Expansion Causes Concern for Smaller Schools

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 College football has undoubtedly been through many changes since the days of the hard-nosed, leather helmet wearing-scholar athletes. The game has developed into a giant enterprise in which only the strong will survive, even if cheating is the solution. Money and the fear for some schools being left behind, when the realignment of the NCAA is all said and done furthers the expansion process of certain conferences such as, the PAC 12, SEC and the new Big 12. With this expansion, smaller schools are looking at a bleak future to say the lease.

            The expansion process began with Nebraska moving to the BIG 10 and Colorado to the PAC 10. These schools were followed closely by smaller schools, who still had the money and recruiting power to compete with larger programs. For smaller schools with successful athletic programs, a move to a larger, more accredited conference is a great advantage for recruiting.

“Joining a powerhouse conference is a major weapon for smaller schools,” said Kyle Horine a senior safety on the Ole Miss football team. “The region in which these smaller programs recruited from has definitely expanded to other states.” Student-Athletes are excited about joining a smaller program that competes on a national stage.” Horine, a fourth-year walk on, was not highly recruited out of high school. 

With the expansion of the larger conferences, the end could be near for many schools. Schools that have taken on the role of a bottom feeder in a powerhouse conference are treading water to stay afloat. Senior Baylor University student, Chad Crowell shows no optimism for his school’s future.

“We have not been the most successful in years past, but it is not fair to the students and alumni who have put in a great deal of effort to support a less than mediocre program,” he said. “What will happen when we move to a smaller conference and lose all of our support?”

Colorado, Nebraska and Texas A&M have already made the jump into other conferences and rumor has it that Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Missouri and possibly Texas will relocate in the near future. How will this movement out of the BIG 12 affect smaller schools in the SEC, such as Ole Miss?

“Expansion could be good for Ole Miss,” said Brandon Marcello of the Clarion-Ledger. Officials say that adding Texas A&M to the SEC would add dollars to conference.”

According to the SEC, Ole Miss makes up the bottom portion of athletic budgets in the conference with $47.6 million. Texas A&M has an athletic budget of $75.8 million pushing the Rebels farther down the pecking order in the SEC. This poses some concern considering if the SEC were to cut schools from the conference, Ole Miss might be the topic of discussion.

While we can only hold our breath and wait to see what the future holds for The University of Mississippi, other schools are relocating to bigger conferences with more money and national recognition.

“We do not know the outcome this expansion will have on college football, causing concern for diehard fans across the country,” said Marcello.

Sources:

            Kyle Horine- Kdhorine@olemiss.edu

            Chad Crowell- (401) 575-6492

            Brandon Marcello- The Clarion Ledger (bmarcello@gmail.com)