Realignment of college football

The news came yesterday and this morning of the move of Syracuse and Pittsburgh to join the ACC, leaving the Big East. This is just the latest news of schools going to what's "best for their institutions." The recent Texas A&M move to the SEC, only to be held up because of the threat of lawsuit for contractual obligations to the Big 12 again shows how each university is holding on for dear life to do what is best for their school.

College football is largely the reason for these moves, because college football is the cash cow among college sports. Nevermind that most schools are non-profits, that hasn't stopped the non-profit NFL from gain, so why should it stop them? Texas' Longhorn Network shows just how big one school can think it can get. But why should there not be the backlash, of Texas A&M, Nebraska, Colorado, and others that realize the disadvantage that posed for them?

While there have been the rise and fall of conferences (Southwestern - fall, Conference USA - rise, etc.) throughout history, there is a lot of immediate payoff that is trying to be played. Everyone is trying to strengthen their conference. You can't tell me that TCU's decision to join the Big East would not be impacted if they knew that Pitt and Cuse were leaving...sure, they could still join, but football-wise, who is left? West Virginia is the traditional power, TCU is joining, and then South Florida. Louisville, Cincinnati, Rutgers, and UConn currently round out the league. Can that league really maintain BCS eligibility?

Can 4 major conferences be that far off? 3? What is happening is just a bigger division of those who think themselves the "haves" and then the "have nots" of the mid-majors and other strong conferences like the Mountain West, WAC, MAC, etc. How long until we have a new split in "divisions...or maybe these "have nots" realize how they can't compete financially with BCS good-ole boys, so they move and join or develop a new Football Championship Series (rather than Football Bowl). I guess that all depends on where the money is. Let's be honest, that is what all of these moves are about, and shows the downfall of the BCS if left un-checked by the NCAA. I'm not against the shifts, nor am I for them. I cannot fault any university from looking to do what is best for its university. Travel makes it easy for the conference to be nation-wide these days...thus TCU joining the Big East is actually easier travel than them staying in the Mountain West. (just a reminder how big the West is!!! Why I love living out here!)

For fun, let's blow it all up and re-create college conferences! Who is with me? Lets do a all-over realignment!

So why muse on the subject? Because eventually one of two things will happen. One, we get the split as some programs think themselves bigger than others. I mean, who would confuse Texas with UTEP, or Florida with Florida A&M. But I think one thing that will happen is that talented players will eventually figure out that playing time matters more than the school one attends. We see the rise of programs like TCU, South Florida, Boise State, and others.

The other option is that university's start working in mutual interest, which is where conference even came into the picture in the first place. Conferences won't go away, but will realize there needs to be some parity, some competition. It isn't about how much revenue 1 school can rake in short-term, but what is the long-term solution. Schools will have to realize some parity or equality among themselves, regardless of how big a sports program might be. This is what kept the Big 12 together last summer from the perspective of the "other" schools of Kansas, Kansas St., Mizzou, Iowa St., and Baylor. These are all quality schools and programs that are focused on student athletes.

And here is the bottom line - is college sports really going to throw student-athletes to the wind, and just exploit them for their own gain? If you have time, go search TMQ (Tuesday Morning Quarterback) on ESPN. Gregg Easterbrook talks regularly about graduation rates, etc. of schools and shows how the idea of the big schools guaranteeing NFL possibilities is basically a myth. There are almost no schools (Miami, FL the prime exception) that can show they have a better than average turn-over of NFL talent.

I guess I just want to see the rights of the student-athlete be kept. A college player needs to focus BOTH on football and academics. It is a hard life compared to non-athletes, as it is more. But look at the military academies...they know it is a hard balance, but is possible. There needs to be a way that a university does not just use college football players for money, but for their best interest. Football programs are huge - and the amount of time required to train continues to grow...but is why the NCAA must continue to regulate that.

Ok - enough musing...this is more a discussion. I'm not saying I know what should be done, or even yet what really is the right thing. All I know is money cannot be the determining factor in what is right or wrong for a university. Just as, in life, what is right or wrong is not determined about what gain I get from it, financially or otherwise. That's just self-interest, and a faulty ethical standard.