What happens if...

[dw3dw3dw3]

It seems clear that no team is going to commit to the big east until the dust settles.

Right now there are 6 + 1 (TCU) -> Ville, Cinci, Uconn, Rutgers, WVU, USF football teams

Let's say only 3 of the above get poached, can you even have a conference with 3 teams?

At what point do the basketball teams vote that the Big East doesn't sponsor football? Do you vote the leftover teams out or just make their football teams go independent in the short term.

I would find it hard to believethat the 7+1 basketball schools would vote for the likes of UCF,Memphis,Army,Navy,Airforce,Houston,ECU, etc.. to join just to get the football numbers back up to 8, knowing they would have to add more as soon as the leftover 3 original teams found their new conferences. 

[SaveOD238]

If more than one more football school leaves Big East football is done.

I lived in Connecticut when they built their new stadium on the taxpayer dime and I remember the outrage when VaTech, BC, and Miami (aka the big football draws) bolted the Big East and took those high revenue games with them.  I can only imagine how furious they will be if UConn gets stuck playing football in the MAC because Big East football disbands and UConn is left without a home.

[forgetful]

Well if UCONN ends up in the MAC it is their own fault.  Right now everyone but UCONN committed to the Big East.  If they would commit it would be a sign of stability and other teams would be willing to accept offers and this could all end.

With them not committing and saying they are trying their hardest to make it into the ACC, no one will commit to the big east.

I really hope Notre Dame will not go to the ACC under any circumstance.  Without ND, UCONN will not get into the ACC.

[MuMark]

You really think that just because they had a meeting and everybody said "we are committed" that they actually are?

Louisville is talking to the Big 12 and would love to get into the ACC. WV is looking around. Ditto for Rutgers. TCU may go back the Mountain West.

You are kidding yourself if you think the football schools are committed to the conference.

Well if UCONN ends up in the MAC it is their own fault.  Right now everyone but UCONN committed to the Big East.  If they would commit it would be a sign of stability and other teams would be willing to accept offers and this could all end.

With them not committing and saying they are trying their hardest to make it into the ACC, no one will commit to the big east.

I really hope Notre Dame will not go to the ACC under any circumstance.  Without ND, UCONN will not get into the ACC.

[muball]

FBall schools have their dance cards out but are having trouble finding a new dance partner. None of them like the current dance floor.

[lab_warrior]

I lived in Connecticut when they built their new stadium on the taxpayer dime and I remember the outrage when VaTech, BC, and Miami (aka the big football draws) bolted the Big East and took those high revenue games with them.  I can only imagine how furious they will be if UConn gets stuck playing football in the MAC because Big East football disbands and UConn is left without a home.

Yeah, my heart BLEEDS for the taxpayers of "Patheticut."

I am pretty much resigned to the fact that the football schools are all going to bolt, and we'll have to band together with the other BBall only schools.  We just have to make the best of that situation by keeping all of the great BE basketball teams, and if we could add some combo of Xavier and/or Butler, that conference would be very good. 

[Skatastrophy]

Yeah, my heart BLEEDS for the taxpayers of "Patheticut."

I am pretty much resigned to the fact that the football schools are all going to bolt, and we'll have to band together with the other BBall only schools.  We just have to make the best of that situation by keeping all of the great BE basketball teams, and if we could add some combo of Xavier and/or Butler, that conference would be very good. 

Yes.

And if we keep the current BEast together and bolster it with football teams it will survive for a year or two, but eventually the football teams will bolt again.

The Big 12 and Big East have proven that they are just feeder-conferences for the SEC, ACC and BigTweleven.  We need to either make a move, or become okay with the fact that the Big East is full of minor league players waiting to get called up.

[GGGG]

If Louisville and Cincinnati bolt, I fail to see what Big East tradition we need to save that involves any football school.  Essentially it would be UConn and WVU (a relative newcomer).  Face it, when Syracuse and Pitt left, tradition largely went out the door.  If UL and UC leave, the rest of it goes with it.  Our best bet is to stick with Georgetown, Nova, St. Johns and the rest of the bball schools and build a new tradition. 

Not wholly unheard of.  When I was in school we never played Louisville or any of the BE schools except DePaul and ND.  Life goes on.

[mr.MUskie]

Connecticut Gov. Dannel P Malloy confirmed UConn is interested in moving to the Atlantic Coast Conference and says everything hinges on whether the ACC wants to expand to 16 teams.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Connecticut Gov. Dannel P Malloy confirmed UConn is interested in moving to the Atlantic Coast Conference and says everything hinges on whether the ACC wants to expand to 16 teams.

Here's the quote and my gov is a graduate of.......


Dannel P. Malloy, the Connecticut governor, has now weighed in on conference realignment.

"I think there was expectancy built up initially that this was quickly going to be resolved. That's clearly not the case. The ACC has the first decision to make and that's whether they're going to stay at 14 teams or stay at 16. I know that there's one team, one school that they would like to get into the ACC that would guarantee them going to 16 teams and that's been speculated to be Notre Dame. I suspect that that's true. I don't know how likely that is to happen or not happen. Although, I tend to think it's not terribly likely."

But, if the ACC sticks at 14, what do you do if you are UConn? "Beyond that you fall back to the Big East."

Here's the no longer hidden angle to try to get in the ACC, Malloy is a Boston College alum. He wouldn't disclose if he had lobbied Boston College or not. Mengus thinks the Big East should #bootuconn after this news, what do you think?

[bilsu]

The teams that are left are going to have to decide what is more important basketball or football. Uconn's only chance to go to ACC is if Notre Dame decides to go. So if Notre Dame remains independent, West Virginia goes to ACC, Louisville to Big 12 the Big East needs to decide if they are still going to have football. Assuming Big East decides against watering down basketball to add football teams we will no longer have football as a conference sport. Uconn's choice would be to go independent in football and stay in Big East or join a lesser basketball conference for the sake of their football team. To me being independent keeps open the hope of joining the ACC when Notre Dame eventually throws in the towel.

[Abode4life]

The teams that are left are going to have to decide what is more important basketball or football. Uconn's only chance to go to ACC is if Notre Dame decides to go. So if Notre Dame remains independent, West Virginia goes to ACC, Louisville to Big 12 the Big East needs to decide if they are still going to have football. Assuming Big East decides against watering down basketball to add football teams we will no longer have football as a conference sport. Uconn's choice would be to go independent in football and stay in Big East or join a lesser basketball conference for the sake of their football team. To me being independent keeps open the hope of joining the ACC when Notre Dame eventually throws in the towel.

A lot more has to happen for Notre Dame to join the ACC.  No way they just decide to join the ACC with UConn in the current environment.  Their contract negotiations either have to go nowhere in a couple years when its up for re-negotiation, or the Big East and Big12 have to disband and they feel like they can't survive as an independent.   

[GGGG]

The $$ wont be a problem.  They already make less than all conferences but the BE for their football program.  Their indentity is tied to their independence.