| The
University of Maryland's stunning move to the Big Ten
Conference is sure to produce a tsunami effect once
again in the college sports realignment world. No ripple
effect, this one will be big. Plenty of news agencies
are currently reporting on the financial matters as
to the "why" this happened for the Big Ten
and Maryland. Some politically correct spokespeople
will try to spin this as an academic driven achievement.
But make no mistake, this was a money decision no different
from any of the conference team swaps that have occurred
over the last five years. Maryland needs money, the
Big Ten has more money to offer and in turn the Big
Ten has got their mind on their money and their money
on their mind. Here comes the new Big Ten TV contract
just in time for 2017.
That
big tsunami wave created from this tremor though...oh
it's coming. Call them rumors if you will. Call them
unsubstantiated by all means. But don't call them impossible
or dismiss them lest ye face the same mistakes Big 12
administrative leaders made when the ACC pulled the
rug out from under them behind closed doors with the
part time addition of Notre Dame in all sports but football.
Or the same exact mistake ACC Commissioner John Swofford
made when he failed to see the Maryland move coming.
The ACC bully just got punched in the nose. The typical
reaction is to come back swinging. Hence, either UConn,
Louisville, South Florida or all three are likely to
be announced as full time ACC members before this article
even reaches your monitor.
Several
prominent sources are stating that the Big Ten is not
done expanding. Even with the addition of Rutgers over
the next few days (or hours), the Big Ten wants to become
the first 16 - or even gasp 18 - football team mega
conference and reap the Big Time dollars that accompany
the deal. Watch out John Swofford, the Big Time is not
done with you and your measly ESPN television contract
that ranks dead last among the power conferences in
revenue per team. These same sources have thrown out
names that exist right in the heart of ACC's Tobacco
Road. North Carolina is speculation one. Georgia Tech
is even in the Big Brown Jug list. Don't believe it?
Some people are doomed to repeat history. And don't
count out those Jayhawks. Note to Big 12, you ain't
in Kansas anymore. At least the market is open.
The
most grand of them all will be the day Notre Dame finally
caves in and becomes a Big Ten member possibly even
before the ink dries on their new ACC deal. Just a couple
of months ago this long time perfect marriage concept
appeared all but annulled when the Irish accepted part
time status as an ACC member. Most felt conference realignment
issues would settle. As NationalChamps.net foretold
at the time of the Irish ACC expansion, Swofford and
his Atlantic Coastal brethren would reap what they sowed.
There were many member institutions that were very unhappy
with the deal that was offered to newcomer Notre Dame
as the Washington
Post reported, " According to an individual
with knowledge of the situation, the ACC's addition
of Notre Dame as a full member in all sports except
for football irked top Maryland officials, because it
broke with the conference's traditional requirement
that all members must participate in all sports."
Many
Golden Domers believed NationalChamps.net was just being
anti-Notre Dame with the recent article championing
the Irish joining the league as being a
black eye for the ACC. Far from it. In fact, most
sane people would have severely applauded Notre Dame
to the ACC as a full-time member in all sports. But
when you tell members that have been in the ACC for
over 50 years that this is how we are going to treat
a brand new member where you don't share your golden
egg but we have to, you are going to tick people off.
And rightfully so. Notre Dame doesn't give a damn about
the ACC or the Big Ten. Notre Dame cares about No. 1,
and we're not talking about being No. 1 in the BCS poll
either. Big Ten money will talk and Big Dollar Notre
Dame will once again listen.
North
Carolina, Georgia Tech, Kansas or Notre Dame. The most
likely scenario will have one or two of these mentioned
teams joining the Big Ten within a span of two years.
Count (the money) on it.
As
for the rest of the ACC members, Florida State and Clemson
were already perusing and entertaining other opportunities
with the Big 12 and the SEC. Those other opportunity
doors that appeared to be all but shut are now all but
wide open once again. And if those two football money
powers fall, the only two current ACC teams worth squat
in the current college football television money market,
the ACC will be buzzard meat. Dead as the Big East Swofford
slowly picked apart and left for dead on the realignment
highway.
What
about that exorbitant $50 million dollar plus exit fee
the ACC laid out with an iron fist for its current members
before anyone could blink? Maryland will fight it, that
is a given. Whether that means the Terps bargain out
for a lower exit fee or fight this in court like West
Virginia recently had to do before leaving the Big East,
means everything for the ACC staying together. If that
domino falls, and it likely will, the ACC is in big
trouble.
The
Big 12 better take notice as well. Sooner than later.
Find
all these rumors amusing huh? Continued failure to realize
that money drives these issues, not loyalties, can kill.
Jim Boeheim knew it, Big East Commissioners Mike Tranghese
and John Marinatto didn't. Who's next?
What
the new Big Ten could like like:
|
