BCS Conference Changes and the FCS

[SuperHornet]

BTW, ND is NOT going to the Big Ten.

And what makes you say that?

Since you obviously didn't pay attention when I mentioned this twice already in the last week or so, I'll say it AGAIN. ND already had their chance and one VERY influential Big Ten coach has already made it very clear that he will NOT support an invite for the Domers.

[GannonFan]

Heard a theory the Big Ten (by taking Rutgers, Syracuse and Pitt) will effectively destroy the Big East (in terms of a revenue producing entity) and elinimate any home for ND's other sports, thus forcing ND to join the conference. Makes sense. Huge money to be had with Rutgers and ND on board. It appears the Big Ten is playing hard ball at the highest level. Survival of the fittest!

If the Big 10 does end up taking Rutgers Syracuse and Pitt that would be a blow to the Big East yes but i dont think that it would eliminate the conference. You have teams such as Army and Navy who would both be good fits for the conference and at the same time enable one or more FCS teams that want to move up into the conference

In what world are Army and Navy good candidates for the Big East? Army football would be .500 at best even in a league like the CAA right now. And while Navy would be a very good FCS team, they would suffer immensely in playing quality teams week in and week out. And after that, they aren't good in any other sports. Come on, Army and Navy basketball? There may not be two more ill-suited schools for the Big East than the two service academies. They're great schools, but their athletic programs are not BCS-level at all.

[GannonFan]

And what makes you say that?

Since you obviously didn't pay attention when I mentioned this twice already in the last week or so, I'll say it AGAIN. ND already had their chance and one VERY influential Big Ten coach has already made it very clear that he will NOT support an invite for the Domers.

Come on, let's be real - the only reason Notre Dame isn't in the Big 10 is because they, rightly or wrongly, don't want to be in the Big 10. If they called the Big 10 tomorrow and said they want in the Big 10 wouldn't be able to organize the welcoming parade fast enough.

Of course, with that said, the Big 10 is more than fine with not having Notre Dame. But they would love to have them.

[SuperHornet]

In the case of West Point, Gannon, I'd agree with you.

In the case of Annapolis, however, you are 180 degrees off course. Navy is traditionally competitive on the gridiron against traditional big-name schools like ND (even when ND is good). In addition, they have good athletic teams that most B(C)$ teams don't even bother with. An OUTSTANDING athletic program.

[GannonFan]

In the case of West Point, Gannon, I'd agree with you.

In the case of Annapolis, however, you are 180 degrees off course. Navy is traditionally competitive on the gridiron against traditional big-name schools like ND (even when ND is good). In addition, they have good athletic teams that most B(C)$ teams don't even bother with. An OUTSTANDING athletic program.

Hey, I like Navy too, but let's be real - they are a lower level football team and other than the men's lacrosse team, that's the best they offer in terms of the sports that matter to a BCS level conference (and really, only football and basketball matter to those conferences). Navy has had some nice years recently, but they don't play a BCS level schedule - they get to play "up" a few times a year and like a good FCS team, they can put on a good effort. And basketball is atrocious at Navy - they had the David Robinson years and that was it. Navy in the Big East playing basketball is so laughable it's almost criminal.

[mainejeff]

Notre Dame is getting into the Big Ten if they want to.......end of story.

[SUUTbird]

In the case of West Point, Gannon, I'd agree with you.

In the case of Annapolis, however, you are 180 degrees off course. Navy is traditionally competitive on the gridiron against traditional big-name schools like ND (even when ND is good). In addition, they have good athletic teams that most B(C)$ teams don't even bother with. An OUTSTANDING athletic program.

Hey, I like Navy too, but let's be real - they are a lower level football team and other than the men's lacrosse team, that's the best they offer in terms of the sports that matter to a BCS level conference (and really, only football and basketball matter to those conferences). Navy has had some nice years recently, but they don't play a BCS level schedule - they get to play "up" a few times a year and like a good FCS team, they can put on a good effort. And basketball is atrocious at Navy - they had the David Robinson years and that was it. Navy in the Big East playing basketball is so laughable it's almost criminal.

You are forgetting Gannon fan that you are of course talking about one sport. Navy for years has consistently beaten quality opponents in football and even when they have not won they have come very close. Take these games for example:

This past season alone Navy had:
-A 31-27 loss @ Ohio State, Navy fell just short throwing an INT on their 2pt conversion play against the eventual Rose Bowl champions,

-A 23-21 win @ then ranked NO.22 Notre Dame, beat the Irish in their house for the second straight time in dominating fashion, score is somewhat misleading,

-Demolished a good Big XII team in Missouri in the Texas Bowl 35-13,

-Navy also beat ACC team Wake Forest and beata very good Air Force team in a nailbiter.

And in prior years Navy has shown that they can hang with other teams quite well and i know they could and would compete very well against the majority of the teams in the Big East right now in football and their other sports (besides basketball) would do rather well to. Army yes has had several bad years but in one year alone Rich Ellerson has already made waves and now that he finally is getting one of his recruiting classes in i expect army to get to a bowl game this year, CAA dont think could whip them quite as easily as you think . Besides these reasons these two schools alone have an amazing tradition and would bring alot to the table if they were accepted into the Big East in terms of quite a decent sized military audience. Navy and Army (given a few more years) could compete in the Big East and deserve to be there.

[GannonFan]

Hey, I like Navy too, but let's be real - they are a lower level football team and other than the men's lacrosse team, that's the best they offer in terms of the sports that matter to a BCS level conference (and really, only football and basketball matter to those conferences). Navy has had some nice years recently, but they don't play a BCS level schedule - they get to play "up" a few times a year and like a good FCS team, they can put on a good effort. And basketball is atrocious at Navy - they had the David Robinson years and that was it. Navy in the Big East playing basketball is so laughable it's almost criminal.

You are forgetting Gannon fan that you are of course talking about one sport. Navy for years has consistently beaten quality opponents in football and even when they have not won they have come very close. Take these games for example:

This past season alone Navy had:
-A 31-27 loss @ Ohio State, Navy fell just short throwing an INT on their 2pt conversion play against the eventual Rose Bowl champions,

-A 23-21 win @ then ranked NO.22 Notre Dame, beat the Irish in their house for the second straight time in dominating fashion, score is somewhat misleading,

-Demolished a good Big XII team in Missouri in the Texas Bowl 35-13,

-Navy also beat ACC team Wake Forest and beata very good Air Force team in a nailbiter.

And in prior years Navy has shown that they can hang with other teams quite well and i know they could and would compete very well against the majority of the teams in the Big East right now in football and their other sports (besides basketball) would do rather well to. Army yes has had several bad years but in one year alone Rich Ellerson has already made waves and now that he finally is getting one of his recruiting classes in i expect army to get to a bowl game this year, CAA dont think could whip them quite as easily as you think . Besides these reasons these two schools alone have an amazing tradition and would bring alot to the table if they were accepted into the Big East in terms of quite a decent sized military audience. Navy and Army (given a few more years) could compete in the Big East and deserve to be there.

Hey, I've actually seen Navy play plenty over the past 3 decades and we'll just have to agree to disagree. I think they're a decent side, but at the end of the day they're not much different than a really good FCS team, and I've seen Delaware teams hang with and look better than Navy, even in years where Delaware isn't very good. Could they play in the Big East? Sure, heck, Temple played there for years and Navy's better than Temple. But they wouldn't be much more than a bottom feeder most years.

As for Army, aren't we in the 3rd or 4th decade now of an endless string of new coaches who come in and "make waves" and seem to be getting things turned around up there? Maybe one of these times they actually will get things turned around, but until then I'm going to bet the easy money and just assume that Army will continue to be thoroughly mediocre in football.

[Sly Fox]

FWIW it appears the realignment locomotive might be running out of steam as it appears the 10 remaining Big XII schools are going to stick together with a new television package that supposedly is more lucrative for the big boys (UT, A&M, OU) than what the SEC schools take in. So other than the Pac-10 likely inviting Utah we may be done with movement for the summer. But this certainly stokes the fires for what could be ahead post-moratorium.