Big East expansion intent now official

[Silenoz]

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Odds Nova leaves?

[Big McLargehuge]

TCU is definitely getting an invite, and the names of these conferences continues to have less and less meaning.


Nova...I don't know where the hell they'd be playing, but the Philadelphia area was an abject failure in the Big East before with Temple...I'd say I'd expect Nova to be just as much of a failure if it weren't for the atrocious quality of the Big East as a football conference...they may actually stand a chance.

[T-Dog]

They won't stop at 10.

I'm hearing a loud uproar from ECU fans about how they draw 20K more people than either TCU or Houston and passionate fan-bases are better than potential media markets, using the ACC as an example as VT is proving to be the best addition as Miami and BC don't do shit in either Boston or Miami.

[Silenoz]

TCU is definitely getting an invite, and the names of these conferences continues to have less and less meaning.


Nova...I don't know where the hell they'd be playing, but the Philadelphia area was an abject failure in the Big East before with Temple...I'd say I'd expect Nova to be just as much of a failure if it weren't for the atrocious quality of the Big East as a football conference...they may actually stand a chance.

TCU to the Big East, team x to the MWC (probably Utah State). Suddenly the WAC is back down to 7 teams in football and has to invite someone (anyone). Sac perhaps?

[mcveyrl]

TCU is definitely getting an invite, and the names of these conferences continues to have less and less meaning.


Nova...I don't know where the hell they'd be playing, but the Philadelphia area was an abject failure in the Big East before with Temple...I'd say I'd expect Nova to be just as much of a failure if it weren't for the atrocious quality of the Big East as a football conference...they may actually stand a chance.

I'm not sure if TCU would go. The travel costs would not provide much value, IMO, since the MWC is probably a better football conference in 2012 than the Big East. And would they play any other sports? That's where a lot of costs would get sunk.

I think we need to blame the Big South and SB for all this commotion with names. They started it.

[Silenoz]

TCU is definitely getting an invite, and the names of these conferences continues to have less and less meaning.


Nova...I don't know where the hell they'd be playing, but the Philadelphia area was an abject failure in the Big East before with Temple...I'd say I'd expect Nova to be just as much of a failure if it weren't for the atrocious quality of the Big East as a football conference...they may actually stand a chance.

I'm not sure if TCU would go. The travel costs would not provide much value, IMO, since the MWC is probably a better football conference in 2012 than the Big East. And would they play any other sports? That's where a lot of costs would get sunk.

I think we need to blame the Big South and SB for all this commotion with names. They started it.

If TCU moved to the Big East it would be the better football conference, no question. Pit, WVU and USF as mediocre as they often are would still be better than the combo of BSU, Air Force and Nevada. Plus you've got the BCS auto-bid, and 7-8 bids annually in basketball (and that could increase)

[∞∞∞]

Georgia State will be at the top their list...

[mcveyrl]

I'm not sure if TCU would go. The travel costs would not provide much value, IMO, since the MWC is probably a better football conference in 2012 than the Big East. And would they play any other sports? That's where a lot of costs would get sunk.

I think we need to blame the Big South and SB for all this commotion with names. They started it.

If TCU moved to the Big East it would be the better football conference, no question. Pit, WVU and USF as mediocre as they often are would still be better than the combo of BSU, Air Force and Nevada. Plus you've got the BCS auto-bid, and 7-8 bids annually in basketball (and that could increase)

Would they play basketball? I thought the BE wanted to stay where they were on basketball and thus the 'Nova invite. You are probably right about BE v. MWC, I forgot about Utah going Pac-12.

[Big McLargehuge]

They won't stop at 10.

I'm hearing a loud uproar from ECU fans about how they draw 20K more people than either TCU or Houston and passionate fan-bases are better than potential media markets, using the ACC as an example as VT is proving to be the best addition as Miami and BC don't do **** in either Boston or Miami.

I've been a proponent of adding ECU and Memphis to the Big East (my sister is a Pitt alum so I follow them somewhat)...but the Big East cares more about media markets than actual fan interest...why else would DePaul be in it?


I find it hard to imagine the Big East inviting four new members because of the size of the conference in all sports. Even if Villanova is one of the teams moving up they still have DePaul, Georgetown, Rhode Island, Seton Hall, St. John's, Marquette, Providence, and Notre Dame playing basically everything but football. The Big East seems the least likely to jump to 12 teams of the conferences expanding.


On the flip side...if TCU does go to the Big East (I can't imagine why they would but...who knows) then that drops the Mountain West back down to 9 schools come 2012...if they have to replace TCU then I imagine they'll invite two more on top of it to get to 12.

[SUUTbird]

To be honest i think that besides Nova that the Big East should go after Army and Navy. Both teams would be good geographical fits and would bring not only one of if not the biggest rivalries in College football to the Big East (aka more media coverage) but both teams would be very competitive i feel in the conference (except basketball probably). Also Navy and Army deserve a shot to get into a BCS bowl, what with the history of their tradition and what they stand for alone being enough to get them in i think.

[Silenoz]

If TCU moved to the Big East it would be the better football conference, no question. Pit, WVU and USF as mediocre as they often are would still be better than the combo of BSU, Air Force and Nevada. Plus you've got the BCS auto-bid, and 7-8 bids annually in basketball (and that could increase)

Would they play basketball? I thought the BE wanted to stay where they were on basketball and thus the 'Nova invite. You are probably right about BE v. MWC, I forgot about Utah going Pac-12.

I dunno, would make sense since basketball is already too big. Not sure how CUSA or the MWC would feel about someone trying to leave in football only though

[Big McLargehuge]

To be honest i think that besides Nova that the Big East should go after Army and Navy. Both teams would be good geographical fits and would bring not only one of if not the biggest rivalries in College football to the Big East (aka more media coverage) but both teams would be very competitive i feel in the conference (except basketball probably). Also Navy and Army deserve a shot to get into a BCS bowl, what with the history of their tradition and what they stand for alone being enough to get them in i think.

I'd like that...but aren't they intent on being Independents? Army willingly kicked Conference USA to the curb to go back to Independent status after a 7 year stint.



When it comes to the Big East being too big...I honestly wouldn't be surprised to see DePaul kicked out if they need to make room. They kicked Temple out for less.

[Silenoz]

They won't stop at 10.

I'm hearing a loud uproar from ECU fans about how they draw 20K more people than either TCU or Houston and passionate fan-bases are better than potential media markets, using the ACC as an example as VT is proving to be the best addition as Miami and BC don't do **** in either Boston or Miami.

I've been a proponent of adding ECU and Memphis to the Big East (my sister is a Pitt alum so I follow them somewhat)...but the Big East cares more about media markets than actual fan interest...why else would DePaul be in it?


I find it hard to imagine the Big East inviting four new members because of the size of the conference in all sports. Even if Villanova is one of the teams moving up they still have DePaul, Georgetown, Rhode Island, Seton Hall, St. John's, and Notre Dame playing basically everything but football. The Big East seems the least likely to jump to 12 teams of the conferences expanding.


On the flip side...if TCU does go to the Big East (I can't imagine why they would but...who knows) then that drops the Mountain West back down to 9 schools come 2012...if they have to replace TCU then I imagine they'll invite two more on top of it to get to 12.

And Marquette

And Providence

Yeah, the Big East is... big

[Big McLargehuge]

D'oh! The Big East has been, to this point, just about the only conference that truly lives up to its name

[T-Dog]

ECU would sell their soul to get into the Big East. No joke. They want the hell out of CUSA since the closest conference foe is over 400 miles away in Marshall. They draw 50K for football games, have a good basketball arena and have a really good baseball program.

Of course the Big East is all about media markets so it's an uphill battle for them, But they're shrewd enough to give it a go.

[ToTheLeft]

Liberty.

[danefan]

Liberty.

The last conference Liberty will end up in is one full of Catholic schools.

[49RFootballNow]

ECU would sell their soul to get into the Big East. No joke. They want the hell out of CUSA since the closest conference foe is over 400 miles away in Marshall. They draw 50K for football games, have a good basketball arena and have a really good baseball program.

Of course the Big East is all about media markets so it's an uphill battle for them, But they're shrewd enough to give it a go.

Um..........kay.

ECU Basketball is NOT the selling point I'd put on display for the Big East if I were in Terry Holland's shoes.




I'd skip the inspection of Minges if ECU gets a campus visit from the Big East officials. I'd most deffinately skip an actual basketball game. Go straight from the baseball field to Dowdy-Ficklen and back to Raleigh to get them back to Providence.

[Big McLargehuge]

Yeah...the Big East is a through-and-through basketball conference, that arena isn't going to impress anyone in that conference. It'd be glorious in a lot of conferences, just not that one. I've only been to Pitt's Petersen Events Center but that place is better than most pro arenas out there.

Media crazed or not, I think ECU would be in the Big East by now if it were just a football issue, but its not.



And yeah, I know that Liberty post was tongue-in-cheek but every single non-football member in the Big East is Catholic ...Liberty would never be an option.

[bluehenbillk]

It'll never happen but I scratch my head when I see Temple on a proposed list.

[Big McLargehuge]

Get the hell out of here, you guys suck too much!


Yo baby, I always loved you, come back, PLEASE!

[JALMOND]

TCU is definitely getting an invite, and the names of these conferences continues to have less and less meaning.


Nova...I don't know where the hell they'd be playing, but the Philadelphia area was an abject failure in the Big East before with Temple...I'd say I'd expect Nova to be just as much of a failure if it weren't for the atrocious quality of the Big East as a football conference...they may actually stand a chance.

TCU to the Big East, team x to the MWC (probably Utah State). Suddenly the WAC is back down to 7 teams in football and has to invite someone (anyone). Sac perhaps?

And if the Big East takes Houston, CUSA could look at Louisiana Tech. All of a sudden the WAC is down to 6 (and counting)...

[T-Dog]

Minges seats 8,000, just as much as Rutgers' arena.

[Fresno St. Alum]

It will be Nova and TCU for 10/17 or TCU/UCF for 10/18 if Nova stays FCS.

MWC will need someone. I'm sure they'll hit up Houston, SMU, UTEP hoping one is interested if they all decline then it's Utah St. even though Hawaii is the one that belongs in the MWC.

[ToTheLeft]

Liberty.

The last conference Liberty will end up in is one full of Catholic schools.

Didn't even think of that.