The Other MU (Missouri) Appears Ready to Join the SEC

[texaswarrior74]

May happen as early as this Thursday or Friday. Big 12 targets are Louisville, WVA and BYU. The Big 12 has to decide if it picks only one and stays at 10 or all three to go to 12 which is what many coaches prefer.

If the 'Ville and WVA leave it certainly adds to the destabilization of the Big East. Here we go again!


http://texas.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1280401

[GGGG]

If the B12 adds UL and WVU, the BE is dead as a football conference.  One idea floated on the Scout board was to have UConn and UC join another conference as football only members, only to return to the BE for all other sports.

[SaveOD238]

Big East-Big XII merger for football only (a la C-USA and MWC) might be the only thing that can save Big East football at this point.

[GGGG]

Big East-Big XII merger for football only (a la C-USA and MWC) might be the only thing that can save Big East football at this point.

The B12 has absolutely no reason to do this.  The CUSA / MWC merger is an attempt to get a BCS bid.  The B12 already has one of those.  And why split up the television and bowl money pie more than they have to?  It's not as though UConn and UC are going to be net additions.

[Warrior1969]

Exactly why on earth would the B12 want to merge with the BE???

[Bieberhole69]

Won't the Big 12 look to Boise St now?

[Aughnanure]

Won't the Big 12 look to Boise St now?

no

[bamamarquettefan]

I did wonder if that was a possibility, or even if Lville or WVU would do the same if only one was taken.

If there were a chance of keeping UConn, Cincy and either Lville or WVU for all but football, that's still a pretty strong hoops conference.  If not, we are still way down even assuming Butler and Xavier are added.

[Buzz Williams' Spillproof Chiclets Cup]

Assuming Mizzou bolts and BYU, Ville, and WVa are all interested, Divisions likely return, but perhaps not as originally.

North
Iowa State
Kansas
Kansas State
West Virginia (Takes Nebraska's place)
Louisville (Takes Mizzou's place)
BYU (Takes Colorado's place)

South
Texas
Texas Tech
Baylor
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
TCU (Takes TAMU's place)

Now here, competitive balance is tilted strongly towards the South Division (again). Maybe they go with an East-West split to reflect the new additions?

East: Louisvile, West Virginia, Iowa State, TCU, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State
West: Kansas, K-State, BYU, Texas, Texas Tech, Baylor

Then again, they may go all "Legends and Leaders" on us.

[chapman]

Then again, they may go all "Legends and Leaders" on us.

I'm thinking Rednecks and Inbreds.  Unless the SEC beats them to it.

[Wade for President]

I'm thinking Rednecks and Inbreds.  Unless the SEC beats them to it.

Awesome

[Clam Crowder]

The Big East voted to raise the exit fee today...shouldn't this indicate that the league will stay as is?

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

I saw this in the New Haven Register.  It had a few interesting notes I had not heard yet.

http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2011/10/18/sports/doc4e9dc8ff2b195426581024.txt

BIG EAST: Expansion plan has conference aiming for 12 football schoolsPublished: Tuesday, October 18, 2011

David Borges, Register Staff
dborges@nhregister.com / Twitter: @DaveBorges

Big East schools voted unanimously on Monday night to double the exit fee for football members to $10 million and accelerate an expansion plan that would allow for 12 football schools.

"Each of our member schools is behind this effort, and we are confident we can achieve it," Big East commissioner John Marinatto said in a conference call on Tuesday. "We hope to have an announcement soon concerning new members."

Marinatto wouldn't mention any potential targets to join the conference, but noted, "We are very happy with the quality of schools that have expressed interest."

Multiple reports have noted the Big East has targeted Houston, SMU, Central Florida and possibly Navy as new members for all sports, as well as Boise State and Air Force for football only. The Houston Chronicle reported Monday that Houston has already received an invitation, but Marinatto said that no invitations have been extended as of yet.

Once one of the targeted schools commits to the Big East, the exit fee for football schools to leave the conference will double from its current $5 million to $10 million.

"I don't think there's a magic number that would prevent a school from leaving," Marinatto admitted. "You don't want people motivated by a penalty."

Marinatto said all of the Big East's current 14 members are on board with the 12-team football model. Eventually, he envisions a conference football championship game, possibly to be played in New York.

Interestingly, Marinatto stressed that Pittsburgh and Syracuse will continue to be held to the conference's current 27-month exit timeframe — even if the conference manages to add enough football schools for a 12-team league over the next year or two.

"I wouldn't rule that out at all," the commissioner said. "We've modeled a 14-team football structure. We'd employ that if it was to our membership's advantage."

A report by the New York Times on Monday noted that Missouri's application to join the Southeastern Conference is "imminent and inevitable." If that happens, Big East schools like Louisville and West Virginia could be coveted by the Big 12, further damaging the conference's football profile. But Marinatto noted the situation won't affect the Big East's current plan.

"We're not going to pause while the Missouri situation resolves because it may not be resolved for a while," he said. "We're not going to rush ourselves to meet anyone's deadline. We have a lot to offer and we're going to get this done right."

Marinatto also noted that Notre Dame, often cited as a potential target of the ACC, is "as committed, if not more committed, than any other member" of the Big East.

The commissioner said that, moving forward, numerous factors will be taken into account regarding potential new members: television market, school philosophies, academic profile. Oh, and basketball.

The Big East, of course, is still the premier conference in college hoops, with 11 schools going to the NCAA tournament last year and UConn emerging as national champion.

"The genesis of this conference was basketball, and maybe the evolution has been football," Marinatto noted. "When a conference has 11 schools go to the tournament, obviously it's known for its basketball prowess. Our basketball schools have always supported our football schools ... and will continue to be supportive of our football schools."

Follow David on Twitter @DaveBorges. To receive breaking news first, simply text the word nhsports to 22700. *Msg & Data Rates May Apply. Text HELP for help. Text STOP to cancel.

[GGGG]

The Big East voted to raise the exit fee today...shouldn't this indicate that the league will stay as is?

It is contingent on other schools joining...but invitations haven't been issued yet.  So if the B12 loses Missouri, then invites UL and WVU, they just pay the $5M.

[Clam Crowder]

I saw on the Big East twitter today that the exit fee was raised. I think that this thing with it being contingent on other school's joining isn't true, but all of this conference realignment stuff has been a bunch of bs reporting by alot of people. All that matters to me is what Marinatto says about Notre Dame in this article...if they stay the conference will stay alive, and I really think that some of the people posting as of late are doubting the power Calhoun has at UCONN and Pitino has at LOUISVILLE. In the past 10 years I think that what those two coaches have done for their school in terms of implicit revenue by means of showing their schools in the national media, and the like has been far greater than what their football programs have done. UCONN football is not good, they don't get on the national scene often, their games are hardly on television. UCONN's basketball is that source of media for the school. I think the school's need to think of that more than the $$$ they get in their pockets right now.

[GGGG]

I saw on the Big East twitter today that the exit fee was raised. I think that this thing with it being contingent on other school's joining isn't true,

It says right in the above article:

"Once one of the targeted schools commits to the Big East, the exit fee for football schools to leave the conference will double from its current $5 million to $10 million."

I've read this from multiple sources.  So I most definately believe that it is true.

[Zephyr820]

It says right in the above article:

"Once one of the targeted schools commits to the Big East, the exit fee for football schools to leave the conference will double from its current $5 million to $10 million."

I've read this from multiple sources.  So I most definately believe that it is true.

Thats like saying, "I'd save a lot of time on my commute, if I could just fly to work."  Sure it's true, but its not happening.  Those teams aren't going to do anything until seeing what Louisville, West Virginia, and possibly Cincinnati do.

One or probably more are going to get offered.  Really the only question is whether or not this prompts Notre Dame's inevitable move to the ACC (which would bring along UConn in their wake)

Regardless of the detail afterward, if Missouri goes through with the move to the SEC, the Big East football is over.  Its just where they all get allocated to, at that point.

[jsglow]

I've also read the $10 million is contingent on the other teams joining the BEast.  If Missouri leaves, UL and WVU are probably quickly gone and nobody comes for football. Then the Big East becomes a basketball conference. I do feel sorry for the football schools.  Frankly, the basketball schools at least have a home and can attract top additions once football passes on.  I view this all as a normal course of events just like TCU back to the Big 12 makes sense.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

It says right in the above article:

"Once one of the targeted schools commits to the Big East, the exit fee for football schools to leave the conference will double from its current $5 million to $10 million."

I've read this from multiple sources.  So I most definately believe that it is true.

If I read that correctly, only ONE of the new invites needs to say yes and the fee goes up.

[GGGG]

Well, I think we know where Louisville stands...

http://louisville.scout.com/a.z?s=17&p=2&c=1118775&ssf=1&RequestedURL=http%3a%2f%2flouisville.scout.com%2f2%2f1118775.html

"Monday night, Big East officials voted to increase the league's exit fee if new members are added. Tuesday, after announcing Charlie Strong's contract extension, Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich said that move wouldn't be an "obstacle" for the Cardinals."

[jsglow]

Well, I think we know where Louisville stands...

http://louisville.scout.com/a.z?s=17&p=2&c=1118775&ssf=1&RequestedURL=http%3a%2f%2flouisville.scout.com%2f2%2f1118775.html

"Monday night, Big East officials voted to increase the league's exit fee if new members are added. Tuesday, after announcing Charlie Strong's contract extension, Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich said that move wouldn't be an "obstacle" for the Cardinals."

Headed to the Big 12, I'll bet.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

A new Andy Katz today on the Big East.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/blog/_/name/katz_andy/id/7122208/big-east-needs-consider-basketball-potential-expansion-moves-college-basketball