Big East Says It's Going to 12(!!) football schools

[UConnSportsGuy]

Why would one leave the SEC for the unknown?!?!? SEC is the best conference in college football and their TV contract reflects as much.

I believe the statement 'Misssissippi and Mississippi St' was in response to the person saying that Southern Miss had less in-state competition than Memphis. He was not implying that they would join the BE.

Come on people...follow along!

 

[husky10]

Why would one leave the SEC for the unknown?!?!? SEC is the best conference in college football and their TV contract reflects as much.

Nah I heard Bama was interested easier path to BCS ya know?
He was talking about in state BCS competition for Southern Miss. I think Memphis has less competition UT and Vandy vs MS and Ole Miss I think the latter is stiffer competition

 

[UConnRock]

This should and could have been done 2 years ago. The BE would still have Pitt and 'Cuse and be negotiating a killer TV contract. But that would require being proactive and the Providence crew has proven to be a very reactive.

I hope they are smart enough to let all the other re-alignment matters get worked out before making their big push to 12 teams. I get the feeling that none of the other conferences want to be the final executioner of the BE, but if they can pluck a couple from a group of 12 rather than a group of 6, the B-12 may feel comfortable grabbing L'ville, Cincy and or WVU.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

Why would one leave the SEC for the unknown?!?!? SEC is the best conference in college football and their TV contract reflects as much.

Nice joke

If you jamokes read what I quoted, you wouldn't be making such stupid assumptions.

I quoted someone talking about BCS in-state competition between Tenn and Miss.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

False.

We were negotiating a killer TV contract and Pitt and Cuse left anyway. There aren't 4 schools out there that could have kept Pitt/Cuse in the Big East. There's one, but they aren't an option.

+1

 

[upstater]

I think you all are setting yourselves up for disappointment. Given the fact that the B12 is still unsettled, it's a lot more likely that the BE will proceed cautiously and invite 2 teams, a max of 3, for now. They'll wait at least until the dust is settled to move beyond that. The last thing the BE wants right now is to take a western team that then jumps to the Big12 after Missouri leaving.

 

[HarryAGampel]

I wish we could add the 3 Academies (Army, Navy, Air Force) and BYU as football only members. Basketball won't get out of hand and we can have an opt out clause if the Big East does dissolve (aka UConn gets an invite to the ACC). That gives 10 football teams and the new four come in with a definite following. Additionally traveling partners would be UC-Rut, Cinci-L-ville, WVU-USF, Army-Navy, -BYU. This seems ideal but i know it won't happen.

 

[uconNYC]

I wish we could add the 3 Academies (Army, Navy, Air Force) and BYU as football only members. Basketball won't get out of hand and we can have an opt out clause if the Big East does dissolve (aka UConn gets an invite to the ACC). That gives 10 football teams and the new four come in with a definite following. Additionally traveling partners would be UC-Rut, Cinci-L-ville, WVU-USF, Army-Navy, -BYU. This seems ideal but i know it won't happen.

Temple and ECU would easily agree to Basketball only as well. UCF might be the only school adamant about all sports.

 

[HarryAGampel]

I know this is all pointless to argue since I don't believe any of this will happen. But what the service academies and BYU have that Temple and ECU don't is a large following. They get national attention (I agree Air Force much less than the other 3). This is important with bowl games and ultimately TV contracts. Bringing in Temple or ECU won't do anything for that.

 

[sportsart]

http://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/index.ssf/2011/10/big_east_says_it_is_officially.html

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/7084162/big-east-consider-adding-6-football-schools

Seems like conflicting info. NJ.com has the BE "officially looking to get to 12" while ESPN says it's just under consideration.

ESPN says it's only under consideration because they are advising the ACC to go to 19 teams with us the only remaining team.

They figure they can handle lawsuit from just 1 team.

 

[HarryAGampel]

I guess when I mean following, this includes fan support and their television market. UMiami doesn't sell out their games but who would are people watching on TV? They have a national following. ECU is the 5th team in town and only represents Greensboro, NC. Granted they do a great job capturing that market, ECU does not get any respect on a national level. Ultimately this is more about exposure and perception than anything else.

 

[uc1974]

That's Greenville, not Greensboro.

 

[HartbeatHusky]

I'm sure it is going to be Navy, Air Force, Temple, UCF, Houston, and SMU. ECU won't make the cut due to it being in a small market. The Big East will basically be the urban school conference. I think it would be a big mistake to take ECU over either SMU or Houston. Texas is just much better for recruiting and the markets are much bigger and wealthier.

I could see Nova and Army joining later since they wouldn't add numbers to the basketball side but neither is ready now and Nova would have to wait until 2014 per NCAA rules anyway.

 

[FDNY99]

Unless Nova commits to an upgrade that has them playing in a stadium at least the size of Nippert in Cinncinati, I think they should be last on the list...if even on the list at all.

 

[sportsart]

Army has already said they're not interested in getting their ass kicked all year long which is what will happen if they come on board.

Not looking forward to playing Navy....argh....

 

[HartbeatHusky]

Unless Nova commits to an upgrade that has them playing in a stadium at least the size of Nippert in Cinncinati, I think they should be last on the list...if even on the list at all.

They would probably share the Linc with Temple for at least their big games is what I've read. PPL is probably going to expand to 30k. It really doesn't matter though because Nova is a few years off at best. I'm guessing the BE will have 12 teams for the 2012 season.

 

[FDNY99]

They would probably share the Linc with Temple for at least their big games is what I've read. PPL is probably going to expand to 30k. It really doesn't matter though because Nova is a few years off at best. I'm guessing the BE will have 12 teams for the 2012 season.

I just can't see the Linc's main tenant allowing 2 BCS level teams to chew up that field on Saturdays leaving it a mess for them on Sundays. As for expanding PPL...same old plan that they presented before. No way any of the 6 remaining football schools approve that mess with schools that have been listed above in the thread would join. I think Nova missed the boat unless the BE gets desperate trying to get to 12.

 

[HartbeatHusky]

What good is Temple? They are a college sell in a pro town. BCU isn't bringing Boston to the ACC, and Temple isn't bringing Philly to the Big East.

I'll give you SMU and Houston, but would rather ECU over Temple.

There is definitely some validity to that statement but I still think the larger market of Philly is going to trump whatever concerns there are of whether Temple actually delivers it. I don't think we leave Philly, Dallas, Houston, or Orlando on the board. Even if people don't go to the games there is the potential for a large TV audience in Philly by adding Temple. ECU is in a small market where they will not be able to compete against the established ACC teams for TV eyes.

 

[HartbeatHusky]

I just can't see the Linc's main tenant allowing 2 BCS level teams to chew up that field on Saturdays leaving it a mess for them on Sundays. As for expanding PPL...same old plan that they presented before. No way any of the 6 remaining football schools approve that mess with schools that have been listed above in the thread would join. I think Nova missed the boat unless the BE gets desperate trying to get to 12.

I agree that they will not be in this round of musical chairs to get to 12.