gave approval to Boise State University president, Bob Kustra, the authority to accept an invitation to the Big East when it comes with the stipulation that a conference or conferences be found for the other sports in which to compete. Although it could mean millions of dollars added to the football program I'm not sure it is in the best interests of the unity of the sports department to be in separate conferences for the different sports although that may be true at other universities.
Seems kinda odd that a small Western state college would be joining the "Big East". All of these teams are East of the Mississippi river. Isn't that a lot of travel? Just seems very awkward and out of place if you ask me. Shows that a College will do anything to have a legit football team and contend for a title which has been the Bronco aspiration. Just wonder what this team is going to look like when Kellen Moore graduates.Originally Posted by Jim Franklin
Post Thanks / Like - 1 Thanks, 0 LaughingJim Franklin - "thanks" for this post
Based on the number of people from "back east" that I've run into who think Idaho is how hick Ohioans pronounce the name of their home state, I'm guessing the Big East schools don't realize the travel commitment involved. As for the folks in Boise, it probably isn't that big of a deal since many of them consider a 20 hour round trip drive to Seattle as little more than a weekend excursion.
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Re: Easterners concept of distances: At times down at the Sun Valley Indian School with a WW team on campus we would point to the White Mountains to the south and ask them "How far away do you think they are?" Most often the answer was something like 15 or 20 miles when they actually more than 75 miles away. While serving there as principal I hired a young math teacher from Youngstown, OH and brought him to Boise with me on Spring Break. Driving north across the Navajo Nation of northeastern Arizona on up across the length of Utah and then across southern Idaho he was surprised at the long distances between towns and settlements.
Money talks and I think if Kustra is as smart as he is supposed to be he will hold out for travel expenses to "sweeten the pie." The Big East is making this move to save their conference after the others bailed out. So if it is so desireable to gain the membership of Boise State then this suggestion is worth consideration.
Bob, I don't like the idea of any institutions amateur, college or pro to be lumped in with a conference bearing the name East either like our local pro hockey team the Steelheads are in the East Coast Hocky League when the West Coast Hockey League collapsed. To this Geographer, it is nonsense, just as is the Dallas Cowboys in the Eastern Confeerence of the NFL.
BSU will be looking for another new conference in 2 or 3 years when the Big East craters.
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Dr. Poteet, that is exactly what I would suspect. Perhaps at the point that the PAC # decides to expand to 16 BSU will be their choice to invite. I would think that by that time the stadium will be expanded by eliminating the track. lowering the field and closing in the north end to increase seating capacity closer to 50,000.
A new track facility is being built at the old East Junior High location.
I'm guessing the increased revenues will more than offset travel costs. After all, the Big East is an automatic qualifier, and Boise should sweep the conference on an annual basis
Post Thanks / Like - 1 Thanks, 1 LaughingBob Hunter - thanks for this funny post
ESPN took a stab at predicting where the teams will go and who will be included in the big 64.
They had Boise State going west to the Pac-12. Then again, they also had Kansas joining the ACC.
It will be interesting to see whether fan support or tv ratings make the big difference.
ESPN argued that the Big-10 wouldn't want Notre Dame because they wouldn't increase the media markets all that much and Notre Dame would still want to control its secondary rights. That doesn't carry a lot of weight with me - but they did have the Big-10 poaching Maryland instead, which, if they'd be willing to leave the ACC might make some sense - DC is a new market for them.
Another argument they made was that UConn, not Rutgers, would be the big NYC prize. Even though Rutgers currently has a higher market share, the gap is shrinking and UConn is more identifiable as an athletic program. ESPN had Rutgers on the outside of the Big 64 altogether.
They had TCU and Texas Tech in the SEC, with Texas, Oklahoma, and OSU going west.
I still think Texas to the Big-10 will be the deciding factor - unless the PAC-12 doesn't insist on Texas sharing its Longhorn Network revenue.
Currently the PAC-12 has the biggest media payout, but likely it will soon be dwarfed by the Big-10.
...just my $.02.Post Thanks / Like - 1 Thanks, 0 Laughing
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