Bost Globe:Invites held back because Marinatto wants to merge with MWC and CUSA

[Rumrunner]

Unfreaking believable.

This is not a joke.

"One of the reasons the Big East may be holding off on any expansion announcements about potential new members is that it is considering a plan that would create a nation-wide football conference incorporating between 28 and 32 teams in four divisions from Conference USA, the Mountain West Conference as well as the Big East."

http://www.boston.com/sports/colleges/extras/colleges_blog/2011/10/big_east_mwc_c-.html

 

[whaler11]

It's insane, but isn't the worst idea that has been floated. They don't have any quality, so make a play with quantity.

 

[whaler11]

It does ignore the real reason why there has been no announcement about expansion - none of the teams they spoke about want to join.

 

[UCHuskies08]

 

[zls44]

"The only thing more amazing than our pile of crap's stench is the sheer SIZE of the pile of crap, stretching from sea to shining sea!"

 

[uconnbaseball]

WHAT???????????????????????????

Can't wait for that UConn-Rice women's rowing action.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

:facepalm:

 

[UCHuskies08]

The MWC can't steal our AQ bid if we.... BECOME THE MWC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Clearly Marinatto is an evil genius

 

[Dann]

dear susan, get us out of here. chesus! marinate is the dam devil i say. if this isn't some stupid joke by a bc fan writing for he globe this is horrible. this would make nd a indy for life becuase the bcs couldnt make it a 4 team playoff with 4 supers. w t f !!!!
we have to hope mizzu does goto the sec soon. the sec then to grab 2 more for 16, lets be real the goal is not 14. then from there we can get a acc/big invite. alot has to happen before its our turn it looks like. marinate being stupid would really hurt us.

 

[geohusky]

Enough can we just get this over with so we can have the funeral

 

[WestCoastHusky]

This realignment stuff is getting totally out of hands. It is ruining the enjoyment for this football season. I just wish it will be over soon cause this proposal is getting totally ridiculous.

 

[Danzz]

Unfreaking believable.

This is not a joke.

"One of the reasons the Big East may be holding off on any expansion announcements about potential new members is that it is considering a plan that would create a nation-wide football conference incorporating between 28 and 32 teams in four divisions from Conference USA, the Mountain West Conference as well as the Big East."

http://www.boston.com/sports/colleges/extras/colleges_blog/2011/10/big_east_mwc_c-.html

The BE recipe for success: Take all the scraps put them in a pot, add bullsheet and boil for an hour. None of the guests will like it but you hold on to to your BCS berth.

 

[Adios]

If this is true, it's definitely time to BEG HARDER! NOW!

 

[coachcap]

I can't wait for that trip to El Paso to play the Miners in a crucial midseason matchup. Yuck! Honestly, if Marinatto pushes through with this & the football presidents don't put up a fight, we'll never hear the end of the laughter emanating from the denisons of 'Nut Hill. I wouldn't blame West Virginia one bit for grabbing the next life preserver.

 

[epark88]

I dunno, if this monster conference is under contract with NBC/Comcast and pays at least $15-20M to the division winners, would it be so bad?

Plus, the 'mini-playoff' idea could be a pretty lucrative proposition if done the right way...

 

[coachcap]

I dunno, if this monster conference is under contract with NBC/Comcast and pays at least $15-20M to the division winners, would it be so bad?

Plus, the 'mini-playoff' idea could be a pretty lucrative proposition if done the right way...

Only the Big East's contract is up for renewal. Would Comcast roll over the MWC's rights into the Big East's for more $$ if it's not contractually obligated to do so? That doesn't make any business sense.

 

[Druken Friar]

It looks like a back up plan in the event West Virginia leaves. It assumes Missouri is leaving the Big 12 and WV is going to the Big 12. This would have to be approved by the school Presidents but it might be all that is left.

 

[Brochacho]

I would hope we just go independent if this is the case.

 

[epark88]

And fleshing this out some more, this league would not only keep the BCS bid, it'll be eligible to receive multi-bids as well. If the SEC wants 3 bids per conference and 3 teams from this mega-puppy have the goods too, then they're going.

This is not such a horribad idea, if the money is right...

 

[SaeHusky]

I actually like this plan - since its for football only. Keeps basketball eastern and keeps AQ status for football. It really isnt a bad idea

 

[Adios]

I actually like this plan - since its for football only. Keeps basketball eastern and keeps AQ status for football. It really isnt a bad idea

"The Central Division would consist of Marshall, Memphis, Southern Mississippi, Tulane, UAB, Rice, Temple and Louisiana Tech."

Are you serious?!? Why don't we just go with the old plan with six invites and include Temple or East Carolina to replace WVU. That would be MUCH better! And let the western half sort out their best programs, minus the schools we invite.

 

[CTEagle]

OMG. This cannot be a serious consideration.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

If the priority is salvaging men's basketball without doing anything beyond assuring the football members (whoever they may end up being) that they will be able to fill out a schedule, this is as good as it gets. If you expected the leadership of this conference to believe that the football side of the BE warrants any consideration or respect, you haven't been paying attention.

 

[RS9999X]

Another variation that gets floated: The World Cup Soccer variation.

Qualifying round: 32 teams. Each team plays 7 games in their division.

The top half, 4 teams from each division, are reseeded into 4 pods of 4. Each team plays 3 games in their pod.

The top 8 teams emerge (2 from each pod) and play a traditional round of 8, Semis and Finals.

13 games total for the Championship. 12 games for all other teams including consolation rounds

No OOC games. A team that goes 3-4 in the division round would have a chance to 'win (or tie at the top) in the non-qualifying bracket of 16 and go 8-4 and get a decent bowl invite.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Not a bad concept, but I would scrap the AQ aspect of it. Just start playing a playoff between those divisions, and get more schools. Let everyone join the playoff system that wants to, and put the whole thing on Comcast. The BCS bowls are a huge money loser for the schools, and it is just one game against the same borrowing old teams.

Have the Big East, CUSA, MWC, MAC and Sun Belt do it, and let CAA in if they ever finally upgrade. The Big East has no chance of competing doing things the same way as the majors. It has to change its product. Apple didn't try harder to make desktop PC's when it was struggling to compete in that market, it made computer-based devices and is now one of the most valuable companies in the world.

The BCS brand will lose some of its value in recruiting for 80% of the schools that have no chance of reaching a BCS bowl in a league with 14 members. The playoff is such an inherently superior model that I think it will end the BCS bowls within 10 years, if not sooner. Eventually, one of the majors will peel off from the BCS bowls to join the Playoff.