CardinalJim Wrote:Obviously RC hasn't been reading this board. As the chairman of a business with a 35 million dollar budget he should be smart enough to know Memphis doesn't have a chance to get into the Big East.

Tell RC to take his national championship caliber basketball program, that mirrors many of the present Big East members, a well established bowl like the Liberty Bowl (the Big East has so many of those) and it's fertile recruiting ground in the heart of SEC country and stick'em.

We here in the Big East will be more than happy to dress up our eastern retread named Temple, (they are in Philly ya know not many know that even the folks in Philly,) and trot them out in front of the eastern media and convince them that Temple has changed. Never mind the Owls were kicked out of the less successful version of the Big East years earlier for failing to be successful. After a few short seasons in Non-BCS pregatory, Temple has seen the light. Losing seasons in the MAC have been just what the Owls needed to become competitive in a more competitive Big East.

So tell RC thanks but no thanks we'll be more than content to try and sell our football conference in a market that just isn't buying. To hell with bringing in a new TV market and giving the Big East another program that actually wants to be in the conference.

RC, are you listening? The eastern powers here on the Big East board have spoken. To hell with the past, a past that doesn't involve Temple anyway....RC, are you listening?
CJ

Ok. I have always stated that the 2 teams I would add was Memphis and Temple. So whatever buddy.


Back to the original topic at hand. Things just may be heating up behind the scenes. Memphis will never be a member of the Big East they'll be a member of an new All Sports Conference if it ever happens.

I dont believe that Memphis could compare to Tennessee in football in that state the same as Cincy with OSU or USF with UF. Those are state schools with long history,support and extra BIG bucks.
With that said I dont doubt that Memphis in the Big East can become a top 25 team like Cincy and USF and be competetive with the large state school.
I have always been a proponent of Memphis because.
1. They bring Liberty Bowl
2. Have a great basketball program, very well supported. Comparable to the top of BE.
3. Long history with fan support already thee from basketball side. That would explode when FB wins.
4. A NEW recruiting area for the BE that would not compete with another BE member.
I hopethat something moves forward with Memphis and BE , right now they are the school that provides the most for BE.

My opinion on the issue if the big east wants to move into the state of Tennessee, they should target UT no matter unlikey that is. Tennessee is the #1 program in that state it does the Big East no good to grab the 3rd best program in that state. Even if the Big East were to grant Memphis into the BCS club they still will not overtake Tennessee. That my issue with the Big East currently in football and were alot of disrespect stems from we have to many 2nd tier programs in there respective states. Penn State,Ohio State, and Kentucky all have bigger fanbases and more influence in there respective states then there Big East counterparts thus looking down on those BE programs and BE itself. An example of this UofL goes to the Orange Bowl and wins yet UK still owns that state (Bigger fanbase,influence in the state,larger stadium etc) will continue to be #1 until UofL manages to win a NC and even then it might not change

Memphis would be a great addition to the Big East. With all this Big East stuff floating around in Memphis, I wonder if season ticket sales have risen as well as donations to their booster club? Nothing better to get the fanbase excited like the good old Memphis, ECU, UCF might be going to the Big East rumor. Maybe ECU, UCF, & Memphis ADs are learning that potential Big East membership is the best fundraiser going?

Brick City Pirate Wrote:Memphis would be a great addition to the Big East. With all this Big East stuff floating around in Memphis, I wonder if season ticket sales have risen as well as donations to their booster club? Nothing better to get the fanbase excited like the good old Memphis, ECU, UCF might be going to the Big East rumor. Maybe ECU, UCF, & Memphis ADs are learning that potential Big East membership is the best fundraiser going?

Our admin isn't floating any rumors, but the athletic budget jumped $6 million to $35 million in the 2008-09 year. Our biggest issue in the past was always money.

PusherT Wrote:My opinion on the issue if the big east wants to move into the state of Tennessee, they should target UT no matter unlikey that is. Tennessee is the #1 program in that state it does the Big East no good to grab the 3rd best program in that state. Even if the Big East were to grant Memphis into the BCS club they still will not overtake Tennessee. That my issue with the Big East currently in football and were alot of disrespect stems from we have to many 2nd tier programs in there respective states. Penn State,Ohio State, and Kentucky all have bigger fanbases and more influence in there respective states then there Big East counterparts thus looking down on those BE programs and BE itself. An example of this UofL goes to the Orange Bowl and wins yet UK still owns that state (Bigger fanbase,influence in the state,larger stadium etc) will continue to be #1 until UofL manages to win a NC and even then it might not change

Frontrunner for absurd post of the week.

Brick City Pirate Wrote:Memphis would be a great addition to the Big East. With all this Big East stuff floating around in Memphis, I wonder if season ticket sales have risen as well as donations to their booster club? Nothing better to get the fanbase excited like the good old Memphis, ECU, UCF might be going to the Big East rumor. Maybe ECU, UCF, & Memphis ADs are learning that potential Big East membership is the best fundraiser going?

Rumors won't do anything. Actual admittance would cause a big spike in football attendance. Memphis would average 50,000 per FB game in the first year of a BCS conference.

Basketball attendance is already a virtual sellout at every game. Our basketball season tickets have been sold out for a few years.

3601 Wrote:

PusherT Wrote:My opinion on the issue if the big east wants to move into the state of Tennessee, they should target UT no matter unlikey that is. Tennessee is the #1 program in that state it does the Big East no good to grab the 3rd best program in that state. Even if the Big East were to grant Memphis into the BCS club they still will not overtake Tennessee. That my issue with the Big East currently in football and were alot of disrespect stems from we have to many 2nd tier programs in there respective states. Penn State,Ohio State, and Kentucky all have bigger fanbases and more influence in there respective states then there Big East counterparts thus looking down on those BE programs and BE itself. An example of this UofL goes to the Orange Bowl and wins yet UK still owns that state (Bigger fanbase,influence in the state,larger stadium etc) will continue to be #1 until UofL manages to win a NC and even then it might not change

Frontrunner for absurd post of the week.

I second that. Would have better luck getting the Vatican to leave Italy.

So you don't think AD's use potential BE membership to their advantage? You don't think an AD would say to a school's fanbase, "We need better facilities if we really want to get into the Big East". How about an AD saying, "We need to pack the stadium every gameday to show the Big East we support out football program". Even if an AD doesn't outright say what I mentioned above, they can sure float the rumor and let others do the talking.

I personally think Memphis would make a great addition to any conference. As an ECU fan I'd sure hate to lose you guys, but Memphis has earned it's opportunity if the rumors have any legs. I'm just playing devils advocate.

Gray Avenger Wrote:

3601 Wrote:

PusherT Wrote:My opinion on the issue if the big east wants to move into the state of Tennessee, they should target UT no matter unlikey that is. Tennessee is the #1 program in that state it does the Big East no good to grab the 3rd best program in that state. Even if the Big East were to grant Memphis into the BCS club they still will not overtake Tennessee. That my issue with the Big East currently in football and were alot of disrespect stems from we have to many 2nd tier programs in there respective states. Penn State,Ohio State, and Kentucky all have bigger fanbases and more influence in there respective states then there Big East counterparts thus looking down on those BE programs and BE itself. An example of this UofL goes to the Orange Bowl and wins yet UK still owns that state (Bigger fanbase,influence in the state,larger stadium etc) will continue to be #1 until UofL manages to win a NC and even then it might not change

Frontrunner for absurd post of the week.

I second that. Would have better luck getting the Vatican to leave Italy.

Here. Here.

Pusher T., must not be to familiar with the South; college football or the University of Tennessee.

I don't know what is funnier, M Tn State or UTenn to the big east...neither will ever happen. Yep, the big east could use some more flagships but its not happening with school's already in bcs leagues, better chance getting the ny giants or jets going to the big east. Flagships would work in a hybrid, ie 9 football school's and add 3 non-football flagships...umass,uri, and udel.

The Big East isn't going to expand until there is a split. Simple as that. The basketball schools will never agree to go to 17 members.

PusherT Wrote:My opinion on the issue if the big east wants to move into the state of Tennessee, they should target UT no matter unlikey that is. Tennessee is the #1 program in that state it does the Big East no good to grab the 3rd best program in that state. Even if the Big East were to grant Memphis into the BCS club they still will not overtake Tennessee. That my issue with the Big East currently in football and were alot of disrespect stems from we have to many 2nd tier programs in there respective states. Penn State,Ohio State, and Kentucky all have bigger fanbases and more influence in there respective states then there Big East counterparts thus looking down on those BE programs and BE itself. An example of this UofL goes to the Orange Bowl and wins yet UK still owns that state (Bigger fanbase,influence in the state,larger stadium etc) will continue to be #1 until UofL manages to win a NC and even then it might not change

A Syracuse fan pissed off about still being in the Big East. We've not seen that before....

As for UK being number on in Kentucky...that's almost laughable. The Wildcats just finished their best season in 50 years at 8 -5. One of those wins was a busted play hail-mary broken coverage win with 28 seconds left over 6-6 Louisville team just finishing its worst season in 10 years. Yeah UK is superior to Louisville....LOL
UofL has won 9 of the last 11 games against Kentucky. Until last year no player on UK's squad had ever beat Louisville. UK is number in football in the state and they know.
As for state support...UK fans can't spell "university". Most have never attended a game. Their stadium is an erector set of aluminum built with tax payer money. A place UK and Louisville fans both call "Cardinalwealth" since the cats have managed to beat Louisville once in 6 years.
Next time you flame at least be smart enough to flame about something you know about. I'm sure most Syracuse fans are ashamed you call yourself one.
CJ

So you're disagreeing with his premise that UK has a bigger fanbase, influence in the state and a larger stadium than UL?

This isn't smoke, I am still waiting (and waiting, and waiting) for someone, ANYONE to post ONE credible article, from one credible BE source that says the BE is even thinking about expanding/splitting. (silence/crickets chirping)............

MichaelSavage Wrote:So you're disagreeing with his premise that UK has a bigger fanbase, influence in the state and a larger stadium than UL?

It doesn't mean that they own the state. The same thing can be said about the Universities of Alabama and Florida, but Auburn and Florida State make sure that Bama and Florida don't "own" their state. UK may have a bigger stadium (for a few more months), a bigger fanbase and more influence, but they far from own the state.

Penn State is closer to "owning" their state than UK is.

MichaelSavage Wrote:So you're disagreeing with his premise that UK has a bigger fanbase, influence in the state and a larger stadium than UL?

Yes they have a a bigger fan base. Too many rednecks in the state for it to be any other way. Yes they have state influence...whatever they want tax dollars pay for while Louisville fans pay for everything themselves. Not one tax dollar was used to build Papa Johns Cardinal Stadium..Yes they have a larger stadium, for now....that they NEVER fill except against Louisville, Tennessee and LSU...
As for owning the state....I don't think so.
Their AD, Mitch "Beaver" Barnhart made the comment that UK was going to own the state when he took the UK job...since he took the job they have beaten us 1 time in football...LOL
BTW this season....
We beat UK in mens basketball, womens basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball and every other sport...UK beat us in football. WE also finished ahead of UK in the Sears Cup...so NO I don't believe UK owns the state. Like I said before, if you're gonna flame at least know something about what you are going to flame about. Even a Tarhole fan like yourself knows that.....LOL
CJ

Who's flaming? And who's a Tarhole fan? You flamed him when he posted factual information. UK does have a bigger stadium than UL. UK has a bigger fanbase than UL. UK has more influence in the state than does UL.

MichaelSavage Wrote:Who's flaming? And who's a Tarhole fan? You flamed him when he posted factual information. UK does have a bigger stadium than UL. UK has a bigger fanbase than UL. UK has more influence in the state than does UL.

Does that mean that UK "owns" the state? I believe that was the point of contention.

3601 Wrote:

MichaelSavage Wrote:Who's flaming? And who's a Tarhole fan? You flamed him when he posted factual information. UK does have a bigger stadium than UL. UK has a bigger fanbase than UL. UK has more influence in the state than does UL.

Does that mean that UK "owns" the state? I believe that was the point of contention.

I wouldn't say the "own" the state, but all things being equal would it be better for a conference to have Kentucky, Tennessee and Ohio State or Louisville, Memphis and Cincinnati?