<p>I think the elite private schools should form their own football conference. Aside from ND, these schools are in very difficult leagues and have trouble competing consistently. Football requires a plethora of scholarships and football players generally have much lower test-scores. Many of these schools can compete well in basketball as it doesn't require as many scholorships (Georgetown has already adopted a policy to play in a seperate football league). An academic football conference would foster interaction through a more competitive league and put more emphasis on the student-athlete. </p>
<p>Possible New League --
Duke (ACC)
Georgetown (Patriot)
Notre Dame (Indep.)
Northwestern (Big 10)
Rice (C-USA)
Stanford (Pac-10)
Vanderbilt (SEC)
Wake Forest (ACC)</p>
<p>It wouldn't work with those schools, they're too far apart. A school like Georgetown isn't going to travel halfway across the country to play Stanford in a game that (most likely) wouldn't bring in revenue</p>
<p>I don't think travel is as big a deal as it used to be. For instance, Stanfords women's lacrosse team played a bunch of teams on the east coast and men's football would obviously be better funded.</p>
<p>I feel that such a league would be competitive and more enjoyable to watch. Duke lost every ACC game last year and many of the other conference teams struggle as well. Also, in an age of competetive admissions it could potentially free up space to more deserving students.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I feel that such a league would be competitive and more enjoyable to watch. Duke lost every ACC game last year and many of the other conference teams struggle as well. Also, in an age of competetive admissions it could potentially free up space to more deserving students.
college2332 is offline
[/quote]
</p>
<p>First of all, Northwestern and Notre Dame would never leave their current status. As of now, they compete for an automatic bcs bid every year(Notre Dame got that automatic bid last year, and Northwestern can win the Big 10). Why would they throw away that option to join a what certainly looks like a pretty weak conference.</p>
<p>Also, there is a very large gap in talent/program prestige between Notre Dame, Stanford, Northwestern and the rest of the schools.</p>
<p>NCAA football is more or less a monopoly, and the schools listed above in the BCS conference are in on the take. Doesn't make sense to switch. </p>
<p>As well, the pac-10 and big-10 are fairly solid academically. They include the bluk of the top public schools in the US, in addition to the two good privates above.</p>
<p>Furthermore, too much to lose in terms of tradition: Wake-Carolina, Cal-Stanford, etc.</p>
<p>You've go to feel bad for Rice though, they are a SWC orphan and have to play in the leftover WAC conference.</p>
<p>Tht would be crazy. Teams can't play properly if they're constantly jet-lagged, cris-crossing the country by plane. When do they have time to -- you know -- complete their major?</p>
<p>"Teams can't play properly if they're constantly jet-lagged, cris-crossing the country by plane. When do they have time to -- you know -- complete their major?"</p>
<p>^^
Most colleges already treat big time athletes unfairly, thats why I posted there should be a movement toward having true "student-athletes" (although this is probably unrealistic). The other posters made good points on schools like Stanford and Notre Dame not being good fits. Schools on the East Coast (ie. William and Mary, etc.) would likely be more appropriate. But I agree with Drew that universities would probably never give up the $$$.</p>
<p>"A conference that by definition allows only "elite" private schools? Wow, what would they call it? The Snotty 8?"</p>
<p>What are you talking about? Have you ever heard of the Ivy League? My OP was a similiar hypothetical but for schools with D-1 sports.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>What are you talking about? Have you ever heard of the Ivy League? My OP was a similiar hypothetical but for schools with D-1 sports<<</p>
</blockquote>
<br>
<p>All of the Ivy league schools schools currently have D-1 sports. It's a D-1 conference. So if that's what you want there is no need for you to make a new one. </p>
<p>And the Ivy league was not originally based on being elite so much as being old, all-men's schools located in the northeast. It was based more on tradtional rivalries than on being "elite". The Ivy league schools are not uniformly elite - witness the usual threads asking "What is the Worst Ivy?". Some of the schools have grown to be considered more elite by virtue of being in the Ivy League and not the other way around.</p>
<p>"All of the Ivy league schools schools currently have D-1 sports. It's a D-1 conference. So if that's what you want there is no need for you to make a new one."</p>
<p>The Ivy League is D-1 AA. There is a big difference between typical D-1 schools and the Ivies as they do not offer athletic schlorships. I never made any claims on either league being "uniformly elite", but rather schools with an academic focus and actually care about giving their athletes a top-notch education and graduating on-time. There are relatively few big conference schools that share these ideals in D-1 sports, and I apologize if you mis-read such ideals as elitism.</p>
<p>The Patriot League is a great example of how selective LAC's can compete at the D1 level and graduate their players in 4 years. This year Holy Cross pulled off 1 of the greatest upsets in NCAA hockey by beating #1 seed Minnesota(HC offers no scholarships) in the tourney and for 2nd year Bucknell won a first round NCAA hoops game.</p>