We're not taking temple.
I wasn't saying we're taking Temple, I was saying I believe Temple is a better option than UConn.
I don't like either option very much, but of the two, I would rather have Temple.
We're not taking temple.
We all get it, but there are variables other than just largest viewership. Temple is much stronger in football, which drives realignment, and has a strong basketball team as well. They are in the Philly area which is the 4th largest television market, play in a stadium that is 28k seats larger than UConns, a larger student body by about 8k students and are a little bit closer to the Big 12s current teams (not by much, but some). Do you really think the conference is worried more about becoming even stronger in basketball or bringing in football teams with large stadiums in large market areas?
UConn has a strong presence as far as media representation in NYC, but to those that have not lived there, NYC is pro sports ...99% pro sports area. The population is from everywhere, so their allegiances lie everywhere. Philly is a Philly sports city period. The fans hate Pitt because of the city its in, and are meh on Penn State. Temple would immediately become a rival for WVU and Cincy if they came in..and probably Iowa State because of the recruiting area that Campbell focuses on.
I think the conference should roll the LHN to the Big 12 Network before expansion. Let's see which ACC schools get added rather than Cincy and UConn.
We all get it, but there are variables other than just largest viewership. Temple is much stronger in football, which drives realignment, and has a strong basketball team as well. They are in the Philly area which is the 4th largest television market, play in a stadium that is 28k seats larger than UConns, a larger student body by about 8k students and are a little bit closer to the Big 12s current teams (not by much, but some). Do you really think the conference is worried more about becoming even stronger in basketball or bringing in football teams with large stadiums in large market areas?
UConn has a strong presence as far as media representation in NYC, but to those that have not lived there, NYC is pro sports ...99% pro sports area. The population is from everywhere, so their allegiances lie everywhere. Philly is a Philly sports city period. The fans hate Pitt because of the city its in, and are meh on Penn State. Temple would immediately become a rival for WVU and Cincy if they came in..and probably Iowa State because of the recruiting area that Campbell focuses on.
I dream of a midwest conference with similar cultures and expectations. A conference with easy travel in a part of the country we're all familiar with. Maybe like a line from iowa south to Texas.
We all get it, but there are variables other than just largest viewership. Temple is much stronger in football, which drives realignment, and has a strong basketball team as well. They are in the Philly area which is the 4th largest television market, play in a stadium that is 28k seats larger than UConns, a larger student body by about 8k students and are a little bit closer to the Big 12s current teams (not by much, but some). Do you really think the conference is worried more about becoming even stronger in basketball or bringing in football teams with large stadiums in large market areas?
UConn has a strong presence as far as media representation in NYC, but to those that have not lived there, NYC is pro sports ...99% pro sports area. The population is from everywhere, so their allegiances lie everywhere. Philly is a Philly sports city period. The fans hate Pitt because of the city its in, and are meh on Penn State. Temple would immediately become a rival for WVU and Cincy if they came in..and probably Iowa State because of the recruiting area that Campbell focuses on.
This is all just really stupid. Could you imagine back in say 1980 when we were in the Big 8 Conference that someday we'd all be arguing about adding teams like UConn, Temple, BYU, some Florida schools, or even West Virginia for that matter, to our conference?
You'd think the person was insane to think we'd ever get to that point. UConn in the Big 12? Seriously? That's how dumb this has all gotten.
Leave it up to greed to completely ruin a good thing. There is no reason whatsoever for Nebraska and Missouri, and even Colorado to not be in our conference. It was so great back then. Huge rivalries between the schools. It was nothing for fans to drive to basically any of the other schools to watch a game.
OU vs. Nebraska football was probably the biggest rivalry in all of sports. Now Nebraska is basically a joke and a mediocre football team seemingly losing national prestige and prominence more and more every year. Missouri has not one single rival anymore, and their fans have no close games they can really travel to either. Their once proud basketball tradition is basically gone for good now that they are in a purely football conference. Norm Stewart has to be embarrassed what has happened to Missouri basketball.
Anyway... it's just sad to even think where we've arrived at today in sports. Greed has destroyed so many great things. It's not about the fans, only the almighty dollar. Do you think Missouri fans prefer traveling halfway across the country to Georgia or Florida instead of Kansas or Iowa? Do you think Nebraska fans like playing Rutgers instead of Oklahoma? It's just a joke.
I know we can't return to those days, and it will always be just a distant memory, but boy I sure wish we could. The more we go down the current road the least interested I become. I'm sorry, I just can't get excited about ISU playing UConn or Temple in football. Even if they were decent teams, I just can't get excited about that in any way.
I am more excited to see Iowa State remain in a Big 12 Conference rather than the alternatives that Iowa State would get.
Greed is what has gotten everyone to where we are now. Unfortunately, it is greed that will decide the directions that all Conferences will go.
Missouri, Colorado, Nebraska, Texas A&M are not coming back. They have divorced us. We must now move on and go forward.
Bottom line is that we are looking into the possibility of getting a Big 12 Network and we have a window of opportunity to achieve that. Oklahoma wants expansion. And Texas knows that Oklahoma must stay in the Big 12 or Texas will no longer be the center and focal point of any conference that it would eventually move to.
Those two schools, Texas and Oklahoma, determine everything. The only reason the rest of the schools exist is to provide teams for those two teams to play. That is it. Iowa State is merely along for the ride. And we only have a seat at the table because we have always had a seat at the table. If there were new invitations going out, Iowa State would not get one. We have a great fan base. We now have some great facilities. But we have no household name and no TV sets. Nobody gets excited at all about Iowa State and who we are playing except for Iowa State fans. And how excited will you be when we are a member of the AAC or the MAC?
The Big 12 will expand because Oklahoma and Texas want it. We will expand to the East. Because the TV networks want it that way. It is better for Iowa State if the conference expands. No doubt about it.
I understand all of this, and why it hasn't gotten to this point. Doesn't mean I have to like it or think it's a good thing.
But yes, I would rather be in the Big 12 than not be, that's a no brainer. But it doesn't make it a better "product" IMO. Playing UConn or Temple doesn't do anything for me, but if that's what we have to do to survive, so be it. Personally, IMO, playing Nebraska or Missouri is a MUCH, MUCH better "product" to watch by any measure imaginable. But it's not about what is in the best interest of the fans any more. Hasn't been for a very long time unfortunately. It's the sad truth.
Yes it is sad. Truth is that Nebraska and Missouri divorced us.......for monetary reasons and also Ego. That is the reality. Nebraska was screwing us all the time by refusing to share revenue equally. And then go to the Big Ten and give the excuse that they did it BECAUSE of revenue sharing.
Bottom line is that if you are given a choice......does playing UCONN excite you more or playing Buffalo or Ball State? Perhaps the idea of playing Middle Tennessee or Old Dominion? Probably the best spot Iowa State might land if left out of the Big 12 would be the All American Conference.......and the games that excite you the least would probably be some of the better ones on the slate.
I don't know how many times I need to say that I understand it's in our best interests to go the direction we're going. We don't have a choice.
It doesn't make it good or "better" in any way shape or form.
Ha ha...like we wouldn't have bolted to the Big Ten too if invited. Get real.We have not had a choice in any of this for a long, long, long time. We really had no voice in the Big 8 Conference. Nebraska and Oklahoma pretty much decided things. And that is why Nebraska got so butt hurt in the Big 12. Texas had more power than Nebraska did.
Ha ha...like we wouldn't have bolted to the Big Ten too if invited. Get real.
That was the Big 12's (i.e. Texas) fault for driving them out. For example, taking one of the best rivalries in the country (maybe the best), OU vs. Neb, and changing it to playing just every other year. Ridiculous. It was the conference's marquee game. We would have left too.Nebraska started the whole instability thing when they bolted for the Big Ten.
Dude...lol..Temple? You are comparing Temple with Uconn? Temple is not a good academic school. Uconn is a top 50 public academic institution. Your TV and pro sports argument doesn't fly..Again.....why do u thing he BIG took Rutgers?
And there is no comparison with Uconn bball and Temple...Uconn is a blue blood man. I could care less if Uconn joins the conf..but if we expand and create a conf network than Uconn makes total sense. Missouri is a pro sports state..SEC didn't seem to care.
That was the Big 12's (i.e. Texas) fault for driving them out. For example, taking one of the best rivalries in the country (maybe the best), OU vs. Neb, and changing it to playing just every other year. Ridiculous. It was the conference's marquee game. We would have left too.