Childs Play

A small child comes up to you. He has a new toy. He loves this thing, but it has it’s flaws. Nonetheless, this child adores this toy, and is loyal to it above all other toys. The child sheepishly hands you it to have you fix it. There is only a little bit of tinkering that has to be done.

You smile at the little one.

With a large breath, you throw your shoulders back, lift the toy above your head, and with all your force, you smash the toy in the ground. Crushing the small child’s hopes in the process.

Does this sound like you?

Would anyone with a soul ever do this?

This tragic think is something that is at the helms of occurring. Symbolically of course.

The heartless, and deceptive adult that is supposed to be in control is the NCAA. The easily fixable, and solvable toy is college football.

We are obviously the disappointed, and heart-broken child.

The NCAA is taking this great thing of college football, that we have seemed to love unconditionally forever, and trying to destroy it. I don’t understand it, and I never will understand why they want to destroy this almost perfect sport, especially when they have the opportunity to make it flawless.

Here is the situation. The major conferences like the Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, PAC 10, ACC and Big East have been whispering about “expansion.” And in the confusing list which involves several teams jumping from one conference to the other. Here is what the rumors are:

The Big 10 would become 12 teams... (Bigger 12??) by STEALING schools from other conferences like Missouri (Big 12) and Syracuse (Big East). The Big 12 in retaliation would go after TCU (Mountain West Conference) to replace Mizzou, and possibly Arkansas from the SEC (Which I don’t think they would be able to convince to come over). The SEC has threatened to go after Texas. The PAC 10 is rumored to be sweeping the Utah out from under the MWC.

What does all this mean?

The college football world will become 4 Sumo Conferences (Pac 10, Big 12, Big 10, and SEC) and all the other conferences will just get the crumbs of the BCS money.

The Mountain West Conference, I think, would be the most effected. In both Football and Basketball, The MWC has shown that they can compete with the best teams in the country. Each year, they have multiple teams end the year ranked in the top 25. If TCU were to leave, then we lose a team that has the talent and criteria to reach a BCS Bowl Game. If Utah were to leave, then the conference would lose a team that can potentially contend for a National Title in football, and that can occasionally be ranked in the top 25 in basketball. For UNLV, SDSU, and BYU, this means that conference is left out of a share of millions of dollars. Recruiting goes down, quality of play goes down, something to cheer for goes down.

However, here is my proposal. If the NCAA isn’t going to get rid of the BCS (which I don’t think they will), then there is one idea of expansion that makes perfect sense.

Boise St. graciously leaves the WAC to join the MWC. This undoubtedly turn the MWC into an automatic qualifying conference because it would have at least four teams that would contend for a BCS spot (Utah, BYU, Boise St, and TCU). As far as basketball goes, Boise St would be a middle of the road team in the conference, which will occasionally be able to contend against the elites. If this were to occur, based on recent history, the best conferences would go as such.

SEC

Big 12

Big 10

MWC

ACC

Pac 10

Big East

In basketball

Big East

ACC

Big 12

Big 10

MWC

PAC 10

SEC

But obviously, this won’t ever happen. But could you guys imagine. The MWC being treated like the giants. It’s what I hope for, and I what I want to work to make it happen. Write your senator.

Until then, I am holding onto my slightly flawed toy, at least until the adult gets responsible.