From the proliferation of re-alignment threads ...
The obvious benefit of being a conference member is a yearly stipend from television and post season participations. Equally obvious is the fact that operating as an independent is financially risky. That said, I compiled a list of independent schools participating in NCAA sports per decade.
1960 ... 27 1970 ... 30 1980 ... 30 1990 ... 26 2000 ... 9 2010 ... 3 2020 ... 7
Would it be the worst thing in the world for the remaining Big 12 teams to turn independent? I believe they would need at least one revenue producing sport to make it possible. In my opinion, the schools with the best chance to survive as an independent are as follows with superior programs in ...
Iowa State, Oklahoma State, West Virginia and Baylor in football & basketball ... Kansas & Texas Tech in basketball ... TCU in football and who knows about Kansas State.
As independents, each school can create its entire schedule, dictating strength of competition and fan appeal. Notre Dame has created the template, independent in football and conference affiliations in different non-revenue sports.
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Another thread contained a post that referred to the old Big 8 Christmas basketball tournament held annually in Kansas City. My suggestion to the athletic department in conjunction with the basketball program is this ... the state of Missouri is bordered by the most states in the Republic, eight (8), conversely speaking Maine shares just one border. Missouri shares a border with Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska.
How about an annual weekend (Friday through Sunday) Christmas basketball tournament against these bordering states to be held in Kansas City and St. Louis in alternating years? Yes, including Missouri that actually means there are nine eligible schools when only eight are required. There is variety of ways to pare the number to the appropriate eight, more on that in a second. With eight schools participating it creates a natural elimination bracket, Friday (quarterfinal) Saturday (semifinal) Sunday (final).
Regarding the 'math' to determine the eight schools ... not every school would likely not choose to participate (I'm looking at you Kansas Chickenhawks) so the invitation process would be ... extend an invitation to what could be considered the eight (primary) schools ... Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska and see which schools are interested. If the number falls to less than eight teams, send invites to the (secondary) list of schools from those states ... Iowa State, Northwestern, Louisville, Vanderbilt, Oklahoma State and Kansas State ... Arkansas could be represented by Arkansas State and Nebraska by Creighton if necessary. Whatever it takes to reach the magic number of eight, this tournament would generate excitement and make the Braggin' Rights game pale in comparison.
The obvious benefit of being a conference member is a yearly stipend from television and post season participations. Equally obvious is the fact that operating as an independent is financially risky. That said, I compiled a list of independent schools participating in NCAA sports per decade.
1960 ... 27 1970 ... 30 1980 ... 30 1990 ... 26 2000 ... 9 2010 ... 3 2020 ... 7
Would it be the worst thing in the world for the remaining Big 12 teams to turn independent? I believe they would need at least one revenue producing sport to make it possible. In my opinion, the schools with the best chance to survive as an independent are as follows with superior programs in ...
Iowa State, Oklahoma State, West Virginia and Baylor in football & basketball ... Kansas & Texas Tech in basketball ... TCU in football and who knows about Kansas State.
As independents, each school can create its entire schedule, dictating strength of competition and fan appeal. Notre Dame has created the template, independent in football and conference affiliations in different non-revenue sports.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Another thread contained a post that referred to the old Big 8 Christmas basketball tournament held annually in Kansas City. My suggestion to the athletic department in conjunction with the basketball program is this ... the state of Missouri is bordered by the most states in the Republic, eight (8), conversely speaking Maine shares just one border. Missouri shares a border with Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska.
How about an annual weekend (Friday through Sunday) Christmas basketball tournament against these bordering states to be held in Kansas City and St. Louis in alternating years? Yes, including Missouri that actually means there are nine eligible schools when only eight are required. There is variety of ways to pare the number to the appropriate eight, more on that in a second. With eight schools participating it creates a natural elimination bracket, Friday (quarterfinal) Saturday (semifinal) Sunday (final).
Regarding the 'math' to determine the eight schools ... not every school would likely not choose to participate (I'm looking at you Kansas Chickenhawks) so the invitation process would be ... extend an invitation to what could be considered the eight (primary) schools ... Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska and see which schools are interested. If the number falls to less than eight teams, send invites to the (secondary) list of schools from those states ... Iowa State, Northwestern, Louisville, Vanderbilt, Oklahoma State and Kansas State ... Arkansas could be represented by Arkansas State and Nebraska by Creighton if necessary. Whatever it takes to reach the magic number of eight, this tournament would generate excitement and make the Braggin' Rights game pale in comparison.
