It's official

[MUMountin]

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.

I would guess, however, that a portion of that will be used to settle the surely impending lawsuit from UConn/Cinci/ USF/maybe Temple.  Even so, hopefully the new league will still get the lion's share of that money.

[Aughnanure]

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

That was my point. And Villanova wouldn't vote with us if they wanted too be in a conference like this. So both are completely off. What would be the point of the split then?

[Warriors10]

Is the ink dried on Tommy Tuberville's contract?

Shows you how bad that TTech job/the environment is that he would leave.  Tommy is a smart guy and knew what he was getting into.

[TJ]

That was my point. And Villanova wouldn't vote with us if they wanted too be in a conference like this. So both are completely off. What would be the point of the split then?

Very true, but I wouldn't be surprise to see the former Big East invitees create a new conference of their own.

[79Warrior]

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.

This

[Hards Alumni]

That was my point. And Villanova wouldn't vote with us if they wanted too be in a conference like this. So both are completely off. What would be the point of the split then?

I'm just happy that other fan bases don't judge all of us by some of our crazier posters.

feel me?

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Does anybody have an idea of when this conference would be put in place? Could it be effective as early as the 2013-2014 season or would we have to wait until 2014-2015?

[RideMyBuycks]

I would think this would help reciting. Selling a conference solely driven by basketball would allow recruiters to assure recruits that all the attention will be theirs. How awesome would it be if this new group got to be known as the NBA-prep conference?

[Blackhat]

Logical outcome that's been coming for awhile now.    Now we can move forward and build.

[LON]

So LW and Pilarz just fell into this, right?

I mean, this thread is severely lacking in disparaging them.

/preemptive strike

[onepost]

So LW and Pilarz just fell into this, right?

I mean, this thread is severely lacking in disparaging them.

/preemptive strike

+1

[madtownwarrior]

as I said earlier - silly, little SMU...

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.

[Blackhat]

I'm not fans of Larry or Pilarz but saying this move was a novel brain child and needing great leadership is being quite nice to LW and Father P.

Still not sure the Tulane comments were necessary, but LW was smart to get his name and comments out there the day before.  Good PR move for Larry's career.  Chalk one positive up in the LW media category.

[Hards Alumni]

I'm not fans of Larry or Pilarz but saying this move was a novel brain child and needing great leadership is being quite nice to LW and Father P.

Still not sure the Tulane comments were necessary, but LW was smart to get his name and comments out there the day before.  Good PR move for Larry's career.  Chalk one positive up in the LW media category.

I think they were totally necessary.  It demonstrates that the BEAST was thinking that football was so important to them that they were willing to add a member without even discussing it with the basketball only schools.  Generally, its good to show a lack of leadership if you are going to criticize it.

[hojm]

I hope not playing Memphis will not have J Johnson taking another look at his commitment to MU.

[Hards Alumni]

I hope not playing Memphis will not have J Johnson taking another look at his commitment to MU.

the letter has been signed, can't go anywhere now.

[🏀]

I hope not playing Memphis will not have J Johnson taking another look at his commitment to MU.

I hope playing Memphis didn't figure more than 2% of his decision to begin with.

[frozena pizza]

I absolutely love this move.  Hopefully they are just waiting to sort out some of the logistics and get the other schools on board.  No way they would do this without at least 3-5 other solid programs ready to join.  I can't wait.

[NCMUFan]

Now you probably have some stability.  There was never going to be stability with a mix of basketball only schools with those having football.  Wish MU and the new conference the best.  Hope it is recognized as the premier basketball conference. 

[Lennys Tap]

When I read the headline from the Providence Journal piece that Chicos linked ("MU AD Opens Up On Big East Future, Disses A10") I thought "Oh, shyte, here we go again". Read the piece, listened to the entire interview with Homer and have no problem with Larry - as often, the headline was an overstatement/misleading. This outcome was predictable, but I'm glad the C7 schools are acting before every rat has left the ship and I'm especially glad that for whatever reason LW seems at least for now to be the point man.

[muwarrior69]

Does anybody have an idea of when this conference would be put in place? Could it be effective as early as the 2013-2014 season or would we have to wait until 2014-2015?

....And how long would the conference have to wait to get an automatic bid, assuming the the greedy BCS schools don't bolt from the NCAA tournament and create their own.

[chapman]

I would guess, however, that a portion of that will be used to settle the surely impending lawsuit from UConn/Cinci/ USF/maybe Temple.  Even so, hopefully the new league will still get the lion's share of that money.

For sure.  If distributing assets, including the Big East name involves a simple vote there is nothing the football schools are going to accept as fair and equitable.  They will file a suit claiming that the C7 cannot dissolve the conference and in asset distribution take the money and take the name by a simple vote; the settlement will likely be more than their even share of the exit fee money in exchange for the rights to the brand - can't imagine the footballs schools, two of which are looking to leave anyway would want to retain the name and give up money to keep it.

[jficke13]

....And how long would the conference have to wait to get an automatic bid, assuming the the greedy BCS schools don't bolt from the NCAA tournament and create their own.

According to this the autobid will be retained with just the C7 sticking together: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/college-basketball/news/20121213/big-east-basketball/

[brewcity77]

According to this the autobid will be retained with just the C7 sticking together: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/college-basketball/news/20121213/big-east-basketball/

That's probably my fault. I thought it was 8 schools for 7 years, but it's 7 schools for 5 years. As it stands, if the C7 sticks together, we're good to go.

Though I still think there's value in offering the football schools currently here as a way to stem off potential lawsuits.

[GGGG]

brew, I think the C7 may just announce their intent to dissolve the conference.  Then they can work on the details of the divorce without actually voting to dissolve.