My buddies and I got into heated discussion today on who is to blame for UL not being a serious candidate for a major conference?

 

Few points made by others:

 

1. Jurich hired Krags and allowed the program to be set back a decade.

 

2. It appears that Jurich has sat on his behind since 1st re-alignment and not worked to improve UL position?

 

 

Other side of the disagreement

 

1. Krags is to balme he destroyed the program

 

2. Big East Commish is to blame for thinking the Big East was in good shape after the 1st re-alignment?

 

 

Your thoughts? I share mine shortly.

As a not UL fan, it could be a combination of both sides. I think the Big East Commish had to see this coming and he sat on his back side as well.

This stuff is handled at the President and board of the university level. Start there.

 

And not a serious candidate? It was UL or WVU for the open slot in the Big 12. How much more serious can it get???

GT,

 

When I say serious I meant that not only Big 12 but other Conferences come calling. I know some of it is based on TV markets. But had UL kept things rolling after Petrino left they could of had a more national following.

GT,

 

When I say serious I meant that not only Big 12 but other Conferences come calling. I know some of it is based on TV markets. But had UL kept things rolling after Petrino left they could of had a more national following.

 

The only other potential option was the ACC and UL is not near the academic standards they are looking for. UK will never allow the SEC to happen. I still think UL and UC end up in the Big 12 before too long. From the Big 12 perspective, the best way to put the final dagger in the Big East was to take the biggest football program. UL wasn't getting there even if they kept the momentum going after Petrino. All it means is moving back to the next wave...

GT,

 

When I say serious I meant that not only Big 12 but other Conferences come calling. I know some of it is based on TV markets. But had UL kept things rolling after Petrino left they could of had a more national following.

 

No doubt.

I believe that Jurich is clearly the reason that Louisville football reached the state that it did after Petrino left. I believe that Petrino was wrong in how he handled the situation and Jurich may have likely never found a replacement as solid as Petrino, but he could have definitely taken more time instead of going as fast paced, probably even as compulsive as he did. Between the way Petrino developed the football program and what Jurich did after it, I believe that you could blame him for some of the problems that have taken place in the Big East, but as far as the overall conference's problems are concerned, most of that blame should be on the Commissioner.

Nothing that happened at UL was going to change the defections of Pitt, Cuse and now WVU. To think otherwise, and say UL and thier situation had anything to do with it, is delusional at best.

 

Marianato should have been fired months ago, but the conference sticking with him speaks volumes. He is a hoops guy from Providence with zero vested interest in the football side from the day he was hired. Any and all blame can be placed on him...

Jurich did nothing wrong.....iff U of L ends up out of a BCS conference, or out of the possibility of winning a title. Then I'll be truly upset.

I personally hope the remaining football teams from the Big East bug out......let the chips fall where they may.

The only other potential option was the ACC and UL is not near the academic standards they are looking for. UK will never allow the SEC to happen. I still think UL and UC end up in the Big 12 before too long. From the Big 12 perspective, the best way to put the final dagger in the Big East was to take the biggest football program. UL wasn't getting there even if they kept the momentum going after Petrino. All it means is moving back to the next wave...

 

UL to the SEC is not going to happen and was never even a consideration. It has nothing do to with veto power of UK.

The SEC blueprint is to expand into untapped markets. Texas and now Missouri. The next step is probably east into Virginia and North Carolina. That may be a year or two off.

It is all about adding subscription homes and starting the SEC Network ala the Big Ten. They will be looking at the model of .81 cents per cable/satellite subscriber. Look at the markets they add with the Aggies and Tigers.

Next logical step is to add Virginia Tech and one of the Carolina schools, such as NC State.

 

I would think that UL will get in if/when the Big 12 expands. I still think UC is in trouble and could fall into the line of the Memphis's of the world and this could very well happen with UL.

 

What does Notre Dame do? What does BYU do? They could end up teams #11 and 12. Notre Dame enjoys the massive pay out from NBC but may eventually jump in.

 

One question for fodder is, how much did Pitino's rants and ravings impact the UL perception of leaving the Big East?

UC will find a home before all is said and done, you can bank that one. They are one of the next 2 or 3 schools in line to get the AAU tag, have a billion dollar endowment and provide a big TV market. The problem they are fighting against right now is that this all happened 2-3 years before they were ready for the next big step. As things play out the new President and AD will close the gap and get them where they need to be in all aspects...

I dont doubt they will find a home, but where will be interesting.

 

I guess Big East is holding out hope on getting Boise?

I personally hope the remaining football teams from the Big East bug out......let the chips fall where they may.

 

As of now, the chances of it are looking pretty good.

Jurich did nothing wrong.....iff U of L ends up out of a BCS conference, or out of the possibility of winning a title. Then I'll be truly upset.

 

So you think the hiring of Krags was okay? (This is an argument of a friend of mine I sit with at football games)

 

I blame the Big East Commish. I think they Big East sat on their behinds instead of being proactive.