Clemson and conference expansion
posted by LW, Monday, February 15, 2010
Talk of conference expansion has heated up in recent weeks, and the speculation has ranged from intriguing (Pac-10 looking to add two more teams) to insipid (Texas to Big Ten? Seriously?)
My favorite: The talk of Pittsburgh mulling a move to the Big Ten was fueled by "reports" that Pittsburgh officials were meeting with their athletes to inform them of these confidential, groundbreaking developments.
Um, no.
Anyway, Clemson fans have often wondered if a jump to the SEC would be a possibility for their school, and the subject has been limited to message-board speculation until today. The Greenville News' Bart Wright assesses the issue and concludes that the conference-expansion dominoes could end up with Clemson being a possibility to fill an opening in the SEC.
I could end up being wrong on this, but here's my position: As long as the SEC is content to stick with 12 teams, Clemson nor anyone else is going to the SEC. Because no one is going to leave the SEC as long as money continues to grow on its trees.
Arkansas leaving the SEC for the Big 12 has been a fairly popular notion among those who speculate on these things, and Wright seems to think it can happen.
If the Pac-10 took Colorado and Utah (from the Mountain West Conference), and the Big Ten added Missouri, the Big 12 would need two more schools to get back to 12.
The first school in line would be Arkansas, which bolted the old Southwest Conference for the SEC in 1990 after a wave of recruiting scandals and declining finances in the SWC. Had it known what the Big 12 would become, it would have almost certainly stayed and is a much better fit for that conference. Arkansas likes the SEC money but would be interested in a prominent membership in a re-designed Big 12.
First of all, how does Bart know that Arkansas would be interested in Big 12 membership? Is this based on reporting or just speculation? It'd be nice to know, because the entire premise of his column hinges on this supposition.
Four paragraphs later, Wright's idea begins to collapse on itself when he mentions this:
Never mind the level of competition, this is an issue about money, as is virtually every major issue in big time college athletics.
This is precisely why Arkansas ain't leaving the SEC. This is precisely why no one is leaving the SEC. And this is precisely why, at least to this observer, talk of Clemson to the SEC is merely talk.
Why would Arkansas leave all that SEC money in favor of a jump to a conference that's seen as vulnerable?
In the Big 12, the revenue-sharing plan gives more money to the teams at the top. The SEC is flush with a lot more cash, and all that cash is distributed equally.
Economic security is the top priority in these tenuous, perilous economic times. Arkansas, or any of the other 11 SEC members, would be fools to jump from that plush ship.
Hypothetically, though, it'd be fascinating to follow the thought process of Clemson's administration if the SEC did come calling. Imagine the reaction from fans if their university chose to remain in the ACC because it's a better fit for the schools academic, uh, pursuits.
In the Birmingham News, Ray Melick says the SEC is gonna sit out this round of expansion talks.
This columnist in Omaha says most of the conference shuffle talk is just trash.
In the Denver Post, Colorado's president says moving to the Pac-10 would come with a cost. But the prez sure doesn't seem to be ruling it out.
"As we're thinking about that decision, we have to look obviously at revenue and expenses," DiStefano said. "The revenue that we would bring in either by staying in the Big 12 or moving to the Pac-10 and what the expenses would be and certainly the upfront expense of moving from the Big 12 to the Pac-10."
In the Charlotte Observer, a primer on spring football in the ACC. Can you believe Duke's sessions have already begun?
In the Daily Press, David Teel says there's no need to expand the NCAA's 65-team hoops field.
Finally, expanding the tournament will not improve coaches' job security. They work extraordinary hours for often generous and occasionally excessive pay, but backdooring into the tournament as the 95th team with a 17-14 record isn't going to spare an embattled coach the ax.
Have more bowls translated to fewer firings in college football? Did a 6-6 record and bowl eligibility save Notre Dame's Charlie Weis?
Truth be told, the NCAA basketball tournament includes almost every Division I team and starts with the 30 conference tournaments. Prevail there, and you're in the field.
Four weeks from today, the NCAA selection committee will unveil this season's bracket. The panel's imperfect choices then will commence three weeks of basketball that's as close to perfect as you'll find.
Well said.
After his latest and most extreme case of foot-in-mouth disease, Roy Williams predictably says his comments were misconstrued.
Lordy.
Ed Hardin of the Greensboro News and Record writes about a long week for the Tar Heels.
The game could've been the breaking point of the season for Carolina. With historic losses mounting and the possibility of a losing season on the brink, the Heels were in a game they simply could not afford to lose. Against a backdrop of injuries and mounting doubt, Carolina found somebody it could beat.
Williams screamed from the sidelines all afternoon, running players in and out from a bench that included three big men in dress clothes and any number of players who'd yet to reach their potential this season. The year had taken its toll on Williams, who'd sat courtside the night before and wept as Smith was introduced on a night in which more than 250 former Tar Heels came to celebrate their past.
In the Post and Courier, Travis Sawchik has a preview and outlook for the 2010 Clemson baseball team.
In the Independent-Mail, Greg Wallace says Oliver Purnell and the Tigers are breathing a lot easier now after back-to-back wins.
In The ACC Sports Journal, John Clougherty confirms an anti-Clemson conspiracy among ACC refs.
Just kidding. But it's a good interview.
And Virginia's Tony Bennett, whose team visits Clemson on Saturday, is looking for a third scorer.
LW
Click here for the "Eye On The Tigers" blog archive.
Link to this entry - Discuss this entry - Return to Blog Home
Talk of conference expansion has heated up in recent weeks, and the speculation has ranged from intriguing (Pac-10 looking to add two more teams) to insipid (Texas to Big Ten? Seriously?)
My favorite: The talk of Pittsburgh mulling a move to the Big Ten was fueled by "reports" that Pittsburgh officials were meeting with their athletes to inform them of these confidential, groundbreaking developments.
Um, no.
Anyway, Clemson fans have often wondered if a jump to the SEC would be a possibility for their school, and the subject has been limited to message-board speculation until today. The Greenville News' Bart Wright assesses the issue and concludes that the conference-expansion dominoes could end up with Clemson being a possibility to fill an opening in the SEC.
I could end up being wrong on this, but here's my position: As long as the SEC is content to stick with 12 teams, Clemson nor anyone else is going to the SEC. Because no one is going to leave the SEC as long as money continues to grow on its trees.
Arkansas leaving the SEC for the Big 12 has been a fairly popular notion among those who speculate on these things, and Wright seems to think it can happen.
If the Pac-10 took Colorado and Utah (from the Mountain West Conference), and the Big Ten added Missouri, the Big 12 would need two more schools to get back to 12.
The first school in line would be Arkansas, which bolted the old Southwest Conference for the SEC in 1990 after a wave of recruiting scandals and declining finances in the SWC. Had it known what the Big 12 would become, it would have almost certainly stayed and is a much better fit for that conference. Arkansas likes the SEC money but would be interested in a prominent membership in a re-designed Big 12.
First of all, how does Bart know that Arkansas would be interested in Big 12 membership? Is this based on reporting or just speculation? It'd be nice to know, because the entire premise of his column hinges on this supposition.
Four paragraphs later, Wright's idea begins to collapse on itself when he mentions this:
Never mind the level of competition, this is an issue about money, as is virtually every major issue in big time college athletics.
This is precisely why Arkansas ain't leaving the SEC. This is precisely why no one is leaving the SEC. And this is precisely why, at least to this observer, talk of Clemson to the SEC is merely talk.
Why would Arkansas leave all that SEC money in favor of a jump to a conference that's seen as vulnerable?
In the Big 12, the revenue-sharing plan gives more money to the teams at the top. The SEC is flush with a lot more cash, and all that cash is distributed equally.
Economic security is the top priority in these tenuous, perilous economic times. Arkansas, or any of the other 11 SEC members, would be fools to jump from that plush ship.
Hypothetically, though, it'd be fascinating to follow the thought process of Clemson's administration if the SEC did come calling. Imagine the reaction from fans if their university chose to remain in the ACC because it's a better fit for the schools academic, uh, pursuits.
In the Birmingham News, Ray Melick says the SEC is gonna sit out this round of expansion talks.
This columnist in Omaha says most of the conference shuffle talk is just trash.
In the Denver Post, Colorado's president says moving to the Pac-10 would come with a cost. But the prez sure doesn't seem to be ruling it out.
"As we're thinking about that decision, we have to look obviously at revenue and expenses," DiStefano said. "The revenue that we would bring in either by staying in the Big 12 or moving to the Pac-10 and what the expenses would be and certainly the upfront expense of moving from the Big 12 to the Pac-10."
In the Charlotte Observer, a primer on spring football in the ACC. Can you believe Duke's sessions have already begun?
In the Daily Press, David Teel says there's no need to expand the NCAA's 65-team hoops field.
Finally, expanding the tournament will not improve coaches' job security. They work extraordinary hours for often generous and occasionally excessive pay, but backdooring into the tournament as the 95th team with a 17-14 record isn't going to spare an embattled coach the ax.
Have more bowls translated to fewer firings in college football? Did a 6-6 record and bowl eligibility save Notre Dame's Charlie Weis?
Truth be told, the NCAA basketball tournament includes almost every Division I team and starts with the 30 conference tournaments. Prevail there, and you're in the field.
Four weeks from today, the NCAA selection committee will unveil this season's bracket. The panel's imperfect choices then will commence three weeks of basketball that's as close to perfect as you'll find.
Well said.
After his latest and most extreme case of foot-in-mouth disease, Roy Williams predictably says his comments were misconstrued.
Lordy.
Ed Hardin of the Greensboro News and Record writes about a long week for the Tar Heels.
The game could've been the breaking point of the season for Carolina. With historic losses mounting and the possibility of a losing season on the brink, the Heels were in a game they simply could not afford to lose. Against a backdrop of injuries and mounting doubt, Carolina found somebody it could beat.
Williams screamed from the sidelines all afternoon, running players in and out from a bench that included three big men in dress clothes and any number of players who'd yet to reach their potential this season. The year had taken its toll on Williams, who'd sat courtside the night before and wept as Smith was introduced on a night in which more than 250 former Tar Heels came to celebrate their past.
In the Post and Courier, Travis Sawchik has a preview and outlook for the 2010 Clemson baseball team.
In the Independent-Mail, Greg Wallace says Oliver Purnell and the Tigers are breathing a lot easier now after back-to-back wins.
In The ACC Sports Journal, John Clougherty confirms an anti-Clemson conspiracy among ACC refs.
Just kidding. But it's a good interview.
And Virginia's Tony Bennett, whose team visits Clemson on Saturday, is looking for a third scorer.
LW
Click here for the "Eye On The Tigers" blog archive.
Link to this entry - Discuss this entry - Return to Blog Home
Donnie Patterson. Donnie Patterson is the founder of Patterson Tax Service, located in Easley, S.C. He has been active in tax preparation since 1970, and offers a full range of tax and bookkeeping services.
Larry Williams. Larry has covered the daily beat at Clemson since 2004. Williams, who worked for the Charleston Post & Courier from 2004-08, joined Tigerillustrated.com in November of 2008. He may be reached by email at ldubya08(at)gmail.com. Replace (at) with @.