ECU Chancellor Steve Ballard Speaks on Merger

[Harry]

http://www.pirateradio1250.com/pod/special/SteveBallardPressConf_021412.mp3

[Harry]

Boy you can tell they hated going to UTEP...

[UNTexas]

Interesting news. I think from everything I am hearing that we are good to go. Just my take anyway.

He did sound irritated about the travel. That is a long flight for his team, however, it goes both ways.

[NorthTexan95]

That interview is well worth listening to. Some highlights:

* The goal is to have the bylaws, conference name, tv contract, signed off my May 1, 2012. Nothing will be official until this time.

* 16-20 teams by this summer. Sounds like none will be added until the documents are signed on or around May 1st. Eventually increasing to 24-30 teams within a few years.

* ECU wants may be up to four divisions within the conference to reduce travel have have more regional games.

* New conference would officially start July 1, 2013.

[glick1980]

ECU needs to understand that they are far from any schools unless they start opening colleges in the middle of the atlantic ocean.

[SHOSS]

ECU needs to understand that they are far from any schools unless they start opening colleges in the middle of the atlantic ocean.

That is true. Being on a coast would make travel difficult in the alliance. Pirate ships don't travel across land very easily.

I've got to say that based on attendance, those guys have a huge beef with regard to being included in any of the "big" conferences. If we find ourselves in a conference with them, I would LOVE to check their atmosphere out as a road fan. Seeing 50K dressed as pirates would probably be a ton of fun on game day...all drinking rum and yelling arrrrrg n stuff.

[Eagle-96]

I understand where ECU is coming from regarding travel. Just remember back to the Big West days when we had to travel to the west coast. Not saying that ECU has a great alternative but that I feel their pain.

[Rudy]

That is true. Being on a coast would make travel difficult in the alliance. Pirate ships don't travel across land very easily.

Home and Home with Washington State?

[Green Mean]

If he's so pissed about the travel they can always move to the MAC or even the SBC.

[forevereagle]

If he's so pissed about the travel they can always move to the MAC or even the SBC.

Pretty sure he isn't that pissed.