COLLEGE SPORTS: Top 7 villains in the conference realignment saga

By NICK SLOAN, NJSloan212@gmail.com

With the latest round of conference realignment appearing to be over for at least now, it's time to reflect a bit on the situation.

The many "winners and losers" columns are being written around the country.

But who was to blame?

Hundreds of individuals are to blame for the greatest conference shake-up in history. College presidents, coaches, conference commissioners and so on.

There are seven, however, who stand out above the pack.

7. Jay Nixon, Governor of Missouri - This has nothing to do with him being a Democrat, Republican or whatever. It has something to do with his big mouth. Nixon publicly endorsed the idea of the University of Missouri moving to conferences....twice. Nixon is blamed in some circles for Missouri not getting an invite to the Big 10. The dysfunctional family aspect of the Big 12 has always made it vulnerable. But a governor from a state publicly lobbying for a move did not help things. It probably encouraged Colorado and Nebraska to move on.

6. ACC - The ACC is a forgotten player in this thing. That's mostly to the fact they've become a forgotten player in football, though their conference is pretty solid this year. Years ago, they stole Miami and Virginia Tech from the Big East conference. This year, they took Syracuse and Pittsburgh from the Big East. They've been quiet raids, but raids nonetheless. Anytime a conference takes four teams in little over a decade, that's not a good sign. There have also been rumors of both Notre Dame and Penn State joining the conference, though I doubt Penn State would be invited to any conference considering the little situation going on there.

5. The Big 10/Pac 12/Rose Bowl alliance and partnership - The Rose Bowl is one of the biggest reasons why the BCS is in existence. The Rose Bowl's partnership with the Big 10 and Pac 12 - two conferences primarily involved in conference realignment - makes me wonder how much they've been pulling behind the scenes. Anytime you add a Nebraska and it's massive fan base to a Rose Bowl pool of teams, that's a big winner. These two conferences are always linked because of the Rose Bowl and one wonders.

4. David Boren, Oklahoma president - With Texas A&M appearing on its way out, the Big 12 was looking for a way to maintain a 10-team conference. Rumors of BYU joining the conference were plentiful this summer. There's always been talk of a merger between the Big 12 North schools and the Big East football schools. Despite that, it appeared the Big 12 would survive. Then, for whatever reason, Boren pulls a Jay Nixon and openly flirts with the Pac 12. From there, the Pac 16 rumors gained steam in early September. According to Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel, this was the incident that prompted Missouri to go conference hunting.

3. The Texas Longhorns - Yes, they have to be on here simply because every major conference they've been involved with has melted down at some point. There's the Longhorn Network, an idea so toxic that no other conference wanted them. There's the issue of money and greed. There's the demand of having the Big 12 title game in Dallas each year. There's the secret meetings with Oklahoma. There's the narcissism of thought that they are the only big dog in the conference, when in reality Oklahoma has done much more in football and Kansas has dominated them in basketball. I think Texas in someways is a scapegoat for those who claim the schools is the only villain in this. However, they don't deserve a free pass, either.

2. Notre Dame football - Part of me has always believed this conference realignment adventure was a method of forcing Notre Dame to join a conference. For years and years, Notre Dame has remained independent and reaped the benefits of a contract with NBC. Had Notre Dame joined the Big 10 in football years ago or even the Big East, I would bet much of this drama would not exist. I would bet the Big 10's power-play last summer was about Notre Dame, not Nebraska or Missouri. However, Notre Dame refused and Nebraska did not. Nebraska leaving opened the door for Colorado to bail on the Big 12 and later A&M and Missouri.

1. The NCAA - The NCAA is supposed to be this grand body of power that helps "keep athletic departments straight." They enforce rules. They can give the death penalty to programs that deserve it. They regulate athletic activities. If realignment was really so bad and was a threat to history, why did the NCAA just sit on the sidelines? Why didn't they step in at some point or realize that realignment could hurt the fans, players and customers of college athletics? The NCAA could have easily stopped realignment if they wanted to. If they can crack down on programs for allowing players to stay in mansions, it would have been easy for any kind of leadership to limit realignment.

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The three levels of thinking

I was watching the game between Duke and Ohio State last night and witnessed something that has become a disturbing trend in basketball games.  I was a bit shocked to see it from Duke last night.  The art of running an offense is something I am going to be watching for Friday night at Bonner Springs when they host Piper.

I am all for the fast break but at some point you are going to get into the half court and having your point guard try and break the floor dribbling is not effective offense.  I really thought Austin Rivers saw a few nails sticking out on the floor and wanted to use the ball to knock them back in. 

Chuck Minor (former Schlagle coach) was an excellent x's and o's coach.  9-game, flex, 3-game, and cutter were run from freshman team up to varisity when I was in school.  I remember these plays 20 years later and you know why?  Because they work.  There are a lot of intangible skills that Nick Sloan discussed a few weeks back and I could not agree more.  Floor spacing, setting screens and the ability to use a screen are a few more skills that get over looked. 

A lot of this has to do with the 3 levels of thinking.  They are a foundation for sports or any competitive situation.

Level 1 is quite simple.  A person at this level thinks solely about what they are going to do.  They rely on raw talent, speed, quickness or strength to get the job done.  This can work for many but at some point your competition is going to be just as fast and strong as you are.  Then what?

Level 2 is when you start thinking about what your opponent is going to do.  The art of picking up tendancies and exploiting them.  Noticing that someone is right handed and not as comfortable going to their left side is one example.  Over playing that weakness and making them do what they don't feel comfortable is a means to gain an advantage over your opponent.

Level 3 is honestly when sports will slow down.  You hear this often from athletes that the college or pro game is so fast.  At some point however the game slows down.  That is simply because you are thinking about what your opponent thinks you are about to do.  You are literally a step ahead of your opponent and at that point you simply take over.

What level are you playing at?

This is what I am looking for this basketball season.  Who has their head down grinding and who is thinking?  The All KCK basketball team without doubt will have a lot of thinkers on it.

Good luck this season.

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