Ok so here is one for all 3 of us here. If the Pac10 is ever forced to go away from the logical approach of 10 teams who all play each other in favor of the 12 team 'super' conference.. who would you suggest those two teams be? Remember, it has to have 'more than football' and obviously must show a commitment to improving facilities (not that the Pac10 teams do that currently) I nominate Fresno State and Boise State. Thoughts? Challengers?
I think the UC system would raise hell over the prospect of admitting a Cal-State school. Personally, I like the ten-team and round robin-format. If two teams were to be added, I'd want another natural geographic rivalry. I can only think of Utah/BYU and CU/CSU offhand, though. I don't know how our more august institutions would feel about the Rams.
I would also prefer that they keep it with 10. But if they decided to go to 12 I think BYU and Colorado would be good choices.
Interesting. Hmmmm. Lemme see. Natural rivalries? Nevada and UNLV? Fresno State and any team on its schedule? Boise State is a good thought. New Mexico and NM State? San Diego State? Of course, most of the teams I mentioned are not in the class of the top tier of the conference, but membership would elevate the status of their programs and help recruiting immensely. However, that possibility might not be enough to sway the conference to admit them. Other good choices would be BYU, Utah and Colorado.
all good thoughts <r>Don't get me wrong, I love the round-robin 10 team format. Lost in the world of BCS hyperbole is the fact that we actually settle this on the field.. None of this wondering what would happen if garbage..<br/> <br/> That being said, my case for Boise St and Fresno St is based upon both school's commitment to athletics and resources. They are both committed to the future and expansion as part of it. The single biggest thing holding both teams back is membership in the WAC.<br/> <br/> Rick makes two outstanding points in that the UC aristocracy would likely snub any attempt to add a Cal State.. Its part of that caste system those socialists love those well <E></E> Also, the attraction of in-state rivalry is a solid selling point..<br/> <br/> I like the pics of PJ and Sid, but I have major questions about a religious school (BYU) being in the conference and enjoying their stay (USC's history aside). I could see Utah, but why would Colorado leave the Big12?<br/> <br/> With the teams I proposed, you could have a North/South Division set up. The South would be UCLA, USC, ASU, Zona, Cal and Stanford. The North would be Oregon, Oregon State, Washington, Washington State, Fresno State and Boise State.<br/> <br/> I understand fully about the geographic location of Fresno vs Stanford or Cal but I can't see breaking up the annual rivalry between those two. Also, no one seems to mind that Vanderbilt is actually WEST of Auburn.</r>
BYU and Utah. I can't see Colorado leaving the B12 myself. But who knows. When they talk about going super conference most Texas fans would prefer either the B10 or the PAC10, although the wild speculation would be that Texas and Texas A&M would join the SEC. Terry
I've always liked the Fresno guy....the dude is tough as nails and absolutely fearless. Those kids will play anybody, anywhere, anytime and in this day and age where we have schools who have not scheduled a game out of state in decades, I'd reward that kind of competitive spirit. I'm at a loss for another, but can't think of any rational argument against the Boise kids.
The last time expansion/realignment talks came up there was a lot of smoke around Colorado "fitting" better with the Pac, and Mizzou fitting better with the Big10. Personally, I wouldn't miss Colorado. I think they actually do get an additional home field advantage from the altitude (when they are good), and wouldn't mind seeing someone else deal with them. It seems BYU/Utah would make sense, but I have no idea if they'd really be a good fit. I would like to see all the big conferences have a champ game with the added rule that only a champion can play for the MNC. That would get us a little closer to settling it on the field...
I think Fresno State and Boise State are good suggestions. I'm not sure if they can maintain a top notch program in Idaho but Boise State has done really well in the last few years. And I like their home field.
Boise <t>is the most like a southern state in the conference. Boise is the only dog in town. They are 'the team' for the state and they enjoy wild support. Fresno enjoys similar support in the Valley. Both teams want to expand and could fill bigger stadiums easily.. Their biggest problem is being in the WAC. That really hurts.<br/> <br/> Although the BCS puts the Mountain West Conference in the same 'tier' as the WAC, it really is a better conference with a higher profile.. It actually angers me that the MWC is not a part of the BCS formula.. Its that same mindset that 'your family is too poor for you to attend this school' or 'blacks sit in the back.' Its elitist and unfounded. I think Division I needs an overhaul because its systemic exclusion policy is one that I have a hard time accepting.<br/> <br/> I still prefer the 10 team, round-robin format because (IMHO) it is better than the 'championship game' format. Its been shown that, in the 2 division format with the title game, you can have a lot of questions left unanswered at the end of the year.. (I still believe UGa would have clocked LSU, a team that could have been a 4 or 5 loss team). But the round robin takes care of all that speculation, even though its not as popular or 'tv friendly' as the other formats.</t>
ok new topic <t>same subject.<br/> <br/> What about the expectations for your team coming into this year?<br/> <br/> I realize that this will most likely become a Zona/UCLA thread unless the Matous clan jumps in to defend 'You Dub'.. although hardly anything that has gone on during Ty's regime can be defended.. <br/> <br/> So.... Zona.. I think if you enter Oct with more than 1 loss, your coach is dead man walking..<br/> <br/> As for the first 4 for the Bruins.. it will tell us a lot about this team and where they are headed.. at least for this season. Tennessee, @BYU, Arizona and Fresno State would be a stiff test for anyone. A new staff, new system?? We'll see how that shakes out.</t>
For the record, I prefer round-robin as well, but there's no way the "super" conferences are backing off of all that cash...
Here's another thought <r>1. Scott, thank you for your vote <E></E><br/> <br/> 2. What about the QB situation at Oregon? After Dixon, they had a whole series of young QBs who figured to be battling it out the next year. What wound up happening is that the 'Heisman leader' went down with a season ending knee injury and those young kids were thrown to the wolves trying to save the season...<br/> <br/> One who seemed to rise to the top was that RS FR Roper who torched USF's vaunted defense for 4 TDs while Jonathan Smith ran wild. I hear that kid may not even be the starter in Eugene this year. Anyone with a finger on the pulse of the program think there might be something brewing for the Quackers?<br/> <br/> 3. Arizona State. Who in the hell is going to block for this team? Their skill people are incredible. Their QB, WR corps is as good as there is.. But they had a senior laden offensive line that gave up 55 sacks last year. One can't help but think that new blood may well be a good thing here. Could they be worse?</r>
Where's Rick? You know he can give us an in-depth report on ASU's status... 8) Is Oregon going to stick with the same offense Dixon ran, or are the younger QB's out of a different mold??
hey scott <t>I believe Oregon is going to remain in that same offense you saw last season. The problem they had last year was one Florida fans should have been watching very carefully. When their all-everything QB went down with a season ending injury, they now had to rely on guys who were either career backups (the younger Leaf brother) or young guys who weren't ready yet. The RS Freshman kid (Roper) who blew up South Florida in the bowl game was a kid they didn't expect anything out of until this season at the earliest. However, they tried everything under Dixon and above him without any success. I had heard rumblings that the real #2 QB @ Oregon last year went down with a season ending injury earlier in the year and that Roper may not even start this season.</t>
Sorry for the late reply. Coach Stoops was unofficially on the hot seat last year with the loss to Rocky Long and his Lobos. Then came the loss to Stanford, which I was on hand for, and a general malaise set in among the fans as we realized we'd have to win out just to go .500. We didn't. The Cats rolled off three consecutive victories over Washington, UCLA and Oregon, then lost to University of Phoenix-Tempe. It was like the old Red Sox - they'll only win today if it means they can break your heart more by losing tomorrow. This year the football talk has been kind of light. It's as though people don't want to get their hopes up. I still have faith and support Coach Stoops. From my perspective, though, he has to be more in control during the game and leave the offense to Dykes. Last year the spread was installed with a youngish offensive line. This year the line is more experienced, and we lost a lineman, Graniello, that forever seemed to get motion or holding penalties on critical downs. We have a fast, shifty little runner in Grigsby, but no real beef that I know of since Mitchell, a FB with good hands, has been moved over to defense. The defense was supposed to be the strength of the team last year but it underachieved. The Cats have lost something like 7-10 starters from that unit, including some big players like Spencer Larsen (Broncos) and Antoine Cason (Chargers), but still there's a general feeling that this year's D will be no worse than last year. Even so, if it's no better the O is going to have to put up about 27 points per game. The schedule is favorable, with no big OOC games and most of the big conference foes at home, but as Corey said two early losses will leave Coach Stoops with one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel. My prediction? We bowl. Nothing big, maybe Emerald, but it happens. AirZona, if you're out there I'd sure love to get your take.
But then LSU beat Tenn with a second string Qb and several injuries on defense. Georgia was clocked by that same Tenn squad so who knows how Ga-LSU would have turned out. On the PAC 10 question I pick these two: Utah, Boise