Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.sports From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: College football needs conference changes Date: Sun, 15 Nov 92 16:56:27 EST Message-ID: \SE C;SPORTS;SPORTS VIEWS;SPORTS FORUM \HD College football needs conference changes I appreciated the Associated Press story in The Washington Times ["Texas sees SWC future despite reported Pac-10 interest," Nov. 3]. Where there's smoke (rumors), there may well be fire. Texas and Colorado would be powerful additions to an already strong Pac-10. But instead of the Pac-12, I'd rather see it remain the Pac-10. This would be the perfect opportunity to suggest that Oregon and Oregon State leave and join other conferences. For about 35 years, Oregon and Oregon State have been "non-performing assets" in this conference. The only thing Oregon and Oregon State have to look forward to is playing each other - which they do the last Saturday of each season - a game that one of them is bound to win . . . a game that has almost no impact on the Pac-10 standings and attracts no interest outside the state. The Big Ten add a 12th member? First, perhaps they should get rid of a couple of perennial cellar-dwellers. Maybe Minnesota and Northwestern could join the Mid-American Conference, where they could win a game now and then. While we're at it, let's reorganize a few other conferences. When will Duke take another ACC football title? (They tied Virginia for the title in 1989.) Maybe when Halley's comet pays us another visit. In the Southwest Conference, will Texas Christian (the Horned Frogs surprised Texas last weekend) win another conference game this season? Will Vanderbilt win three games in the Southeastern Conference? Historically, that would make Vanderbilt's season a success. Will Missouri of the Big Eight win a conference game this season? No, I'm not ridiculing these weaker teams who play in conferences where they have virtually no chance of winning. It's just that games such as the following make little sense: Nebraska 56, Missouri 7. Michigan 63, Minnesota 13. Washington 49, Oregon 3. Alabama 42, Vanderbilt 7. The scores could be much worse, but the winners often empty their benches in the third or fourth quarter as a humanitarian gesture. Such suffering should be relieved by reorganizing those conferences. MAURICE MARSOLAIS Fairfax The Washington Times welcomes your views. Letters should be signed originals, typed double-spaced. If responding to a published article, please include the date of publication and headline. Letters may be edited for clarity and length. Please include your name, address and daytime and evening telephone numbers to: Sports Forum The Washington Times 3600 New York Ave. NE Washington, D.C. 20002 FAX: 202/529-7869 This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM