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Message: [QUOTE="qdawgg, post: 509658, member: 52"] The 2 reasons this is not overreaction if it proves feasible, is $ and stability. Schools only leave their conferences for more $... and only for more $. Schools are not going to leave their conference if the $ difference between conferences is somewhat small, it's only when the perception is that there is a potential payday of 5+ million (just throwing a number out) per year. If these conferences align in some way, it would inevitably increase the amount of $ each conference would make. Would it be a windfall? Who the hell knows, most likely not. But, it would most likely be enough to create stability in the conference and close down the financial differences between the conferences that are able to poach and those that are poached. Once that gap closes then schools who are thinking about leaving then have to weigh 1 - 2 things. Is the increased money we would make by going to the B10 (for example) enough to offset the following; distance and bottom feeder. Geographically changing conferences more often than not increases travel time and costs. This has a negative impact in many ways including; recruiting ability (potentially but not a definite), ability for Alumni to watch away games as easily -how does this impact the connection alumni have to their teams, and the rest of your sports dept. that is also going to increase their travel expenses above and beyond just the FB and BB teams. Sports that generate very little to no income will potentially end up losing money as a result, added up between all of the teams that could be significant to a large athletic dept. Bottom feeder - Syracuse and UL are going into a conference where we will be competitive immediately, this is one reason why I think the ACC is in a much better position than other conferences who have added new schools. Look at RU and MD. Where is RU going to finish in the B10? We know the answer, what about MD? 1 spot above RU? When these schools are thinking of leaving, when the money is so much higher it doesn't matter how competitive they will be in the new conference. The $ is all that matters. But when $ gap begins to narrow schools then have to think, do we want to play in a conference where we will not be competitive? This wasn't a question really for RU, between the Big East and B10 you have to go to the B10. But MD, are they really going to benefit long-term from this, when all things are considered? Going forward, any school considering leaving their conference has to weigh these options. It's not that these options weren't weighed before but the $ was so great it was an easier decision. Now if the poached conferences can continue to find ways to increase the $ they make, leaving your conference is a much tougher decision. This is why these talks matter and have potentially huge consequences. [/QUOTE]

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