[LUconn]

Please tell me what they have to do with each other. The Big 10 has an academic program where all of the member schools have some sort of information sharing/cooperation deal going. I saw a commercial over the weekend that the ACC may have started something similar. Neither of these programs is very groundbreaking from what I understand.

Other than those 2 cases, conferences are strictly athletic ties correct? Why would we not be a good fit for a conference because we have lower academic standards or religious views? Why would a school be too good for us? As long as we meet the NCAA requirements, I don't understand what the problem is. The only people who ever bring this up are folks whos nose are stuck in the air. I've just never seen the connection.

[4everfsu]

LuConn that is because you can see pass your nose, where as those people you talk about cannot

[Libertine]

It's all about PR. If you can promote the academic excellence of the schools in your conference -- or at least promote the perception of academic excellence -- then you are likely to boost the enrollment of the schools in the conference and the funds that flow into those schools and the conference itself.