Is the Big East in Trouble

[jce]

Basically, Tranghese thwarted an idea from football coaches to add East Carolina as another member.

http://www.newsobserver.com/769/story/1043533.html

The coaches want another member because with seven games it is difficult to find five non-conference opponents every year, and because it causes an unbalances home v. away schedule.

I really wonder if in the long run this conference is sustainable.  I think eventually the pressure between the football schools and their desire to add more conference opponents, and the basketball schools is eventually going to split the conference in two.

[NYWarrior]

Smart move by Tranghese --- adding football might happen at some point (and even a split) but u dont bust a nut to add ECU.

When the time comes, UCF is a much better option than ECU.......huge school and growing, brand new stadium, state bursting with population growth -- and exceptional facilities for all other sports.  Plus, USF gets a natural rival.

[lurch91]

Force ND to play the Conference schedule like the rest.

Problem solved.

If Weiss blows it again this year, this very well may happen and sooner then anyone would think.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Force ND to play the Conference schedule like the rest.

Problem solved.

If Weiss blows it again this year, this very well may happen and sooner then anyone would think.

It won't happen sooner because of television contracts.

[bilsu]

It would be good for basketball. It could result in a 16 game schedule with no mirror games.

[79Warrior]

Smart move by Tranghese --- adding football might happen at some point (and even a split) but u dont bust a nut to add ECU.

When the time comes, UCF is a much better option than ECU.......huge school and growing, brand new stadium, state bursting with population growth -- and exceptional facilities for all other sports.  Plus, USF gets a natural rival.

The football schools will break at the next contract.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Maybe.  2012 is when the deal expires.  Those football schools need to find a home which is going to be the biggest problem.  Unless they just break off entirely and pluck a few Big East basketball schools with them, which would be interesting.

[Tom Crean's Tanning Bed]

I think Navy would be a great fit for the 9th BE football team.  Great tradition, extremely competitive every year, and a good location (Baltimore).  Also, Navy recruits from a completely different student-athlete base than other Big East programs, so completing with other Big East programs for the same talent would nowhere be near as substanaial as an issue. 

However, one thing Tranghese has made clear from his past action of kicking Temple out of the league, he will not tolerate having bad programs around just for the sake of getting an extra conference game.

Long-term, Central Florida would probably make the most sense for the Big East, being a major public university, big media market, and strong recruiting base.  But Navy would be more than adequate in the interim for the Big East football schools IMHO.

[CTWarrior]

It would be good for basketball. It could result in a 16 game schedule with no mirror games.

Except that it wouldn't.  Those mirror games are a big part of the contract with ESPN, so they will stay.  They want to maximize attractive matchups, and the mirror games give them a solid avenue to do that.

I do not think this conference is sustainable over the long haul as presently constructed.  The football schools getting their first taste of success like UConn and Rutgers are going to want more of an emphasis on that sport and the associated revenue it brings.  Notre Dame agreeing to play a Big East football season would help to sustain it, but they will never do that.  They will go to the Big 10 if ever they decide to join a football conference.

[Dish]

I said it previously and I'll say it again, this conference will not work long term for various reasons. I really believe in the next five/ten years, we'll be in "Catholic USA". It makes all the sense in the world for it not to work. Play every team in your division twice, every team in the other division once.

Pope Division (West)
MU
DePaul
SLU
Notre Dame
Xavier
Dayton

Cardinal Division (East)
St. John's
Seton Hall
Providence
Villanova
Georgetown
St. Joe's

[MUPig]

I said it previously and I'll say it again, this conference will not work long term for various reasons. I really believe in the next five/ten years, we'll be in "Catholic USA". It makes all the sense in the world for it not to work. Play every team in your division twice, every team in the other division once.

Pope Division (West)
MU
DePaul
SLU
Notre Dame
Xavier
Dayton

Cardinal Division (East)
St. John's
Seton Hall
Providence
Villanova
Georgetown
St. Joe's

That would be a step down.....

SLU, Xavier, Dayton, St. Joe's for UConn, Cincy, WVA, Loserville, Pitt, SFlorida, Syracuse and ND.  No better than the A-10 is right now. 2-3 bids.

[Dish]

Umm...

Xavier, Notre Dame, MU, Georgetown, Villanova, St. Joe's 2008 NCAA tournament teams.

Consider it a step down if you want to, but conference realignment is coming, get ready for it, it's gonna happen.

[The Lens]

Why not just the 8 Catholic Big East teams?  Play a balanced 14 game schedule and allow yourself more quality non conf home and homes? 

GT & Nova could keep rivalries going with UConn & Cuse, MU could do the same with Louisville & Cinci and DePaul could with South Florida.

[79Warrior]

I said it previously and I'll say it again, this conference will not work long term for various reasons. I really believe in the next five/ten years, we'll be in "Catholic USA". It makes all the sense in the world for it not to work. Play every team in your division twice, every team in the other division once.

Pope Division (West)
MU
DePaul
SLU
Notre Dame
Xavier
Dayton

Cardinal Division (East)
St. John's
Seton Hall
Providence
Villanova
Georgetown
St. Joe's

Weak conference. W/O The Cuse, Ville, UCONN and PITT, the quality really diminishes.

[Dish]

Until MU gets a football team, in D1, that is going to compete with the big boys, better get used to this type of conference coming. UConn, Pitt, Rutgers, Syracuse, Louisville aren't going to stick around with the Catholic schools for much longer. I guess those who call it weak or diminished better brace themselves for the reality that's coming.

The depth of the Catholic conference is actually outstanding.

[ecompt]

This kind of split is definitely coming, and where MU winds up is anyone's guess. College football is meaningless on the East Coast, but money is money, and schools like UConn, Syracuse and Louisville all want a piece of the BCS pie. If people complained about our home schedule now, wait until they see it five years. St. Joe's, Dayton, St. Louis instead of Pitt, Louisville, UConn? 

[Coobeys Oil Depot]

Why not just the 8 Catholic Big East teams?  Play a balanced 14 game schedule and allow yourself more quality non conf home and homes? 

GT & Nova could keep rivalries going with UConn & Cuse, MU could do the same with Louisville & Cinci and DePaul could with South Florida.

This makes it the best of both worlds.

[TJ]

Why not just the 8 Catholic Big East teams?  Play a balanced 14 game schedule and allow yourself more quality non conf home and homes? 

GT & Nova could keep rivalries going with UConn & Cuse, MU could do the same with Louisville & Cinci and DePaul could with South Florida.

If the conference split, why would Louisville and Cinci want to have a permanent home & home arrangement with us?  And when did DPU-USF become such a rivalry?

[The Man in Gold]

If the conference split, why would Louisville and Cinci want to have a permanent home & home arrangement with us?  And when did DPU-USF become such a rivalry?

Since that is about the only team Depaul has been consistently competitive with for the last 5 years.   

Face it folks, speculate all you want about the best fit for a new conference...but the administrators and bureaucrats will still find a way to screw the whole thing up in the end.

[Tugg Speedman]

I said it previously and I'll say it again, this conference will not work long term for various reasons. I really believe in the next five/ten years, we'll be in "Catholic USA". It makes all the sense in the world for it not to work. Play every team in your division twice, every team in the other division once.

Pope Division (West)
MU
DePaul
SLU
Notre Dame
Xavier
Dayton

Cardinal Division (East)
St. John's
Seton Hall
Providence
Villanova
Georgetown
St. Joe's

Why Not split the current Big East into two divisions:

Catholic Divsion (8)- St. Johns, Seton Hall, Prov., 'nova, G-town, MU, Depaul, ND

Convict Division (8) - Loserville, Cincy, Uconn, USF, West Viginia, Pitt, Rutgers, 'cuse

[lurch91]

It won't happen sooner because of television contracts.

Very true, but if last season is a trend and not an aberration, look out.  I'd think that NBC would pay a settlement or buyout then have to televise a complete home schedule for 2-9, 3-8 or even 4-7 Domer teams over the forseeable future.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Speaking of Big East football and Notre Dame.  It's been in the news here.  UConn is supposedly finalizing a multi-year deal (8yrs maybe?) with Notre Dame except that none of UConn's home games would be played at UConn's home stadium in Hartford.  Notre Dame apparently insists that UConn's "home games" must be split between Gillette Stadium in Foxbourogh, MA and Giants Stadium in New Jersey.  The local debate is whether this is a good deal for UConn?