Bowlsby proposes scheduling arrangement with ACC, wants to avoid expansion; likens the deal to havi

[Stiff Arm Frog]

http://m.statesman.com/news/sports/big-12-exploring-alliance-with-acc-two-other-leagu/nT7Bt/

Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby said the league is actively exploring a possible alliance with the Atlantic Coast Conference and two other unspecified leagues for the purposes of scheduling, marketing and possibly even television partnerships, an arrangement that might prevent further expansion.

“We’ve had conversations with three other leagues,” Bowlsby told the American-Statesman on Friday afternoon. “The ACC is one of them. It’s a process of discovery that would provide some of the benefits of larger membership without actually adding members.”

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Bowlsby said the potential move should not be interpreted as a precursor to future expansion in light of the SEC’s additions of Texas A&M; and Missouri and the Big Ten’s more recent move to invite Maryland from the ACC and Rutgers from the Big Ten.

“If anything, it’s the opposite,” Bowlsby said. “You can begin to get some advantages without taking on any of the disadvantages (of expansion). It’s one option that allows benefits. It’s kind of like friends with benefits.”

 

[Endless Purple]

I like it

 

[Delmonico]

Worth mentioning that such a discussion between the B12 and Pac 10 was in progress previously...right before the Pac 10 tried to gut the Big 12 like a fish. And the Pac 12 and Big 10 already had such a setup fall apart. Lotta talking about a lot of things right now.

 

[BigPurple87]

I do enjoy friends with benefits

 

[Obvious Troll]

What kinds of benefits specifically?

 

[ShadowFrog]

 

[Endless Purple]

Worth mentioning that such a discussion between the B12 and Pac 10 was in progress previously...right before the Pac 10 tried to gut the Big 12 like a fish. And the Pac 12 and Big 10 already had such a setup fall apart. Lotta talking about a lot of things right now.

Wasn't the Pac 12 and B1G just a scheduling relationship. It did not include TV deals and other aspects.

 

[Delmonico]

Wasn't the Pac 12 and B1G just a scheduling relationship. It did not include TV deals and other aspects.

Yes...and scheduling is the easiest part. Besides, anything in college football these days involves TV.

 

[Despite the odds Frog]

I don't know about this. Seems like a cop out, biding time....you can grab FSU and possibly Clemson but instead a partnership? The instability for the Big 12 will still be there. Why make your OOC games hard. Rather FSU in the conference and Big 12 start the season early like SEC does which will allow better scheduling. TCU not having to play all the top teams each year and having possibly eight home games is better than continuing the round robin and adding tough OOC games. SEC will continue to look good as long as they get these advantages like scheduling over the Big 12, etc. Why not play the SEC game, it works.

 

[CountryFrog]

I don't know about this. Seems like a cop out, biding time....you can grab FSU and possibly Clemson but instead a partnership? The instability for the Big 12 will still be there. Why make your OOC games hard. Rather FSU in the conference and Big 12 start the season early like SEC does which will allow better scheduling. TCU not having to play all the top teams each year and having possibly eight home games is better than continuing the round robin and adding tough OOC games. SEC will continue to look good as long as they get these advantages like scheduling over the Big 12, etc. Why not play the SEC game, it works.

I understand where you're coming from for the most part. But I think the best thing for college football as a whole is for all this expansion nonsense to stop, and the only way it will stop is for people at the highest levels to find creative alternatives that increase revenue for themselves without coming at the expense of others.

Whether or not my idealistic dream will ever come true, I don't know. Bowlsby may really want that to happen or he could be blowing smoke up everyone's arse while he meets with FSU and Clemson officials at Chipotle.

 

[Genbukan]

Bowlsby better be careful dealing with Swofford. That guy is a snake, albeit a very smart snake. Partnerships with him, especially now when the big xii seemingly holds all the cards, will not turn out well for this league.

Gawd I wish Neinas was still in charge. Bowlsby is Beebe 2.0

"Yes Sir Mr. Dodds"

"Right away Mr. Dodds"

"Mo tea Mr. Dodds?"

 

[Big Frog II]

I will be very concerned if the Big 12 does not expand to 12 members. No I don't mean adding anyone, but 2 more quality members. I just hope we didn't blow our chances last summer while Swarbrick was taking DeLoss for a ride.

 

[Despite the odds Frog]

I understand where you're coming from for the most part. But I think the best thing for college football as a whole is for all this expansion nonsense to stop, and the only way it will stop is for people at the highest levels to find creative alternatives that increase revenue for themselves without coming at the expense of others.

Whether or not my idealistic dream will ever come true, I don't know. Bowlsby may really want that to happen or he could be blowing smoke up everyone's arse while he meets with FSU and Clemson officials at Chipotle.

I hear where you are coming from but the realignments have happened and Big 12 is behind. Adding two would bring stability, right now at 10 Big 12 is just waiting for SEC or Big 10 to steal OU and UT to do whatever @ some point.

 

[CountryFrog]

I hear where you are coming from but the realignments have happened and Big 12 is behind. Adding two would bring stability, right now at 10 Big 12 is just waiting for SEC or Big 10 to steal OU and UT to do whatever @ some point.

You could be right, and because you could be right I wouldn't really be oppossed to adding more teams.

I just really want all the BS to end and I want to believe that at some point people will stop cannabilizing each other. But again, I fully realize that could be a totally unrealistic idea, at least at this point in time.

 

[Horned Toad]

Bowlsby is a freaking idiot.

 

[ReedFrawg]

I don't like this at all. Why lock in more difficult OOC games and really need two divisions to have multiple 0 or 1 loss teams highly ranked. See SEC with several 1 loss teams. Bad move and still leaves the conferencd exposed.

 

[YA]

Could be the discussions with the acc and its schools is info gathering. Then soon enough use those findings to show projections to the prospective additions that gives the big 12 its expansion.

 

[Endless Purple]

If I remember reading correctly, SOS will be a part of the new playoff guidelines for teams. Planning everything based on today's guidelines is very shortsighted. I am most likely in the minority, but seems like Bowlsby is planning for the future based on what the future may hold. We already know the present is going to change. We also know that adding teams without a stable common ground will lead to an unstable conference. I have already read articles where SEC members were grumbling about the schedule with the new members. There is no magic number of members for a stable conference.

As for the SEC, Once they lose a couple title games, they will fall off their lofty perch. Until then it doesn't matter if they have 1, 2 or 3 losses, they will still dominate the top of the rankings.

 

[God Dog]

I have zero interest in partnering with the ACC. SEC, P12, or B10 yes. ACC no.

 

[frognutz]

Well this just sucks.