After the Conference Realignment Maelstrom

A couple of weeks after the frenetic events of this round of conference realignment almost fried my brain and then settled down into fairly modest changes to the college landscape, I’m re-charged enough to collect a few overarching thoughts: (1) Big Ten is Done Expanding Until Notre Dame Changes Its Mind – For all of [...]

The Big 12-ish is Dead. Long Live the Big 12-ish.

Some reactions to the latest developments in conference realignment: I.  WINNERS Nebraska – More than doubling your TV money, raising the academic profile of the university overall and not having the Austin bogey-man anymore in the shotgun reconciliation of the Big 12-ish?  Not bad. Big Ten – A week ago, we were wondering if Jim [...]

The Real Reason Why Notre Dame’s Hand Might Be Forced

Before we get to talking about Notre Dame, the fate of the entire college sports landscape is being decided in Austin and College Station this week.  Who knows if the Big Ten will ultimately be a part of this (I know that they are trying very hard), but I do believe this: Texas A&M would [...]

Big Red in the Big Ten

I deal with Domers, Wolverines and Buckeyes on a daily basis, but I will say that there is no fan base that I have ever encountered that is as rabid and devoted as Nebraska fans. The discussions on this blog have only reinforced that – we’re getting fan base like no other. All of the [...]

It’s All About Texas

Here’s the latest of what I know from the Big Ten side of the ledger (not the maybe Texas/maybe Pac-10 perspective that is found elsewhere): The Big Ten is focused on Texas and Notre Dame.  I don’t mean that in a “Duh, of course they want them!” way.  I mean in a serious/this may happen by this [...]

Chicago Blackhawks Honorary Expansionpalooza Thread (and One More Super Death Star Conference Rumor)

Any other evening I’d be writing a full blown expansion post considering all of the news and speculation today, but the mighty Blackhawks have just won their first Stanley Cup in 49 years!!!  It was a little weird that Patrick Kane was the only person in the building that realized that he scored a goal [...]

Double Chess for a Super Death Star Conference

Here’s the latest chatter from the world of conference realignment: Multiple sources have told me that Notre Dame, Missouri and Nebraska are all poised to receive invites from the Big Ten.  An announcement could come as early as Wednesday, with other projections looking toward before the end of this month.  Of course, this scenario has [...]

Expansionpalooza Overflow Thread

Baylor joining the Pac-10 after putting down BYU for many years based on religious grounds?  Colorado getting locked out of the Pac-10 completely and having to join the Mountain West?  High noon ultimatums to Nebraska and Missouri?  This could all go down within the next week (or even by tomorrow evening).  Conventional wisdom up until [...]

Ain’t No Party Like a West Coast Party… For Real

Whether the Pac-10 wanted it or not, it just stole a whole lot of headlines, no?  I warned you that my post from last week could be debunked immediately.  Chip Brown from orangebloods.com is reporting that the West Coast-based conference is looking to swallow half of the Big XII by inviting Texas, Texas A&M, Texas [...]