Fanblogs.com: Big East's commish to retire, conference split coming?
Guido Rocco
· 1 year ago
Some of these fantasies are completely absurd. If the Big East were to split and then expand to 12 teams the four choices are 100% obvious ...
NORTH SIDE UConn + Syracuse Rutgers + Temple Pitt + West Virginia SOUTH SIDE Cincy + Louisville Memphis + Eastern Carolina USF + UCF
Anything else is dumb. There is no need for two West Virginia teams or three Florida teams. This is the best and only credible 12-team group.
Lee
· 1 year ago
BYU fan, for years your school turned your nose at joining the PAC-10. Its hard for me to be sorry for you now.
4cornerz
· 1 year ago
Since L-Tech plays SJS, I think The Big East should expand to state of Texas TCU, SMU and Houston, then grab UCF Football schools only
wvjgrad69
· 1 year ago
well, it must be summer because the conference crazies are out.
BE is fine in BCS, and why Kevin thinks it needs to be more solidly in is somewhat puzzling.
BE basketball is more than fine, it's the best, most competitive league there is. In case you haven't noticed, the BE "football" programs also are major BE "basketball" programs, too. UCONN, Pitt, WVU, Louisville, Syracuse would be tough basketball outs in any conference.
Getting to 9 BE football teams for an even 4-game round robin conference schedule would be ideal. The only one that makes any sense is Notre Dame, because it wouldn't affect the basketball league.
Regan
· 1 year ago
IF the Big East wanted to expand along the ACC/SEC lines, the Blue/Gray lineups could work out, but to account for interesting "Rivalries", they would be wise to adopt the ACC/SEC 'cross-divisional' permanent-rival team. Granted, this doesn't have to be the team's primary rival, but it would help ensure that geographical and team-strength issues wouldn't keep certain rivalries alive.
Major Rival (for each team) [NOTE: Need possible confirmation] 1) WVU - PITT; Traditional Rivals 2) CINC - LOU; Traditional Rivals 3) RUTG - SYR; Old Big East Rivals 4) CONN - USF; Both are (relatively) new teams 5) UCF - FAU; Geography; new additions 6) MEM - USM; Geography; strong history, etc.
So long as each of these are met, the Rivalries will likely work. The only two 'rivalries' that are cross-divisional and would need a permanent game are CONN-USF and CINC-LOU. If these 'rivalries' are not that strong, the BE could not even mess with permanent cross-division rivals.
Meh... don't mind me; I just can't sleep and feel like babbling common sense stuff....
Fushino
· 1 year ago
Y'all obviously need to learn a little more about FAU. An obvious choice for Big East Expansion. So here ya go:
FAU is the fastest program to go from Division I-AA to I-A
FAU is the fastest startup program to beat a Division I-A team (and it was a Hawaii Bowl team)
FAU is the fastest program to get to a Bowl Game (previously was South Florida)
FAU is the fastest program to win a Bowl Game (previsously was South Florida)
FAU was top 3 in the NCAA in Turnover margin last season
FAU broke Andre' Woodsens record streak of no INT's thanks to our standout Freshman CB Tavious Polo
FAU is the first Sun Belt team to beat a BIG 10 team
Coached by legendary Howard Schnellenberger (who made Miami and Louisville into big time football programs)
Just approved an on campus 30,000 seat stadium to open against Michigan State in 2010 (with plans to add 30k more seats and a dome)
2nd best QB in the state of Florida with Rusty Smith ripping records to shreds
Only school out of all 6 Division I-A schools in Florida to win a bowl game last year
USF & Louisville have openly claimed they would like to see FAU as the next Big East football member
Big East officials attended FAU's championship game last season to see what all the fuss was about
Last year was supposed to be a building year, but we won the Sun Belt Conference and EVERYBODY is back this year
Only had Football since 2001 and made it to number 4 in the nation in I-AA - Joined Division I-A in 2005
FAU is building a major contender in South Florida. The Big East would be wise to get back into that market since Miami went to the ACC.
Zac
· 1 year ago
Fushino, I don't think anyone will argue that FAU is an up-and-comer. To what height they'll reach before they level off is anyone's guess. To be perfectly honest with you, from a purely marketing stand-point, I don't see the need to add another team from FL to the Big East; I'm not opposed to it; I just don't see the advantage.
That having been said, how many teams from FL does the Big East need? The arguments in favor of UCF are predicated upon it being an historical rival with S FL; it has a solid fan base; it has its Admin's support, and it once lobbied to join/was expected to join, the Big East. That's not to say FAU wouldn't be as good a pick, but it brings us to a variation on the theme; "Does the Big East need 3 members from FL?" My best guess is no, but I wouldn't take my best guess to the bank.
It's quite interesting, actually, all this speculation over the fall-out before the bomb goes off. Then again, that's what science does. Why can't we?
Porcine
· 1 year ago
Thanks Mr. Obvious. Your a life-saver.
cdogg
· 1 year ago
Porcine,
No offense taken. Having trouble with this new system....which is why I haven't blogged since the switch. Testing....testing....
Porcine
· 1 year ago
I was doing a little Roy D. Mercer without being obvious about it.
1Tomcat
· 1 year ago
Since, Ive been coming on here, there has always been-heated disscussions right? Now its kinda funny that we all tend to somehow all agree to a certain extent. Who would have ever thought that a Miami, WV, UT, Ark and Clemson fan could develop something that fits economically and geographically thats both fair and just-weird All the Conf Commissioners and university presidents, atheletic directors and Head coaches ought to read this stuff because it really makes alot of sense, perhaps sports writers like Kev can generate this message and I know I'm singing to the choir so to speak, but yall are all right. Zac they can continue to call it the big ten, because its quite apparent that the number of teams involved in conference membership is not reflected in the name of the conference Big10/12 instead of Big 10/11. hricane23 If BU was to leave the XII which probably aint gonna happen Houston would be a better replacement that Colo St. BU is in the XII because of the late Ann Richards who was the Gov at the time and a BU Alum. So ya politics does play into conference formation. I think that everybody on the face of the planet would like to see TCU in the XII they have beat XII teams repeatedly including OU ,BU and TTech the only XII team that has beaten them in recent years is UT. Hookem-Horns Go Frogs beat the H outa OU
hricane23
· 1 year ago
Alright, already... Everybody's throwing 'round new teams and new conferences and re-aligning everything, including their packages. The goal's to get 12 teams per conference, huh? And championship games in each one? How 'bout....
ACC and SEC remain unchanged. (12 teams apiece)
New Big 12 - Iowa St. and Baylor leave; Colorado St. and TCU sign up (12 teams)
New Big 10 + 2 - Penn St leaves; Notre Dame and Iowa St sign up (12 teams)
New Big East - Nobody leaves; Penn St., UCF, Memphis and Marshall sign up (12 teams)
New C-USA - UCF, Memphis, and Marshall have left; replaced by La Tech, Baylor, Western Kentucky (12 teams)
Mountain West - BYU, Utah, TCU, and Colorado St have left; bring on Hawai'i, Boise St, Fresno St, Nevada, and, I don't know, San Jose St. (12 teams)
The remaining WAC teams, Utah St, Idaho, and New Mexico State join forces to create a Super Conference.
Navy and Army remain Independent.
I think that works...
The only thing left to figure out is what to call the New Big 10 + 2? Big 12's already taken.
Ben Prather
· 1 year ago
You seem to imply Utah and BYU go to the New PAC 12.
Apparently I am ignorant of the reasons why Penn State would like to join the Big East. There is enough consensous on this site to indicate this is an error on my part.
New MWAC: Air Force, New Mexico, SDSU, UNLV and Wyoming remain, Hawaii, Boise St, Fresno St and Nevada would be added. This is nine. Utah St, Idaho and San Jose St would complete the 12, and be remain between the Big East and C-USA in strength .
(Forgot the MAC in my first try)
This creates 9 12 team supper conferences, plus change.
New Mexico State would have to choose if it is better to be independent or join the Sun Belt. I would go independent, with mostly MWAC, Big 12 and PAC 12 games.
Zac
· 1 year ago
FortyAcersofBurnt..., OUFan, OURon, Tomcat help us out here. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Big 12's "official logo" is actually the Big XII. Now I need Thebuckstopshere, TomBlogical, and any of the other Big Ten(11) gurus. Again, correct me if I'm wrong, but the Big Ten(11)'s official logo is completely spelled out; i.e. "The Big Ten". The Big 12 could keep their logo as it is; the Big Ten(11) could simply spell out "The Big Twelve".
As with hricane 23, perhaps a paradigm shift is in order. Name The Big 12, the Big West, and the Big Ten(11), The Big Mid-Continent.
OR we can get silly. I'll let you figure which one's which:
The Big Conference in which the conference champion can't win their BCS Bowl.
The Big Conference in which the best teams are beaten by champions...from both divisions.
cftt
· 1 year ago
The Midwestern 12!
Porcine
· 1 year ago
How would the divisions go? Geographic or ACC style?
4cornerz
· 1 year ago
hi
cftt
· 1 year ago
Here's a thought. If the Big East implodes, maybe the Mountain West can pick up their BCS status. It's going to be tough for a team in that conference to repeat what Utah did in 2004 because the competition is just too tough. I think it is the toughest non BCS conference. It even has national titles on its resume.
Kevin @ Fanblogs
· 1 year ago
I would agree with you that -- top to bottom -- the MWC is the toughest non-BCS.
But... I wouldn't hold my breath on that BCS auto-bid just yet.
Ben Prather
· 1 year ago
While I agree with this assesment of the MWC, but the automatic BCS bid for the MWC is not going to happen.
Perhaps the threat of a MWC BCS bid may be the push that forces the PAC 10 to assimilate Utah and BYU. Without those two schools the MWC loses a lot of its luster.
Zac
· 1 year ago
Kevin, why do the comments not fall in where they're put; for example, replies seem to go just about anywhere. Some days you read comments on here and many are not in chronological order. Are these just a few of the glicheroni type growing pains with this new system, or is there a madness to this method?
Kevin @ Fanblogs
· 1 year ago
I haven't noticed the replies getting too jumpy. I can tell you that... if several people reply to the post, then they fall chronologically... with replies to replies in between. If you see a specific one out of place, lemme know and I will get the Disqus crew to check it out.
paulwesterdawg
· 1 year ago
UCF (geography, rival for USF and quality facilities) Memphis (b-ball, rival for Lville, recruiting base, facilities and Liberty Bowl frriends) S Miss (passion for football, rival for Memphis. Geographic fit)
But FAU? That program is hopeless. They are decades away from having the facilities or fan interest. And they are wretched academically and all other sports wise.
You'd have to consider the following for that last spot: 1. UAB - Geographic bridge as Bama connects FLA, Miss and TN states.Also adds B-ball strength.
2. ECU - Another geographic bridge between Northern Big East schools and southern ones.
THAT SAID.... The only way it makes sense for the Big East to spllit....is if the get Notre Dame for a full football deal. Then they can change the entire strategy. They could pick up ND, UCF, Memphis (for hoops) and either Marshall or a MAC school for geography.
Zac
· 1 year ago
Den, den, DENNNN!!!! Here I come to save the day...
Well, as I live and breath (and glow in the dark). More "big" changes are about to befall the Big East. Trust me, and Football Picks is not the 1st to have said this, whatever the changes, if it boosts revenue for the conference, those left to run the Big East will do it.
Still, the possibilities are seemingly endless. In another thread, I not only listed many of them, but advantages and disadvantages as well. The following are most of the teams considered for Big East expansion: ECU, C FL, FL Atlantic, Marshall, Memphis, Navy, Penn St, S MS, TCU, Troy.
Penn St belongs in the Big East. However, timing is everything, and as many have said (myself included), so long as JoePa is on the sidelines, Penn St will stay in the Big Ten(11). That's the bad news. The good news: Tranghese isn't retiring until June 2009. Unless the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten(11), & SEC manage to make mega-conference moves before then, we may finally see Penn St in the Big East. It's still a long-shot, but the stars are actually moving towards that alignment.
If I had my pick, I'd go with ECU, Marshall, Navy, and Penn St. Since I don't have that luxury, and given markets & money are what drives this bus, if I had to guess, C FL, Navy, & Penn St; the 4th being Memphis or Troy, which ever is determined to be the better market (Both are about equal.). Now, a lot of you may be going "Hugh?!?" at my choosing Navy. Lets face it. Navy presents a market close to being equal to that of ND; it's international. Because of academic restraints and resource issues, Navy may not have the same success, but they still draw a far & large audience.
The most interesting thing about this subject is not just the typical fallout; i.e. who's gonna take over, etc. No, it's who's gonna make the 1st move. Could be fun to watch.
1Tomcat
· 1 year ago
Hey Zac were's your picture, buddy ? I tend to agree somewhat looks like Marshal, close to Cinn & WV would be a good choice E Car and UCF both upcoming programs- Penn St After Penn st bolts for BE the B-10/11 could pick up IA st & ND I know ND I'm dreaming perhaps N ILL or some other MAC team That would leave the12 a vacancy for TCU Okay Zac post a photo Adios-Hookem
Zac
· 1 year ago
TC, I'm working on the photo thing. I'll have to get my computer-guru, wife, to assist me, as I'm about as computer literate as a dead steer (Thought I'd throw that in for some social rhetoric.). Ahem, anyway, got my eye on either a Lithium atom or a mushroom cloud. Watcha think?
Clemson_Joe
· 1 year ago
That's very similar to a post that I made just the other day in "Can the SEC change the college football landscape?" "If it were up to me, and of course it isn't, I would have the Pac 10 add Utah and BYU, have Penn State join the Big East along with UCF, East Carolina, and Marshall, Notre Dame and Iowa State join the Big Ten, and have TCU replace Iowa State in the Big 12. I really don't see any of this happening in the near future or maybe ever, but I'd like it if it did."
Needless to say, we agree, so it should be done.
Zac
· 1 year ago
You know what they say, C_J; "Great *thinks* mind alike...", er, something like that...
40AcresOfBurntOrange
· 1 year ago
I like your theory. In a perfect world with conferences that stick to their own geographical areas this would and should be the setup. Personally i think Iowa State should be dropped to the C-usa or MAC conference, because they stink at everything every year. in the Big 12 i think Baylor and Iowa state should be dropped and Houston and TCU should be added. the Big East should add Marshall, Penn State, and UCF, and the Big 10 should add Notre Dame. As well as BYU and Utah joining the Pac 10. Every conference should have to work it out where they each have to play a conference championship game. I thinks it's a load of bulls**t! that neither the Big 10 (11) or the Pac 10 have to play conference championship games yet the real conferences do.
HookEmHorns!
Clemson_Joe
· 1 year ago
Agreed. 100%. Championship games should be mandatory to get an automatic bid to the BCS.
Regan
· 1 year ago
Now THIS is pie-in-the-sky, but Penn State belongs in the Big East and we all know it. :)
As far as Big East expansion actually goes, however, you're looking at maintaining the conference's desire to maintain the automatic Big East berth (immediately), and you want football-heavy teams to do that.
East Carolina has been wanting to join for a while now. Marshall (sorta) makes sense too. UCF makes sense if you want a rival for USF, and Memphis and USM would really help out too.
I think the "Blue-Gray" alignments look good, but I wonder about FAU. Subbing ECU or Marshall might be better.
Where's Zac?
Jim
· 1 year ago
There are some things: 1) "Geographic Rivalries" are not important. Quite the opposite -- by adding FAU and/or UCF to the Big East, it would diminish the ability of South Florida to recruit in the state. Same with adding Marshall against Louisville... (or Buffalo -> Syracuse... or U Mass -> U Conn... or Miami -> Cincy). I would eliminate this from your thought process as all the conference members would support each other ... giving any school an effective "veto".
2) If the Big East splits, you have to consider two factors: the entirety of the athletic program (especially basketball, baseball, and softball) - AND - the television market. Assume the new Big East football conference could not get another BCS school like Maryland or Penn State. The best non-BCS schools (IMHO) in no particular order: * Memphis (big TV market, good athletic programs, Liberty Bowl matchup against the SEC), * Tulane (big TV market, good baseball program), * Texas-Christian (big TV market, another good athletic program, Armed Forces Bowl, too far west?), * Northern Illinois (Almost in the Chicago media market), * Toledo (Could get into the Detroit Media market, not a big threat to Cincy), * Houston (see TCU, switch to Texas Bowl) * Alabama-Birmingham (SEC Country, could use a new stadium tho), * Southern Miss (SEC Country, not a big media market) * East Carolina (ACC Country, not a big media market)
My divisions: * Syracuse, Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Connecticut, Rutgers, Toledo * Lousville, Cincinnati, Memphis, South Florida, Tulane, Houston
A heck of a lot of TVs in those markets...
4cornerz
· 1 year ago
I would replace Toledo with UCF b/c it will create a Fl rivalry and replace Tulane with TCU or SMU b/c of the Huge Dallas/Fort Worth TV Market and it will create a TX rivalry.
Sideshow233
· 1 year ago
I agree about adding UCF and Memphis, both bring a FB power and a BB power. I could see ECU bc they bring NC. FAU just does not have the fanbase, if they were to build a 30K stadium it would be the smallest in the league by 18K, they can't fill a 20K consistently. Also that area of florida is spoiled bc they don't support UM which has all the NCs. I like Memphis bc they have a good BB team and UCF bc they have good FB team and both have a large fanbase.
hricane23
· 1 year ago
I think UCF would be a better fit than FAU. They have "big" conference experience.
Marshall also sounds like a good fit.
What about dissolving C-USA into the Mega-Big East, drop UAB, UTEP, Rice, and SMU, and roll with 2 8-team divisions? Move Marshall to the blue side, and USF to the grey? The Big East isn't afraid of having too many teams.
Kevin @ Fanblogs
· 1 year ago
I think you're paying too little heed to the economics involved (ie television, cost to travel to certain markets like Marshall, etc).
hricane23
· 1 year ago
Don't they already travel to West Virginia? The cost of travel could, actually, be decreased a little, if the northern half of the league doesn't have to go to So. FLA. And vice versa.
And as far as television revenues, wouldn't having 16 teams increase revenues? We're talking about adding the Tulsa, Houston, and New Orleans markets. Plus, the So. FLA market you've already mentioned.
I realize there would be some challenges running a conference that big, but I can kind of foresee, as I said, two distinct 8-team divisions, operating almost as separate conferences. Big Grey and Big Blue, so to speak. I don't think they'd lose a whole lot of existing rivalries if the northern teams stopped playing USF (Heck, West Virginia and Louisville might actually like that).
I realize getting 16 teams to go along with it, let alone C-USA not putting up much of a fight, would be difficult, at best. But I could see them trying. I think the Big East has a chip on his shoulder since losing the Big 3 to the ACC. I can see them forcing something like this to work, simply to put it in everybody's faces.
Football Picks
· 1 year ago
If enough people think a split will bring more revenue, a split will happen. Make no mistake - like most decisions in college football it will be determined by dollars and cents.
hricane23
· 1 year ago
Hey! I know that bird! You in Lawrence? Good to see a 'Hawk on here. I'm a Cane fan, but also a KU alum.
cdogg
· 1 year ago
Just testing this new system. Figured I do it with a Canes Fan.
Football Picks
· 1 year ago
Get to Lawrence often as a season ticket holder in both hoops and FB, class of '92
4cornerz
· 1 year ago
I think the Big East should do something different by adding UCF and FAU, then change the college football landscape by adding 2 of the 3 schools TCU or SMU and Houston. The reason why b/c the Big East could boast in having the largest TV Market within college football then they could blind side the SEC, ACC, and Big 12 by recruiting in their fertile territory.
G
· 1 year ago
As a BYU fan it drives me crazy to see team after team added to BCS conferences in the east. Louisville, Cincinnati, Connecticut, South Florida, Central Florida, Memphis, .... FLORIDA ATLANTIC!! A lot of these teams haven't even been D1-A for more than a few years, and now they're getting BCS money because there's an opening in the Big East. BYU has been selling out a 65,000 seat stadium for 25 years, but because they are in the West, where there is no conference re-alignment, they don't get a sniff BCS dollars. What has Florida Atlantic done to deserve getting millions per year from the BCS system? ... other than own beach front property in Miami. What a joke.
Zac
· 1 year ago
G-Man, trust me when I say it. I would have loved to see the Big East figure out a way to bring in quality teams like BYU & Utah. It's just not geographically practical. Schedule a home/home series from time to time, OK. But, BYU & Utah having to travel east as many as 2300 miles, as many times as 4 times/season, that's just crazy, especially given today's fuel prices.
I've said it in other threads right here on Fanblogs. As much as I would like ND to include football with their Big East sports affiliation, geographically the Big Ten(11) is a far better fit for the Irish. Therefore, I don't see the travel costs involved being off-set by the potential TV market revenues, were BYU & Utah to join the Big East.
joe
· 1 year ago
This is an excellent point, G. If The Big East adds all these cupcakes then the Mountain West should become the 7th BCS Conference.
Zac
· 1 year ago
Whoa there a minute, Joe bro! There are 5 bowl teams including a 10-3, and two 9-4 teams on that list, not to mention another that was bowl eligible. Though BYU had a fine season, they barely escaped their rematch with UCLA. Utah did no better against Navy. In my opinion, BYU goes 3-3 against that list, and Utah would be lucky to do as well. Not exactly a record to be proud of against a passel of patsies.
Hell, TX barely escaped their visit to C FL. Maybe these "patsies" are just the type the MWC needs to gain a little more credibility and become a BCS conference themselves. Besides, FL Atlantic is in the Sun Belt; they get no more BCS money than does any team in the MWC.
If the Big East football side expands, most speculate it'll be C FL, ECU, Memphis, and some are still crossing their fingers over Penn St, and that's still nothing more than anybody's guess. Believe me, if there were a way BYU & Utah could be transplanted 1000 miles east, the Big East would have come a court'n by now.
Clemson_Joe
· 1 year ago
BYU and Utah should be in the Pac 10. It would stay with the Pac 10's tradition of having pairs, and it works geographically. Both schools deserve to be in a BCS conference (far more than a lot of teams in the East), and the Pac 10 needs 2 teams for a championship.
I spent some time out in Salt Lake, and since then I have wanted to get to attend the Holy War at least once in my life. It seems like it's always a good game. I've got to be honest though, I've always had the assumption that it'd be half of the stadium drunk, and the other half sober. I want to see what that's like. For drinking purposes, I guess I'd have to wear red....
Ben Prather
· 1 year ago
You must be reading ahead...
Porcine
· 1 year ago
FAU is barely making the attendance requirements to stay 1-A. I would take UCF, and ECU Three Florida schools is a lot of Florida. Memphis probably in. UAB and Troy are further into SEC country and Troy is quite the rising program. USM has a longer resume. Does Marshall offer enough to turn down a new market? Would they go to 14? Unlikley since 12 would meet the requirements. Gray-USF, UCF, ECU, Memphis, USM, Louisville (Troy) Blue-Syracuse, Rutgers, UConn, Cincy, Pitt, WV, (Marshall)
Kevin @ Fanblogs
· 1 year ago
I don't see a 14 team conference, honestly, because it really doesn't do much to develop intra-conference rivalries. Granted, it's only one extra game, but I could be wrong.
I agree that FAU needs more development, however, there's no other school out there that guarnatees you the market metrics for the television network. By adding FAU, you get the #16-ish television market in the country. There only other school out that is a) generally available and b) fits the georgraphic profile is Temple (Philidelphia, PA -- #4 TV market). The drawback with bringing in Temple, however, is that defacto mix for travel purposes becomes a little lopsided within the more southern division.
All Comments
NORTH SIDE
UConn + Syracuse
Rutgers + Temple
Pitt + West Virginia
SOUTH SIDE
Cincy + Louisville
Memphis + Eastern Carolina
USF + UCF
Anything else is dumb. There is no need for two West Virginia teams or three Florida teams. This is the best and only credible 12-team group.
BE is fine in BCS, and why Kevin thinks it needs to be more solidly in is somewhat puzzling.
BE basketball is more than fine, it's the best, most competitive league there is. In case you haven't noticed, the BE "football" programs also are major BE "basketball" programs, too. UCONN, Pitt, WVU, Louisville, Syracuse would be tough basketball outs in any conference.
Getting to 9 BE football teams for an even 4-game round robin conference schedule would be ideal. The only one that makes any sense is Notre Dame, because it wouldn't affect the basketball league.
Major Rival (for each team) [NOTE: Need possible confirmation]
1) WVU - PITT; Traditional Rivals
2) CINC - LOU; Traditional Rivals
3) RUTG - SYR; Old Big East Rivals
4) CONN - USF; Both are (relatively) new teams
5) UCF - FAU; Geography; new additions
6) MEM - USM; Geography; strong history, etc.
So long as each of these are met, the Rivalries will likely work. The only two 'rivalries' that are cross-divisional and would need a permanent game are CONN-USF and CINC-LOU. If these 'rivalries' are not that strong, the BE could not even mess with permanent cross-division rivals.
Meh... don't mind me; I just can't sleep and feel like babbling common sense stuff....
FAU is the fastest program to go from Division I-AA to I-A
FAU is the fastest startup program to beat a Division I-A team (and it was a Hawaii Bowl team)
FAU is the fastest program to get to a Bowl Game (previously was South Florida)
FAU is the fastest program to win a Bowl Game (previsously was South Florida)
FAU was top 3 in the NCAA in Turnover margin last season
FAU broke Andre' Woodsens record streak of no INT's thanks to our standout Freshman CB Tavious Polo
FAU is the first Sun Belt team to beat a BIG 10 team
Coached by legendary Howard Schnellenberger (who made Miami and Louisville into big time football programs)
Just approved an on campus 30,000 seat stadium to open against Michigan State in 2010 (with plans to add 30k more seats and a dome)
2nd best QB in the state of Florida with Rusty Smith ripping records to shreds
Only school out of all 6 Division I-A schools in Florida to win a bowl game last year
USF & Louisville have openly claimed they would like to see FAU as the next Big East football member
Big East officials attended FAU's championship game last season to see what all the fuss was about
Last year was supposed to be a building year, but we won the Sun Belt Conference and EVERYBODY is back this year
Only had Football since 2001 and made it to number 4 in the nation in I-AA - Joined Division I-A in 2005
FAU is building a major contender in South Florida. The Big East would be wise to get back into that market since Miami went to the ACC.
That having been said, how many teams from FL does the Big East need? The arguments in favor of UCF are predicated upon it being an historical rival with S FL; it has a solid fan base; it has its Admin's support, and it once lobbied to join/was expected to join, the Big East. That's not to say FAU wouldn't be as good a pick, but it brings us to a variation on the theme; "Does the Big East need 3 members from FL?" My best guess is no, but I wouldn't take my best guess to the bank.
It's quite interesting, actually, all this speculation over the fall-out before the bomb goes off. Then again, that's what science does. Why can't we?
No offense taken. Having trouble with this new system....which is why I haven't blogged since the switch. Testing....testing....
Now its kinda funny that we all tend to somehow all agree to a certain extent.
Who would have ever thought that a Miami, WV, UT, Ark and Clemson fan could develop
something that fits economically and geographically thats both fair and just-weird
All the Conf Commissioners and university presidents, atheletic directors and Head coaches
ought to read this stuff because it really makes alot of sense, perhaps sports writers like Kev can
generate this message and I know I'm singing to the choir so to speak, but yall are all right.
Zac they can continue to call it the big ten, because its quite apparent that the number of teams
involved in conference membership is not reflected in the name of the conference Big10/12 instead
of Big 10/11.
hricane23 If BU was to leave the XII which probably aint gonna happen Houston would be a better replacement that Colo St. BU is in the XII because of the late Ann Richards who was the Gov at the time and a BU Alum. So ya politics does play into conference formation.
I think that everybody on the face of the planet would like to see TCU in the XII they have beat XII teams repeatedly including OU ,BU and TTech the only XII team that has beaten them in recent years is UT.
Hookem-Horns
Go Frogs beat the H outa OU
ACC and SEC remain unchanged. (12 teams apiece)
New Big 12 - Iowa St. and Baylor leave; Colorado St. and TCU sign up (12 teams)
New Big 10 + 2 - Penn St leaves; Notre Dame and Iowa St sign up (12 teams)
New Big East - Nobody leaves; Penn St., UCF, Memphis and Marshall sign up (12 teams)
New C-USA - UCF, Memphis, and Marshall have left; replaced by La Tech, Baylor, Western Kentucky (12 teams)
Mountain West - BYU, Utah, TCU, and Colorado St have left; bring on Hawai'i, Boise St, Fresno St, Nevada, and, I don't know, San Jose St. (12 teams)
The remaining WAC teams, Utah St, Idaho, and New Mexico State join forces to create a Super Conference.
Navy and Army remain Independent.
I think that works...
The only thing left to figure out is what to call the New Big 10 + 2? Big 12's already taken.
Apparently I am ignorant of the reasons why Penn State would like to join the Big East. There is enough consensous on this site to indicate this is an error on my part.
New MWAC: Air Force, New Mexico, SDSU, UNLV and Wyoming remain, Hawaii, Boise St, Fresno St and Nevada would be added. This is nine. Utah St, Idaho and San Jose St would complete the 12, and be remain between the Big East and C-USA in strength .
(Forgot the MAC in my first try)
This creates 9 12 team supper conferences, plus change.
New Mexico State would have to choose if it is better to be independent or join the Sun Belt. I would go independent, with mostly MWAC, Big 12 and PAC 12 games.
As with hricane 23, perhaps a paradigm shift is in order. Name The Big 12, the Big West, and the Big Ten(11), The Big Mid-Continent.
OR we can get silly. I'll let you figure which one's which:
The Big Conference in which the conference champion can't win their BCS Bowl.
The Big Conference in which the best teams are beaten by champions...from both divisions.
But... I wouldn't hold my breath on that BCS auto-bid just yet.
Perhaps the threat of a MWC BCS bid may be the push that forces the PAC 10 to assimilate Utah and BYU. Without those two schools the MWC loses a lot of its luster.
Memphis (b-ball, rival for Lville, recruiting base, facilities and Liberty Bowl frriends)
S Miss (passion for football, rival for Memphis. Geographic fit)
But FAU? That program is hopeless. They are decades away from having the facilities or fan interest. And they are wretched academically and all other sports wise.
You'd have to consider the following for that last spot:
1. UAB - Geographic bridge as Bama connects FLA, Miss and TN states.Also adds B-ball strength.
2. ECU - Another geographic bridge between Northern Big East schools and southern ones.
THAT SAID....
The only way it makes sense for the Big East to spllit....is if the get Notre Dame for a full football deal. Then they can change the entire strategy. They could pick up ND, UCF, Memphis (for hoops) and either Marshall or a MAC school for geography.
Well, as I live and breath (and glow in the dark). More "big" changes are about to befall the Big East. Trust me, and Football Picks is not the 1st to have said this, whatever the changes, if it boosts revenue for the conference, those left to run the Big East will do it.
Still, the possibilities are seemingly endless. In another thread, I not only listed many of them, but advantages and disadvantages as well. The following are most of the teams considered for Big East expansion: ECU, C FL, FL Atlantic, Marshall, Memphis, Navy, Penn St, S MS, TCU, Troy.
Penn St belongs in the Big East. However, timing is everything, and as many have said (myself included), so long as JoePa is on the sidelines, Penn St will stay in the Big Ten(11). That's the bad news. The good news: Tranghese isn't retiring until June 2009. Unless the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten(11), & SEC manage to make mega-conference moves before then, we may finally see Penn St in the Big East. It's still a long-shot, but the stars are actually moving towards that alignment.
If I had my pick, I'd go with ECU, Marshall, Navy, and Penn St. Since I don't have that luxury, and given markets & money are what drives this bus, if I had to guess, C FL, Navy, & Penn St; the 4th being Memphis or Troy, which ever is determined to be the better market (Both are about equal.). Now, a lot of you may be going "Hugh?!?" at my choosing Navy. Lets face it. Navy presents a market close to being equal to that of ND; it's international. Because of academic restraints and resource issues, Navy may not have the same success, but they still draw a far & large audience.
The most interesting thing about this subject is not just the typical fallout; i.e. who's gonna take over, etc. No, it's who's gonna make the 1st move. Could be fun to watch.
I tend to agree somewhat looks like Marshal, close to Cinn & WV would be a good choice
E Car and UCF both upcoming programs- Penn St
After Penn st bolts for BE the B-10/11 could pick up IA st & ND
I know ND I'm dreaming perhaps N ILL or some other MAC team
That would leave the12 a vacancy for TCU
Okay Zac post a photo
Adios-Hookem
"If it were up to me, and of course it isn't, I would have the Pac 10 add Utah and BYU, have Penn State join the Big East along with UCF, East Carolina, and Marshall, Notre Dame and Iowa State join the Big Ten, and have TCU replace Iowa State in the Big 12. I really don't see any of this happening in the near future or maybe ever, but I'd like it if it did."
Needless to say, we agree, so it should be done.
HookEmHorns!
As far as Big East expansion actually goes, however, you're looking at maintaining the conference's desire to maintain the automatic Big East berth (immediately), and you want football-heavy teams to do that.
East Carolina has been wanting to join for a while now. Marshall (sorta) makes sense too. UCF makes sense if you want a rival for USF, and Memphis and USM would really help out too.
I think the "Blue-Gray" alignments look good, but I wonder about FAU. Subbing ECU or Marshall might be better.
Where's Zac?
1) "Geographic Rivalries" are not important. Quite the opposite -- by adding FAU and/or UCF to the Big East, it would diminish the ability of South Florida to recruit in the state. Same with adding Marshall against Louisville... (or Buffalo -> Syracuse... or U Mass -> U Conn... or Miami -> Cincy). I would eliminate this from your thought process as all the conference members would support each other ... giving any school an effective "veto".
2) If the Big East splits, you have to consider two factors: the entirety of the athletic program (especially basketball, baseball, and softball) - AND - the television market. Assume the new Big East football conference could not get another BCS school like Maryland or Penn State. The best non-BCS schools (IMHO) in no particular order:
* Memphis (big TV market, good athletic programs, Liberty Bowl matchup against the SEC),
* Tulane (big TV market, good baseball program),
* Texas-Christian (big TV market, another good athletic program, Armed Forces Bowl, too far west?),
* Northern Illinois (Almost in the Chicago media market),
* Toledo (Could get into the Detroit Media market, not a big threat to Cincy),
* Houston (see TCU, switch to Texas Bowl)
* Alabama-Birmingham (SEC Country, could use a new stadium tho),
* Southern Miss (SEC Country, not a big media market)
* East Carolina (ACC Country, not a big media market)
My divisions:
* Syracuse, Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Connecticut, Rutgers, Toledo
* Lousville, Cincinnati, Memphis, South Florida, Tulane, Houston
A heck of a lot of TVs in those markets...
Marshall also sounds like a good fit.
What about dissolving C-USA into the Mega-Big East, drop UAB, UTEP, Rice, and SMU, and roll with 2 8-team divisions? Move Marshall to the blue side, and USF to the grey? The Big East isn't afraid of having too many teams.
And as far as television revenues, wouldn't having 16 teams increase revenues? We're talking about adding the Tulsa, Houston, and New Orleans markets. Plus, the So. FLA market you've already mentioned.
I realize there would be some challenges running a conference that big, but I can kind of foresee, as I said, two distinct 8-team divisions, operating almost as separate conferences. Big Grey and Big Blue, so to speak. I don't think they'd lose a whole lot of existing rivalries if the northern teams stopped playing USF (Heck, West Virginia and Louisville might actually like that).
I realize getting 16 teams to go along with it, let alone C-USA not putting up much of a fight, would be difficult, at best. But I could see them trying. I think the Big East has a chip on his shoulder since losing the Big 3 to the ACC. I can see them forcing something like this to work, simply to put it in everybody's faces.
BYU has been selling out a 65,000 seat stadium for 25 years, but because they are in the West, where there is no conference re-alignment, they don't get a sniff BCS dollars. What has Florida Atlantic done to deserve getting millions per year from the BCS system? ... other than own beach front property in Miami.
What a joke.
I've said it in other threads right here on Fanblogs. As much as I would like ND to include football with their Big East sports affiliation, geographically the Big Ten(11) is a far better fit for the Irish. Therefore, I don't see the travel costs involved being off-set by the potential TV market revenues, were BYU & Utah to join the Big East.
Hell, TX barely escaped their visit to C FL. Maybe these "patsies" are just the type the MWC needs to gain a little more credibility and become a BCS conference themselves. Besides, FL Atlantic is in the Sun Belt; they get no more BCS money than does any team in the MWC.
If the Big East football side expands, most speculate it'll be C FL, ECU, Memphis, and some are still crossing their fingers over Penn St, and that's still nothing more than anybody's guess. Believe me, if there were a way BYU & Utah could be transplanted 1000 miles east, the Big East would have come a court'n by now.
I spent some time out in Salt Lake, and since then I have wanted to get to attend the Holy War at least once in my life. It seems like it's always a good game. I've got to be honest though, I've always had the assumption that it'd be half of the stadium drunk, and the other half sober. I want to see what that's like. For drinking purposes, I guess I'd have to wear red....
Gray-USF, UCF, ECU, Memphis, USM, Louisville (Troy)
Blue-Syracuse, Rutgers, UConn, Cincy, Pitt, WV, (Marshall)
I agree that FAU needs more development, however, there's no other school out there that guarnatees you the market metrics for the television network. By adding FAU, you get the #16-ish television market in the country. There only other school out that is a) generally available and b) fits the georgraphic profile is Temple (Philidelphia, PA -- #4 TV market). The drawback with bringing in Temple, however, is that defacto mix for travel purposes becomes a little lopsided within the more southern division.
http://www.fanblogs.com/miami/006664.php
Sorry C-DOGG.
Edit: (No response to my cheap shot? We need C-DOGG back)