Mick Ronson
Well-Known Member
Carolina:
For conference balance, you went straight to the top when discussing the Big 12. And that's the problem. USC is definitely the top dog in the Pac, but other programs also have their moments/runs. Stanford probably the least likely due to academic constraints, but they've been a top 25 team and also fielded some great basketball programs (while being a powerhouse AD when evaluated across the board). The Pac does not have programs like Iowa State and Baylor.
i respectfully don't agree with the claim that the Pac 10 is stronger top to bottom. but, we talked about this a week or so ago if i recall and no need to rehash. 10 of the 12 big XII teams have played in either a BCS Bowl, the Cotton Bowl or the Holiday Bowl. 6 Big XII teams have played in a BCS bowl with Tech, Missouri, and OSU all one win away in each of the last 3 years. the Holiday Bowl, prior to last years changes, pitted the Big XII #3 (usually #4 if there were 2 BCS bids) against the Pac #2. the way you focus on Baylor and ISU is simply the inverse of Carolina's focus on the top (as you say). you bring up WSU as the "doormat" but Stanford, UCLA, OSU and UW have all been consistently no better than .500 and mostly below teams for most the last decade. what Wazzou did 7-8 years ago isn't a convincing generalization from a particular point to me.
i agree whole-heartedly with your second point (not quoted here) abotu time-zones and making the move to the Pac if possible.