clapclapclap

Not sorry if already negged

I was expecting that.

Cease and desist reposting that American Hustle spoof.

Interesting, if true. Says Fox is driving the B1G expansion bus, acting as the intermediary, and that the commish is just not up to the task. The latter tends to match something Dan Patrick's B1G source said, "The Big Ten would be all over UVA and UNC if there were a different commissioner." Ohio St AD took a not so subtle jab at the B1G commish on Friday: (So the Fox nugget would seem to match the thought that ESPN is maneuvering their side of realignment.)

Pineapple Express hits the west coast!

Diaz pops that Kikuchi! 3-0

No Context Olympics Announcing: female - "All Cummings can do now is focus on his clean and jerks. Snatches don't matter now."

Looks like it could get canceled.

3:50pm eastern

Why are you dissin' Houston so bad?

Ohio St AD on why he's against home playoff games: https://www.dispatch.com/story/sports/2021/07/27/cfp-games-horseshoe-not-so-fast-ohio-state-ad-smith-says/5384184001/

Further to that, I'd take this list with a grain of salt, but still interesting to see how B12 schools rank compared to other P5's, and possible B12 targets:

I wouldn't read anything into the Tceh portion of the comment, just noting the slight change in tone of the Pac regarding academics in expansion. But may not mean much in reality.

nvm So instead, I give you Andy Staples' thoughts on why the B1G should form Conference US-AAU:

You make my point. It went to game 7 without Verlander and with a pitching staff that thankfully overperformed in the playoffs. You want to count on that happening again this post-season? An I'm not at all confident we got much out of Greinke this year. Definitely possible, but not close to a certainty. You really think Marte is going to perform at the level RA did that series?

*then, dammit

There was an article last night stating that some Pac administrators think no B12 schools would add value, while others said TCU and Kansas are options being considered. BYU and Baylor are likely blackballed, but not T "Don't let the name fool you" CU.

Would rather get a high quality pitcher. 1 bat isn't likely to be the difference in a WS run. Defense perhaps, but 1 pitcher is much more likely to do so.

If the perception is that this version of expanding the cfb playoff better enables major conference realignment that may result in breaking away from the NCAA, you think the potentially left out conferences are still going to vote for it?

So are WV and BYU. UCF is still perhaps the biggest G5 'brand' (Altuve height, but of course the B12 has limited actual choices), incremental benefits from planting the flag in Florida, good attendance (recent school, but lots of grads now), theoretical recruiting plus, and most importantly, public perception. A top 30 Irate Eight playing a top 30 UCF is going to draw some viewers if in the right time slot. B12 games could improve the mid-week slate. UCF, BYU and Cincy should be at the top of the B12's expansion list. But other than BYU, are the best options going to risk leaving a slightly poorer but at least somewhat safe home for a rental conference? If the B12 does it right I could see some taking the gamble, but maybe not. I guess as long as the MWC and AAC continue to exist the schools in the other might feel like they'd still have options in 2025. And there's the potential that a B12 expansion done right, such as going to 16 or more with the best G5's to replace the AAC as the best midget would have staying potential past 2025. But why would ESPN allow that? They save more if they can keep the AAC intact and leave the Irate Eight with no better options than ESPN's discount brand AAC come 2025. For similar reasons, I'm not certain Boise would take the short term pay increase and then at best, and no guarantee, be stuck with a long distance AAC membership post-2025. So if no P5 offers any of the Irate Eight, than BYU + who?

Sad Aranda

B1G may grab some Pac schools, but they're looking to expand south. Previously, Jim Delany tried hard to get UVA, UNC, and GTech, and rumored to have talked to FSU and Miami. I'm sure the SEC is also interested in UNC, UVA, and probably Clemson/FSU to lock down most of the South. I'd guess the B1G would make an exception to their AAU fetish if they could land Clemson and probably FSU (though Miami is academically superior). Different leagues with different motivations, but bottom line both would benefit from a breakup of the ACC. And if you kill off most of your competition (3 of 5 P5's) to create a duopoly, there are benefits that offset the conventional wisdom that only huge brands are worth adding. Of course weaker P5's are likely to get left out, but a GTech that might not be worth adding in a 2 or 4 team expansion can make sense for a variety of reasons when you whittle it down to a super SEC and super B1G. It may not happen immediately, but I doubt the ACC survives to anywhere close to 2036.

Tucker you idiot

The Dellinger article: https://www.si.com/college/2021/07/28/pac-12-responds-sec-realignment-cfp-expansion-problems Pac12 leaders predict more movement in the P5, maybe major changes. Could be as few as 30 schools in an eventual super league. Some say no B12 leftovers are worthy of the P12, others suggest TCU and Kansas could make the cut.