The Big XII Break-Up and College Conference Mergers

Okay, since I was real young, I've always been a fan of Notre Dame and Colorado University (CU) football (and basketball on a lesser level). As of today, CU was the first of six or seven other schools to officially announce it was leaving the Big XII Conference for the Pac 10 (which presumably will later be renamed to the Pac16 with an eastern and western conference). For sports (rivalry) reasons (primarily), I never have fully supported the Pac 10, but with CU joining (tentatively set for 2012), my support will follow.

Many people are failing to recognize Notre Dame as one of the secretive schools behind the Big XII desegregation. Conferences do not merge or change often. The Pac 10 has not invited other schools into its conference since 1978 and the Big Ten has not invited many schools into its conference either. The last was Penn State (school in 1990 and the athletics program in 1993). Since, they've been trying to invite Notre Dame and the school has declined with its monetary allegiance to the school (as opposed to a league) for athletic excellence. Additionally, they have a contract with NBC they do not want to void (also for monetary purposes). As much as the Big Ten would want them to join for recognition purposes, greater competition, etc.; the school has to take individual assets into consideration too. All of these schools are faced with the individual assets discussion to a greater or lesser degree, but this is one that has been re-discussed at least four times throughout the '90s and the 2000s. It's important to distinguish that Notre Dame is currently in the Independent League in football and the Big East in basketball. to my knowledge, not many schools are in two or more conferences.

Today, we have the Big XII merger with potentially three other conferences (Pac 10, Big Ten and the Mountain West). The University of Nebraska has threatened to join the Big Ten (and it is very likely that will occur). They have also mentioned that they would not be interested in joining unless Notre Dame does. Notre Dame currently is uninterested unless the Big Ten is going to invite others to become more competitive (on the scale of sixteen teams). So essentially, we are seeing a push-pull relationship between those schools and the Big Ten. Additionally, Missouri University has also explored the possibility of joining. Other remaining schools (primarily in Texas and Oklahoma) believe the Big XII is over with Nebraska's departure. Those schools (Texas, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State) are all looking at the Pac 10 as well. Texas flirted with joining the Pac 10 in the '90s and backed-out. With this proposed scenario working-out, Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa and Iowa State would be left looking for a conference and would likely be shoveled-up by the Mountain West who denied increasing football powerhouse Boise State a place to see how the Big XII panned-out.

I'm not sure what most people think, but all of this change has occurred so suddenly. There were rumblings of different activities occurring prior to this, but not many foresaw this rapid change occurring so swiftly. The Big Eight that turned to the Big XII with the addition of Texas schools in 1994 had so much success and support, it is difficult to believe. The midwest and west are only part of the picture too, as the Big East and ACC will also review where they stand and what will make them more competitive as well. The idea of the Pac 16 makes them a super-conference (for comparative purposes) and will likely award the conference two BCS Bids (which other conferences will argue against). The entire shuffle begs some interesting questions and not only with athletics, but schools in general.

One interview from my recent Master's Capstone Project commented on the interesting relationship people have with sports over academics in the twenty-first century. Obviously on the larger levels (e.g. college and professional sports), substantial money is flowing, which attracts immense support in a capitalist society. That makes sense to me, but it seems as though education has lost its footing on being able to market itself with greater importance over sports (to most people). One question this merger needs to be addressed in the media (that schools already have to consider in merger discussions) is what money and support will follow academic programs. It's amazing how that is always a subsidiary conversation behind athletics.

Other questions this proposes for me ask whether these and future mergers will make people more privy to the business-side of schools and their athletic programs? Too often, I find that people generally only associate the business aspect with professional sports. How would the concept of super conferences (like the Pac 16) work-out? Would others form to compete, leaving three or possibly four large conferences in college? How would this affect or possibly ruin the NCAA? Little is talked about different areas of the country and existing allegiances, their broadcasting, and how this would affect them. I think this is a conversation also worth happening. From both the academic and sports purposes, I will be curious to see how this continues to develop in the next two or three weeks. Schools and athletic programs are changing as quickly as the times and simple commodities we continue to see changing in the twenty-first century (largely due to population change and greater technology reliance).

Urban Hiking - A Reality!

Last week when I was working on the final components to my Master's Capstone Project, my friend Lance and I discussed how neat hiking in the Rocky Mountains is. Of course, I am an outdoors guy and he is fascinated by municipal government, its development and much more. We talked about how neat it would be to get a group of people together to walk through Denver and other municipalities to see different parts of the City, learn about their development and the people living within them. The idea was soon dubbed, "Urban Hiking," by Lance, who claims to be a "city boy." Personally, I thought the idea was brilliant because you really can learn a great deal from many people and circumstances commonly unheard of. Are there other organizations that walk around Cities to learn about them, their development and people? None immediately come to mind. With a great hiking interest already, I am excited about the opportunities Lance and I are pioneering with "Urban Hiking."

E.U. and the U.S.

The comparison is commonly made; the European Union (EU) and the United States (US)? What specifically is there with this comparison? Is it that European countries see a significant advantage to many counterparts governing all (e.g. states comprising of a nation; what is now European countries comprising of the EU as a nation)? Does nationalistic pride play a factor? Do economic factors make European countries much more recognized in the world economy when collectively allied in a similar fashion as the states? The answer to all of these questions is simply yes. Now depending upon one's experience(s) and understanding of international relations, all three of these topics can be expanded with diverse views, similar to many topics.

Last week, I had the opportunity to speak with my brother's friend from Romania over Skype. We had a lengthy conversation about the EU, its make-up and future. Partially to my surprise, he discussed nationalistic pride being too great to ever take the state-nation governing system like we have here in the United States. However, according to him, people (of different nations) are willing to give just enough to be that much more competitive. Perhaps the two greatest things I took from the conversation is that people's nationalistic pride is going to be ever-more apparent when unifying multiple nations to become one is widely discussed. I have perhaps one of the most basic understanding of the EU and really need to do more research on it, but I was also appalled to learn French was the official language of the European Union.

There is no specific argument to this blog post, but I figured I would share my thoughts on a conversation I don't get the opportunity to have everyday.

Census Day, An Efficient Count?

At the beginning of last fall, I was working in municipal government and driving back from a Manager's Meeting with Milliken's Administrator and we discussed the Census' efficiency. Does it really work for an accurate count of people and their demographics in the United States? More importantly, is it the most efficient counting measure for the twenty-first century and advancing technology in the information age? In the United States, we often have a difficult time letting go of tradition. Most of the time, this is rooted in the high nationalistic pride "Americans" have in themselves and their country. It is not to say that this is a bad thing by any means. Generally speaking, most people in the United States are more proud for who they are and what they represent in the national picture of production and continuing to grow as a nation.

Today is "National Census Day," and many "American's" are filling out and submitting forms to describe the basics of their household. A ten minute survey providing no immediate costs for citizens to fill-out is evidently difficult for many households to participate in (for various reasons). In a decade-routine activity with astronomical costs in advertising, employees and filing forms in a time of economic recovery, is it time to consider utilizing existing (continuing) resources to fulfill the counting needs? The concept is a good one, which could save dramatically on costs, continue adding jobs for form filing, speaking with citizens and approaching these resources (particularly in municipal government with municipalities and counties). The counting process may also be increased, resulting from such. One (community) does not actually know what they have until they attempt to utilize it.

Here is a fun interactive map Census provides detailing returned forms:

http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/

MLB Division Realignment?

With baseball season near, the discussion of winners, losers and expectations begin anew in a sport often reflective of "American" and its past-time. Perhaps you have your own view of Division structures if you have a vested interest in a team or if you are like most people in the United States and are a fan throughout 162 days of the year, if not greater for those few eight represented teams out of thirty in the Playoffs every year. Speaking of every year, I have argued to allow more teams into the playoffs, because those eight teams with the best record in the American and National Leagues are not always representative of baseball's best.

Surely, this discussion revolves around a topic recently uttered across the MLB; Division Realignment. Would moving re-building clubs such as the Royals and Indians to the AL East for teams like the Rays, Orioles and Blue Jays make a significant difference? Absolutely! Is it the most feasible option in the Division Realignment? I personally don't think so speaking as a fan of the Minnesota Twins, but also realistically in the geographic phase of the the conversation. Currently, the AL West has four teams and the NL Central has six, resulting from the Milwaukee Brewers' move between the two in 1998. My proposal for division realignment consists of two moves between the leagues:

1. Move the Arizona Diamondbacks from the NL West to the AL West. They are one of the most recent expansion additions to the league and the politicking of lengthy vested interests would not be as great, if not there at all.
2. Move the Houston Astros from the NL Central to the NL West. They once were in the division before significant realignment and are very familiar with other teams in it, playing them every season and once sharing a division with them in the 1980s (Colorado Rockies excepted - expansion franchise 1993).

This is also the person who would like to see the Indianapolis Colts move from the AFC South to the NFC East and the Dallas Cowboys move from the NFC East to the AFC South to be geographically correct. Will this ever happen...probably not. The Cowboys' NFL stronghold and fan faithful to the NFC East's rival teams is too great to offer alternatives for another division.

Here is an interesting article I read on MLB division realignment because of the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox' deep pockets and the unfair competitive chances of other clubs. I personally am oppose to this seeming-small talk proposal, but what thoughts do you have and are they based on an invested or fan interest?

http://www.nesn.com/2010/03/mlbs-floating-realignment-idea-might-not-change-much.html

'90s Technology - Modern Marvels

I recently watched this Modern Marvels segment of '90s technology. It is interesting that we have increasing technology world wide and in many common-discussed places (e.g. the Gulf War), and yet something like the GPS was not apart of common-life until (my estimate) 2005. What I find to be even more phenomenal is what our society commonly uses today, and yet the roots trace back to the early '90s and in some cases even earlier. For a History student who has read about and studied previous generations and events, what was being developed behind the scenes really paints a different picture of different time frames, development and earlier technology evolved into what many of us take for granted today. Overall, this is a good video of expanding technology into life's mainstream, which I did not fully realize was occurring at the time...then again, I was in elementary and middle school for most of the decade. I only remember some of this stuff being revolutionary, but looking back on it now makes you realize and appreciate it much more...even those goofy "Tamagotchi" things, which are now similar to today's Facebook Farmville, Pet Farm games that many play.

http://www.history.com/shows/modern-marvels/videos/90s-tech#90s-tech

The Concept of Insurance

The age-old question of insurance recommendations has now resurfaced on the front page of national news with the recent Health Care Legislation passing in the House last Sunday. The concept is often associated with automobile insurance. I remember first driving and my parents telling me how expensive it was to sit behind the wheel daily and commute with gas, regular automobile check-ups and of course insurance. As a young adult exiting high school for college, I questioned the idea of mandatory insurance, with someone (or company) on the other end waiting to lever-in mandatory dollars through state law. Sure, nothing has changed with state law requiring automobile insurance and there are still many people driving without it for numerous reasons, but mainly because they cannot afford it. The concept of mandatory insurance is one that will forever be in debate among people, but I am wondering how much of an impact the "gradual" mandatory Health Care Insurance requirement will make people change their perspective on "mandatory insurance." Surely, since I began driving and look back about ten years later, I now understand and respect mandatory automobile insurance and also see the significance of mandatory health insurance and everyone paying-in. Again, the ability to do so will be the greatest consenting factor, but I tend to take the optimistic approach hoping others will see and ultimately reap the benefits of mandatory health care.