Wed 5/16X
Card Game
Louisville waits patiently until Big 12 gets its conference realignment act together
Louisville waits patiently until Big 12 gets its conference realignment act together
Source: Card Game by Charlie Springer
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. T
he process often seems more driven by rumors than reason.
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 Athletic 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 Virginia Tech, maybe 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 clique of academicians, TV network executives and former jocks making the decisions about Big 12 expansion. A larger TV market might be helpful is desirable 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 But all the foot dragging, procrastination, and indecision has more to do with outdated stereotypes than reality.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.
So we continue to wait, learning our fate only after they are wedged into a position where they are forced to make a decision about the University of Louisville.