Really? I thought Villanova made the decision not to upgrade to football. It’s a shame, because had they done so, in all likelihood the biggest remains intact in the C7 and the remaining big east teams all end up making more money.
In 2010 the Big East had the BCS minimum 8 teams. UConn, Cuse, Pitt, WVU, Rutgers, Cincy, USF, Ville. The Sept 2010 invite to Nova would have added stability to 9 had Nova accepted. Instead, Nova initiated its infamous “study the invite” process.
As Nova churned the invite, the Big East offered to TCU and TCU quickly accepted, at the time stepping up to the coveted BCS status. TCU made 9 football members, with Nova expected to be the tenth in early 2011.
"We are excited about the addition of TCU, as they bring a great deal of value to the Big East," Villanova AD Vince Nicastro said Monday. "However, our timeframe has not changed. We are continuing to move forward with our comprehensive evaluation of FBS level football, and are still targeting a decision by the spring of 2011."
Pitt had reportedly taken an outsized leadership role in the conference. It had taken the lead in rejecting the ESPN offer in the exclusive negotiating window, and also had secretly started talks with the ACC on membership.
In April 2011, Pitt led an opposition to Nova’s plan to use the MLS stadium (Pitt, WVU, and Rutgers objecting). That was the signal to Nova that the 6+ month old invite was now stale. TCU was already signed up, and we now have hindsight to see Pitt’s departure was likely in motion.
A few months later it was official Pitt was going to the ACC and Cuse was their flight partner. With Nova’s FBS ascension a failure, the Pitt and Cuse departures critically dropped the Big East to 7. WVU then followed to the exit dropping the conference to 6.
Would a responsive acceptance by Nova in Sept 2010 increased the stability to where Pitt would not have led a defection? Maybe, maybe not. Would the Big East at the minimum 8 after the Pitt/Cuse defection kept WVU in the fold? Maybe, maybe not. We’ll never know. Would the C7 have acted if Nova was in for football? Probably.
The split was probably inevitable when the mass invites went out after WVU left, and at some point a Tulane or ECU became a last straw. FS1 facilitated the C7 action.
It all worked out, somewhat miraculously, for Nova with titles in ‘16 and ‘18. FS1 brought stability to a new Big East. Creighton, X, and Butler were great adds. Keeping the name and the MSG tournament kept a sense of history to the conference and the MSG tournament continued to sell out with high energy contests. The Big East magic continued.
Nova football paid a price as it continues to languish at FCS, but very few really care when it’s in the shadow of so much hoops success. Nova’s legendary FCS coach won his national championship in 2009 but failed to see his FBS ascension dreams realized.
After Pitt led the rejection of the ESPN contract, the rejection of Nova to FBS, and the defection to the ACC, has it worked out for Pitt? They do have more money, but I wouldn’t be happy if I was a Pitt fan
Did Pitt conspire with ESPN to try to kill the Big East? The extent we will probably never know.
ESPN produced Requiem for the Big East as the Big East continued, flourished in its new configuration, and sent Nova forward to win a few titles. Was it Karma that sent ESPN into a financial crisis that gutted its operations and professional staff? Was it Karma that has sent Pitt, Cuse, BC, and WVU into oblivion?
As a Nova fan I have zero interest in an ACC / ESPN invite. We don’t need you. The Big East is a better basketball conference for the schools, the athletes, and the fans. Just ask Cuse and Pitt basketball fans.