2011 NCAA Football Thread

[Pentegarn]

So an interesting theory I have been hearing bounced around on sports talk is the 4 superconferences break away from the NCAA theory.

A few things of note

- The NCAA has reams of rules that are very restrictive
- Football and basketball have no farm system or minor leagues like Hockey and baseball do, the NCAA is in essence the NFL and NBA minor leagues.
- The NCAA, despite all it says to the contrary, is in fact a monopoly
- We are seeing a shift of teams between conferences like I have never seen in my lifetime, and nothing like it has been seen since the 30s 40s and 50s
- The Big 10, ACC, and Pac 10(12), have all added teams in the last year, and the SEC is poised to increase their size as well, all 4 conferences seem to be interested in expanding even further as well
- the Big 12 and Big East are about to disappear entirely as BCS conferences

4 conferences with 16 teams each would have the clout to break off from the NCAA and run their own college sports league, there's no doubt about that. But is that where things are going? I am not sure myself, but I would love anything that topples the choke hold the BCS has over logically deciding a definitive national champion.

So how can we know for sure?

My theory? Watch what Notre Dame does. If the ND football program joins a conference (and the Big 10 has been courting them to do just that for decades) then I would say it is a dead cert that the 4 superconference theory is sound.

[MailCall]

Yep. Notre Dame has been acting like a wallflower for a long time, but economics may make them change their minds. Pitt and Syracuse are off to the ACC. And my belief is that the BCS is coming to an end. Result? I dunno if the NCAA could ever run its own league, since there are so many intercollegiate regulations. But one thing's for certain: the various colleges have been reaping a financial bonanza for a very long time on the shoulders of school kids, who themselves get a cheap--not free-ride and a stipend, which they only got to placate the "pay college athletes" crowd. That kind of money machine never goes unnoticed for long.

[MailCall]

Beebe resigns as Big12 commish:
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/footbal...ncerealignment

Big East woos the service academies:
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/footbal...gnment-bigeast

PAC12 stands pat:
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/footbal...ignment-pac-12

[Pentegarn]

Originally Posted by MailCall

Yep. Notre Dame has been acting like a wallflower for a long time, but economics may make them change their minds.

There's more to this than you realize. For as long as TV has existed there has been a contract for Notre Dame to be on a station exclusively. (I believe the current contract is with NBC) But the networks have to all be thinking the same thing, that in the last 10 years the luster has fallen off of this particular coin. Notre Dame is looking at a riches to rags story and one that only a BCS championship could cure. Since I am more likely to win a BCS championship in the near future than Notre Dame, I expect they will be desperate for a slice of that Big 10 money when their current contract expires.

Notre Dame may make a move sooner than we think

[MailCall]

Useless Observations--9/24/11

--Clemson is for real. Sure, they played the Terriers in the outer-conference, but they won. And Wofford ain't a bad team, either. Remember: the Southern Conference has Appalachian State...Michigan is still smarting.
--Speaking of the Wolvs, give 'em credit: Brady Hoke is a good replacement for RichRod, LloydCarr, etc. Plus, gander at their schedule: no Wisconsin, the Brokeyes at home, and a shiny new stadium upgrade. My prediction? More pricy hot dogs, and 8-3.
--LSU has converted me: Number 1 they should be. Jones to Broyles, three ranked teams TWO ON THE ROAD, and Les Miles.
--Sorry I missed the Aggies/Cowboys. Love TAM, but they blew it. Turnoverpenalties'll kill 'ya. But then OK State has won this feud four straight, and they're hell on the road.
--The Trojans got doubled up by unranked AZ State. Look for them in the Overranked Bowl against Ohio State.

[MailCall]

--Florida State. Ah, well. Two straight losses took it outta them. Fisher better prepare for Duke...who knows what'll happen.
--Did Les Miles have pity for the Gators? After all, they started a freshman QB, and the Tigers only scored 41...
--I wish, oh, I wish we didn't have to wait until the end of the season for the Sooners/'Boys...
--The 'Aggies are harder to figure out than Polish algebra.
--Boise State won again. Got a smoke?