet for a while and emotionally invested themselves into the theory that not only was this not going to happen, it is ridiculous to think it would.

[chiefsfan987]

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/...isher-acc-s-tv


FSU coach Jimbo Fisher says FSU should explore leaving ACC for Big 12


Mike Bianchi, SPORTS COMMENTARY
6:30 p.m. EST, May 12, 2012

Florida State Athletic Director Randy Spetman told the Orlando Sentinel on Friday that his school is "committed" to staying in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Spetman may be the only one who thinks that way.

Florida State football coach Jimbo Fisher, before he spoke at the Seminole Club of Greater Orlando on Saturday, didn't exactly shoot down rumblings that FSU will explore the possibility of leaving the ACC for the Big 12.


"There have been no official talks, but I think you always have to look out there to see what's best for Florida State," Fisher said. "If that [jumping to the Big 12] is what's best for Florida State, then that's what we need to do."

Andy Haggart, chairman of Florida State's board of trustees, vigorously agreed. In an interview with Warchant.com, a popular website that covers FSU athletics, Haggart said the Seminoles should pursue talks with the Big 12: "On behalf of the board of trustees, I can say that unanimously we would be in favor of seeing what the Big 12 might have to offer. We have to do what is in Florida State's best interest."

If we've learned anything in recent years about institutions of higher earning switching conferences, it is this: Without fail, they all say they are steadfastly committed to their current league only until another league offers them more money.

And right now FSU could sure use some more money. Spetman announced a $2.4 million budget shortfall in the athletic department last week that sent shock waves through Seminole Nation. In college football's arms race, Seminole fans envision the Gators and other SEC schools purchasing F-22 Raptor fighter jets while they are still going to battle with tomahawks and bows and arrows.

More than ever, Florida State fans feel they are a football school hopelessly trapped in a basketball league. The most recent bout of Seminole discontent came last year when the ACC expanded to add Pitt and Syracuse — two basketball schools who haven't been relevant in football for years. And then came the news earlier this week that the ACC had extended its TV deal with ESPN for an additional 16 years and $3.6 billion.

What irks FSU is that the third-tier media rights in football but not basketball were part of the ACC-ESPN deal. In leagues like the Big 12, individual schools can make more money by selling their third-tier games (ones not selected by the primary and secondary rights holders) to regional networks such as Sun Sports. The ACC's TV deal allows schools to keep and sell their third-tier rights in basketball but not in football.

"It's mind-boggling and shocking," Haggard told Warchant.com. "How can the ACC give up third-tier rights for football but keep them for basketball? … It continues the perception that the ACC favors the North Carolina schools."

A growing faction of FSU boosters and powerbrokers believe the Seminoles can make significantly more money in the Big 12. And when you're surrounded by and recruit against big-budget SEC schools such as Florida, Alabama, Auburn and Georgia, you'd better bring some cash or you'll get spent into oblivion.

Think about it: Even though the ACC's new deal will bring FSU up to about $17 million annually in TV revenue, that's still $3 million less than the Big 12. Not only that, but some estimate the recently expanded SEC's new deal could earn each conference school as much as $25 million per year. Translation: Over the span of the ACC's 16-year contract, FSU will earn $128 million less than the Gators.


"FSU is looking at schools like Arkansas and Mississippi State having more resources, better facilities and the ability to hire the best coaches," said Gene Williams, owner and editor of Warchant.com

Which is why Seminole fans are rightfully worried. And why FSU's administration should be doing everything in its power to not only keep up with the Gators but to keep up with Ole Miss and Vanderbilt.

Right now the Big 12 has a 10-team league with no championship game, and league schools still earn $3 million a year more than ACC teams. How much could the Big 12 earn if it added two premier football programs like FSU and Miami or FSU and Clemson and then had a championship game? This would also give the Big 12 a footprint in Florida, the fourth-largest state and one of the most fertile recruiting grounds in the country.

Don't kid yourself.

If the Big 12 offers big money, Chief Osceola would jump on Bevo and ride him bareback out of the ACC.

The only thing left behind would be the billowing smoke from his flaming spear.mbianchi@tribune.com. Follow him on Twitter at BianchiWrites. Listen to his radio show every weekday from 6 to 9 a.m. on 740-AM.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Originally Posted by qabbaan

Unbelievable isn't it? I thought the post had a different author at first read.

[BryanBusby]

Originally Posted by alnorth

If the ACC is falling apart and the SEC decides that they do want VPI, then I'd imagine it would most likely be NCS. (NC State might expand their footprint into NC for their future network plans)

Problem with that is I don't think the state would allow NCS to split into a different conference than North Carolina.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by BryanBusby

Problem with that is I don't think the state would allow NCS to split into a different conference than North Carolina.

It would be sweet if the SEC stands pat, because if the new BCS rules force UND to join a conference, perhaps the Big 12 grabs them and VPI, stopping at 14.

[BryanBusby]

The SEC could be looking West for the 16th school, if they do plan to expand.