Big 12 Proves TV Money driving conference swaps

((ht: newsok.com))

No, this isn't a shock. At least to us. We've been saying it for months, but we are a relatively small outlet and the big boys don't always pay attention to what we have to say. (They should)

To the surprise of few, a report in yesterdays Oklahoman Newspaper quotes an internal Big 12 expansion discussion. And among the highlights: The statement saying in essence "Our television partners agree the only partner that would enhance Big 12 value for television is Notre Dame."

Note--Those partners would be ESPN and FOX Sports.

Read the entire NewsOK story RIGHT HERE

Please note that the Big 12 is not set on expanding according to reports. Though we don't believe them.

And the fact they are looking at this as an option doesn't even outrage us.

No.

The issue is the TV component of this. We've always thought and surmised they may be behind all the conference realignment, this is the first proof that it's true.

And if you are one of those people that say..."Deal with it", we tell you, your game isn't as pure as you'd like to believe. And arguably, the "Championship" series is a collaborative sham perpetrated on the most colleges, college students and the general public.

Since the NCAA has no control over the Bowls...or the playoffs (Did you know this?), we should just call this what it is. You can say its a "National Championship" game, but unless you attend one of a few select schools, you'll never play in it. You can say it's being done to have a "Clear Champion", but we would argue it's ESPN's champion.

In fact, we'd argue that College Football should stop PRETENDING to be an amateur sport. It isn't. Do any of you REALLY think all the changing conference alignments are being done for the benefit of anyone at your school of choice?

No, it's being done to line the pockets of the Executive's at ESPN. It's being done to line the pockets of conference commissioners. It's not being done because it's in your best interest.

It hasn't been like that for a very long time.

Can anyone disagree that ESPN runs Sports on both the Professional and College levels?

No, didn't think so.

Hope you enjoy life and your game as dictated by the 4-letter word/Evil Empire/SkyNet

The SEC/Big 12 Bowl: Galactic Realignments Trump Card?

The Image/From secsports.com

Before you read this story, you should breeze through the story below it on the OSG Sports website.

You know, the one that talks about only what could...or couldn't be the biggest move thus far in the history of College Football's "Galactic Realignment".

It's the story of 2 of the 4 so-called "Power Conferences", the SEC and the Big 12 agreeing to put on a bowl game that may...or may not feature their conference champs. The name "The Champions Bowl" and it will be offered to a rotation of cities with "The Highest Bid".

But College Sports are about competition...not profit.

Ha!

It may put the champs of each conference against each other in a bowl game at a "To-Be-Determined" location...if they aren't in the soon to be agreed upon playoff. Or it may put the conference runner-ups there.

Your press release from the SEC RIGHT HERE

As we all know, there is zero chance the champ of either the SEC or Big 12 isn't in the upcoming 4-game College Football playoff, but it is theoretically possible.

What we like the most about this is the collective call out by SEC Commish Mike Slive and outgoing Big 12 commish Chuck Neinas, of Big 10 commissioner Jim Delany, the man most responsible for the current mess that is the BCS. And really, we sort of get that he's protecting the Rose Bowl by trying to center any playoff around it. But to those of us on the East Coast and in the South, that bowl game isn't as big as Delany thinks.

The other potential bonus here is it may render some of the other trivial minor bowls irrelevant or hopefully end them. Sorry folks, the "Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl" or the "Champs Sports Bowl", they benefit nobody...other than the people that put the game on.

Don't for a MINUTE, believe the whole line of crap given by bowl officials: "It's a chance for the players to be rewarded for a great season". BULLSHIT (sorry for the language). Going to a bowl game for a 6-6 record is not a reward. It is not for the fans. Most fans don't want to buy a $1500 ticket package to see their mediocre team in a bowl game. They don't.

It's for the people who put on said bowl game to make money. For those who don't know, bowl games make tons of money off sponsorships and the unused team tickets.

Yes, that's right, unused team tickets. Ask the University of Connecticut about the $1.6 million it owed the Fiesta Bowl a couple of years ago about that.

Anyway, back to the subject at hand.

What this means is fairly simple.

There is going to be a College Football playoff in 2014. And it is going to involve the "Top 4" teams in the country. (They are still trying to determine how to determine that)

The rest will sort out to bowl games.

We don't know which bowl games will survive this. But honestly a little "Survival of the Fittest" there won't be such a bad thing.

The other big thing is "Realignment". While we too laughed at the "FSU interested in Big 12" stories, suddenly, that takes on a different tone". Look for the Big 12 to be back at 12 teams...or more...very soon. Your prime candidates...anybody in the ACC and Louisville in the Big East.

What it is going to mean to anyone outside the Big 10, Big 12, SEC and Pac 12 is...well, enjoy your bowl game, you won't be playing for the title. Unless you are one of the 4....which you won't be.

And so the trump card is played. The stars will realign. The game will change. And it will never be the same.

Thanks for indulging me by reading this. Think about what I'm saying. It's true....oh...it's true, you know its true.

Ess-E-Cee And Big 12 Meet New Year's Day In 2014...

It's the equivalent of the Citrus Bowl just swapping out the 12/10 for the 10/12.

This game, between the supposed champions of both the SEC and the Big 12 who are 10, at a yet-to-be-determined place, time, and network, will take place even if one or the other teams is involved in the new national championship playoff structure. But...that has also yet-to-be-determined...

“A new January bowl tradition is born,” said SEC Commissioner Mike Slive in a news release. “This new game will provide a great match-up between the two most successful conferences in the BCS era and will complement the exciting post-season atmosphere created by the new four-team model. Most importantly, it will provide our student-athletes, coaches and fans with an outstanding bowl experience.”

“Our goal is to provide the fans across the country with a New Year’s Day prime-time tradition,” commented acting Big 12 Conference Commissioner Chuck Neinas. “This is a landmark agreement between two of the most successful football conferences during the BCS era to stage a post-season event. The creation of this game featuring the champions of the Big 12 and SEC will have tremendous resonance in college football.”

But the key paragraph in the release is the part that says that "another deserving team from the conference" would fill the space if one of the two is headed to the plus-one...

So, starting at the end of the 2014 season this new game is creating another larger opportunity for JerryWorld to be a part of the equation- the new title game goes off New Year's Night and then the stadium gets turned over for the playoffs.

More when we know more... but this is huge for the 12/10 either way...

Missouri's conference fate could be decided Thursday

((ht: kcstar))

Well, the New York Times says they already know what Missouri is going to do. But Missouri hasn't said it.

And they won't. At least until a Thursday afternoon meeting in Kansas City by the school's "Board of Curators". Strangely, we always thought "Curators" worked in museums, but that is another issue.

Read about the meeting from KansasCity.com RIGHT HERE

Anyway, multiple reports say that Mizzou to the SEC is going to happen and will happen for next season.  Most everyone involved is--at least on the surface--trying to be quiet about it. But people are talking--as unnamed sources.

Those sources say that not only are the Tigers coming, they'll play in the SEC East, which logistically makes absolutely zero sense. But...

Remember the story we did on Saturday where Alabama said "Missouri can join the SEC if they play in the East"?

If not, here's the link RIGHT HERE

Well, apparently Tennessee feels the same way because they want to play Alabama every year. And Auburn, well, Alabama still wants to play them too. And the SEC has said you can only have one "Out of Division" rivalry game each year.

And then there is interim Big 12/10 commish Chuck Neinas saying to Mike Slive, "If you are going to an extend an invitation to Missouri, let me know."

Slive didn't comment.

We still don't understand why the SEC is settling for Missouri. Yeah, before you say it, we know, it is about the TV eyeballs. We get that.

But logistically it makes zero sense. A little bit more if they were in the SEC West, but they aren't. Sure, the teams, which make more money than god, and are expected to make more, will spend a few more bucks on travel. And Missouri will have to spend more on recruiting to move into SEC territory.

The issue to us is for the fans. It's a long trip to ask Florida fans to make. Sure, some will come no matter what. But that is a half-way around the country trip for them on the road. And the same for Georgia and South Carolina. Part of the beauty of the SEC is that so many fans "Road Trip" to games. That will all but go away for any team that would have to go play Missouri.

And yes, for what it is worth, they'll be coming to the SEC no matter what we think.