Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott announced in a teleconference with reporters on Feb. 9 that the conference is considering expanding to 12 teams. Scott made the announcement on the same day that he hired former Big 12 commissioner Kevin Weiberg as his deputy commissioner and chief operating officer.
What do you think about the Pac-10 expanding? Why or why not?
Ryan Eshoff: Nothing like a little reverse Manifest Destiny. There are definite advantages to expansion ““most of which have to do with the conference raking in more dough ““ but the one thing that could get lost is the uniqueness of the Pac-10’s alignment: five pairs of incredibly intense rivals.
Farzad Mashhood: Yeah, go for it, Larry Scott. The conference has been ballooning since it was born as the PCC nearly a century ago. There are many schools on the West Coast that have risen to national prominence, so give them a chance. Let the conference adapt to the circumstances of the time.
If the Pac-10 were to expand, which teams should it include?
RE: The most important factor should be competitiveness in both basketball and football. That eliminates Boise State and TCU. The most obvious candidate is Utah. Few other schools boast the academic/athletic combo the Pac-10 wants. How’s University of Phoenix’s football program?
FM: There are three principles to consider for this: bring in two rivals, maintain the research institution rule, and keep them regional. How about New Mexico and TCU? What better way to foster a local rivalry and bring in two fairly competitive squads.
How will an expanded Pac-10 help the West Coast’s exposure in college sports?
RE:One potential route for the conference to go would be to gobble up San Diego State, thus assuring a media and marketing presence from Canada to Mexico. The real coup would be if the league used the momentum from expansion to land a TV deal that could allow them to almost appear like competition to the likes of the SEC.
FM: Two words: conference championship. TV executives love conference championships in college football, and there is no better market to promote a conference championship than football-deficient Southern California. And the rest of the conference brings in that West Texas market.
How will a “Pac-12″ stack up against the likes of the SEC, Big-12 and Big Ten?
RE: ;It could all change in the next few years. The Big Ten is looking to add a 12th team (which is weird to type) and that could be Texas. That change would make the Big Ten the conference to beat, although the addition of Utah would really boost the Pac-10.
FM: ; ;I don’t think the West Coast can ever become as big time as those big money conferences. Even when they’re not that good, they still get all the attention ““ think of college football’s 2008 season.