Addressing Big 12 expansion issues

Keeping up with recent re-alignment talks, looks like Florida State and Clemson will be Big 12 bound. Also heard about other universities (Georgia Tech., Notre Dame, Louisville, Maryland, etc.) entertaining the idea of bolting to the Big 12. Throughout this whirlwind, the Big 12 and SEC have also joined forced to create one of the best bowls in college football.

With all the discussions going around the media, I have noticed many providing pros and cons for join the Big 12. I have also noticed the sarcastic remarks and put-downs by many people weighing in on FSU and Clemson’s potential move to the Big 12. To clear the air, I decided to give my “two cents” and throw in a dollar.

1. FSU and Clemson are clear football universities. Therefore, to hear people say they do not have anything in common with Big 12 schools, consider the fact that they are playing in a basketball conference driven by Duke and UNC; which are clearly not football first universities.

2. The president of FSU indicated that schools like Kansas, Kansas St., West Virginia, and Iowa State would not be attractive games featured against FSU. Just to set the record straight, Kansas has made it to a BSC bowl and won within the past decade, and Iowa State has upset good Big 12 teams over the past years. Obviously, Big 12 teams can produce and make winning difficult. Kansas St. and West Virginia have also made to bowl games over the past decade and won. The names may not sound enticing, but they will make your team play harder than any team in the ACC. By the way, the Big 12 has a better record when playing ACC schools in football.

3. Travel and cost is another issue debated in these discussions. The last time I checked, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Virginia Tech, Virginia, and Boston College was not a close drive for Clemson or FSU. Cost may be more if they travel to some Big 12 schools, but the payout for joining the conference would easily cover those expenses.

4. Hearing Academics as an issue makes me laugh when they try to connect it to conference affiliation.  Since when does someone’s personal academics look better if they are in a conference of good academic schools. A person is not attending those other schools, just the one they attend. If academics are important, why is not every university trying to join the Ivy League? In this instance, money is what makes a conference strong because money brings what the universities need.

5. Another issue I laugh at is the term “Texas League.” Texas has one vote in the conference, and equal sharing is in place. Lets just get off that subject, ok.

6. Lastly, is the issue of stability. If the Big 12 is expanding and looking to draw ACC schools away, leaving the ACC nervous about their future, who is the one that is not stable?

The future is bright at the Big 12. How are you doing ACC?