Big East says it wants 12 football teams

[Pakuni]

Let the speculation begin ... er, continue

http://www.courant.com/sports/college/hc-big-east-football-notebook-1011-20111010,0,6823591.story

On a day when Texas Christian will announce it is officially joining the Big 12, the Big East is moving forward with plans to add as many as six football-playing schools.

According to a statement from commissioner John Marinatto after a conference call of presidents and chancellors, the conference is looking to expand. The Big East is losing Pittsburgh and Syracuse to the Atlantic Coast Conference and TCU — which was scheduled to join the conference in 2012 — is expected to announce Monday night that it has accepted an invitation from the Big 12.

"On a teleconference earlier today, our Presidents and Chancellors authorized the Big East Conference to engage in formal discussions with additional institutions and are considering moving to a model that includes 12 football playing schools," Marinatto said in the statement.

[dw3dw3dw3]

Hoping for...

Football Only:
Army, Navy, Airforce (for political muscle)
Boise State (adds legitimacy)

BBall and Football
Memphis (Just to have another top 25 program and I don't care about football)
Temple (Just because Rick said so, and he's been vocal in supporting the Beast)

Hope nots..
#1 ECU - Unless guaranteed 5 DWade vs ECU quality dunks per game.
#2 Central Florida - The 5th best school in Florida?
#3 Houston - Unless the Phi Slamma Jamma team has eligibility left
#4 SMU - Really?

[GGGG]

Boise has stated that it is not interested.

[dw3dw3dw3]

When? I thought they were back in the mix as of yesterday.

[GGGG]

In the story Pakuni linked above:

"Despite reports Sunday that the Big East may pursue Boise State for football only, sources have told The Courant that the school is not interested."

Furthermore, this ESPN story states that the B12 may invite Louisville and West Virginia, but are waiting on Mizzou's decision on the SEC.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/7084162/big-east-consider-adding-6-football-schools

[GGGG]

By the way, if UL and West Virginia do end up with an invitation, that really should be the nail in the coffin for the hybrid conference.  Maybe what will end up happening is that the four of them join a conference as "football only members," only to come back together for the rest of the sports.

[Aughnanure]

In the story Pakuni linked above:

"Despite reports Sunday that the Big East may pursue Boise State for football only, sources have told The Courant that the school is not interested."

Furthermore, this ESPN story states that the B12 may invite Louisville and West Virginia, but are waiting on Mizzou's decision on the SEC.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/7084162/big-east-consider-adding-6-football-schools

Ouch, denied by Idaho (not that I blame them).

[bilsu]

By the way, if UL and West Virginia do end up with an invitation, that really should be the nail in the coffin for the hybrid conference.  Maybe what will end up happening is that the four of them join a conference as "football only members," only to come back together for the rest of the sports.

The nail in the coffin would be if they accepted the invitation. I think at this point Louisville only leaves, if another team leaves. Uconn wants out, but nobody wants them. That means it all rests squarely on West Virginia who could leave for SEC or Big 12. The question is whether SEC would change their mind about West Virginia, if Missouri would turn them down? West Virginia is closer to SEC territory than Big 12. Big 12 gets even further away, if Missouri goes to SEC.

[GGGG]

At this point, WVU would join the Pac-12 if offered.  They want nothing to do with this conference as it is projected to look.

[Dawson Rental]

The nail in the coffin would be if they accepted the invitation. I think at this point Louisville only leaves, if another team leaves. Uconn wants out, but nobody wants them. That means it all rests squarely on West Virginia who could leave for SEC or Big 12. The question is whether SEC would change their mind about West Virginia, if Missouri would turn them down? West Virginia is closer to SEC territory than Big 12. Big 12 gets even further away, if Missouri goes to SEC.

"Uconn wants out"
At this point all six football schools would leave if given an invite from another BCS conference.  Until they receive such an offer, the Beast is still their best option due to the BCS invite which will only go away if the conference falls below 8 football playing members for over 2 years.

"whether SEC would change their mind about West Virginia"
Not unless the SEC decides to reconfigure itself as a charitable foundation.  WV would reduce the other schools TV payouts, and the drag on revenue will only increase as cable TV becomes a bigger part of the picture.  WV's only hope to move on is that the Big 12 comes calling.

"if Missouri would turn them down"
This will only happen if the Big Ten jumps in with an invite which is highly unlikely.  Mizzou knows how close it came to being orphaned and forced to join the Big East with Iowa State, Kansas, and Kansas State.

[77ncaachamps]

I'm not sold that "Football Only" schools will strengthen the conference; they'll simply "hold spots" to make the BE appear that they're a true conference.

We need schools that are "all in" with their respective sports programs.

[brewcity77]

Saw a blurb on TV last night that the Big 12 is done expanding at least for now. Their commish said even if they lose Mizzou, they will have 10 members through 2012. Seemed a bit short-sighted, but hopefully true.

[GGGG]

I think what they mean is that Mizzou won't be going anywhere until 2013, so they have basically a year to figure out which canidates would be the best fit for them...one, two or three schools.

Honestly, I personally wish that they would have invited UL and WVU, and this would have prompted the bball schools to get out and start their own conference.  Adding six crappy football schools like UCF and ECU holds no interest for me, especially when it could fall apart two years from now.

[Aughnanure]

I really don't like this if it means the bball-onlies lose their voting majority.

[Abode4life]

Honestly, I personally wish that they would have invited UL and WVU, and this would have prompted the bball schools to get out and start their own conference.  Adding six crappy football schools like UCF and ECU holds no interest for me, especially when it could fall apart two years from now.

I completely agree.  If they don't, it is only delaying the inevitable until we lose the BCS status.  I would rather them jump now and the basketball only schools can start being more proactive, without worrying about football.  Otherwise we will be in conference USA v2.

[bilsu]

I really don't like this if it means the bball-onlies lose their voting majority.

I am debating whether the voting majority is important at this point. I do not believe the football schools would kick out all of the basketball schools. Maybe they would they boot out Seton Hall or DePaul, but at this point I do not see that as very likely. The only issue I would see, if the conference disbanded, would be who gets the Big East name. I do not think the football schools would get it, if they voted to leave the Big East resulting in the conference being disbanded.