Rise And Fire – Conference Realignment Morning Link Dump - 9/21/2011

HERE WE GO AGAIN - BIG 12 REALIGNMENT AND/OR EXPANSION AND/OR RETRACTION

What newspapers are saying...
KC Star - Kansas Board of Regents to discuss realignment Thursday
Topeka Capital-Journal - Big 12: Regents chairman hoping cooler heads prevail
Des Moines Register - Conference realignment: Today's news from across the country
Dallas Morning News - Report: Pac-12 finalizing details to add UT, OU, OSU and Texas Tech
Houston Chronicle - Texas A&M Formal SEC announcement is only matter of time. Meanwhile...
NewsOK - Boone Pickens: Big 12 isn't dead; Texas A&M 'sobering up'
NewsOK - Source: Removal of Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe among OU's demands
KC Star - Source: Mizzou has SEC offer, but SEC willing to wait
... or not...
StL Post-Dispatch - SEC official: No offer to Mizzou

What MSM is saying...
KBIA Sports Extra - Report: Mizzou to receive conditional invite to SEC, pending future of Big 12
ESPN - OU, Texas authorized to act on Pac-12
ESPN - Video: Mike & Mike on realignment

What blogs are saying...
Rumble In The Garden - Team-by-team reaction to Big East realignment
Burnt Orange Nation - Conference Realignment: Where Texas Stands
PowerMizzou.com - If Mizzou moves, all signs point south
ZagsBlog - SEC, ACC Reject West Va.; SEC Targets Mizzou
SB Nation KC - SEC Expansion: Texas A&M Basketball Should Enjoy New Surroundings Away From Big 12
The Big Lead - Nate Silver Brings Some Clarity to College Football Realignment Madness

Missouri should be the 14th SEC Team. Based purely on numbers, Clemson (1.8m) or Georgia Tech (1.7m) make the most sense. Neither would be accepted for political reasons. Virginia Tech would be the next plausible school at (1.3m). It would be difficult to get them. The Hokies might not want to leave the ACC. Missouri has fewer fans (1.1m) but, as a free agent, would be hassle free.

BIG EAST + BIG 12 = BIG TWEAST
ESPN - Sources: Big 12 mulling Big East merger
ESPN College Basketball Nation Blog - Big 12-Big East merger might just work

OTHER EXPANSIONAPALOOZA TALK
ACC Expansion
Beyond The Arc - ACC's move to 16 teams waiting on two schools...
SI.com - Malloy: UConn in enviable position in shakeup

Big 10 Expansion
The Big Lead - If Notre Dame Joins a Conference, It Will Be The Big Ten, Not the ACC.

Big East Expansion
ESPN College Basketball Nation Blog - MWC looking to keep TCU as conferences shift
Beyond The Arc - Upside of Big East news? Cantankerous Boeheim emerges

Mountain West Expansion
SB Nation Denver - Mountain West Expansion: MWC, Conference USA Considering Football-Only Merger
Des Moines Register - Conference realignment: Mountain West confirms talks with Iowa State

Independent Expansion
ESPN (Andy Katz) - Video: Chances Irish Remain Independent?