Conference realignment date?
Not that I have religiously read every word written about the expansion scenarios, but I don't recall seeing when it would go into effect. Is it safe to assume it would be for the 2011-2012 year, or do various contracts/schedules run further into the future than that?
I have heard that the six Big 12 teams would move to the Pac 10 in 2012, so I would imagine it'd be the same for Nebraska.
Yeah, that's the thought. However, someone of authority (i forgot who, sorry) that if the Big 12 goes belly up, all conference games could start new for some Spring sports next year. However, the 2011 Football year is looking more and more like a possibility, with some contracts needing to be fulfilled. I think ideally they'd look at 2012 (end of the world, fitting...) but things may hasten that.
The Big East teams would not be able to join until 2013 though there would probably be some latitude with blowing up the whole conference and teams going to multiple conferences.
Based on the Big Ten's initial timeline of not officially inviting new teams until late this year, I would guess they were not planning on expansion until 2012.
But I readily admit that I could be wrong.
I don't know, but next season could be just hilariously awkward in the Big 12.
At least we would know the color commentary before the game...
In comparison, Penn State accepted the invitation in '89. They didn't become a member until 92, a football member in 93.
Granted, but they were independent. They didn't have to leave any conference and had contracted games already scheduled. If an entire conference implodes, wouldn't that mean the games are no longer under contract? Perhaps I'm being a little ansy in wanting the realignment to start early, but if the entire landscape of NCAAF is changed, couldn't we just scratch games in 2011? Heck, I'd even be up for scratching games in 2010 and refunding tickets.
I was too young to remember, but I'm guessing that it would be harder for an independent team to switch to a conference because they have to break/change contracts with 11 different teams to fit the conference schedule. If Nebraska is going from the Big XII to the Big Ten, it would really only change one or two games that conflict, because the conference games are essentially the same weeks.
I find it hard to believe that everything will be set by 2011, but this is all moving faster than I thought anyway, so who knows?
Didn't the Big East schools join the ACC for the very next season with BC staying behind for one year?