The re-alignment merry-go-round seems to be on an extended pause as the Big 12 waits to see what Missouri is going to do and the Big East, in turn waits to see what the Big 12 is going to do. Whatever results- whether it's another raid on the Big East for 2 more teams by the Big 12 (a foolish and strange move, in my opinion) or a massive expansion of the Big East and a more geographically oriented one by the Big 12, everything seems to be in a holding pattern.
Personally, I'm a big fan of geographic footprints. It makes more sense to me-- TCU going to the Big East, however briefly, was just plain odd to me- and I'm not sure I'm liking this notion of a Big East that could stretch from Boise, Idaho all the way to Storrs, Connecticutt- and apparently both Boise State and the Big East need some convincing that they could work together. So what then should the Big East do? They're looking to get to 12 football schools-- currently they've got:
Louisville
Cincy
West Virginia
Rutgers
UCONN
USF
They've been rumored to have their eyes on the service acadamies and both Navy and Air Force have expressed interest (though I think the latter might be a better fit for the Big 12)- but I think a raid into Conference USA could pay dividends as well:
ECU (also very interested)
UCF (logical choice- rival for USF)
SMU (also wants to get back to the big time)
Houston (natural rival to SMU and gets the Big East back into Texas)
Boise State (WANTS to move BADLY)
Air Force (rounds out a more 'western' division to the Big East)
If the ACC gets greedy again and grabs UCONN and Rutgers in a year or two, then Temple seems to be primed to move up and Villanova might be a little further along and ready for the big time- failing that, there's Navy and even maybe Notre Dame to consider.
If I were the Big East, I'd move now and move fast and secure commitments from Louisville and WVU about staying onside- which could help preclude a raid by the Big 12 and force them to look west to BYU and Utah State.
As always, we'll see what unfolds in the next few weeks. Not that I have a huge affinity with Big East football, really- it's just, you know, interesting...
UPDATED: I posted this a day too early! Turns out the Mountain West and C-USA are taking steps- forming a gargantuan 22 team super-conference with the possibility of a playoff format leading to a championship game. Color me crazy, but that's exciting to me...
The Big East is on the move as well- and it looks like ECU has been left out in the cold, as all-sports invitations have been sent to UCF, Houston, SMU and football only invites for Boise State and Air Force.
Showing posts with label tom likey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tom likey. Show all posts
Friday, October 14, 2011
Sunday, October 9, 2011
The Scorecard #2
College: All good things must come to an end and so it was that Iowa lost to Penn State 13-3 yesterday at Happy Valley. At a certain point, it was probably inevitable, though it's been surprising that it hasn't happened a lot sooner than it did- but despite an anemic, confused offense, Penn State's defense was as good as advertised and kept Vandenburg, Coker and the rest of Iowa's offense from getting into anything resembling a rhythm.
But here's the kicker: Iowa's defense, despite giving up 400 yards in offense to Penn State, actually looked good for the first time this season. We held Penn State to 2 field goals and a touchdown and given the fact that the offense couldn't move the ball at all, our defense was on the field a lot. I'd cautiously consider this a good step forward for our defense. Offensively, however, we ran into problems. They started with no-huddle, dropped out of no-huddle- brought it back sporadically here and there throughout the game and go nothing to show for it. The lack of success running the ball was also notable.
So deep breath everybody, all is not lost. Offensively, we've still got work to do. We can rock no-huddle if Vandenburg gets into a good groove, but I'm starting to think we need to throw different run plays at people to see if we can loosen up the run game a little more as well. Defensively, although we lost, we kept Penn State out of the end zone twice and held them to the fewest points this season. I'd consider that a big step forward. We got pressure on their QBs better, kept them contained better and tackled better. Plus traditionally, Iowa always struggles coming off a bye week.
Bonus College: Iowa State has turned into a pumpkin, losing to Texas and now to Baylor. Brutal games remain ahead for the Cyclones.
Nebraska looked like it was headed for a shocking 0-2 start against a lackluster Ohio State, but came alive and beat the Buckeyes at home for their first Big Ten win. Well done, Huskers.
Florida State lost to Wake Forest, which seems slightly ridiculous to me. Houston remains undefeated as does Boise State and I'm becoming increasingly excited about the season ending Bedlam between Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. The Sooners put up 55 against Texas yesterday but the Cowboys? They put up 70. Granted they were playing Kansas, but still- that is shaping up to an awesome game.
Bonus Rugby: I've kept half an eye on the ongoing Rugby World Cup and now we're down to the final four. Wales is taking on France in one semi final and it's the clash of the titans as the All Black of New Zealand take on the Wallabies of Australia in the other semi. I haven't seen the Welsh or France in action yet, but New Zealand looks like the team to beat to me and my limited rugby knowledge.
Pro: The Vikings managed to win today! 'Nuff said.
But here's the kicker: Iowa's defense, despite giving up 400 yards in offense to Penn State, actually looked good for the first time this season. We held Penn State to 2 field goals and a touchdown and given the fact that the offense couldn't move the ball at all, our defense was on the field a lot. I'd cautiously consider this a good step forward for our defense. Offensively, however, we ran into problems. They started with no-huddle, dropped out of no-huddle- brought it back sporadically here and there throughout the game and go nothing to show for it. The lack of success running the ball was also notable.
So deep breath everybody, all is not lost. Offensively, we've still got work to do. We can rock no-huddle if Vandenburg gets into a good groove, but I'm starting to think we need to throw different run plays at people to see if we can loosen up the run game a little more as well. Defensively, although we lost, we kept Penn State out of the end zone twice and held them to the fewest points this season. I'd consider that a big step forward. We got pressure on their QBs better, kept them contained better and tackled better. Plus traditionally, Iowa always struggles coming off a bye week.
Bonus College: Iowa State has turned into a pumpkin, losing to Texas and now to Baylor. Brutal games remain ahead for the Cyclones.
Nebraska looked like it was headed for a shocking 0-2 start against a lackluster Ohio State, but came alive and beat the Buckeyes at home for their first Big Ten win. Well done, Huskers.
Florida State lost to Wake Forest, which seems slightly ridiculous to me. Houston remains undefeated as does Boise State and I'm becoming increasingly excited about the season ending Bedlam between Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. The Sooners put up 55 against Texas yesterday but the Cowboys? They put up 70. Granted they were playing Kansas, but still- that is shaping up to an awesome game.
Bonus Rugby: I've kept half an eye on the ongoing Rugby World Cup and now we're down to the final four. Wales is taking on France in one semi final and it's the clash of the titans as the All Black of New Zealand take on the Wallabies of Australia in the other semi. I haven't seen the Welsh or France in action yet, but New Zealand looks like the team to beat to me and my limited rugby knowledge.
Pro: The Vikings managed to win today! 'Nuff said.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Cupcakes
You remember that 'racist' bake sale out at Berkley awhile back? It made national news because the College Republicans out there were offering cupcakes at a discounted price for women and various minority groups. For some reason, people got PISSED. I didn't really understand that- after all, the College Republicans undoubtedly had a finite number of cupcakes and if you're a minority (or a female minority- even better!) then you could probably buy out the whole bake sale and in essence, shut it down.
Problem solved, right? Nope- Berkley being Berkley, they freaked.
The protest was against affirmative action admissions policies-- but students at Fordham decided to hold their own bake sale factoring ALL admissions criteria into how they priced their cupcakes- including family income, legacy status and athletic ability. The results were interesting and Fordham gets a win by staging a more accurate bakesale than Berkley did. Hopefully a lot of interesting discussions can result from this...
Problem solved, right? Nope- Berkley being Berkley, they freaked.
The protest was against affirmative action admissions policies-- but students at Fordham decided to hold their own bake sale factoring ALL admissions criteria into how they priced their cupcakes- including family income, legacy status and athletic ability. The results were interesting and Fordham gets a win by staging a more accurate bakesale than Berkley did. Hopefully a lot of interesting discussions can result from this...
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Thursday, October 6, 2011
Perspective
After a nice workout and some deep thought, I'm a little more at peace with the world. Kids, I want you to follow me through this line of thinking.
Until the Elites (whether of the Left, Right, Republican, Democrat, Media, Business, Cultural, Political- all of them) are neutered and put back into their proper place, gridlock and malaise will continue. Therefore, any attack on the elites in my book, is a good thing.
The Internet (and Steve Jobs played a vital role in this) is pushing power outwards and downwards and into the hands of individuals like you and I at an ever expanding rate. Centralization of power impedes progress, therefore any centralization of power, in my book is a bad thing.
The Tea Party (such as it is) has made it's name attacking the sacred cows of the Elite Left. (Bloated public pensions, ineffective public education systems, unsustainable entitlement commitments teacher's unions and their effect on education, neo-Socialists attempts to turn us into Europe.)
OccupyWallStreet seems (after a rough start, they seem to be focusing down a bit) to be going after the sacred cows of the Elite Right- (corporate welfare, crony capitalism, legalized corruption in Congress that waters down effective regulation of corrupt corporations.)
So in other words, Elites of all varieties are being attacked from both sides. I can get behind this and give it a big old two thumbs up.
I still think there's more work to be done. We're in a fundamental moment of transformation and we need a new politics and a new ideology (or ideologies) for the 20th Century. I have little patience for decades old socialist talking points being constantly repackaged and passed off as something 'radical'. I have even less patience for a party that says that government is depraved and must be destroyed yet curiously insists that government stick around to enforce a moral obligation to dictate what a woman can do to her own body, whom a person can marry and whether they can engage in moral, ethical family planning by easy access to whatever means of contraception they choose to employ. Such hypocrisy makes me sick.
The true transformation of this country can only begin when we break down the barriers that the Elites impose on us and those that we impose on ourselves. When we truly realize that America deserves better than what our elites have to offer us, then we will be truly free.
I say all this as a registered, proud, fiercely Independent voter. You better believe I'm going to remain that way.
Until the Elites (whether of the Left, Right, Republican, Democrat, Media, Business, Cultural, Political- all of them) are neutered and put back into their proper place, gridlock and malaise will continue. Therefore, any attack on the elites in my book, is a good thing.
The Internet (and Steve Jobs played a vital role in this) is pushing power outwards and downwards and into the hands of individuals like you and I at an ever expanding rate. Centralization of power impedes progress, therefore any centralization of power, in my book is a bad thing.
The Tea Party (such as it is) has made it's name attacking the sacred cows of the Elite Left. (Bloated public pensions, ineffective public education systems, unsustainable entitlement commitments teacher's unions and their effect on education, neo-Socialists attempts to turn us into Europe.)
OccupyWallStreet seems (after a rough start, they seem to be focusing down a bit) to be going after the sacred cows of the Elite Right- (corporate welfare, crony capitalism, legalized corruption in Congress that waters down effective regulation of corrupt corporations.)
So in other words, Elites of all varieties are being attacked from both sides. I can get behind this and give it a big old two thumbs up.
I still think there's more work to be done. We're in a fundamental moment of transformation and we need a new politics and a new ideology (or ideologies) for the 20th Century. I have little patience for decades old socialist talking points being constantly repackaged and passed off as something 'radical'. I have even less patience for a party that says that government is depraved and must be destroyed yet curiously insists that government stick around to enforce a moral obligation to dictate what a woman can do to her own body, whom a person can marry and whether they can engage in moral, ethical family planning by easy access to whatever means of contraception they choose to employ. Such hypocrisy makes me sick.
The true transformation of this country can only begin when we break down the barriers that the Elites impose on us and those that we impose on ourselves. When we truly realize that America deserves better than what our elites have to offer us, then we will be truly free.
I say all this as a registered, proud, fiercely Independent voter. You better believe I'm going to remain that way.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Palin is...
out! (So is Christie, but I never really thought he was in to begin with.) Next debate is the 11th. We'll see how that shakes things up.
UPDATED: Slate.com would like to thank Palin for being arrogant. Apparently being a shameless self-promoter is a breakthrough of some kind for American women. (I expect it probably is, but even more interesting to me is that she represents a new kind of feminism that hasn't been fully appreciated yet. Traditionally, feminism seems to take the tack that women should go out and gain power and equality in the patriarchal system. Palin shows up and says 'I gots the power and if you think I'm not equal to a man, grab a shotgun and we'll see who can kill a moose first.' She demanded what she already knew she had, in other words. It's subtle, but it's there.)
American Thinker (seems pretty right-wing, so no surprise here) has all kinds of praise for her decision not to run and the reasons she gave not to run. The whole 'no 3rd Party' and 'beat Obama at all costs' attitude pissed me off a little bit. After all, why not a 3rd Party? Last time Republicans were in charge of everything, we had a President that- well, you know- and a Congress that pretty much let him do what he wanted. (Which really makes me angry, even now. What's the point of checks and balances if you don't actually, check and balance. Grrrrr...) To me, ending 'business as usual' is what this is all about. The President is no picnic, to be sure, but if he's going to be replaced with just another Republicrat who talks a lot and does nothing at all that doesn't do anything beneficial for anyone.
UPDATED: Slate.com would like to thank Palin for being arrogant. Apparently being a shameless self-promoter is a breakthrough of some kind for American women. (I expect it probably is, but even more interesting to me is that she represents a new kind of feminism that hasn't been fully appreciated yet. Traditionally, feminism seems to take the tack that women should go out and gain power and equality in the patriarchal system. Palin shows up and says 'I gots the power and if you think I'm not equal to a man, grab a shotgun and we'll see who can kill a moose first.' She demanded what she already knew she had, in other words. It's subtle, but it's there.)
American Thinker (seems pretty right-wing, so no surprise here) has all kinds of praise for her decision not to run and the reasons she gave not to run. The whole 'no 3rd Party' and 'beat Obama at all costs' attitude pissed me off a little bit. After all, why not a 3rd Party? Last time Republicans were in charge of everything, we had a President that- well, you know- and a Congress that pretty much let him do what he wanted. (Which really makes me angry, even now. What's the point of checks and balances if you don't actually, check and balance. Grrrrr...) To me, ending 'business as usual' is what this is all about. The President is no picnic, to be sure, but if he's going to be replaced with just another Republicrat who talks a lot and does nothing at all that doesn't do anything beneficial for anyone.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Northside Fire? Not A Problem...
Station 4 is set to go online Monday. It looks like a really nice building- and I know the Fire Department people really like the drive through for the trucks- no backing up and tying up traffic anymore.
Pretty much, once they get that First Avenue Rail Overpass done, then Station 3 won't get tied up by trains anymore and it should all be shiny...
Pretty much, once they get that First Avenue Rail Overpass done, then Station 3 won't get tied up by trains anymore and it should all be shiny...
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