In a move that could expedite the possible move of La Tech to CUSA and open up another position in the conference, there's reports the Big East could invite Memphis and UCF next week.
Orlando, Fla., television station WKMG reported Wednesday that the Big East Conference will issue invitations to Central Florida and Memphis as early as next week. The station cited multiple college football sources.
Under that scenario, the Big East would become a 10-team football league and an 18-team basketball behemoth.
UCF and Memphis are currently in the 12-team Conference USA. Memphis reportedly is interested in joining a larger conference. Both teams have been rumored to be Big East targets. In Memphis' case, an invite was expected only if the Big Ten or Atlantic Coast Conference were to raid the Big East.
Central Florida would provide the Big East with a Top 20 television market, WKMG reports, and Memphis would strengthen an already powerful basketball league.
The station had no comments from UCF, Memphis or Big East officials.
Appalachian State Mountaineers:
National Champions: 2005, 2006, and 2007 Southern Conference Champions: 1986, 1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2012
NO DOUBT ABOUT IT! WE'RE GONNA SHOUT IT! NOTHING'S HOTTER THAN A-S-U!
Is ECU not a better option? I know Memphis has better basketball and more of a geographical fit for the "western" schools, but are they better overall?
dgreco wrote:Is ECU not a better option? I know Memphis has better basketball and more of a geographical fit for the "western" schools, but are they better overall?
Not as a whole, I don't think. Memphis is certainly a better market than Greenville, NC and ECU's basketball team is horrible. After all, the BE is a basketball conference.
Appalachian State Mountaineers:
National Champions: 2005, 2006, and 2007 Southern Conference Champions: 1986, 1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2012
NO DOUBT ABOUT IT! WE'RE GONNA SHOUT IT! NOTHING'S HOTTER THAN A-S-U!
dgreco wrote:Is ECU not a better option? I know Memphis has better basketball and more of a geographical fit for the "western" schools, but are they better overall?
Not as a whole, I don't think. Memphis is certainly a better market than Greenville, NC and ECU's basketball team is horrible. After all, the BE is a basketball conference.
Agreed, Memphis makes far more sense. Much better market and the basketball alone trumps here. Both schools' football teams, from a big conference standpoint, are fairly equal.
bluehenbillk wrote:If true, makes sense from a standpoint of UCF-USF rivalry.
It's not really a rivalry (at least not in Tampa ) but it would be fun to watch USF not be able to duck UCF any more. Although it would be interesting if the Knights could beat the Bulls.
This is where it gets interesting for FCS schools...
That's what we Pro-FBS App Staters are hoping for. The CUSA would be the best FBS option for ASU, especially with former rivals Marshall and ECU. It's the one FBS (non-BCS) conference I'd like to see us in.
Appalachian State Mountaineers:
National Champions: 2005, 2006, and 2007 Southern Conference Champions: 1986, 1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2012
NO DOUBT ABOUT IT! WE'RE GONNA SHOUT IT! NOTHING'S HOTTER THAN A-S-U!
This is where it gets interesting for FCS schools...
That's what we Pro-FBS App Staters are hoping for. The CUSA would be the best FBS option for ASU, especially with former rivals Marshall and ECU. It's the one FBS (non-BCS) conference I'd like to see us in.
ASUMountaineer wrote:
That's what we Pro-FBS App Staters are hoping for. The CUSA would be the best FBS option for ASU, especially with former rivals Marshall and ECU. It's the one FBS (non-BCS) conference I'd like to see us in.
But would they take a move up?
Would ASU move up? I don't know, there's certainly a lot of alumni support for it. This was asked to David Jackson (associate AD) yesterday in a live chat, below is his response.
DJ: Glenn, et al -- been waiting on this one -- Charlie Cobb and Chancellor Peacock have been very actively watching the landscape develop over the last several years as to the conference "shifting," you are seeing now. During that time, our focus has been on making Appalachian the best it can be, no matter where we are. In that time, our facilities have improved dramatically, we have performed very strongly academically, and our fundraising and marketing/advertising revenue is at an all-time high. With these improvements, Charlie Cobb and Chancellor Peacock can truly assess where the best fit for ASU may be, if that day comes. The landscape has changed dramatically in a very short time, but you can be assured that ASU will be in the right position to act if the winds of change blow our way. We, nor any other SoCon team, have been offered anything at this point and it appears that we may be past the most seismic shifts as far as conference realignment goes, at least for right now. For now, we are happy in fielding a nationally dominant football program and championship teams that make us a marquee SoCon fixture.
I don't want to read to much into what DJ is saying, but in the past it's always been answered by, "we're happy to be in the SoCon." This is the most we've ever really gotten. Perhaps it's my bias, or looking for something, but DJ's comments seem (to me) to suggest that it's on the table being considered by the ASU powers that be.
Appalachian State Mountaineers:
National Champions: 2005, 2006, and 2007 Southern Conference Champions: 1986, 1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2012
NO DOUBT ABOUT IT! WE'RE GONNA SHOUT IT! NOTHING'S HOTTER THAN A-S-U!
Why would anyone want a team that was only decent when they ran the blinking Run-and-Shoot?!? Well, they were pretty good with Phi Slamma Jamma, too, but that wasn't very long, either.
SuperHornet's Athletics Hall of Fame includes Jacksonville State kicker Ashley Martin, the first girl to score in a Division I football game. She kicked 3 PATs in a 2001 game for J-State.
) but it would be fun to watch USF not be able to duck UCF any more. Although it would be interesting if the Knights could beat the Bulls.
