[LUnpretty11]

60K stadium expansion was in the plans as of 2009...

[Purple Haize]

We do have that problem of having more money than we know what to do with. So what if our stadium isn't anywhere close to ready. Get it done. Pay for overtime. 24/7 construction!

Here here. As Potentate I'm taking this into consideration as the official position of

[ballcoach15]

Coastal moved up and their stadium doesn't meet standards.

[Cider Jim]

I say we just lobby for an invite from Big 12. Skip Sun Belt, Conference USA and the AAC.

Step away from the . It's turned HARD. Do we really want in a conference that would take WVU?

[rmiller1959]

A good summary of the prospective candidates, with UCLA thrown in for good measure.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/sto ... oin-big-12

[Purple Haize]

I say we just lobby for an invite from Big 12. Skip Sun Belt, Conference USA and the AAC.

Step away from the . It's turned HARD. Do we really want in a conference that would take WVU?

Travel Partner!!!!!!

[rmiller1959]

Did anyone expect the UT president to endorse bringing Houston into the Big 12? I didn't. Things have changed in Longhorn country.

Texas governor, lieutenant governor, UT president tweet support for Houston in Big 12 expansion

http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.co ... expansion/

[VAGolf]

He is the Governor and one othe state schools is an candidate. He wouldn't be doing his job if he weren't giving at least a token lobbying effort. I still say that I will be shocked if UH is added even though they are clearly the best candidate. You don't peck a fight with a bull.

Carlton is just throwing a name out there with ECU. They have nothing to offer the Big XII. .

Sly, I hate to break it to you but Arkansas and Texas A&M aren't ever coming back. You aren't going to find a big program to fill your open spots. Again, I really don't think ECU will happen but I would make the argument that ECU has more to offer than Cincinnati and certainly more to offer than UCF or USF.

East Carolina may actually be the most popular program in North Carolina, and they have spent a majority of the past 10 years in the C-USA. The ACC thinks they own NC between Wake, NC-State, UNC and Duke, yet, everything east of 95 is ECU territory and their fans travel really well. You gain exposure to the east coast and the plethora of recruits in that region.

Clemson's roster has about 20 players from NC. Virginia Tech has around 10. UNC, Duke and NC State obviously are loaded and FSU has picked up several players from the carolinas. The last thing the ACC wants is Oklahoma and Texas getting attention in that region.

Is it a perfect fit? Ha, no but you don't have any perfect fits available. Sometimes you need to look a little more than a team's last season win/loss record to see the value they could bring to the conference.

[Jonathan Carone]

East Carolina may actually be the most popular program in North Carolina.

I've seen some silly things in this thread but this may be the silliest.

[VAGolf]

East Carolina may actually be the most popular program in North Carolina.

I've seen some silly things in this thread but this may be the silliest.

Duke has been competitive for almost six years and still no one shows up. NC State fans stop going to games after week 6. Wake Forest needs no explanation. UNC is the only school comparable to ECU and they are more concerned with their basketball program. Last season ECU went 5-7 and still averaged 45k in attendance. If ECU isn't arguably the most popular program in North Carolina, make an actual argument as to why.

[thepostman]

ECU? Seriously????

[flamehunter]

East Carolina may actually be the most popular program in North Carolina.

I've seen some silly things in this thread but this may be the silliest.

Duke has been competitive for almost six years and still no one shows up. NC State fans stop going to games after week 6. Wake Forest needs no explanation. UNC is the only school comparable to ECU and they are more concerned with their basketball program. Last season ECU went 5-7 and still averaged 45k in attendance. If ECU isn't arguably the most popular program in North Carolina, make an actual argument as to why.

This is about all sports, not just football.

[Jonathan Carone]

There's nothing to do between Raleigh and Wilmington. ECU football is the only thing going on Saturdays in the fall.

ECU football is popular, but their athletic department doesn't touch the three schools in the triangle.

[thepostman]

They are a niche school. I don't think they have the appeal some of these others schools in larger markets have.

[LUGrad2000]

Best Big 12 picks for our FBS chances?
Cincy, UCF, Memphis, Houston?

[jinxy]

That's absurd. The only one of those athletic programs that it may have beat is wake. No question on the other 3

[rmiller1959]

Best Big 12 picks for our FBS chances?
Cincy, UCF, Memphis, Houston?

Good list. Afraid BYU is going to be the top choice, however. Three teams to backfill still helps us.

[ballcoach15]

ECU should be in the ACC. They are a better fit than Louisville, Syracuse or Pittsburg,
When ACC expanded, they should have added ECU and Liberty University in my opinion.

[adam42381]

ECU should be in the ACC. They are a better fit than Louisville, Syracuse or Pittsburg,
When ACC expanded, they should have added ECU and Liberty University in my opinion.

[Purple Haize]

ECU should be in the ACC. They are a better fit than Louisville, Syracuse or Pittsburg,
When ACC expanded, they should have added ECU and Liberty University in my opinion.

You can't make this stuff up

[rmiller1959]

It looks like Houston is a lock to join the Big 12. The governor and lieutenant governor of Texas have demanded it, the UT president endorses it, the Big 12 coaches picked Houston and BYU as their top preferences for expansion, and now the president of Texas Tech is making positive noise about their addition:

"As the Big 12 evaluates its options for expansion, Texas Tech welcomes the consideration of the University of Houston. We have always valued our partnerships with UH." - Dr. Lawrence Schovanec, Texas Tech's incoming president

ESPN Big 12 beat writer Jake Trotter says, "In one afternoon, I think Houston went from being considered third or fourth in the pecking order to No. 1. That's what having the Texas president and state governor endorse your expansion candidacy publicly will do. Texas has only one vote. But there will be immense political pressure on Baylor, Texas Tech and TCU to join Greg Fenves. At this moment, it's difficult to see any Big 12 expansion that doesn't include the Coogs. Houston fans should be ecstatic."

Trotter goes on to say, "As of today, with the key word being 'today,' this is how I rank the expansion candidates, based solely on how I believe the Big 12 collectively views them: 1. Houston, 2. BYU, 3. Cincinnati, 4. UConn, 5. Central Florida, 6. Memphis, 7. Colorado State, 8. Tulane, 9. Boise State, 10. South Florida.

Trotter's entire column is an excellent Q&A on Big 12 expansion. Check it out:

http://espn.go.com/blog/big12/post/_/id ... za-edition

The question, however, is whether or not the non-Texas schools want another Texas team in the conference. Houston would make five. Oklahoma, which has been strangely silent so far, hasn't weighed in as a counterbalance to Texas. Oklahoma State will probably do whatever Oklahoma does. I suspect that West Virginia doesn't care as long as they get an eastern travel partner. My guess is that Kansas, Kansas State, and Iowa State would not be happy with another Texas team in the mix.

If Trotter's list is accurate, the AAC would lose three teams if the Big 12 goes for a 14-team roster (Houston, Cincinnati, UConn). That would leave the AAC with three teams to replace to get back to 12, and C-USA and the Sun Belt look to be the best candidates for poaching in that order. That means Liberty could find itself lobbying for either C-USA or Sun Belt membership - or both.

[LUGrad2000]

It would probably be best for us if the AAC were to replace their three teams with at least two teams from the Sun Belt. CUSA currently has 14, so they would not necessarily need to replace three teams, if they lost three, they may choose to only replace one to get back to twelve. Their new television contract pays almost nothing, something like a couple hundred thousand dollars per team. The Sun Belt has ten teams, so it may be that they replace whomever they loose.

[rmiller1959]

It would probably be best for us if the AAC were to replace their three teams with at least two teams from the Sun Belt. CUSA currently has 14, so they would not necessarily need to replace three teams, if they lost three, they may choose to only replace one to get back to twelve. Their new television contract pays almost nothing, something like a couple hundred thousand dollars per team. The Sun Belt has ten teams, so it may be that they replace whomever they loose.

Great point, although in terms of relative prestige, I'd prefer C-USA to the Sun Belt.

There's an interesting article in the Virginian-Pilot about the possible impact of BIg 12 expansion on C-USA in general and ODU in particular:

http://pilotonline.com/sports/college/o ... 57617.html

[rmiller1959]

This writer tries to project the ripple effects of a four-team Big 12 expansion all the way down to the FCS level. In his scenario, Liberty ends up in a 10-team Sun Belt Conference and the Big South folds and the remaining teams are added to the Southern Conference.

Other Virginia schools affected in this scenario are James Madison (to C-USA) and Richmond (to the Sun Belt).

http://www.nunesmagician.com/2016/7/23/ ... bs-and-fcs

[Sly Fox]

I am hearing a bunch of speculation down here about what has led to UT's about face in regard to UH. Most of it focuses on UH giving up its turf war over the City of Houston opening the door for UT to come into town and set up shop beyond just its massive medical operations including MD Anderson. But if UT is not objecting then UH should have little resistance. The northern Big XII schools are practically drooling at getting a better shot at talent in Houston. But Tom Herman will have a legitimate shot at closing ranks on the city talent. The Coogs picked a perfect time to have a football revival. I have to admit that I didn't see this type of backroom deal coming together so quickly.

If they take two, I suspect it will be UH & UC. The Bearcats would be the WVU travel partner they have been begging to acquire. Colorado State & BYU would have to be in the mix for a 4-team expansion with UCF. I still don't buy UConn as a legitimate candidate.