The Problems with the NCAA Division IA Conference Shifting

I imagine that there are some people out there in the sports world who are excited for the major shift among the conferences in NCAA Division 1A sports. However I am not one of them. The only things being created are a hodgepodge of weak rivalries, confused fans, and a whole lot of checks which are being cut to various attention starving and money hungry schools.  

The major conferences of the PAC 12, Big 10, Big 12, ACC, Big East, and SEC have each participated in the “Let’s make a deal” switch-a-roo of teams. Intertwined with collegiate sports are TV contracts, exposure, and deals for getting an bid to a “Bowl Game”. Some colleges may give the notion that they moved to a conference where the style of play was more similar to their flagship sport (particularly Football and Basketball). However, it will be hard to persuade me from believing that the motivating factor for the re-alignment was dollars and cents!

I understand that there are situations that warrant you to be flexible to a school’s needs, but this is ridiculous. It makes logical sense for the non-football Catholic College and Universities to split off and have their own basketball conference. I don’t like it, but will agree that they have earned the right to keep the Big East moniker since the conference is traditionally known for their strong basketball programs. St. John’s, Georgetown, Seton Hall, Marquette, Villanova, DePaul, and Providence traditionally field strong teams that are prepped to make deep runs in the NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament.

Do we really need another conference sucking up automatic bids in tournaments and playoffs? What I am talking about is the new “American Athletic Conference (The American).” If the NCAA were smart they would rename them as the “Conference USA –the remix”. Over the past 10 years the Big East has siphoned the talent from Conference USA. When one school leaves for the greener pastures of another conference, the Big East never panics they simply lure in one of the high performing C-USA teams. Unfortunately I’m not drinking the Kool-Aid. For the 2013 Division 1A season, the following teams will comprise the American conference:

Cincinnati

Connecticut

Houston

Louisville (leaving in 2014)

Memphis

Rutgers (leaving in 2014)

USF

SMU

Temple

(Three more teams from C-USA are joining in 2014)

Look familiar? Why not combine the Conference USA and American Athletic Conference teams. Just a thought….

The many schools jumping from one major conference to another major are just muddying up the waters of confusion. It is almost becoming one big joke. The Big 10 Conference (actually comprised of 12 teams) is going to receive their 13^th team when Rutgers joins them in 2013. Nothing says Mid-West football more than a team from New Jersey, huh… And what is Colorado doing out there in the west coast with the PAC 12? They are doing nothing but embarrassing themselves on a weekly basis. What was wrong with their neighboring Big 12 schools? And whatever happened to aligning conferences according to their geographical locations? Currently you have ridiculous commutes like the ACC’s Florida State trip to Massachusetts (BC).  The ACC is also having a good ole’ Big East Reunion now that they have lured Miami, Pittsburg, Syracuse, Boston College, and Virginia Tech to their stable. The more things are changing, the more things stay the same!