College Expansion makes for a great 2010
Let me be the first to say that I am glad that there is going to be a massive shake-up in college athletics this summer. Sometimes is change is good. Not all the time, but sometimes change is actually a positive thing. With the new landscape in conferences coming about this summer, there will be a breathe of fresh air around the nation. While I do actually feel sorry for poor Dan Beebee out in the Midwest, the rest of the sports nation is going to benefit greatly. There are a couple of things I would like to see happen during this run of college conference realignment. Well, they are not all tied together. One does not dictate any of the others. But here goes:
1. Florida State to the Southeastern Conference
Screw the Florida Gators, I could care less if they are trying to block FSU from joining the conference they should have aligned with almost two decades back. FSU is a very bad fit in the ACC. The ACC is good for all the Carolina schools, but not for Florida State. And to even force-feed this crap about how academics are so important is really hypocritical. Florida State has never improved academically from joining a sports conference. Get real, the smart people are not buying any of that crap. FSU joined the ACC so the football team would have an easy schedule and a clear path to national championships. Great, they did win two, no argument there. But, was it in the best interest long term? No! Florida State fits in better geographically with the schools in Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Playing against Georgia, Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee, and LSU every year is more appealing than facing teams in the ACC that are way out of our driving distance. FSU needs to be placed better geographically.
2. If the Big 12 does not dissolve, Arkansas to leave the SEC.
Arkansas and Texas used to be one of the greatest rivalries in the south. Yes, for greed purposes, I would love to see them face each other every year. I grew up in the days of the old Southwest Conference when Arkansas and the Texas schools were paired together. Made for great college ball weekends. I think if Arkansas played Texas, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma every year it would make for a much stronger slate of games during the season. Some things are just meant to be, you know like the Hatfield's against the McCoy's. It just makes for great entertainment.
3. If the Big 12 remains intact, I would love to see Houston or Rice back in with the Texas Schools.
More Houston for the fact that it would reunite Houston against their old foes from within the state. I grew up when Houston was in the SWC with Texas, Texas A&M, Baylor, and a few others. With Houston being such a large market in the US, it would bring back the old great flavor of the state schools battling for supremacy.
4. Notre Dame to join the Big 10.
Just join a damn conference already. I want to see Notre Dame play the Ohio State's, Penn State's, and Michigan's every year as a conference game. It makes for great TV spectacle.
5. FSU, UF, and Miami in the same conference.
If the SEC expands, I am debating about this. As much as I hate Miami, it would be nice for a change to see the Gators and Canes play each other as a conference game. FSU is the only state school that has to play both of them every year. Florida and Miami don't have that problem. Time to rid of the inequity here.
6. If the Big 12 breaks apart and the Texas schools bolt west.....
I would love to see the remaining teams in the Big 12 who are left out in the cold join forces with the teams who have never had a shot at primetime. It would be awesome if Houston, Rice, and a few other schools out in Texas had a chance to join a primetime BCS conference. Houston deserves the chance. Hell, Boise State sure deserves a chance at a BCS qualifying conference. They have seeked out competition. They have done what is right to try and break into the party. Utah surely deserves its shot too.
7. I would prefer the Big 12 remain in tact, only losing Nebraska and Colorado.
In all honesty, I would not mind if only those two left the Big 12. Then Arkansas and most likely Houston could trasnfer into the Big 12. The Texas-Arkansas rivalry is finally back. Houston gets Texas, Texas A&M, Baylor, Texas Tech and Arkansas like it used to be back when I was a kid.
8. SEC gets Florida State to replace Arkansas and Miami switches with Vanderbilt. South Carolina and Virginia Tech are swapped. West Virginia ditches the Big East and takes a spot in the ACC.
Ideally, the SEC convinces FSU to leave the ACC and come join the big boys. Vandy decides it wants to actually be able to compete against schools of it's own caliber. You know like Duke, Wake, and GT.
9. Boise State to the PAC-12.
Would love to see them get a shot at the big boys every week.
10. If I had it my way, here would be the new conferences and the landscape of college athletics would be much better than it is now.
Southeastern Conference
Eastern Division
Florida
Georgia
Tennessee
Miami
Virginia Tech
Kentucky
Western Division
Florida State
Alabama
Auburn
Mississippi
Mississippi State
LSU
Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Division
Clemson
West Virginia
North Carolina State
Boston College
Wake Forest
Maryland
Coastal Division
South Carolina
Vanderbilt
Virginia
North Carolina
Duke
Georgia Tech
Big 12 Conference
South Division
Houston
Texas
Texas A&M
Arkansas
Baylor
Texas Tech
North Division
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
Missouri
Kansas
Kansas State
Iowa State
Pac 12 Conference (Formerly Pac 10)
South Division
Arizona
Arizona State
UCLA
USC
California
Stanford
North Division
Colorado
Oregon
Oregon State
Boise State
Washington
Washington State
Mid 12 Conference (Formerly Big 10)
Eastern Division
Penn State
Ohio State
Notre Dame
Michigan State
Michigan
Purdue
Western Division
Nebraska
Indiana
Illinois
Northwestern
Minnesota
Iowa
Only in a perfect college sports world, right?