Big East expansion intent now official

[wideright82]

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

I think he meant providence when he said rhode island. URI is in the A10. Providence is in Rhode Island. We were close though.

[Pigskin Steve]

Maybe East Carolina could ask their students to convert to Catholicism so they could get into the Big East. That should pacify the BE members. Maybe put a Touchdown Jesus statue at their stadium and have Father O'Donnell as President.

After all, someone said they would "sell their souls" to get into the Beast.

[Dane96]

My guess is TCU and UCF...and as a Big East fans for years...I would welcome it. Orlando is a huge media market, UCF is an enormous school...with great facilities, and it gives a natural rival for USF. Plus, it is easy to fly into...and USF can bus it in under an hour without traffic. I think it is a shoo in.

TCU...Texas market, Texas recruits...etc. Shoo in.

I think 'Nova makes the jump...and they go 10/18.

Now...ECU wouldnt be a bad option...and anyone saying the Arena stinks hasnt been to Alumni Hall (yes they get the Garden), the RAC at Rutgers, Conte Forum (most UCONN games are at Conte), etc. My guess is that ECU would either build up the Arena/amenities...or build a new place.

[CAA Flagship]

Airport locations are a big factor. Close airports generally come with large markets. But ECU and Liberty, as mentioned earlier, are at a disadvantage.

[Seahawks]

I've never understood why Army and Navy are not the obvious candidates for the Big East.

[Dane96]

Because they dont bring any basketball or football cache in order to have relevancy to the league.

Fans yes...other than that...nothing. And I am a huge supporter of West Point.

[Seahawks]

Army and Navy's football programs are much more storied than the team's being mentioned for invitation.

[JSU02]

Maybe East Carolina could ask their students to convert to Catholicism so they could get into the Big East. That should pacify the BE members. Maybe put a Touchdown Jesus statue at their stadium and have Father O'Donnell as President.

After all, someone said they would "sell their souls" to get into the Beast.

[Dane96]

Army and Navy's football programs are much more storied than the team's being mentioned for invitation.

Storied...means nothing when it comes to $$$.

The markets for those teams are effectively captured by others already in the league.

[SUUTbird]

Army and Navy's football programs are much more storied than the team's being mentioned for invitation.

Storied...means nothing when it comes to $$$.

The markets for those teams are effectively captured by others already in the league.

I dont really think that is the case. Both Army and Navy would bring alot to the conference in terms of competition and respect and would do well in almost every sport (except basketball most likely) However they would bring alot to the Big East in terms of market value by bringing in alot of military/ex military fans and possibly revenue from their. And not to mention alot of media exposure when they would play each other in what is probably the biggest rivalry in all of college football. May be reaching a little, however my FBS schools are all the military academies, got to support my brothers in arms.

[nwFL Griz]

The thing all these posts seem to be missing, and it is big, is that the BE is talking FB expansion only. They have stated that the BB side is good with 16.

I think this effectively eliminates TCU, because the MWC requires all sports. If TCU did accept, where do they put all the rest of their sports?

I don't know CUSA's rules on this. Would Houston or UCF have the option to move FB only? I doubt it.

So while it is nice for the BE to talk FB expansion, they are not dealing with their true problems (the BB vs. FB schools).

[Seahawks]

I dont really think that is the case. Both Army and Navy would bring alot to the conference in terms of competition and respect and would do well in almost every sport (except basketball most likely) However they would bring alot to the Big East in terms of market value by bringing in alot of military/ex military fans and possibly revenue from their. And not to mention alot of media exposure when they would play each other in what is probably the biggest rivalry in all of college football. May be reaching a little, however my FBS schools are all the military academies, got to support my brothers in arms.

I agree. Army and Navy bring a lot more to the table for Big East football than Villanova or TCU.

[SUUTbird]

And if it is a football expansion only as NWFLGriz mentioned then there should be no argument at all. For the past few seasons Army and Navy (The Mids in particular) have been pretty dang dominate and/or played very well against Big East Schools. Army is an up and coming team while Navy has just been pretty darn good the past couple of seasons.

[49RFootballNow]

Army and Navy's football programs are much more storied than the team's being mentioned for invitation.

Both have size recruit limitations (imposed by military standards). Army and Navy (and Air Force) can't recruit 6'8" recievers or 350 lbs linemen. Army tried CUSA and couldn't win there. Moving to a BCS conference will not fix that, it would make it worse. Right now, both can schedule virtually any game they want with any opponents they want. No one turns down a home and home with the service academies. Air Force is only in the Mountain West because otherwise they'd be making 4 or 5 trips east of the Mississippi every year. Bottom line, they don't need the BCS. What a luxury!

[Dane96]

First, as someone highly affiliated to West Point athletics...they are not looking to go to the BEast and they are not looked at by the Big East. For those who don't understand marketing potential, unfortunately having the acadamies does NOT help advertising; they are too controversial in the minds of some adverstisers.

BTW...i think that part is garbage, however as a former marketing and ad exec on the east coast I can tell you that it is summarily the view of corporations.

Second, there is some chicanary going on here; I too read that the BEAST is looking football only, but as the poster pointed out, most leagues require you to play all sports in their league unless they dont sponsor that sport or you play it at a different level, i.e. FBS vs. FCS.

That said, it has been well documented that the BE has approached TCU in some off-line manner. I would seriously question the intelligence of anyone who approached TCU without first seeing if the league they were in currently allowed for the football team to play out of the all sport conference.

So, if indeed that is true (that the BE is looking football only and that all the schools on the wish list are members of current all-sport leagues--except for Temple and 'Nova), then there must be some sort of backdoor dealing going on to allow for an 18 team hoop league...or some sort of split.

It would make no other sense, unless the BE is going to go for Army, Navy, Temple, Notre Dame, Navy or an FCS school only.

[Dane96]

And if it is a football expansion only as NWFLGriz mentioned then there should be no argument at all. For the past few seasons Army and Navy (The Mids in particular) have been pretty dang dominate and/or played very well against Big East Schools. Army is an up and coming team while Navy has just been pretty darn good the past couple of seasons.

Ummmm...Army, dominent? They have been awful up until this year...really awful.

[Dane96]

Army and Navy's football programs are much more storied than the team's being mentioned for invitation.

Both have size recruit limitations (imposed by military standards). Army and Navy (and Air Force) can't recruit 6'8" recievers or 350 lbs linemen.

Completely false. I was recruited by Army and Air Force for other sports...as were two of my buddies; one was 6'6 and 250 lbs...the other was 6'9 1/2 and 275lbs. *Note, I was a mere 6' 170....midget compared to those guys.

David Robinson...ever hear of him? Drew Kinsella, Frosh at NAVY is 6'7 and plays OT. Navy's hoop team has two 6'7 guys and a 6'11 guy.

I could go on...

[danefan]

Both have size recruit limitations (imposed by military standards). Army and Navy (and Air Force) can't recruit 6'8" recievers or 350 lbs linemen.

Completely false. I was recruited by Army and Air Force for other sports...as were two of my buddies; one was 6'6 and 250 lbs...the other was 6'9 1/2 and 275lbs. *Note, I was a mere 6' 170....midget compared to those guys.

David Robinson...ever hear of him? Drew Kinsella, Frosh at NAVY is 6'7 and plays OT. Navy's hoop team has two 6'7 guys and a 6'11 guy.

I could go on...

True. Waivers exist for everything at the military academies.

I was out of compliance with the height/weight ratio for USAFA and needed a waiver. 6'0", 210lbs. Out of proportion at that time. Just above every football player is on a waiver at some point.

Oh, and Army had a 6'10" WR last year.

[Dane96]

And he was really good...remembered watching him.

[SUUTbird]

And if it is a football expansion only as NWFLGriz mentioned then there should be no argument at all. For the past few seasons Army and Navy (The Mids in particular) have been pretty dang dominate and/or played very well against Big East Schools. Army is an up and coming team while Navy has just been pretty darn good the past couple of seasons.

Ummmm...Army, dominent? They have been awful up until this year...really awful.

I never said Army was dominant i said they were up and coming, Navy however has been pretty dominate the past couple of seasons, it was a reference to them.

[Dane96]

Read your post again...second sentence.

[Fresno St. Alum]

espn said today that the Big East is only looking at Villanova, TCU, UCF. If Nova stays FCS then the other 2 are a lock. If Nova moves up then they probably just go 10/17 which is odd. You'd think 18 works better 10/18 or 11/18. Time to split, that's retarded.

Time for the MWC to raid the WAC again

[Dane96]

Hate being right....

[Seawolf97]

The thing all these posts seem to be missing, and it is big, is that the BE is talking FB expansion only. They have stated that the BB side is good with 16.

I think this effectively eliminates TCU, because the MWC requires all sports. If TCU did accept, where do they put all the rest of their sports?

I don't know CUSA's rules on this. Would Houston or UCF have the option to move FB only? I doubt it.

So while it is nice for the BE to talk FB expansion, they are not dealing with their true problems (the BB vs. FB schools).

Maybe thats why Villanova and Temple make sense. Villanova is already there and Temple can play football without moving any other sports. Should be interesting.

[Fact]

absolutely no way VU and the catholic schools let temple in. even if Villanova stays fcs, temple isn't going to get in.