(12-12-2013 01:04 PM)XLance Wrote:  

(12-12-2013 12:09 PM)vandiver49 Wrote:  

(12-12-2013 12:49 AM)JRsec Wrote:  It's not my rumor, but the ties to ND and a presence in the state of Maryland I think are behind it. I'm still not sold that the academies want to be in any division higher than what the G5 would be without the BCS conferences. Personally I think the Texas deal would work a lot better with Baylor and T.C.U..

I would be keen on OU, OSU, KU or KSU, and WVU to get to 18. That allows Mizzou to be in the West and Auburn and Alabama to be in a Central with L.S.U. the Mississippi's, and Vanderbilt.

Another wild thought I've had is OU, OSU, KU, and Rice. The Owls would balance Vandy fairly well. That gives us one King, one King in waiting, one Prince, and Bonafide academics.

I know its not your rumor, I've seen it in the ACC boards as well. Its just hard to take seriously considering Navy hasn't even started AAC conference play yet. I think G5 on the East Coast might be out of Navy's reach, but we'll see.

As for Rice in the SEC, while they do bring the academic cache, I don't know if such credentials are worth spending the slot on in a replicated market.

I'm sorry to jump in on a good discussion, but..........

Conference=replicated markets
League=New markets

You just can't have it both ways. In a lot of ways, I think that is why we have hit a pause. Hard choices will have to be made, in that if we all go the league route, the only way to get conferences back is to blow everything up and start over........again.

Bolded is not always true... both come down to value. Markets are replicated in New York, Chicago, L.A., and the Bay Area for MLB, NBA, NHL, and/or NFL. Those are leagues. College conferences probably mimic professional league divisions as much as anything. Usually, geography is a driving factor, but the lines are blurred to take in cultural or other considerations (e.g. Cowboys in NFC East, Red Wings in Atlantic, Astros to AL West to be with the Rangers).