[Chad Sexington]

Do these guys just read message boards all day?
Hey! That's our job!

Really?

[mataipaepae]

sorry chad. i didn't see your post here already.

[NorCalCoug]

Why would the PAC10 take Utah when UNLV is ready and willing?????

I don't believe this but it would be pretty interesting if it did happen. I still don't see why Colorado would jump ship to the PAC10 either.

[Chad Sexington]

Matai - no problem. I have no exclusivity with respect to this or any other rumor.

NorCal - I don't pretend to know CU's finances. I think that CU would stand to make more money in a more egalitarian PAC 12 than in the feifdom that is the Big XII, especially if that new affiliation was accompanied by a brand spankin' new TV deal. I think I know that of CU's two big rivalries, one is in the MWC and the other is in the BigXII North.

Who knows if this has any legs or if it is just more message board fluff.

[utenation]

Chad Sexington, on 08 February 2010 - 10:20 PM, said:

Matai - no problem. I have no exclusivity with respect to this or any other rumor.

NorCal - I don't pretend to know CU's finances. I think that CU would stand to make more money in a more egalitarian PAC 12 than in the feifdom that is the Big XII, especially if that new affiliation was accompanied by a brand spankin' new TV deal. I think I know that of CU's two big rivalries, one is in the MWC and the other is in the BigXII North.

Who knows if this has any legs or if it is just more message board fluff.

It seems like a rehash of the summer session all stemming from the new P10 commish stating their TV deal is up and they aren't opposed to anything that will improve their TV conract, which also included renegotiating with other networks and or even creating their own network..


I think the only new news these days is the P10 is in more of a mood to talk expansion where as before, it was always a dead deal...

I don't know if those are legs or not but we'll see where this goes...

A better source than a radio hack interview like the last one...

[Chad Sexington]

utenation, on 08 February 2010 - 10:26 PM, said:

A better source than a radio hack interview like the last one...

Wasn't that "radio hack" your buddy?
And if this does have legs then would he not be a very prescient radio hack?

[Joe Utah]

This is old news. All speculation with no new news. Boring.
________________________________________
Utah season ticket holder in three sports that doesn't want the PAC-10.

[utenation]

Chad Sexington, on 08 February 2010 - 10:27 PM, said:

Wasn't that "radio hack" your buddy?
And if this does have legs then would he not be a very prescient radio hack?

Yeah, but I didn't post it as a story.. And the way the local radio hacks ran with it was predictable to wet our lips..

I called Hatch a hack a few weeks ago for spinning away with that... If I owe him an apology somewhere down the road, he'll get it..

[calpoke25]

I call BS.

[Chad Sexington]

calpoke25, on 08 February 2010 - 10:41 PM, said:

I call BS.

You're probably right. It's likely all BS.

Seattle Times article

[Reb Baron]

.
Not saying it will happen but UNLV to the PAC10 isn't as far fetched as you might think.
The Pac10 isn't looking for the same things as the MWC is when they expand.
They don't need the best teams, they need teams that will round them up to 12 and offer what they are looking for.
UNLV and Utah offer quite a bit as a pair of invites. Utah as the instant power and UNLV with future potential.
I doubt they want two teams that will dominate the current members but they want teams that are competitive.
The Pac10 has been around long enough to realize all schools have cycles of good and bad so it's not current records that will tweak their interest. It's whether theses schools have a long term commitment, do they fit in with the rest and are what they offer to the conference beneficial.

[mccuisinart]

Utah and BYU should not operate outside of the same NCAA conference.

[NotalentU]

NorCalCoug, on 08 February 2010 - 07:44 PM, said:

Why would the PAC10 take Utah when UNLV is ready and willing?????

I don't believe this but it would be pretty interesting if it did happen. I still don't see why Colorado would jump ship to the PAC10 either.

Or San Diego State.......and we're in their footprint!

[NotalentU]

Reb Baron, on 08 February 2010 - 11:01 PM, said:

.
Not saying it will happen but UNLV to the PAC10 isn't as far fetched as you might think.
The Pac10 isn't looking for the same things as the MWC is when they expand.
They don't need the best teams, they need teams that will round them up to 12 and offer what they are looking for.
UNLV and Utah offer quite a bit as a pair of invites. Utah as the instant power and UNLV with future potential.
I doubt they want two teams that will dominate the current members but they want teams that are competitive.
The Pac10 has been around long enough to realize all schools have cycles of good and bad so it's not current records that will tweak their interest. It's whether theses schools have a long term commitment, do they fit in with the rest and are what they offer to the conference beneficial.

The problem with UNLV (and SDSU, for that matter) is the academic side of things. The Pac-10 schools are primarily research oriented. They have an extensive network of post-graduate schools (i.e. med schools, law schools).

I can tell you that SDSU would LOVE to expand their repertoire in research and post grad, but they're constrained by the Cal State system charter. In recent years the school has been given more leeway, but they don't have the same amount of freedom the UC's (read Pac 10 types) have yet. Utah actually fits their academic profile much better.

[Italics]

mccuisinart, on 09 February 2010 - 02:47 AM, said:

Utah and BYU should not operate outside of the same NCAA conference.

Aww... does this mean you... love us?

[Chad Sexington]

mccuisinart, on 09 February 2010 - 02:47 AM, said:

Utah and BYU should not operate outside of the same NCAA conference.

Why? It might even intensify the rivalry, if that's possible.

[bigron]

With states cutting budgets for higher education, university presidents will be getting off their high horses and taking a look at how to get more money out of the private sector. The Pac10 will be looking at who can bring in the most bucks from a TV deal and not who has the best research. Research doesn't bring one viewer to the TV set. If it comes down to increasing fees to students or being in a conference with a school that you do not consider your equal, which will win out? You may see that they put religion and politics aside for their own self interest.

[NorCalCoug]

bigron, on 09 February 2010 - 09:00 AM, said:

With states cutting budgets for higher education, university presidents will be getting off their high horses and taking a look at how to get more money out of the private sector. The Pac10 will be looking at who can bring in the most bucks from a TV deal and not who has the best research. Research doesn't bring one viewer to the TV set. If it comes down to increasing fees to students or being in a conference with a school that you do not consider your equal, which will win out? You may see that they put religion and politics aside for their own self interest.

I doubt that's the case. If it boils down to just $$$ and nothing else then there isn't a better candidate than the Cougars. BYU has the largest fanbase and TV audience out there amongst the non-AQ's and I don't think it's really that close. Not to mention the gate receipts that they would bring with them to PAC10 venues given the LDS populations in the west. But like I said, I disagree with your take. Politics, religion, etc. will be factors and BYU won't be in the PAC10 as a result.

[Chad Sexington]

bigron, on 09 February 2010 - 10:00 AM, said:

With states cutting budgets for higher education, university presidents will be getting off their high horses and taking a look at how to get more money out of the private sector. The Pac10 will be looking at who can bring in the most bucks from a TV deal and not who has the best research. Research doesn't bring one viewer to the TV set. If it comes down to increasing fees to students or being in a conference with a school that you do not consider your equal, which will win out? You may see that they put religion and politics aside for their own self interest.

I agree with this. Clearly the game is changing right in front of our eyes.
The old tired rhetoric will hold less and less firm and conferences will be looking at every and all ways to increas the bottom line.

[RAMification]

Joe Utah, on 08 February 2010 - 10:34 PM, said:

This is old news. All speculation with no new news. Boring.
________________________________________
Utah season ticket holder in three sports that doesn't want the PAC-10.

Absurd things happen w/ desperation-- 3 reasons its absurd
#1) Anybody really want UC after it's recent history, and very recent
decline in all athletic programs?

#2) Whoever thinks Utah will separate from BYU doesn't understand the
political realities in Utah. Duhh.

#3) The P10 has always taken "both" of the top schools in any state it
moves into (Az/ASU, Ore/Ore St, Wash/Wash St, etc). This allows the
P10 to dominate the entire Sports Media & non-media driven (water
coolers) conversation throughout that entire state. It has been a Very
successful model. Why would they break that model now???

The only reason I can imagine for the P10 to break their proven Model
for expansion is... THE STATE OF CALI & ORE are in horrible financial
condition and may get desperate enough to admit to the Mormon
Church that they need the Church's help, leadership & guidance!!!

[displacedute]

RAMification, on 09 February 2010 - 09:23 AM, said:

Absurd things happen w/ desperation-- 3 reasons its absurd
#1) Anybody really want UC after it's recent history, and very recent
decline in all athletic programs?

#2) Whoever thinks Utah will separate from BYU doesn't understand the
political realities in Utah. Duhh.

#3) The P10 has always taken "both" of the top schools in any state it
moves into (Az/ASU, Ore/Ore St, Wash/Wash St, etc). This allows the
P10 to dominate the entire Sports Media & non-media driven (water
coolers) conversation throughout that entire state. It has been a Very
successful model. Why would they break that model now???

The only reason I can imagine for the P10 to break their proven Model
for expansion is... THE STATE OF CALI & ORE are in horrible financial
condition and may get desperate enough to admit to the Mormon
Church that they need the Church's help, leadership & guidance!!!

I think all three of your points are superficially true but don't reach the heart of the matter. Point 1: CU sucks right now. But they're Denver (even as a CSU fan, you can admit that) and U of U is Salt Lake (even if we're not all of it). If Utah is in the PAC 10 Salt Lake and Denver start paying attention, and the discussion of the TV deal gets better.

Point 2: I lived in Utah for 25 years, I don't think the hold BYU has on the legislature expands this far. They'll let Utah go to the PAC 10 without BYU if the alternative is that neither one of them goes. The money will make too much of a difference.

Point 3: Additions to the PAC 10 have happened only once (AZ and ASU in the 70s). The world is a different place now. I think Utah/BYU is the most attractive pair, from a sports perspective, but there are a number of non-sports reasons that it won't matter. If the PAC 10 expands they'll try CU/Utah first. If they lose CU I don't think they expand, but they're more likely to take Utah/CSU than Utah/BYU (IMO).

[NorCalCoug]

displacedute, on 09 February 2010 - 09:37 AM, said:

Point 1: CU sucks right now. But they're Denver (even as a CSU fan, you can admit that) and U of U is Salt Lake (even if we're not all of it). If Utah is in the PAC 10 Salt Lake and Denver start paying attention, and the discussion of the TV deal gets better.

Sorry, but I got to disagree here. The Salt Lake City DMA includes:
> Entire state of Utah
> Counties of Elko, Eureka, and White Pine in Nevada
> Bear Lake, Franklin, and Oneida counties in Idaho
> Lincoln, Sublette, Sweetwater, and Uinta Counties in Wyoming

Utah does NOT deliver the Salt Lake DMA. It is still controlled by BYU. Yes, there is a hefty SLC following for the Utes but there is for BYU as well not to mention the rest of the state and other areas.

That said, I could definitely see a huge shift to Utah if they were to join the PAC10 as those programs and matchups would draw tons more interest.

[displacedute]

NorCalCoug, on 09 February 2010 - 09:48 AM, said:

Sorry, but I got to disagree here. The Salt Lake City DMA includes:
> Entire state of Utah
> Counties of Elko, Eureka, and White Pine in Nevada
> Bear Lake, Franklin, and Oneida counties in Idaho
> Lincoln, Sublette, Sweetwater, and Uinta Counties in Wyoming

Utah does NOT deliver the Salt Lake DMA. It is still controlled by BYU. Yes, there is a hefty SLC following for the Utes but there is for BYU as well not to mention the rest of the state and other areas.

That said, I could definitely see a huge shift to Utah if they were to join the PAC10 as those programs and matchups would draw tons more interest.

I don't know if this is still true. Recent bowl games would point to the Utah fanbase growing considerably in the past decade. I don't think we've passed BYU, but the numbers indicate we're catching BYU.

And delivering Elko, NV, Sublette, WY and Oneida, ID are not as important as delivering Salt Lake Co, UT, which the U delivers. The real issue is total number of eyeballs, and I think the U of U (especially a PAC 10 U of U) would deliver that.

[utenation]

RAMification, on 09 February 2010 - 10:23 AM, said:

#2) Whoever thinks Utah will separate from BYU doesn't understand the
political realities in Utah. Duhh.

I'm one that thinks Utah would seperate from BYU given the right opportunity and I've lived here for 30 years pretty solid..

What have I missed about the political realities you're speaking of?

[utenation]

NorCalCoug, on 09 February 2010 - 10:48 AM, said:

Sorry, but I got to disagree here. The Salt Lake City DMA includes:
> Entire state of Utah
> Counties of Elko, Eureka, and White Pine in Nevada
> Bear Lake, Franklin, and Oneida counties in Idaho
> Lincoln, Sublette, Sweetwater, and Uinta Counties in Wyoming

Utah does NOT deliver the Salt Lake DMA. It is still controlled by BYU. Yes, there is a hefty SLC following for the Utes but there is for BYU as well not to mention the rest of the state and other areas.

That said, I could definitely see a huge shift to Utah if they were to join the PAC10 as those programs and matchups would draw tons more interest.

I wish I could say you're wrong to pick a fight.. But I think you're pretty accurate here. I would be interested to see how things have shifted the last 6-7 years though..


One indicator is TV and radio... Most of the local stuff caters to BYU fans which helps your point but I really think there is a shift going on with Utah's success...



We're just taking back what's rightfully ours in the first place being the University of Utah..