My recollection is the Old Big Rast needed all three FSB schools to stay together to remain a conference. .UConn was the obvious choice but , going to the the C7 screwed our football team.
The Big East / AAC treasury was primarily
Built by the football.schools , exit fees
plus the majority of NCAA basketball money
UConn, Cuse , Pitt , Cinncy , , Louisville. ND , and West VA were all usually good .
OMG that was the best BB conference ever
If the NBE is worth $7million a team how much is that conference worth