COLUMN: Let’s get back to conference basics and just play football
Teams are on the move, fans — plain and simple. Since May 2010, the NCAA has seen countless teams shifting conferences and even conferences contemplating unification. It’s a football fad sweeping the nation. Teams are switching conferences for what seems to be political reasons. Yep, you read right. There is a political aspect to college football.
The Buffaloes of the University of Colorado initiated this mass migration last season, when they accepted the PAC-10 Conference’s invitation to join the conference. In the week that followed, the University of Utah also accepted an invitation to join the PAC-10 and thus was born the PAC-12. Other schools followed suit when Boise State, Fresno State and Nevada all agreed to join the Mountain West Conference — Brigham Young University declaring independence, and Nebraska abandoning the Big 12 to join the Big 10.
Since then, there has been much speculation and talk between teams and conferences. The biggest and most significant changes to occur recently involve Pitt and Syracuse and the Atlantic Coast Conference, Texas A&M and the Southeastern Conference, as well as Baylor and Iowa State and the Big East. Oklahoma has also gotten exposure as it may leave its conference.
So, what do teams have to gain by switching conferences? Well, judging from coaches reactions, very little, athletically. In fact, these moves seem to hurt teams athletically more than help them. With the shifting of conferences, some teams are entering situations in which it may be difficullt to maintain major rivalries, such as the cases with Oklahoma and Texas, or Pitt and West Virginia.
Believe it or not, university presidents and coaches are actually considering the creation of what are being referred to as “superconferences.” This would alter the 11 current 8-12 team conferences and create conferences of 16, 20 or 24 teams. In the most recent official move, Pitt and Syracuse are leaving an eight-team Big East Conference for the now 14-team ACC. These teams will now play in a conference considered tougher and stronger than the ACC, which means should they continue to play at a high level, it’ll have a stronger case in the eyes of the BCS.
Another way Pitt and Syracuse benefit is in recruiting. Joining the ACC means an easier chance to reach players coming out of high school from farther away from campus.
“Naturally, the TV market, the East Coast, the recruiting base — all those things — I think is something that we’re very excited about, very appreciative of this opportunity,” Pitt head football coach Todd Graham told ESPN.
Looks like the creation of superconferences is well on its way. With the ACC moving to 14 teams, it seems like only a matter of time until the other conferences make their moves. The PAC-12 is currently talking with Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech in attempts to expand its conference.
There are so many situations and possible realignments in the works right now, its difficult to see the short-term and long-term effects of moving teams. One thing is for sure, with all these realignments, the BCS and bowl games will have to be rethought.
“As much as we talk about money, as much as we talk about college football,” said Texas head coach Mack Brown. “We better go back and make sure that we’re taking care of the players and that the players and the high school coaches are always considered in the equation.”
In other words, lets just play football guys.
– Curtis Lundstrom is a junior majoring in physical education. His life goal is to bowl a perfect game and work as an NCAA
basketball referee.