Bowlsby  has previously indicated any additional expansion school would need to be pre-qualified by ESPN/FoxSports  to be admitted.


Here is the whole article:

WVU Football: Athletic Director Luck Hints Big 12 Expansion Coming


By [Michael Walker]<!-- "article_1522251_author_rank" cached 02/12/2013 at 02:02 AM -->(Analyst) on February 8, 2013

WVU athletic director Oliver Luck clearly stated in an interview with[ WVUSports.com] that the Big 12 will be expanding. He further even hinted where the teams may come from.

In the over two-hour and forty-minute signing-day video, Tony Caridi and Jed Drenning interviewed everyone associated with the latest WVU recruiting class. Last but certainly not least was Oliver Luck. The interview with Luck starts at 2:29:10 in the video.

After a few remarks regarding WVU athletics in general, Drenning asked Luck about Big 12 conference expansion relative to the recent Big 12 meetings. Luck said,

There is additional movement to come in conference realignment. We can't allow what happened to the Big East happen to the Big 12 as far as only having 10 teams. We're happy where we are right now but nobody believes conference realignment is over. But, it is important for us to have eastern partners in the conference.

Those are the WVU athletic director's words, not mine. In his own words, he acknowledges that expansion is coming. I think most of us assumed that much.

But Luck also stated, "But, it is important for us to have eastern partners in the conference."  That doesn't rule out schools in the West being part of the expansion. But he certainly made clear Eastern schools would be included—and indicated plural in his statement.

There will be many rumors and much debate over which schools might be included.[ ]

[ESPN] reports that Big 12 Conference Commissioner Bob Bowlsby also said after the 2013 Athletic Directors' meetings,

We feel very good about where we are. Beyond that, we'd be unwise to be oblivious to all that is going on around us. We need to be constantly vigilant. I think in coming out of these meetings we're prepared very well for that vigilance.

Bowlsby  has previously indicated that several schools are interested in the Big 12, but few qualify. He has made clear that additional schools have to bring an economic value required to maintain the established payout to current schools.

That means any additional school would need to be pre-qualified by ESPN/FoxSports pre-qualified by ESPN/FoxSports to be admitted. That certainly narrows down the list of possibilities. As far as Eastern schools, the consensus is that FSU and Clemson qualify.  They bring more economic value to the ACC than any other schools.

Don't forget Louisville. They had obviously passed the litmus test when the Big 12 decided between UL and WVU. Their value has probably grown since then.

I still believe the Big 12 is waiting for the Big Ten to make the next move. The [Columbus Dispatch] reported that Ohio State President Gee made clear in a statement to the Buckeye Athletic Council that more expansion is coming. 

It appears that it is not a matter of if the two conferences are going to expand, it's where and by how many.


[http://bleacherreport.com/articles/
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So why are we waiting on the Big 10? 

JMO but We are waiting on the B10 and/or the SEC to make their moves first because schools want them more than us as a conference. After the Maryland exit fee is established ( signs are pointing to that fee being far less than 50mm) then the BIG/SEC and any school that might be ready to leave will have a better idea what their cost will be to leave ( and in some cases the conferences cost for helping them leave). Schools are not gonna come to the B12 if they think they have a shot at the BIG or SEC so we wait our turn and see who those two pick who they want for their new tv money that will be coming soon. I don't have a great deal of worry as far as the B12 goes but I do have some questions: 1. Does the BiG stop at 16? There are some that make a good argument that they might go 20 or more, and then does the SEC follow? 2. Where does Notre Dame wind up if the ACC gets gutted? I can't see them staying put when so much more money will be available elsewhere. 3. What is the PAC's future plans? Are they REALLY content at 12? Are they using this time to find weaknesses in our GOR deal so maybe they talk with OU and Texas again? Or maybe the BIG tries the GOR?... Oh the drama in all this...L

So why are we waiting on the Big 10? 

Comes down to establishing your list of schools you'd like to add... looking at the schools that are presently available.... and the schools that might become available/interested in the future if things change.

1.  Schools presently available... Cincy, UConn, USF, BYU

2.  Schools that might become available if the ACC is raided by the B1G and SEC...  FSU, Clemson, Miami, UofL, Pitt, NC State

Ask yourself, which list looks more attractive?   Schools will not leave the ACC for the Big 12 unless it is raided first.  Joining either the B1G or SEC is a homerun for any ACC team.  Once the ACC is poached, teams left may want to consider leaving themselves.  
      

So basically what both of you are saying is we are waiting on the scraps......if you take the good teams out of the ACC there is no way any of the other teams offer any value so at that point we will just be expanding to expand.  i like the move to the Big 12, but I do not understand why the Big 12 is at the back of the line on this? 

Everything you are saying fellow Mountaineer fans "rings" true to the core folks.  However, there is ONE Major issue that STILL bothers me.  The little statement that thus far seems to be taken as an absolute fact comming from the SEC.  That is that they will not take any team in a state that already contains an SEC Team (i.e. for example Georga Tech because they already have Georgia among their ranks.  Is that Really the truth or is it a ploy to get other conferences to relax and think that they would not (for example take Florida State).  Thinking on that for a moment then ask your selfs where are the more attractive Teams located?  In the ACC for example NC, NC State and Duke are in North Carolina, Clemson in South Carolina, Georgia Tech in Georgia (of course), Miami, USF, and Florida State in Florida.  So are we REALLY to believe that they are not going to take teams from Florida, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisanna and etc, etc.  They already have Auburn and Alabama that are in the same state.  Ask yourself then where is Vanderbilt located?  Florida is a large enough state that they could take both Miami and Florida State.  I dont buy it that they would not take Florida State just because the Gators dont want them, or Clemson if South Carolina happens to not want them.  Remember the SEC is the South Eastern Conference.  IMO I would not wait too long after the Courts rendering to jump or we may find that there are not many (qualified) Teams left for the Big 12 to extend and invite to.  The SEC and especially the Big 10 or what ever they call themselves are not going to show their hand until the last minute and then it just might be too late for the Big 12 to act.  Do we want to REALLY settle for the left over teams after those two conferences have gutted the better teams from it.  Thats exactly what the Big East did and look what has happened to them.  I would hate to see us end up doing EXACTLY what we didnt want to do in the first place and that is taking up teams left from the ACC, the Big East, Conference USA and etc, just to become BIGGER because we have to or die.

I would be leary of ANYTHING that the SEC or the BIG 10 LETS leak out as being the Cold Hard Facts.

Have a great day today and a better one tomorrow everyone, stay healthy.

Lets Gooooo Mountaineers!!!!!

I agree with bbwv here.   ACC athletic departments are watching what happens with Maryland and the current law suit.  Watching the Big East implode is a great example.  Maryland is the WVU of the ACC in that they are testing the waters and are the ones to challenge the conference exit fee.  Unfortunately, for WVU there was not the option of waiting a year and letting the court process go through or just pay the lower exit fee after staying longer.   The 25 million paid by WVU was a huge chunk of change but it allowed us to move forward.  Syracuse and Pitt both stayed for the extra year to save 20 million (for sPitt, that is about 10 years of ticket sales).  Now that the Big East is imploding, there will be noone to collect an exit fee and teams will bolt with no consequences.

ACC teams can afford to sit and wait for the Maryland case to settle or conclude and then they will know what the cost of exit will be.  Once that is extablished, the ACC will be subject for more raiding by the B1G with the SEC and B12 picking up the pieces.

My personal feeling is that this is all driven by the B1Gs desire to add Notre Dame as a member.  They took Rutgers from NDs current conference and Maryland from NDs future conference weakening both and potentially being the last straw of the destruction of the Big East.

The ACC v. maryland case will do much to decide the future and the timetable for teams changing conferences.  If a 50 mil exit fee holds up, there may be no big changes for a while.  If it is knocked down, I expect the B10 to go after the northern teams of the ACC first, then the SEC will look toward the Virginia and North Carolina teams to keep them from going North.  FSU and Clemson plus another 4 of the leftovers fall into the B12.  Notre Dame is left with no other choice than to join the B10.

Hard to tell where everyone ends up but i bet every AD in the ACC has a backup plan for when all of this hits the fan, but when it does, we are really set up for an 8 team playoff for the NC.  Each conference will have a championship game with the winners playing in the Rose and Champions Bowl and the winners of those playing in the plus 1 format for the NC.  There is no room for the ACC in this model and the athletic directors know it. 

I value the opinions on here, but I believe some of what we think could happen is a little far fetched....makes no sense for the SEC or Big?? to pass up on the money teams in that conf i.e. FSU, Miami, BC.....if our true stance is wait and see, then no i do not believe the Big 12 will get any of the teams worth the time. FSU, Miaimi, Clemson, BC, would be the first four off the board with their market value.  What is left after those guys? Carolinas and Virginia?

DC,

Like I have said on here before, I read a lot of expansion talk on the internet.  You can draw your own conclusions, but the forces behind the expansion of conferences are a little different for each.

When you mention scraps, it is a little bit of the truth... then again... not so much.

Look at the B1G.  They've attempted to bring in AAU schools... state supported, that can increase their Big 10 Network draw.  When they get a school from a new state, the Network can draw more money per subscriber from that region than they presently receive. 

The SEC is attempting to start a network.  ESPN wants them to expand into areas with more cable subscribers.  You remember... the reason why the SEC selected Mizzou instead of WVU last fall.  The SEC has the FL, GA and USC markets.  The schools from those states that are currently in the SEC, don't want to add another school from their state.  It increases competition for recruits.  At present, being the only SEC school gives them an advantage in recruiting.

FSU, Clemson and Miami have been shown to have national appeal.  Their games are some of the highest rated games of the season for ESPN.  FOX acknowledges the rating draw of these teams.  However, none of them are attractive to the SEC or the B1G at present time for the reasons I mentioned.

The Big 12 wants to add at least two teams.  Either of the 3 mentioned above would be better for the Big 12 as FOX has mentioned they'd bump the media package to the Big 12 if they're added.  There is no bump with UConn, Cincy or anyone else... except BYU.

That is why the Big 12 is waiting.  Luck believes the B1G will expand further... and, once it does... the domino's start to fall....             

Agree with bbwv again here.  I think the SEC goes North rather than dominate thier current footprint.  Consolodating in the South states where you already are will only dillute recruiting for teams like Florida and SC.  I believe that FSU and Clemson probably already have negotiated a landing spot in teh B12 for the future.   The scraps of the ACC likely will include a Virginia team a NC team, sPitt, at least one Florida team, Louisville, and Syracuse.  I'll take that over Cincinatti any day.

Pretty much agree with what another and bbwv are saying.  As for the "no 2nd team from a state" issue, the last time the SEC expanded, the schools in those states (Florida, S.Carolina, Kentucky, Georgia) had a handshake agreement that they would vote in unison to stop the league from adding a school in their state.  With a larger conference and a changing landscape, I don't know if that will be the case in the future.

I believe Virginia Tech is prime for the SEC pickin. They also don't play offense.

FSU, Clemson and Miami have been shown to have national appeal.  Their games are some of the highest rated games of the season for ESPN.  FOX acknowledges the rating draw of these teams.  However, none of them are attractive to the SEC or the B1G at present time for the reasons I mentioned.

Sorry my friend but these will not matter when it comes to the $$$$ side of it...Big 10 could add BC no 7 TV market(get both market and academics) and then pick and choose from Virginia down to Carolinas.  There will be a huge draw for the Big 10 network  Not sure where Va Tech will stand when this all plays out.

The SEC, IMO, will not stick to the gentlemans handshake and just let the Big 12 cherry pick 3 teams with good markets, and if you think that the Miami, Clemson, and FSU markets do not offer the SEC anything well I do not know what to say.  Miami by itself is a top 15 TV market.  2 more teams recruiting in the SEC is not going to hurt their numbers epecially talent laden Florida since that state supports most of the teams in the US..lol .

I disagree with you guys, there is no way when the dominoes drop and FSU, Clemson, and Miami are just sitting there waiting for us. 

When is the Maryland case going to be settled?  I lost my contact over there to more money at a better school...lol  

Well at the present time the only choice we have is to wait and see.  I hope Im wrong but I smell a skunk in the wood shed and will just have to hold my breath.  In regards to Notre Dame going to the Big 10 I dont see that happening.  Notre Dame is head strong and WILL NOT be forced into joining the Big 10.  IMO I believe that once things start rolling and the Irish see what teams do go to the Big 12, I think that we will be seeing them come on board with us.  Remember again where South Bend is located and when it comes to travel and cost, which before appeared to be a non-factor for them, becomes a major drawing factor that puts Notre Dame right smack dab into the Big 12.  In addition they now have their guarantee of bowl affiliation (the Orange Bowl) and that gets one of their requirements out of the way that they dont have to dicker with the Big 12 over.  My question would be in regards to our game deal with the SEC should Notre Dame place second in the Conference (remember first puts them into the NC play offs) would our third place team be slotted into the Big 12/SEC bowl game or does the Irish then get a choice out of the Orange Bowl and into that bowl, should they desire.  The Irish are putting themselves into a position to get what they want before electing what Conference they decide on joining (IMO the Big 12 gets Notre Dame).

Do we NOT THINK that getting the Irish into the Big 12 would NOT be one of the Teams that would get Oliver Luck excited??!!


Have a great day today and a better one tomorrow everyone, stay healthy.

Lets Goooooo Mountaineers!!!!

The SEC, IMO, will not stick to the gentlemans handshake and just let the Big 12 cherry pick 3 teams with good markets, and if you think that the Miami, Clemson, and FSU markets do not offer the SEC anything well I do not know what to say.  Miami by itself is a top 15 TV market.  2 more teams recruiting in the SEC is not going to hurt their numbers epecially talent laden Florida since that state supports most of the teams in the US..lol .

All valid points.  We'll have to wait and see what happens... 

When you mention scraps, it is a little bit of the truth... then again... not so much.

Everything I've read and heard regarding expansion is right in line with what BB is saying. 

The B1G is looking more at academics (UNC, Duke, UVA, Ga Tech) and expanding somewhat southward.  They'll also make a STRONG play for ND and they may also look at BC, 'Cuse, and UConn. 

The SEC is looking at expanding their footprint and TV market... looking at some of the same schools as the B1G (UNC, Duke, UVA, & Ga Tech) with FSU, Clemson, NC State, and Va Tech on their radar as well. 

I see both the B1G and SEC adding two more teams pretty soon...  and then setting back for the dust to settle a bit.  In the meantime, the Big 12 should grab up their best 6 targets.

So when you speak of "scraps" of what should be left for the Big 12, you're talking about schools like Miami, Louisville, Pitt, possibly BYU...  and depending on which direction the SEC goes, FSU, Clemson, Va Tech, and/or NC State.  Not bad schools when viewing them as "scraps". And technicaly (for the most part) it all plays into the direction the Big 12 is looking, when the teams expected to be left are exactly the teams the Big 12 is targeting.  It allows a football first conference to strengthen the competition of it's conference, while expanding east and keeping it's revenue sharing among the highest.

Personally my "dream" teams for the Big 12 would be Miami (or Ga Tech), FSU, Clemson, Va Tech, Louisville, and Pitt.  It looks POSSIBLE, but maybe not LIKELY.  Could only get 3 or 4 of the 6 and having to "settle" for GA Tech and/or NC State.  

It's all rumor, opinions, and speculation at this point from reading into what officials are saying.  There will be some surprises along the way.  One thing for sure...  it will get interesting.

Oh and a couple more things to dwell on.  Louisville appears, especially of late to be the better team in Kentucky.  I wonder if the SEC wouldnt kick Kentucky out and take in Louisville, remembering the gentlemens agreement (which I still do not trust).  The other thing remember HOW Virginia Tech ended up getting into the ACC.  The Virginia State Government had a hand in that if I recall and if Virginia Tech was to leave the ACC then its brother team Virginia would most likely have to be taken with it.  I dont see the Virginia Government allowing one of their teams to go and the other being left out in the cold.  This would be a major hang up for the Big 10 should they elect to take the Cavaliers.  Then you would be looking at a mess and it would be back to the drawing board for the Big 10, so who would they then take; if FSU is there, Clemson, UCONN, NC (where does that leave NC State),  there is a lot of baggage that is attached with certain teams in these Conferences.  In regards to Boston College, which has not done much since joining the ACC, I would believe that they would fall into the catagory of Not Qualified by ESPN and FOX.  Something else as mentioned in a previous post, with regard to the SEC; they would not want to be Out Done by BOTH Conferences, the Big 10 and the Big 12.  So I would look for a move by them to try and BLOCK (if they could) the taking of major teams (i.e. FSU, Miami, Clemson, Georga Tech, etc).  So just how would they do that, Stopping Conferences from getting stronger, if they did not elect to take those schools?

There is a lot to think about and I believe that when it comes down to it the "Gentlemens agreement" will go right out the window.  Its almost like the NFL Draft, do they take the number one pick or pass to get the number 12 Team on the list or take a free agent left hanging out there; Cincy or UCONN for example.

It will be interesting to watch if nothing else but just to see who is left standing.  Perhaps Oliver Luck knows something in regards to maybe the Big 12 taking in PITT and Louisville, Syaracuse for eastern teams in the Big 12 (or are not qualified by ESPN and FOX).

I think again that the spoiler that changes a lot of things (voiding gentlemens agreements and etc) is going to be Notre Dame.  Remember they elected not to join the ACC till 2014 (this allows time for the Court thing to be played out) and then we sit back and watch the fur fly.

Have a great day today and a better one tomorrow everyone, stay healthy.

Lets Goooo Mountaineers!!!!!!!

bbw,  I thought the SEC already had it's own network... isn't it called ESPN??

So, I tried to go to some of the other teams pages to see what their fans were saying about this.  I already knew this was the case, but it just reminded me how much better this message board is than the boards for the vast majority of other teams out there.

Thanks for the good info and opinions everybody!