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Lifelong Frog
Wall Street Journal: Schools That Could End Up Nowhere
By JARED DIAMOND
The college-football realignment carousel continued Monday as the boards of regents from both Texas and Oklahoma gave their presidents the authority to move the schools out of the Big 12 Conference and into whatever shiny, new and financially prolific conference they might deem worthy.
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So which schools' fans should be the most nervous? According to six former coaches, athletic directors and TV media and marketing experts contacted by the Journal, the six most vulnerable programs are Baylor, Cincinnati, Iowa State, Louisville, South Florida and TCU. These schools, said former Tennessee coach Phil Fulmer, "are in a really tough spot right now."
Louisville officials declined to comment. A South Florida spokesman said the school has a large enrollment and plays in a major media market. Iowa State and Baylor did not respond to requests for comment Monday. In a statement, Cincinnati president Gregory Williams said he is "optimistic the University of Cincinnati will not only remain relevant in the major college football landscape but will also be a strong and committed partner to whatever grouping of schools with which we align." He added that the school's preference is to stay in the Big East, but he wants to assure fans he is not "sitting on the sidelines" as realignment takes place. Chris Del Conte,
TCU's athletic director, said in a statement that after a Rose Bowl win and with a new football stadium in place, the school has great momentum. "We are actively engaged in conversations with colleagues across the country to protect TCU's best interests," he said.
Experts say each of these schools faces some combination of the five factors that can limit a program's ability to jump conferences. One problem with South Florida and TCU, they say, is that they lack tradition. USF didn't join major college football until 2001. And while TCU has played football for more than a century, it hasn't played as a BCS conference member. ...
By JARED DIAMOND
The college-football realignment carousel continued Monday as the boards of regents from both Texas and Oklahoma gave their presidents the authority to move the schools out of the Big 12 Conference and into whatever shiny, new and financially prolific conference they might deem worthy.
...
So which schools' fans should be the most nervous? According to six former coaches, athletic directors and TV media and marketing experts contacted by the Journal, the six most vulnerable programs are Baylor, Cincinnati, Iowa State, Louisville, South Florida and TCU. These schools, said former Tennessee coach Phil Fulmer, "are in a really tough spot right now."
Louisville officials declined to comment. A South Florida spokesman said the school has a large enrollment and plays in a major media market. Iowa State and Baylor did not respond to requests for comment Monday. In a statement, Cincinnati president Gregory Williams said he is "optimistic the University of Cincinnati will not only remain relevant in the major college football landscape but will also be a strong and committed partner to whatever grouping of schools with which we align." He added that the school's preference is to stay in the Big East, but he wants to assure fans he is not "sitting on the sidelines" as realignment takes place. Chris Del Conte,
TCU's athletic director, said in a statement that after a Rose Bowl win and with a new football stadium in place, the school has great momentum. "We are actively engaged in conversations with colleagues across the country to protect TCU's best interests," he said.
Experts say each of these schools faces some combination of the five factors that can limit a program's ability to jump conferences. One problem with South Florida and TCU, they say, is that they lack tradition. USF didn't join major college football until 2001. And while TCU has played football for more than a century, it hasn't played as a BCS conference member. ...