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Message: [QUOTE="HtownOrange, post: 490638, member: 622"] I have heard over the past two yeas, rumors of the PAC looking East Coast. Obviously, they want Texas. They have flatly refused OU without Texas, so OU is a tag along, though the SEC would take OU in an heartbeat and the B1G could take OU as they are on academic par with UNL. Kansas and ISU have the academics but no markets. The new PAC is based on markets and developing markets, especially in the Pacific Rim (read: oversees, untapped market for all things American and favored sports teams). THIS IS SPECULATION: IF YOU PRINT THIS, IT IS OF SUFFICIENT QUALITY TO LINE YOUR BIRD CAGE! Mostly, I have dismissed these rumors because of of the sensationalism of a bi-coastal conference, but most of the speculation centered on ND, which makes anything possible. Most of the speculation was that ND already plays USC and Stanford annually. They could form an Eastern pod with Pitt (usually playing 8 of 10 years, BC-the relatively new rival and Syracuse -exposure to NYC and NY Catholics. You could probably throw in UConn/Rutgers/Maryland/PSU as potential candidates. Using the markets approach and a supposed desire of the PAC to expand, one can surmise an alternative plan to adding Texas (who refuses to play by the same rules as everyone else in the PAC) and any three. The usual plan is ND and they can bring three friends. Navy is not consider one of the three due to their military status and inconsequential Olympic sports. Number 1 is Pitt, the most history and solid, good market for any other conference not named B1G (they have PSU). Number 2 is usually BC. BC and ND have had a recent history. Some of us remember when this was just a game, but ND likes it as they get exposure to MA and the Boston Catholics (student recruiting, NOT football recruiting). BC gets a pass on teh religious affiliation as they are Catholic, like ND, and they are not noted as imposing their religious affiliation over academics (like BYU, Baylor, et al.) Number 3 is usually Syracuse because of the NY market, exposure in NYC and NY is a largely Catholic state with a very large population - something the west coast fails to offer outside of CA (remember, Texas is out because they can't agree to play under the same rules as everyone else). Syracuse actually has a weak history with ND, but the New York market appears to be important to ND for student recruitment and fan exposure) Michigan, MState, Purdue are presumed to wish to stay with the B1G. Generally, there is little to no mention of south eastern schools. These schools offer similar academic profiles to the PAC schools, names that are recognizable nationally and even somewhat overseas (Syracuse and BC offer the two most recognized baseball teams in the Yankees and Red Sox), while ND is not far from Chicago. I don't buy all of this, but it is a possibility if you stretch. There was a call for a national conference that crossed the U.S. and included Syracuse, USC, ND, Michigan, OSU, OU, Texas, etc. This was in the 50's or 60's, so this concept is actually quite old. Also, the PAC is taking the market approach as they recruit many students from Asia and looking to spread their internet streaming to Asia, which appears hungry for this programming. This is more fun and amusing than anything substantial. I have not read a credible insider with serious talk of this, [/QUOTE]

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