This Fox Sports Guy Ranks Syracuse Dead Last in his Realignment Rankings

[HtownOrange]

I'd agree with listing Rutgers as #1 because they are a MAC level athletic program who got rewarded due to geography. Without the BiG $, they are finished as a destination for any decent football player.

I agree with most of what you said, but I wouldn't insult the MAC like that.

 

[HtownOrange]

Essentially, the article confirms the point that the B1G was stupid and lost its momentum when they settled for UNL only. They could have had 14 or 16 and squashed everyone at once but missed the home run swing for the fence and ended up with a base on error (Rutgers and Maryland).

 

[ImperialOrange]

No one agrees with that first paragraph that the Big 10 would prefer SU to Rutgers?

Thought this board would jump all over that.

Thats just such a common sense statement it doesn't really merit special attention. It would be like saying "not getting kicked in the junk is preferable over getting a boot to the tool box".

 

[billsin01]

This guy obviously has no idea about our geographic alumni base and where many CNYer's now reside. The East Coast is the only natural fit, not Iowa and Wisconsin.

I don't think geographical fit had anything to do with the decision, to be fair. I mean, most grads are in the NE and mid-atlantic. I suppose NC and SC have some, but realistically we don't really fit that well in the ACC, IMO.

 

[billsin01]

Seems like this list is based on who had the most to lose in Realignment. I take it that SU and Pitt had the least to lose according to the author because he thinks if they stayed in the BE that the BE would still be around today. He had them ranked 11th and 12th.

I basically agree except that I'd argue that SU and Pitt had the least to gain.

 

[Scooch]

I don't think geographical fit had anything to do with the decision, to be fair. I mean, most grads are in the NE and mid-atlantic. I suppose NC and SC have some, but realistically we don't really fit that well in the ACC, IMO.

In terms of exposure, and assuming that being in a northeast based conference was going the way of the dodo bird, I suspect the SU administration would MUCH rather align themselves with the rapidly growing population of the south Atlantic (where many residents have northeast ties) than the population dead zone that is the Midwest.

 

[SmilinBob]

Schedule schools Michigan, OSU and PSU OOC and play in the ACC. That to me is perfect because I love SU being in the ACC and the recruits do too.

What was truly missed was to have an eastern conference when we had a chance. That ship has sailed and being in the ACC is the next best thing and perhaps even better in the future.

 

[Rocco]

I don't think geographical fit had anything to do with the decision, to be fair. I mean, most grads are in the NE and mid-atlantic. I suppose NC and SC have some, but realistically we don't really fit that well in the ACC, IMO.

Florida, DC/NoVa, Georgia and the NE are the most concentrated with Syracuse alumni. Much more so than Nebraska, Iowa and Indiana.

That may not have been the author's point, but it is mine. Syracuse does not fit in with the Midwest massive public school population (NW being the exception).

 

[Ottoble]

I agree with the above the ACC fits school size and our regional alumni base more nicely. Now that Maryland is gone though it puts a hole where we have a huge alumni base in metro DC. They're program is in huge debt but I would have liked them to stay for that reason, we don't fit quite as well without them there.

 

[GoSU96]

I don't think geographical fit had anything to do with the decision, to be fair. I mean, most grads are in the NE and mid-atlantic. I suppose NC and SC have some, but realistically we don't really fit that well in the ACC, IMO.

The ACC is almost half private most of the schools are small to medium sized. Much better fit than a conference dominated by large land grant state schools.

 

[TexanMark]

From our aspect...Syracuse and Rutgers should have become the first two adds in Sept '11.

The B12 might have responded with WVU/Pitt and Louisville or even better just WVU.

Delaney would've lost a "direct in" into the NYC DMA. He could've responded with Maryland and UConn or Maryland and Pitt with Rutgirls off the board.

Rutgers is a dumpster fire but like Poland in WWII was valuable for where it was.

 

[billsin01]

Florida, DC/NoVa, Georgia and the NE are the most concentrated with Syracuse alumni. Much more so than Nebraska, Iowa and Indiana.

That may not have been the author's point, but it is mine. Syracuse does not fit in with the Midwest massive public school population (NW being the exception).

I'm with you I just don't think we really fit in the acc that well either. I mean, we're not actually in DC/NOVA anymore now that UMD is gone. Our best conference was the BE and it's gone. We did well to latch onto the acc but I'm not sure we were truly a 'good fit' anywhere.

 

[billsin01]

The ACC is almost half private most of the schools are small to medium sized. Much better fit than a conference dominated by large land grant state schools.

That is true. In not arguing B1G over acc just pointing out that the conference we really fit in dissolved, which hurt us.

 

[GoSU96]

That is true. In not arguing B1G over acc just pointing out that the conference we really fit in dissolved, which hurt us.

How is SU in the ACC any different than Washington, Washington St., Oregon, Oregon St in the Pac 12?

 

[nzm136]

"Wouldn't every Syracuse fan prefer to be in the Big Ten too?"
No. /article

Apparently the network that owns 51% of the BTN is biased beyond belief. Weird.

 

[billsin01]

How is SU in the ACC any different than Washington, Washington St., Oregon, Oregon St in the Pac 12?

Wow, it's difficult to simply agree with your point which is basically what I was trying to do. I would argue it's different in two ways:

1) the acc is a conference dominated by Tobacco Road and inherently southern (despite it's name). If it becomes a true east coast conference then great but were certainly not there right now.

2) SU went from a conference loaded with meaningful regional rivals in key recruiting areas and within easy driving distance to a conference with no philly presence, no jersey presence, no dc/nova presence and no NYC presence. It also includes a total of 1 regional rival (BC). That sucks. Now the point is moot b/c what else can you do if you're extremely concerned about reaching the Belk Bowl 3 out of every 5 years and building huge indoor practice facilities (which is what all football programs seem to care about)? They had to go somewhere for football and the acc offered a lifeline. But I'd say it's a stretch to call it an ideal fit.

 

[Chip]

I've said this a million times, but I think SU, the university, fits much better in the ACC. Syracuse, the city, fits much better in the Big 10.

As to Scooch's point on where the population is headed, that's one of the ACC's biggest assets. And also, their most vulnerable point if somehow, future raids are pulled off. Personally, I think the ACC is as safe as it gets. It's just not as easy to move around the chess pieces like the expansion nuts would have you think.

 

[GoSU96]

Wow, it's difficult to simply agree with your point which is basically what I was trying to do. I would argue it's different in two ways:

1) the acc is a conference dominated by Tobacco Road and inherently southern (despite it's name). If it becomes a true east coast conference then great but were certainly not there right now.

2) SU went from a conference loaded with meaningful regional rivals in key recruiting areas and within easy driving distance to a conference with no philly presence, no jersey presence, no dc/nova presence and no NYC presence. It also includes a total of 1 regional rival (BC). That sucks. Now the point is moot b/c what else can you do if you're extremely concerned about reaching the Belk Bowl 3 out of every 5 years and building huge indoor practice facilities (which is what all football programs seem to care about)? They had to go somewhere for football and the acc offered a lifeline. But I'd say it's a stretch to call it an ideal fit.

The ACC WAS a southern regional conference. It's changed/changing. The ACC acknowledges this, those schools, and their fanbases, recognize it as well.

 

[billsin01]

The ACC WAS a southern regional conference. It's changed/changing. The ACC acknowledges this, those schools, and their fanbases, recognize it as well.

IS changing, in all likelihood. But hasn't yet and it will take more than Cuse/Pitt. ND should help, in a weird way. But UMD leaving really hurts this progress, IMO. Having zero presence in DC/NOVA, PHilly or NYC leaves major, major gaps in calling yourself an east coast conference. I mean, this is a conference loaded with NC teams and with a healthy dose of southern va, GA, SC and Florida. Somehow they need to address it but I'm not entirely sure how. Anyway, point is, what else was the cuse going to do? It's OK, I just find it hard to call it a great fit.

 

[Rocco]

I'm with you I just don't think we really fit in the acc that well either. I mean, we're not actually in DC/NOVA anymore now that UMD is gone. Our best conference was the BE and it's gone. We did well to latch onto the acc but I'm not sure we were truly a 'good fit' anywhere.

We have pretty big numbers in the Carolinas as well, where 5 ACC schools reside (UNC, NC St, WF, Duke & Clemson)...

 

[HOFCeluck]

I don't think recruits in Philadelphia or DMV are going to forget Syracuse because BNova or Maryland aren't in the conference.

 

[billsin01]

I don't think recruits in Philadelphia or DMV are going to forget Syracuse because BNova or Maryland aren't in the conference.

You don't think playing in philly and MSG and at the garden vs. the Johnnies and at UCONN and PC and all those incredible games vs. G'town and all the press those games generated for years helped hoops recruiting? Will they forget us? No, but I'd say if you were drawing up an ideal conference we'd be playing in those kids back yards all season long. It's fine that we're in the ACC and cuse hoops will be fine, but I'd say it's a stretch to say we've got a great fit going in the ACC. That's my only point here.

 

[Alsacs]

the Big Ten that conference does NOT fit Syracuse at all I am glad we are ACC. Big Ten is the rust belt states and are all large state universities except Northwestern. The ACC is public and private schools and they have similar profiles to SU. If we ended up in the Big Ten we would have made money but recruiting would be a lot harder. I glad we ended up in the ACC watch Maryland and Rutgers football wither being Ohio State and Michigan's homecoming games. Maryland bball will be okay but RU will be a punching bag SU football would have been.

 

[billsin01]

We have pretty big numbers in the Carolinas as well, where 5 ACC schools reside (UNC, NC St, WF, Duke & Clemson)...

Maybe, I have no idea what the numbers are of grads in the carolinas but I'd have to feel like it's less than the major northeast cities if for no other reason than sheer size of those cities and jobs available to grads.

 

[billsin01]

the Big Ten that conference does NOT fit Syracuse at all I am glad we are ACC. Big Ten is the rust belt states and are all large state universities except Northwestern. The ACC is public and private schools and they have similar profiles to SU. If we ended up in the Big Ten we would have made money but recruiting would be a lot harder. I glad we ended up in the ACC watch Maryland and Rutgers football wither being Ohio State and Michigan's homecoming games. Maryland bball will be okay but RU will be a punching bag SU football would have been.

I think the broader point is that SU, RU and UMD all lose in realignment b/c you're forced to go wherever someone wants you instead of being in the driver's seat steering the expansion of a strong conference. Just my opinion.