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Pac 10 Expansion?
Written by LucasCoug   
Tuesday, 09 February 2010 14:22

 

A Salt Lake City News station has got us here at WSU Football Blog a little riled up.

For what seems like years there has been rumblings the Pac 10 might expand.  Salt Lake City's ABC News 4 reports that Pac 10 Commissioner Larry Scott is seriously considering expansion, by adding Utah.  The reporter then goes on to mention that BYU would not be the natural rival, as the Pac 10 has Sunday contests, and then speculates the University of Colorado would also join.

The reporter is citing a blog report from San Jose Mercury News beat writer for the Pac 10, Jon Wilner.  In the blog, Scott is quoted as saying "this would be the most logical time to do so."

It seems that every year this topic comes up on a variety of blogs, message boards, etc.  However, this is the first time I can recall the Pac 10 commenting positively about the possibility of expanding.  The current TV deal (for football and basketball) is set to expire at the end of the 2011-2012 season, meaning in the next year their is going to be some major negotiations for the new contract.  *Note to Larry Scott, Fox Sports is awful.  Don't take it from me Mr. Scott, but maybe from their commitment to mediocre on-air talent, horrible video and audio or because Google said so.

Furthermore, any school leaving one conference to join another (or go Independent) must give it's current conference one year's notice.  Meaning if Utah said tomorrow it was leaving the MWC for the Pac 10, it likely wouldn't be eligible for Pac 10 play until the start of the 2011 school year.

Brian Nelson over at Bleacher Report has a similar report about the Utes and Buffs joining the Conference of Champions.



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Comments (18)Add Comment
I don't like it...
written by WSU91, February 09, 2010
But here's why it makes sense for the Pac-10:

1) Two relatively large TV markets join the conference - SLC and DEN.
2) All sports (men and women) are solid for both schools.
3) Both schools have very good academic reputations, including solid graduate schools and very strong research programs. Utah has a great medical school.

I think Utah would join the Pac-10 in an instant.
Why would Colorado leave the Big-12? That's my question.
...
written by WallaCoug, February 09, 2010
Well, if we did it, I would still be in favor of the round robin format. Wouldn't it be great to add non-conference (oops I mean conference) games against Utah and Colorado each year with one of them in Pullman?

I'm still smarting over losing the Buffs to terrorists on 9/11. I was so excited to see a school of real stature from a real league come to Pullman. I thought, they must be crazy there in Boulder, and sure enough first chance they get to get out of it (I know it was a pretty major and horrific event) they do. And who did we get Montana State--who I might add we are playing again this year?!!!!!!

Overall I agree with WSU91. I don't like it, especially if we don't get to see the southern schools every year.
...
written by WallaCoug, February 09, 2010
...I really should read what I type before I post...

Horrible grammar. Bad puctuation.smilies/angry.gif
I like it
written by SeanHawk, February 09, 2010
Mainly because it enhances the overall product, and I say we DO copy the SEC while we are at it. Two divisions of 6 teams, play against your own division for 5 games, play 4 of the 6 in the other division. Play one cupcake and one mid-range OOC game, and you are at 12 games. Play a title game amongst the NFL stadiums in the conference, like AZ, Seattle, San Fran, the LA Coliseum, Denver with the Colorado presence.

If they are all about maximizing revenues, and If expansion and a new tv network is part of it, and WSU is part of the club? I am ALL IN! Not that they care for our opinions
around here, so I guess it doesn't matter. But WSU, we are in a survival mode right
now, and if we want to stay in the club, let's just go along with it.

I question why Colorado would agree go this? What about their Nebraska rivalry over the years? Or their recruiting into Texas, would that take a huge hit in the PAC 10? How do they win with this compared to staying where they are?
Fair points
written by WSU91, February 09, 2010
Sean,

You bring up a good point. From the perspective of where our athletic department is financially, the new revenue streams expansion would bring in do make this an attractive move for WSU and the Pac-10. My main question is the same as yours - why would Colorado go for this? I can see why Utah would be all over it, but I don't see why Colorado would.
I'm not a fan of expansion
written by selahcoug, February 09, 2010
mainly because I really like the home and homes with every team each year in basketball. Plus, even if it does hurt as far as the BCS is concerened, I like the round robin in football as well. Adding Utah and Colorado takes away the normal pairings of only natural rivals as well that is unique to the Pac-10, so I don't like the pairing, even though they are the most logical choices.

Having said all that, I could really see expansion happening in the near future. The main reasons being the Big 11 expansion, they may want it even for the Rose Bowl deal to continue. Plus, if they rob Missouri from the Big 12 north, Colorado may bolt as well. But the biggest reason I think it happens is the Pac-10 is affraid that the Mountain West will soon get BCS status, especially if they add a few more teams such as BSU, and maybe Nevada, Fresno State or even Houston. Imagine if they brought in BSU, Houston and persuaded Colorado to join if they are guaranteed the BCS bid with the deal. That would kill the Pac-10 as far as ever really expanding. The MW would have Denver, SLC, Las Vegas, San Diego, and part of Houston and Dallas markets.

Take away Utah and you kind of chop the head off of the Mountain West, especially if they took Utah and BYU. With Utah and Colorado, you move into Denver and SLC and take those markets while you can preventing the Mountain West from dominating them and greatly expand your tv footprint which would look a lot better for a Pac-10 network.
I only see Colorado jumping
written by TiltingRight, February 09, 2010
If the Big Ten brings in Mizzou. Otherwise I think we're naval gazing in fantasy land.

We've got a much better revenue sharing agreement with our member schools than the Big12, but a much smaller pie as well ($103mil vs $80 mil). So the questions are, how much money does adding those market add to the pie, and after dividing up the pie does each school's take go up or down?

The math gets fuzzy when discussing new TV contracts. Is ESPN going to do a west coast channel? Is the PacTen going to form its own network (this would be ideal to me, if it pencils out)? Will FSN upgrade its talent and equipment and showcase more than the LA teams and the UW?

Another thing is recruiting. When we've got 12 teams, how do we divide the conference? Are the NW teams going to be going from 2 games per year in CA to 2 games every 3 years? What happens to our recruiting then? Will the added exposure of a PX network make enough of a difference?

Change is scary! smilies/sad.gif
That's stupid!
written by VikingCoug, February 09, 2010
I don't like the idea of adding Utah and Colorado. If we allow them to join, it is highly likely that the round robin goes away. This would mean that we would miss games against other PAC-10 teams. Maybe even an apple cup missing. Besides, Utah and Colarado make little sense in the Pacific 10 conference. I doubt it happens.
It's about the money
written by WSU91, February 09, 2010
It's ALWAYS about the money.

I think the new commish has his view of the big picture (which isn't to say that's my view, but I don't count), and it involves expansion of revenues and exposure. One way to do this is by adding academically and athletically strong members and creating a playoff game in football. Like it or not, I think the chances of this happening are really good because all of the presidents and AD's see the revenue upside. That's the ultimate factor, let's not kid ourselves. I think all that remains to make this happen is finding the right partner to bring in with Utah. No doubt they are making strong overtures to Colorado.
They are going to, some day
written by SeanHawk, February 09, 2010
Everyone else has evolved at some point, acc, sec, big 12 and big 10. The big east was forced to change due to the ACC, but the reality is that the PAC 10 is the only one that hasn't changed since the 70's. With the new brass in charge, it is clear they have an agenda.

I heard Scott Woodward on KJR earlier, and he talked to them after the PAC 10 meetings today. He made it sound like yes, this is a serious item being contemplated by the presidents, but it isn't at the front of the agenda. However, part of this is to prepare for what the big 10 might be about to pull. Can you imagine the BIG 16?!?!? Apparently at the meetings today the talk was that the big 10 wants to add up to five more teams, like Pitt, Mizzou, and some others in the northeast. We could be in for a MAJOR shift, like it or not!
...
written by Longball, February 09, 2010
WSU91 - I have read in a number of places that neither Mizzou or Colorado are happy members of the Big 12. Colorado has not been as competative since the Big 8 days, not sure that has anything to do with it or not.
...
written by LucasCoug, February 09, 2010
http://espn.go.com/blog/pac10/...sideration
...
written by WallaCoug, February 09, 2010
Longball,

Where did you hear about this discontent at Mizzou and Colorado? I have only read fan postings that neither want anything to do with leaving. I would be interested to know if what you're hearing is from the powers that be at the schools themselves.
...
written by Longball, February 09, 2010
Walla Walla,

I am looking for some of that stuff now. I can tell you this, it wasn't the fans who were unhappy. It sounded to me like the administrations were the ones who were very open to moving on from the Big 12. I was reading it when the Big 10 expansion was the news of the day.
...
written by Longball, February 09, 2010
Ok Walla Walla, here is some of that talk...

http://www.sportingnews.com/college-football/article/2010-01-15/missouri-could-see-10-million-windfall-joining-big-ten

Its about revenue. I know this article is all Mizzou, but the sutff i heard from CU was similar complaints.
Longball
written by WSU91, February 09, 2010
Thanks for posting that. If indeed Colorado is not that happy in the Big-12, then I think this is all but a done deal. Just a matter of timing now.
RE: VikingCoug
written by Soze, February 10, 2010
The Apple Cup (and other big rivalries) would be intact. Now that WAZZU/USC rivalry on the other hand...
...
written by bribri, February 12, 2010
BYU and Utah don't want to join the PAC-12. Seriously...who would want to join the Pacific Dozen?

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