Well, here we sit waiting. And waiting.
Still.
More than a year now since the University of Louisville was first mentioned as a possible candidate for Big 12 Conference membership. One day U of L seems to be a shoo-in, the next day an untouchable. Sometimes the in and out occurs several times during a day. So much doublespeak, so many falsehoods, leaks, red herrings and rumors.
In fact, the conference realignment process often seems more driven by anonymous posters on fan message boards than the professionals overseeing the conferences.
Passed over for West Virginia, with a good football program, a fair basketball program and not much else. Presumably because UofL wouldn’t dump on the Big East Conference to get to the Big 12.
Now Louisville seems to falling behind, per all the leaks and rumors. This time to Florida State and any other team in the Atlantic Coast Conference that wants to get out of there. Clemson, even. A program that won a national football championship 30 years ago but is largely irrelevant in any other sport. Who else? Well, there’s Miami, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, maybe even Maryland.
One thing UofL seems to lack, and it’s a huge impediment in a sport driven by stereotypes, is much of a football tradition. The future with Charlie Strong seems largely irrelevant in the cliques of academicians, TV network executives and former jocks making the decisions about Big 12 expansion. A larger TV market might be helpful but Louisville is among the top 50 and that doesn’t seem to be helping much.
A UofL athletic program so deserving still waiting, among the most financially successful in college athletics, winning conference championships, competing at the highest levels in basketball and a constant presence in NCAA tournaments in Olympic sports, a football program clearly on the rise, with athletic facilities that are among the newest, the largest and of the highest quality, and a growing fan base that is among the most devoted in the country.
The Big 12 knows what Louisville can bring to the conference, that’s why they keep stringing UofL along. But all the foot dragging, procrastination, and indecision has more to do with outdated stereotypes than reality. The old guard is territorial, slow to accept change, and overly cautious, even when opportunity is staring it in the face.
There is no grand plan involving logic or common sense. So we will continue to wait, unlikely to learn our fate until people in the inner circles are backed into a position where they are forced to actually make decisions. There will be a mad rush and anything can happen, contradicting everything that has happened up to that point.
Just wait and see.
As a WVU fan I have too say the reason WVU fans cant stand U of L is because of it’s own doing. When you guys entered the Big East you had an attitude with WVU….remember the first yr when our band came too Louisville and your band stayed on the field the whole time and didn’t give the courtesy too the other band? That’s one example. And here this expansion came along and your Senator Mitch McConnell stuck his nose into it once the Big 12 chose WVU over U of L. Yeah, everyone was saying, “Why not just take both schools?” There was a reason they didn’t. The T.V. and bowls both said WVU. What about Louisville? No, we want W.V. But things like that has rubbed the mountaineer nation.
The decision between UofL and WVU was made on one basis and one basis only: TV market. Say what you will about maneuvers by ADs, Senators, basketball programs and all other sports – none of that was a real factor in the process. What was a factor is that WVU has two TV markets in which it has significant penetration (it dominates Charleston and is a major presence in Pittsburgh) which combined far exceed the reach of UofL. It’s just that simple. No other metric makes sense.
no matter what WVU fans say, they hate Louisville as much as UK fans do. As an overall group, WVU fans do not want Louisville in the Big 12. End of the day, any ACC team that joins the Big 12 is run by idoits. Now NC State and VA Tech would be smart to go to the SEC. Also, Big East teams woukd be smart to go to the Big 12 or the ACC.
I’m a KU fan who is deeply interested in the whole conference realignment saga. I love that we got WVU, but it was equally frustrating that Louisville was not included and that we did not expand to 12 (or 14 or 16). That time is now, though.
I would love to see FSU, Clemson, ND (super long shot, but we can dream) and a couple others join (BYU? Meh…), but Louisville is too good to pass up. Great geography (relatively speaking), great basketball, quality football (everything was “quality” compared to KU last year) and all around good people and academics.
KU was twisting in the wind this time last year, so I feel your pain. That said, the ship righted itself. I have reason to believe it will do the same for Louisville. I hope you are extended a Big XII invite! You guys deserve it!
I have no animosity or disdain towards our former conference mates. In fact, I do hope, if anything, UL and Rutgers end up in a better place in the long run. Those are the only former Big East schools I have any respect for. I wouldn’t mind Rutgers coming to the Big XII, but they seemed destined to end up in the ACC perhaps Big 10. Plus, I’m from New Jersey so I’d love to see the EERS still coming to this area for logistical reasons.
I think what’s killing Louisville’s chances right now of getting to the Big XII is the fact that FSU and Clemson seem like they want to make moves out of the ACC. Not to mention, we’re hearing Virginia Tech and even Maryland want out as well.
I’d say if the Big XII had to pick two more schools from the bunch mentioned, it would be a football based decision most likely, then I’d say the pecking order would go something like this: 1)FSU, 2) Clemson/VPI, 3) Maryland/UL. And I think if anything, WVU would do everything it could to help land VT in the Big XII being that would be such a close game with a ton of history between the two schools.
I’m a dyed in the wool Mountaineer. To say UofL has nothing to offer is as silly as saying our basketball program is “fair” While UK can run the SEC package to cable/sat providers with ease I’m certain they coudl work a Big 12 deal far more easily than a Big East package addition. Frankly, I hope UofL gets into the Big 12. As i read this article the greter truth was that this read exactly like EVERY WVU article regarding expansion prior to our confirmation of the Big 12 jump. Best of Luck to you Birds. It would be nice to keep a budding rivalry alive.
Hey Charlie, here are the words from your coach’s mouth:
“that’s all they’re asking everywhere you go. That’s the big question now with all the recruits. They just want to know where you stand with the conference.”
Your recruits aren’t going to be happy knowing they were lied to. Say buh bye to them.
Maybe so. If Charlie Strong believes it, then there has to be something to it. Thanks for jogging my memory.
Really Charlie Springer? That’s odd because your coach said recruits ask about the conference they will be playing in. He said it is brought up all the time.
It matters.
I disagree with this statement “But all the foot dragging, procrastination, and indecision has more to do with outdated stereotypes than reality. The old guard is territorial, slow to accept change, and overly cautious, even when opportunity is staring it in the face.” I think adding WVU and TCU argues against your contention that the BIG12 is territorial, slow to accept change and is overly cautious. I think the problem that Louisville is faced with right now is that FSU, ND, and BYU are MUCH bigger opportunities that might be staring them in the face. Louisville is going to have to wait to see how this plays out, whether any of these big cash cows might come to the BIG12 and whether they will stop at 11, 12, 14 or 16. It’s no fun to be left dangling in the wind.
That description may have been more applicable to BYU than the Big 12, I’ll give you that. The waiting? Well, that’s what the post was all about.
Yeah Ville, your savior coach has a lot of explaining to do. He outright lied to your recruits and promised them they are going to the Big 12. We know that is a FACT because your recruits are tweeting about it.
Can you say . . . transfers??
By the way, tell Jurich thanks for “out-smarting” Luck and getting WVU in the Big 12.
Enjoy continued football irrelevancy. But hey, you still have your class and dignity.
The thing is the recruits want to play for Charlie Strong first. Conference affiliation is secondary.
As a WVU Fan, I honestly hope that Louisville gets into the Big 12. Great school, great city! I do believe it will happen…hang in there and good luck!
?The Big 12 knows what Louisville can bring to the conference, that’s why they keep stringing UofL along”
Sorry but Louisville brings nothing, except an overblow idea of their own value and brilliance. The Big 12 will only add teams that bring more $ into the conferece, that and that alone will be the deciding factor.
Louisville needs to work on convincing the networks to dish out more money to the Big 12, if Louisville is addded. Do that and Louisville is in, fail and you’re not, it’s that simple.
What is with fans from West Virginia? Do you guys still want in the Atlantic Coast Conference or something? With the way things are shaking, Louisville may back into a spot in the ACC. Now wouldn’t that be ironic.
Lol. Wait until Louisville’s recruits discover they they were lied to and will be playing San Diego State, UCF and Temple instead of Oklahoma, Texas and West Virginia.
The last time I looked this was a U of L fan site. Why do people from West Virginia feel they have to chime in? You got your invitation but apparently you are not satisfied with it, with your statewide inferiority complex. You don’t really expect respect from UofL fans do you?
Excuses excuses – you were passed over. Get over it.
Things didn’t necessarily evolve as written above. Mr. Luck was well on his way to Big-12 membership before Cardinals knew what was going on. UofL didn’t get played, they got caught sitting on their hands!
The problem here is when the Big 12 first asked us to joined Louisville responded we were not interested and that we were Happy in the Big East. Then the Big 12 took TCU, The ACC then took the liars Pitt and Syracuse. West Virginia’s AD Luck outplayed Jurich and got in the Big 12. So here we set watching the Big East die after trying to save it. When you think about it, Louisville looks played in all this!
This is just another article from a UL writer who – like the Card fans – are in denial about their school and their sports teams. You would have to be suffering from delusions of grandeur to think Ville offers more to a conference than WVU.
WVU having only a good football program and a “fair” basketball program? Yes, UL is a great basketball program…but WVU has consistently been a good team… What else do you want? And UofL not dumping on Big East??? Seriously? Ask Sen McConnell. I’m rooting for UofL in the Big 12, but to say they were a better candidate than WVU is a bit of a dream. Yeah, UL has a strong basketball program… but they have a failed football program since Petrino. WVU has a good football program and a good basketball program and has a larger national fanbase than UofL and sells more merch.
Matt, WVU has more fans because it’s a state institution. That only makes sense.