It's official

[The Process]

This part is B.S.  They have no right to be pissed.  Maybe disappointed, but definitely not pissed after they have been lobbying to get out of the Big East the past two years.

UCONN and Cincy got exactly what they wanted here: Out of the Big East.

[Aughnanure]

Holy S*** that was fast.

[Groin_pull]

I'm happy for MU...and thrilled that UConn and Cincy appear screwed. Hope they're both stuck playing in C-USA.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

My understanding is that the Catholic schools get to keep $50-60 million generated by the withdrawal fees of WV, TCU, Pitt, Syr, ND, Rutgers, 'Ville and also will split $24 million in NCAA BB tournament shares.

Not exactly chump change.

I hope the schools without elite athletics use some of that cash to help themselves.

Honestly, this conference can't afford the bottom feeders to be terrible. It will pull everybody down and it will be like a slightly better A10. Can't have that.

Everybody better be ready to step up. crap just got real.

[BubbaWilliams]

I must say, LW seems to be one of the driving factors of this. I have to give him some credit.

[Aughnanure]

Love this adorable post from the SMU board:
http://ponyfans.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=64681&sid=043fbcdbfb7157a85513b7a8150736e7

SMU
Houston
UCF
USF
Memphis
Cincinnati
UCONN
Temple

possibly add:
UMASS
Villanova (move up from FCS to FBS to appease UCONN and strengthen basketball in the league)
Talk to Georgetown about moving up to FBS as well.

Small, but solid conference. Keeps the Texas/Florida/Northeast markets. Add more as needed.

[Pakuni]

Love this adorable post from the SMU board:
http://ponyfans.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=64681&sid=043fbcdbfb7157a85513b7a8150736e7

SMU
Houston
UCF
USF
Memphis
Cincinnati
UCONN
Temple

possibly add:
UMASS
Villanova (move up from FCS to FBS to appease UCONN and strengthen basketball in the league)
Talk to Georgetown about moving up to FBS as well.

Small, but solid conference. Keeps the Texas/Florida/Northeast markets. Add more as needed.

Was that from SMU17, SMU18 or SMU19?

[🏀]

Love this adorable post from the SMU board:
http://ponyfans.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=64681&sid=043fbcdbfb7157a85513b7a8150736e7

SMU
Houston
UCF
USF
Memphis
Cincinnati
UCONN
Temple

possibly add:
UMASS
Villanova (move up from FCS to FBS to appease UCONN and strengthen basketball in the league)
Talk to Georgetown about moving up to FBS as well.

Small, but solid conference. Keeps the Texas/Florida/Northeast markets. Add more as needed.

Outside of the GTown reference, is it that far off? Those schools need somewhere...

[T-Bone]

Not happening today. 
https://twitter.com/GaryParrishCBS/status/279268240973234177

A source has told @CBSSports that a formal announcement from the Big East is NOT expected today -- http://cbsprt.co/TWQ9Iz

Parrish updated the story.

[chapman]

Outside of the GTown reference, is it that far off? Those schools need somewhere...

That conference could happen, other than assuming Villanova and Georgetown now want to upgrade to FBS, years too late and after making today's move is a big F-U to interest in FBS football.

[JD]

Not happening today. 
https://twitter.com/GaryParrishCBS/status/279268240973234177

A source has told @CBSSports that a formal announcement from the Big East is NOT expected today -- http://cbsprt.co/TWQ9Iz

Parrish updated the story.

So last night it went from 24-48 hours and now it's within a week?  WTF.

[Ellenson Guerrero]

Love this adorable post from the SMU board:
http://ponyfans.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=64681&sid=043fbcdbfb7157a85513b7a8150736e7

SMU
Houston
UCF
USF
Memphis
Cincinnati
UCONN
Temple

possibly add:
UMASS
Villanova (move up from FCS to FBS to appease UCONN and strengthen basketball in the league)
Talk to Georgetown about moving up to FBS as well.

Small, but solid conference. Keeps the Texas/Florida/Northeast markets. Add more as needed.

Wow UConn and Cincy... karma really is a bitch

[Hards Alumni]

My guess is that they are backing off so they can get all the ducks in a row and properly announce everything at once... including membership of the new conference.

[The Process]

So last night it went from 24-48 hours and now it's within a week?  WTF.

My uneducated guess is they want to throw a big press conference announcing the new conference and introducing all the members. With an awesome laser show and confetti cannons.

[Groin_pull]

My guess is that they are backing off so they can get all the ducks in a row and properly announce everything at once... including membership of the new conference.

If that's the reason, fine. But this needs to happen!

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

That conference could happen, other than assuming Villanova and Georgetown now want to upgrade to FBS, years too late and after making today's move is a big F-U to interest in FBS football.

The only thing worse than "no football" is "bad football".

[hairy worthen]

That conference could happen, other than assuming Villanova and Georgetown now want to upgrade to FBS, years too late and after making today's move is a big F-U to interest in FBS football.

The only problem is that a confernce like that would not have stability. UConn and Cincy would be temporary members and maybe Houston and memphis as well.

[TJ]

Love this adorable post from the SMU board:
http://ponyfans.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=64681&sid=043fbcdbfb7157a85513b7a8150736e7

SMU
Houston
UCF
USF
Memphis
Cincinnati
UCONN
Temple

possibly add:
UMASS
Villanova (move up from FCS to FBS to appease UCONN and strengthen basketball in the league)
Talk to Georgetown about moving up to FBS as well.

Small, but solid conference. Keeps the Texas/Florida/Northeast markets. Add more as needed.

Nova and GU talk is just stupid, but aside from that it's a good idea.  UConn and Cincy might not want to join, but even without them it's a good idea.  Rather than have everybody going back to their conferences with their tails between their legs just form CUSA II.  It'll be better than CUSA is now.  Add a few more teams and you've got yourself a southeast based mid-major conference.  Plus Temple.

[Abode4life]

Love this adorable post from the SMU board:
http://ponyfans.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=64681&sid=043fbcdbfb7157a85513b7a8150736e7

SMU
Houston
UCF
USF
Memphis
Cincinnati
UCONN
Temple

possibly add:
UMASS
Villanova (move up from FCS to FBS to appease UCONN and strengthen basketball in the league)
Talk to Georgetown about moving up to FBS as well.

Small, but solid conference. Keeps the Texas/Florida/Northeast markets. Add more as needed.

They haven't been through the past two years of conference realignment first hand like we have.  Just wait til UCONN, and Cincy leave.  Also who knows about Houston/Memphis.

[🏀]

Is the ink dried on Tommy Tuberville's contract?

[The Process]

The only problem is that a confernce like that would not have stability. UConn and Cincy would be temporary members and maybe Houston and memphis as well.

And it wouldn't be OUR problem this time!

[jficke13]

I bet the "delay" in announcing is because they want to unveil the new additions in one big reveal along with the new conference so they're just lining up everything before calling a big press conference.

[T-Bone]

My uneducated guess is they want to throw a big press conference announcing the new conference and introducing all the members. With an awesome laser show and confetti cannons.

And they'll invite all the scoopers!

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

I bet the "delay" in announcing is because they want to unveil the new additions in one big reveal along with the new conference so they're just lining up everything before calling a big press conference.

This, and leaking that they are going to announce puts other schools in the "put up, or shut up" category.

Bluffs have been called, and the "Heaven 7" are all in. Time for others to decide.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Not exactly chump change.

I hope the schools without elite athletics use some of that cash to help themselves.

Honestly, this conference can't afford the bottom feeders to be terrible. It will pull everybody down and it will be like a slightly better A10. Can't have that.

Everybody better be ready to step up. crap just got real.

This is definitely going to court in some fashion, but it's good to be holding the spear rather than having to stare at the point of it.