Just saw info crawl across SEC channel that a Big12 coaches anonymous poll, conducted by ESPN, showed BYU and Houston as the preferred expansion schools.

Edited July 21, 201610 yr by OlDog75

Just saw info crawl across SEC channel that a Big12 coaches anonymous poll, conducted by ESPN, showed BYU and Houston as the preferred expansion schools.

 

The good news for UC? Coaches have as much say in the process as you and I...

The good news for UC? Coaches have as much say in the process as you and I...

 

Hope you're correct. Would love to see UC in Big12.

Hope you're correct. Would love to see UC in Big12.

 

On that statement I'm 100% certain I'm correct. Expansion is handled at the President level and coaches have zero input. UC might get left out, but it has nothing to do with what coaches think...

The likes of Kansas and Oklahoma visiting Fifth Third would be pretty cool.

The reason that I heard a while back that Houston wasn't wanted (and this was from some Big 12 insider idk the guy was on Paul Finebaum) is because they want to expand the market of the Big 12 I guess. Which is probably why UCF is being mentioned, UCONN (I'm assuming they're tired of being terrible at basketball and don't have to worry about being beat in football).

 

I'm interested in seeing in what Texas will do and what the Big 12 will do about the network situation though.

 

Why UCF? USF is in the largest market in the state of Florida. However, I think market size has little to do with it. If it did, UC would be hanging in the wind. Temple is in the #4 market, SMU in the #5, Houston #10, USF #11, UCF #19, ...., UC #36.

 

Also, while USF has become a preiminent research university, UCF is still primarily a commuter school.

 

Having said all that, my feeling from what the AD has said in private and public conversations, is that there is little chance of USF getting an invite. The Skip Holtz/Doug Woolard fiasco pretty much destroyed the fan and donor base. The important part is the donor base damage. It's going to take a while to fix. That feeling was reiterated with my phone call today from the AD's office regarding the men's basketball problems. I didn't ask, but during the conversation, the AD's representative brought up the expansion talks. Basically, they're trying.

 

I think UC is the best fit. They are not in Texas. They are also a perennial research university. Tons of potential. Memphis would be next. Nobody seems to want UConn.

I will add this regarding South Florida. If Willie Taggart was not feeling pressure prior to this announcement, he is, now. I think USF's future rides entirely on this season. They more or less have to win the conference convincingly and beat FSU. To me, that's the only thing that gets the Big 12's attention.

 

Tough row to hoe.

Texas governor says it's a non-starter if Houston isn't involved.

Texas governor says it's a non-starter if Houston isn't involved.

 

Huge Houston booster donated 150K to his last campaign...

Huge Houston booster donated 150K to his last campaign...

 

Saw that. He knows where his bread is buttered.

Texas governor says it's a non-starter if Houston isn't involved.

 

This could get interesting, if the Governor should lock horns with William McRaven, former SOCOM Commander and Chancellor of the Texas Board of Regents. I suspect the Gov is full of hot air and posturing.

 

I have a feeling that if UT doesn't want Houston in there, Houston will not be in there. Their donor base tends to be better politically connected and generates a whole lot more than 150K in campaign donations every election cycle.

BYU is being hurt by its Honor Code.

Some UC donors I work with want Tommy out, that can't happen with the expansion.

USF made a large portion of it's presentation available for public consumption.

 

It did not hurt that Jeff Vinik, the owner of the Tampa Bay Lightning, is a faculty member of the university's Muma College of Business and, FifthThird Bank Regional President, Brian Lamb is the Chairman of the USF Board of Trustees. Only people employed, in some way, by the universities presenting, were allowed to part of the pitch team in Dallas.

 

Tony Dungy and Tino Marinez appear in the presentation video.

 

Sounds like Boren from OU has changed his mind and is against expansion if you believe some reports.

@gametime ?