The Pac 10 isn't looking to expand any time soon, or later, for that matter. The conference plays a true round robin format in every sport now that they are able to play 9 conference games in football. And if the leauge ever expanded, BYU would have no chance of being invited into the Pac 10, unless they agree to play conference games/compititions on Sundays, of which they don't.
Hopefully ND realizes that it's not going to be possible to stay independent forever. Not with the parity of today's ball. There are still a lot of teams that could improve, and I think that the PAC-10 could do well to start trying to emulate USC. And, somehow, try to lure in Utah and BYU... or perhaps Boise State. They need some more legit teams. The WAC doesn't bode well for BSU. ND just needs to get on the ball. Miami made the move and I think that it will eventually help them out. You won't be able to see a lot of really great traditional match-ups like USC-ND, which is a shame, but the possibilities for the post-season (with some type of playoff would be unreal!)
With the treatment they get, I just don't see ND ever capitulating and joining a conference. USC and ND is the longest intersectional rivalry in CF. That's a tough tradition to break. As much as they are down, they put up with a VERY bad USC team and held a 13 game winning streak through the 90's. I also don't see any teams being added to the Pac. Things could change but I don't see BSU, BYU or any other WAC teams making a go of it.
I know I'm splitting hairs with you Vball, but BYU is in the Mountain West Conference. posted by JayB JayB, why do you think the Pac 10 needs more legit teams? The conference has won more NCAA team titles in all sports than the next two conferences (Big 10 & SEC) put together.
Most of those national titles are in sports that only the PAC 10 and really small schools play. Water polo, crew, trampoline, and hop scotch shouldn't be counted.
Considering that football isn't counted toward NC's, just what sports do you suppose Arkansas and LSU competed in? http://www.ncaa.org/champadmin/champs_listing1.html USC has 4 Water Polo championships so for the sake of argument, take those out. USC still has 80 (again with NO football) and we don't compete in Gymnastics OR Softball.
Surely you jest. In softball alone, the Pac has, like 18 of the 24 National Titles since the inception of the WCWS.
I think that was his point. :wink: I kid. Though, don't they have like water polo and other sports of that nature?
Well, I'm focusing on football obviously. And sadly, tradition cannnot be held on to forever. You have to roll with the changes sometimes. You could be arrogant like ND, or Tulane (by ditching the SEC,) but you see what has happened to both of them. I think that the PAC-10 could be a legitimate football conference, but that doesn't seem to be their main motive. Sometimes I think that they rather do well in men's volleyball and water polo than football. That's fine, just don't b!tch and moan when your conference gets lambasted for being "weak." With having said that, I'm not sure that I agree with the sentiment that it is necessarily "weak," it just needs some help. The main problem, to me, is that football doesn't seem to be all that important to all of those west coast guys. At least that's my take on it.
