BE Invitations to be Accepted on Friday

[GGGG]

http://brett-mcmurphy.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/29532522/33074577

Looks as though Boise, UCF, Houston and SMU will be joining by tomorrow.  (Boise still needs to find a place for its all sports.)  Navy is definately in.  Air Force is a likelihood too.

As for a 12th member, they are looking at either BYU as football only or Temple.  Not sure if Temple would be all sports or not.

[MU_LOL]

As for a 12th member, they are looking at either BYU as football only or Temple.  Not sure if Temple would be all sports or not.

memphisssss

[ErickJD08]

memphisssss

I hate to say it but Memphis is our last hope for picking up a solid BB program.

[StillAWarrior]

Question for those who follow college football more closely than I do: does this appreciably help Boise State get into the national title game?  I know that it gives them an easier path to a bowl as a member of a BCS conference, but they still have to finish No. 1 or 2 in the BCS rankings, right?

[GGGG]

It gets Boise more $$$, because they will be in a BCS conference.  It won't be an all or nothing proposition since the conference will likely keep the AQ status.

It certainly won't hurt them as far as getting into a title game.  The reason they haven't previously is due to their strength of schedule, which will improve in the BE....not greatly improve, but improve nevertheless.

And it gets them closer to what I think their ultimate goal is...permanent membership in a BCS conference for all sports.  Perhaps the B12 down the line.

[dwaderoy2004]

So if we're not letting schools out early, that means in 2013 we will have 19 basketball schools.  I would guess we have an 18 game schedule, playing everybody once.  I would have to imagine it doesn't get to that, and Cuse, Pitt and WVU agree to pay a bigger buyout to leave early.

[Canadian Dimes]

If I was the league I would absolutely not let them out early.  The Big East has become the other BCS conferences picking patch for the last 8 years for whenever they needed a team.  Hold teams to the 27 month wait and they may tend to look at different options, helping league stability. 

Letting those 3 pay a few extra million sets precedent and tells those other leagues and potential defectors ... "oh well, we will just throw a few more million at them and can leave tommorow".  Bad idea.

[bamamarquettefan]

Memphis is the basketball choice.  Ranked No. 20 again in Pomeroy today (one spot ahead of MU) but always challenging for 120th in football, which puts the BE back behind the ACC in evaluations.  The only football upside is the Fedex offer of putting $10 million into the BE title game - though I don't know if that has ever been legally vetted.

BYU is the football choice.  In the top 20 in the BCS ratings for four years running, 2006-09.  Too bad we couldn't grab their basketball too, since they would certainly be a nice addition if not for the travel factor.

Temple is the compromise choice.  Solid football that doesn't drag down the conference, and certainly a strong basketball program.  I had Temple near the top of my wish list a year ago when I wrote about expansion, and I am still hoping for them.

[GGGG]

So if we're not letting schools out early, that means in 2013 we will have 19 basketball schools.  I would guess we have an 18 game schedule, playing everybody once.  I would have to imagine it doesn't get to that, and Cuse, Pitt and WVU agree to pay a bigger buyout to leave early.

19 basketball schools and 15 football schools.  Completely unworkable.  They will negotiate this away so that all schools move in 2013.  Mizzou will have to stick in the B12 and the SEC will have to work with 13 for one year.

And Dimes, the bad idea is to make business moves based on spite.  Letting them out early, for more $$$, benefits the BE members more than keeping them around does.  Keeping them doesn't send any sort of message.

[Benny B]

19 basketball schools and 15 football schools.  Completely unworkable.  They will negotiate this away so that all schools move in 2013.  Mizzou will have to stick in the B12 and the SEC will have to work with 13 for one year.

Marinatto has to start thinking like Immelt and Eisner.  Buy out everyone while the price is low, parcel off the football schools into one conference with two divisions, keep the basketball conferences and reorganize the membership.  Start your own TV network - heck, start two of them if you want - and allow participating teams to keep a larger share of tournament and playoff revenue.  Pick the rabbit out of the hat while everyone sits out there wondering how we did it.

(Of course, I'm sure the NCAA has a bunch of archaic rules to prevent something like this from ever happening.)

AMALGAMATED BEAST, INC.

(Football)

BIG EAST CONFERENCE
[Atlantic Division]
Cincinnati
Temple
Marshall
East Carolina
Connecticut
Rutgers
Louisville
Navy
South Florida
UCF

[West Division]
Memphis
Southern Miss
UAB
SMU
Rice
Houston
Tulane
Air Force
Boise State
UTEP


(Basketball)

ATLANTIC CONFERENCE
St. Bonaventure
Xavier
Notre Dame
Marquette
Saint Louis
La Salle
St. Joseph's
Dayton
Cincinnati
Temple
Marshall
Duquesne

USA CONFERENCE
Richmond
Memphis
UAB
Southern Miss
SMU
Charlotte
East Carolina
UCF
Rice
Houston
Tulane
South Florida

EAST CONFERENCE
Louisville
St. John's
Georgetown
Connecticut
Villanova
Seton Hall
Rutgers
Providence
Rhode Island
Massachusetts
Fordham
Geo. Washington

WEST CONFERENCE
Air Force
Boise State
St. Mary's
Gonzaga
San Francisco
Santa Clara
Portland
Pepperdine
Loyola Marymount
UTEP
San Diego

VALLEY CONFERENCE
Bradley
Indiana St.
Missouri St.
Wichita St.
Creighton
Illinois St.
Evansville
Drake
Southern Ill.
Northern Iowa
DePaul
Tulsa

[Big Papi]

Memphis is the basketball choice.  Ranked No. 20 again in Pomeroy today (one spot ahead of MU) but always challenging for 120th in football, which puts the BE back behind the ACC in evaluations.  The only football upside is the Fedex offer of putting $10 million into the BE title game - though I don't know if that has ever been legally vetted.

BYU is the football choice.  In the top 20 in the BCS ratings for four years running, 2006-09.  Too bad we couldn't grab their basketball too, since they would certainly be a nice addition if not for the travel factor.

Temple is the compromise choice.  Solid football that doesn't drag down the conference, and certainly a strong basketball program.  I had Temple near the top of my wish list a year ago when I wrote about expansion, and I am still hoping for them.

I still think there will be basketball only schools brought into this equation.  Marinatto needs to address football first and foremost before league completely dissolves.

Temple can still be brought in for basketball only with the promise that if we lose another football team, theres would be the first one in.  You could also make the same pitch to Memphis as the second one in.  And I am sure Xavier will be strongly considered so that in the end, we will still be considered as the best basketball league. 

[Canadian Dimes]

19 basketball schools and 15 football schools.  Completely unworkable.  They will negotiate this away so that all schools move in 2013.  Mizzou will have to stick in the B12 and the SEC will have to work with 13 for one year.

And Dimes, the bad idea is to make business moves based on spite.  Letting them out early, for more $$$, benefits the BE members more than keeping them around does.  Keeping them doesn't send any sort of message.

ahh who said anything about spite?

If the conference has a 27 moth wait policy and has shown they will uphold it other conferences looking for a team on the quick will be less inclined to look at the BE.

Not sure where u get spite out of that.

Additonally a few million dollars split multiple weighs benefits whom? and by how much?  really?

Deal with cumbersome schedules for a few years and let other conferences know that if they want a BE school they will need to wait.  Best bet for longer term BE stability. 

Simple business, no spite involved.

[mu03eng]

It gets Boise more $$$, because they will be in a BCS conference.  It won't be an all or nothing proposition since the conference will likely keep the AQ status.

It certainly won't hurt them as far as getting into a title game.  The reason they haven't previously is due to their strength of schedule, which will improve in the BE....not greatly improve, but improve nevertheless.

And it gets them closer to what I think their ultimate goal is...permanent membership in a BCS conference for all sports.  Perhaps the B12 down the line.

Plus it gets Boise out on the east coast a lot more for games and therefore eyeballs.  This absolutely helps when it comes to the polls.

[Canadian Dimes]

I still think there will be basketball only schools brought into this equation.  Marinatto needs to address football first and foremost before league completely dissolves.

Temple can still be brought in for basketball only with the promise that if we lose another football team, theres would be the first one in.  You could also make the same pitch to Memphis as the second one in.  And I am sure Xavier will be strongly considered so that in the end, we will still be considered as the best basketball league. 

I have been kind of thinking along those lines as well.  i would not be surprised if that after these six schools have been added and stability assured that the BE does not turn around and then add Memphis and Temple.  just one mans opinion.

[Canadian Dimes]

Plus it gets Boise out on the east coast a lot more for games and therefore eyeballs.  This absolutely helps when it comes to the polls.

additonally, as Boise currently sits any season they lose one game they are destined to the who cares bowl on dec 3rd in bumble frick, kansas. 
Being in the Big Eats allows them to still be a BCS team and lose a game.  Gives them more margin for air and like previously said a ton more publicity and legitimacy.

[GGGG]

ahh who said anything about spite?

If the conference has a 27 moth wait policy and has shown they will uphold it other conferences looking for a team on the quick will be less inclined to look at the BE.

Not sure where u get spite out of that.

Additonally a few million dollars split multiple weighs benefits whom? and by how much?  really?

Deal with cumbersome schedules for a few years and let other conferences know that if they want a BE school they will need to wait.  Best bet for longer term BE stability. 

Simple business, no spite involved.

Alright.  Spite was a bad word.  I have just seen a lot of people say "screw them...make 'em wait."

I just think the better business decision is to make them pay $15M to get out a year early instead of $5M to get them out later.  Everyone can move on.

[Canadian Dimes]

I hear what u are saying but at the end of the day what is $10 million?  $800k for each school doing the acquiring and the same the the schools losing the team. 

For $800,000, iwould rather have schools thinking..."boy, it would be nice to have so and so but we would rather not wait 3 years.


Additonally after this is all locked up the BE needs to raise the exit fee again...ideally in the $20-30 million with an inflation escalator of say 5% annually.

[79Warrior]

I hear what u are saying but at the end of the day what is $10 million?  $800k for each school doing the acquiring and the same the the schools losing the team. 

For $800,000, iwould rather have schools thinking..."boy, it would be nice to have so and so but we would rather not wait 3 years.


Additonally after this is all locked up the BE needs to raise the exit fee again...ideally in the $20-30 million with an inflation escalator of say 5% annually.

Not sure it works that way. Does the conference split the money evenly? Does the conference itself keep any for its own budget? Who says the basketball schools get any of that revenue?

[Dr. Blackheart]

Alright.  Spite was a bad word.  I have just seen a lot of people say "screw them...make 'em wait."

I just think the better business decision is to make them pay $15M to get out a year early instead of $5M to get them out later.  Everyone can move on.

Agree...WVU and the B12 have a lit fuse to move quickly, but the BE's fuse is longer. So, WVU throws together a nuisance lawsuit in their hometown to force the BE to move more quickly.  However, it is in the BE's best interest to drag their feet in the near-term to keep their BCS bid in place and to get the new members settled (schedules, their exit details) for their upcoming media renewal.

If the $21mm lump sum rumor (asking price) per exiting team to get WVU out early is true as MUHS and I discussed in another thread, that could be a cash windfall today for the remaining BE schools.  Couple that with the entrance fees for the noobs...and MU's split could be about three+ years of their current ESPN annual take. The BE can afford and should posture a bit on a delay, but they will and should settle in the upcoming month(s) after they play their poker hand out and make the departed sweat a bit. Take the cash today is the rule...like the lottery...just maximize the leverage the BE holds today--but realize that the BE loses leverage relatively soon into the 27 month burn (as WVU and the B12 are desperate due to media and scheduling obligations when Missouri leaves).

With that cash, MU could finish the soccer bowl they had originally planned, and seed other capital projects.

[avid1010]

Memphis is the basketball choice.  Ranked No. 20 again in Pomeroy today (one spot ahead of MU) but always challenging for 120th in football, which puts the BE back behind the ACC in evaluations.  The only football upside is the Fedex offer of putting $10 million into the BE title game - though I don't know if that has ever been legally vetted.

+1...welcome Memphis and FedEx to the table...being part of a BCS conference and having FedEx to fund their program will allow them to get better over time. 

[MUMac]

Agree...WVU and the B12 have a lit fuse to move quickly, but the BE's fuse is longer. So, WVU throws together a nuisance lawsuit in their hometown to force the BE to move more quickly.  However, it is in the BE's best interest to drag their feet in the near-term to keep their BCS bid in place and to get the new members settled (schedules, their exit details) for their upcoming media renewal.

If the $21mm lump sum rumor (asking price) per exiting team to get WVU out early is true as MUHS and I discussed in another thread, that could be a cash windfall today for the remaining BE schools.  Couple that with the entrance fees for the noobs...and MU's split could be about three+ years of their current ESPN annual take. The BE can afford and should posture a bit on a delay, but they will and should settle in the upcoming month(s) after they play their poker hand out and make the departed sweat a bit. Take the cash today is the rule...like the lottery...just maximize the leverage the BE holds today--but realize that the BE loses leverage relatively soon into the 27 month burn (as WVU and the B12 are desperate due to media and scheduling obligations when Missouri leaves).

With that cash, MU could finish the soccer bowl they had originally planned, and seed other capital projects.

I don't know what the "relatively soon" time is. Right now, the schools that are leaving really lose 2 seasons.  Next year and the year after, as the 27 month window falls during the 2013-2014 Season.  They could move for the winter/spring sports that conference play is after 1-1, I suppose, but that would be difficult as well.

With that as the carrot to the departing schools, I would think some the answer to the "relatively soon" might be this winter/spring.  

I understand what Canadian Dimes is advocating and on some levels, makes a lot of sense.  I think, though, all parties would likely want a quicker resolution and move on.  Bring in the new schools now to replace the departing schools.  Long divorces never end well.

[Canadian Dimes]

With that cash, MU could finish the soccer bowl they had originally planned, and seed other capital projects.

Hold on!!.... I thought Crean put up the money for that?  I remember the pomp and circumstance and press-conferences, his family, Father-in-law...or was that something else?

[Canadian Dimes]

I understand what Canadian Dimes is advocating and on some levels, makes a lot of sense.  I think, though, all parties would likely want a quicker resolution and move on.  Bring in the new schools now to replace the departing schools.  Long divorces never end well.

No but it sure as he!! might make someone think twice about marrying the ex!

[Dr. Blackheart]

I don't know what the "relatively soon" time is. Right now, the schools that are leaving really lose 2 seasons.  Next year and the year after, as the 27 month window falls during the 2013-2014 Season.  They could move for the winter/spring sports that conference play is after 1-1, I suppose, but that would be difficult as well.

With that as the carrot to the departing schools, I would think some the answer to the "relatively soon" might be this winter/spring.  

I understand what Canadian Dimes is advocating and on some levels, makes a lot of sense.  I think, though, all parties would likely want a quicker resolution and move on.  Bring in the new schools now to replace the departing schools.  Long divorces never end well.

Would agree..."relatively soon" is nearer rather than a year+ from now...but not today as it is for WVU and B12. Plus, a media deal is going to pay for what the future is not what is leaving and mired in a quagmire.  BE can posture today but it loses its value over time--but it holds the cards right now if WVU wants the quickie divorce

[MUMac]

+1...welcome Memphis and FedEx to the table...being part of a BCS conference and having FedEx to fund their program will allow them to get better over time. 

It seems like Memphis has always tried to improve it's football program.  They run into troubles, though, with where they are located.  Too many powerful football programs around them.  If you want to play good college football, you have Tennessee, Bama, Auburn, Arkansas, LSU ... all fairly close by.  Football will always be a struggle for them, I am afraid.