Among the knocks this summer against Big 12 expansion has been that bringing in a school from outside the traditional Power 5 w

Posted in IYH Forums by jokergreen0220 at 09:48, Feb 28 2020

Among the knocks this summer against Big 12 expansion has been that bringing in a school from outside the traditional Power 5 would just dilute the league on the field.Which would seem to make sense.After all, one program that is outside the Big 12, for example, has won just six games in the past three seasons. It hasnt finished a season ranked since 2003 and has enjoyed a double-digit winning season just once, well, ever.That particular profile, however, doesnt square up with that of Big 12 expansion hopefuls BYU or Houston. Nor does it match Central or South Florida.In fact, it doesnt even fit Tulane.The school in question is Purdue, obviously not an expansion candidate, but a member of the Big Ten since before Teddy Roosevelt became president. And on football reputation alone, the Boilermakers dont stack up against many of the candidates the Big 12 is considering for expansion.Several points do, however, hold up when arguing against Big 12 expansion.Proximity and logistics, for one. Cincinnati; Orlando, Florida; and Provo, Utah, are all a thousand-plus miles from the Big 12 offices in Dallas. Such a marriage would create travel and scheduling complications for the conference.Specific candidates have their distinct downsides off the field, as well. Memphis doesnt boast a strong academic reputation. Connecticut struggles to draw fans to its stadium. BYU doesnt compete on Sundays and now has LGBT groups protesting its candidacy over the schools honor code.But the premise that expansion would absolutely dilute the Big 12 product on the field doesnt hold much water.Look no further than last weeks Associated Press all-time college football rankings. Instead of simply falling back on conventional perceptions, the AP relied solely on statistics and used poll appearances, No. 1 rankings and AP championships to compile its list.As a result, BYU came in at No. 34 on the AP ranking, which placed the Cougars ahead of 32 Power 5 programs. At 49th, Houston was slotted ahead of 19 Power 5 schools.As the AP poll underscored, BYU and Houston, especially, have thrived on the field, both in the past and in the present -- including relative to many of their Power 5 cohorts.Since 1980, only Ohio State, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Florida State, Florida and Miami have won more games than BYU, and the Buckeyes (first), Sooners (second), Cornhuskers (sixth), Seminoles (ninth), Gators (10th) and Hurricanes (13th) all placed in the top 15 of the APs all-time ranking. BYU also captured the national championship in 1984 -- something just 29 other schools have ever accomplished in the history of the sport.But even as college football autonomy has produced a wider gap between the Power 5 and everyone else financially in recent years, BYU has remained stout. Over the past decade, the Cougars have collected wins over Oregon, Utah, TCU, Arizona, UCLA, Washington, Oklahoma, Oregon State, Ole Miss, Washington State, Georgia Tech, Texas, Virginia, Cal and Nebraska.By comparison, the Boilermakers have only two wins over ranked opponents in that span. Fellow Big Ten member Illinois claims just four. Minnesota has three. Indiana has two. And Maryland and Rutgers have yet to record such a victory since joining the Big Ten.Conversely, Houston has four top-25 victories in 2015 alone, capped with a 38-24 romp over ninth-ranked Florida State in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in December.Thats not the only area the Big 12 expansion candidates stack up well.During the past decade, Houston, South Florida, Central Florida, BYU, Cincinnati and Boise State have all been ranked in the top 10 of the polls at least once.Neither Duke, Syracuse, North Carolina State, Wake Forest nor Virginia can claim such a distinction from the ACC. The same goes for Washington, Washington State and Colorado in the Pac-12.Shortly after the Big 12 announced it would explore expansion last month and that it had authorized commissioner Bob Bowlsby to begin negotiating with prospective candidates, Oklahoma president and Big 12 board chairman David Boren listed five core criteria through which the league would gauge candidates: competitiveness of the athletic programs, academic standards, fan bases, access to media markets and overall reputations.Through that prism, every expansion candidate exudes glaring negatives, which is why all of them remain available despite several previous rounds of conference realignments that could have placed them in the Power 5. Ultimately, this is why the Big 12 has endured such a difficult time agreeing to expand. And why agreeing on candidates could prove to be even more challenging.But simply based on competitiveness, the Big 12 need not fret. Expansion candidates wont necessarily dilute the conference on the field.At least no more than Colorado has the Pac-12.Or NC State, the ACC.Or the Boilermakers, for the majority of a century now, the Big Ten. Lance Berkman Jersey . - Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is not a fan of his teams use of the wildcat formation, saying "it makes you look like a high school offence. Don Larsen Jersey . Haas said he "felt a lot of pain" in his right shoulder when he slammed his racket to the ground in frustration after losing his serve at 3-3 in the first set. http://www.customastrosjersey.com/custom-will-harris-jersey-large-1096y.html . MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez also will attend the session, which was announced Monday. The league has discussed placing its next two expansion teams in Miami and Atlanta. Jeff Bagwell Jersey Large . Still, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke thought taking him out before the fifth inning was an unusual move. "Im looking up at the board and hes got two hits given up and one run, and Im taking him out after the fourth inning," Roenicke said. Custom Andy Pettitte Jersey . -- San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks was fined $15,570 by the NFL on Wednesday for his hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees last Sunday. FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Ryan who? Under orders not to discuss the Ryan Fitzpatrick contract dispute, several players on the New York Jets clammed up Wednesday when questioned about their absent quarterback -- the major storyline as the team reported to training camp.All questions about Ryan are for coach [Todd] Bowles, running back Matt Forte said. They told the team that.They?Everybody knows who they are, he said, probably referring to the public relations staff.The Jets and the unsigned Fitzpatrick have been locked in a contract stalemate since January. The sides have not talked about a contract recently and remain far apart in determining the players value, and no resolution is expected any time soon, a source told ESPNs Ed Werder.The tone on Wednesday was a stark contrast to the offseason practices, when many players -- namely wide receivers Eric Decker and Brandon Marshall -- were outspoken in their support of Fitzpatrick, a popular team leader who set a franchise record with 31 touchdown passes in 2015.Neither Decker nor Marshall were among the five players made available to the media on Wednesday. Neither was quarterback Geno Smith, currently in the starters role. Bowles wont meet the media until Thursday, following the first practice.Center Nick Mangold, one of Fitzpatricks closest friends on the team, said he spoke to the quarterback on Tuesday. He said they didnt discuss football or his contract situation. Clearly, Mangold was uncomfortable talking about it with reporters.I dont know, man, he said, Listen, I dont claim to know whats going on or have any feelings about whats goingg on because I have no control over it.dddddddddddd. Hopefully, things get worked out. If they dont, they dont. if they do, great. I have to worry about blocking nose tackles. Thats my focus. The other stuff will figure itself out.The Jets have presented multiple offers to Fitzpatrick, including a three-year, $24 million proposal that includes $15 million in guarantees. He has no other suitors, but he has refused to accept what he believes is a below-market deal. He made $3.25 million in 2015.Despite the impasse, the Jets have said theyd still like to re-sign Fitzpatrick as their starter, although Bowles suggested last month theyd have to adjust their plan if the matter remains unresolved at a certain point. The Jets havent declared a deadline. They apparently will evaluate Smith in the early stages of camp, perhaps waiting until after the first preseason game before making a final call on Fitzpatrick.We have to work with everybodys whos here, Forte said. If youre here, were going to get better. And if not, theres nothing I can do about it.Coming off a 10-win, non-playoff season, the Jets believe they have enough talent to end their five-year postseason drought. The uncertainty at quarterback is a major question, not to mention a potential distraction.If you guys keep asking questions, maybe, Mangold said, laughing. But I dont think so. If you can block out everything else, you can block out this and focus on what needs to be focused on -- building this team. ' ' '