Does anybody want to see this happen?

Big East: For All Sports
Cincinnati
Connecticut
Louisville
Pittsburgh
Rutgers
South Florida
Syracuse
West Virginia

Atlantic 10: For All Sports
Delaware
Hofstra
James Madison
Maine
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
Northeastern
Rhode Island
Richmond
Towson
William & Mary

Liberty League: For All Sports Except Football
Charlotte
Duquesne
Georgetown
Providence
Saint Bonaventure
Saint John's
Seton Hall
Villanova

Pioneer League: For All Sports Except Football
Butler
Dayton
De Paul
Marquette
Notre Dame
Saint Louis
Valparaiso
Xavier

If the choice were Notre Dame or ECU, then we'd probably go with ND.

But that's not the choice. ND won't commit. PSU won't switch.

Memphis is on the edge of geographic acceptability. IMO over the edge. In others opinions not over the edge.

Rutgers and UConn are closer to ECU than they are to Louisville or Cincy. And ECU is between the core area and USF. So, ECU does make more sense geographically than Memphis.

Southern Miss and UAB? Please. Stop. They may "deserve" to be in a BCS conference, but not OURS.

I vote for ECU for football immediately. I would even take them for all sports immediately. However, I think if they are added it will be fb only.

This gives us 9 fb schools, which will be fine for the next few years. This will give time for things to develop further. We may find in 2010 that we split. We may find that we don't. We may find that UMass moves to div 1a and is invited to join for all sports. Or maybe not.

We may find that Notre Dame joins the Big East once football is assured of its BCS stability. Or that Penn State switches in the face of continuing Big 10 mediocrity.

Or not.

But ECU makes more sense. Performance in the last 1,2, or 3 years is only one factor to consider, and probably not THE most important one. How much money is the school committing to the program. Fan base. Historical issues. Academic issues. And certainly when joining a conference is the overall athletic program.

I can see in 5 or 6 years we may look like this:

Cincinnati
Connecticut
East Carolina
Louisville
Massachusetts
Pittsburgh
Rutgers
South Florida
Syracuse
West Virginia

I don't see any overriding need to go to 12. Don't expect Pac 10 or Big 10 to do so either.

Quote:I can see in 5 or 6 years we may look like this:

Cincinnati
Connecticut
East Carolina
Louisville
Massachusetts
Pittsburgh
Rutgers
South Florida
Syracuse
West Virginia

-- Bearcat 1984.....just another thought about Memphis here....I agree that they are not in the league's geographic region...but they do have a ton of history with two schools in the leauge...and let's face it...UC/Memphis/Louisville is going to be on TV every time two out of the three play in basketball...and football games between the three rivals are on TV more then not as well.....if the Liberty bowl comes with the Tigers that makes the deal that much more attractive considering our bowl problems (especially if you take ND out of the mix)

A league of
Pitt
Syracuse
West Virginia
Louisville
Uconn
UC
Rutgers
USF
ECU
Memphis

-- while not making perfect geographic sense...many schools in this league would have history with each other and would make for some interesting TV games in football/basketball...anyway...its just a thought

-- I agree with your opinion about Umass...the day they announce they are moving to D1a football...they are going to be in...Umass is probably third on the wish list behind Penn St and Notre Dame....the problem is we have been waiting for "the announcment" for awhile now and many people thing the Minutemen are never going to make the jump


Jackson

Quote:A league of
Pitt
Syracuse
West Virginia
Louisville
Uconn
UC
Rutgers
USF
ECU
Memphis

-- while not making perfect geographic sense...many schools in this league would have history with each other and would make for some interesting TV games in football/basketball...anyway...its just a thought

That would be perfect, IMHO. I think both us and ECU have a lot to offer the BE, and I hope to see us both join you guys in the near future.

You guys need to take up golf or checkers. First, that line up won't happen. If the BE expands, which is doubtful anytime soon the schools to watch will be Toledo, Marshall, UMASS and Villanova not in any particular order and depending on circumstances. They are not going to add deep south teams or they would have already done it.

UMASS or Villanova? Agreed, they are probably realistic candidates. Marshall or Toledo? Don't think so. You'll see UCF in before either of those schools.

Quote:That would be perfect, IMHO. I think both us and ECU have a lot to offer the BE, and I hope to see us both join you guys in the near future.

-- I agree....going to 10 should resolve any questions the BCS has about our membership/not having enough schools etc...it would also help our bowl situation immensly.....the down side of course is that each current BE school would get less money...I doubt Memphis and ECU could add enough cash to the TV contract where each school would get the same monetary amount despite slicing the pie two more ways.....I guess the question is ...would you take less money in the short run for more league stability and potential for more money in the long run?

Jackson

Thats right nfl, UCF should have been on that list but don't discount Toledo or marshall. Toledo is not a bad program and it fits geographically. They would have been in CUSA except the geography didn't work, the league will continue to morph southwest. Marshall offers you one thing you need, they have a good football program. If they get an annual series with West Virginia their stock will go way up. Both of those schools would be even stronger in a NBE with regional rivalries.
All UMASS has to do is pladge to spend x amout of money and they move to first in line. The ball is in their court, if they want it and will pay for it they will get it.
Memphis is out, a southern school and you don't need more basketball. ECU is buried in ACC land, I noted that during NBE expansion they didn't even get a sniff of interest.

TopCoog, you know no more than anyone else on this message board. 99% of the information on this message board is pure conjecture, yet you seem to think that your opinion is gospel. I will say it again...I will be very surprised if East Carolina and/or Memphis isn't playing football in the Big East by 2010. I could be totally wrong, but only time will tell.

3601, oponions are like a$$ holes and ear lobes, we all have them. You just don't like mine because it rains on your parade, so what.

TopCoog Wrote:3601, oponions are like a$$ holes and ear lobes, we all have them. You just don't like mine because it rains on your parade, so what.

I have no problem with your opinion. I have a problem with you dismissing everyone else's opinion and acting as if your opinion is gospel.

I have an idea of what I think might happen, but I don't pretend to be a know it all. You, however, act as if your opinion is predetermined gospel.

AMEN 3601!

You have a problem with my oponion 3601, if I agreed with you you would not be replying in this way. Secondly, I didn't say it was impossible for me to be wrong, you said that.

TopCoog Wrote:You have a problem with my oponion 3601, if I agreed with you you would not be replying in this way. Secondly, I didn't say it was impossible for me to be wrong, you said that.

Not true. There are plenty of folks (most notably the Gray Avenger) who have a similar opinion as your opinion, but don't express it in such a ridiculous manner. I have no problem with those folks.

We can agree to disagree. I think one thing and you think another. Only time will tell who is right and who is wrong. No point in getting into a pissing match about it. I respect your opinion, but I don't agree with it.

I'm not in a pissing match, I stated an oponion. You are the one that made an issue of it. Anyone can say that someday the Big 12 will add Houston or Colorado State. If I leave it open ended like you are doing it might be in the year 2250. Nobody can prove you wrong or right because you are pushing an idea that is not even an issue.
I can see that Memphis might offer something to sec, I can't see anything they offer the Big East.

TopCoog Wrote:I can see that Memphis might offer something to sec, I can't see anything they offer the Big East.

Once again, we disagree. I think that Memphis has plenty to offer the Big East. However, it will be neither me or you that makes that decision IF one is ever made again.

TopCoog Wrote:Anyone can say that someday the Big 12 will add Houston or Colorado State. If I leave it open ended like you are doing it might be in the year 2250. Nobody can prove you wrong or right because you are pushing an idea that is not even an issue.

I'm saying by 2010. It is not an issue today, but many folks are confident that it will be an issue very soon.

Many folks are HOPEFUL that it will be an issue very soon and most of those people are a few Memphis fans.
Its all message board talk 3601. there is not a scrap of real evidence that anything will happen. Much of it is a hangover from the intensive realignment talk during the last year.
You have two problems....
1. First the NBE has to want to expand. With Villanova , G-Town and other non football schools doing well in basketball that is less likely.
2. If the college Presidents get their way and the BCS goes sending us back to the old system there is no way they will expand.
3. If some form of playoff is adopted there is no way they would expand.

The only way they might expand is if the baketball school fell flat on their face...ie Depaul, Marquette, Nova etc. That does not seem to be happening, quite the opposite.

Now, IF they did decide to expand the next question is Who? They have already shown that Florida is attractive to them, as it should be, thus UCF and Orlando will be ahead of you.
UMASS is a slam dunk if they decide to spend the money to upgrade. Toledo, UMASS, Nova in football, UCF etc are all ahead of memphis in my view. The biggest problem you have is geography and they do not need more basketball.

TopCoog Wrote:Many folks are HOPEFUL that it will be an issue very soon and most of those people are a few Memphis fans.

Not entirely true. Many folks associated with the Big East think it will be an issue by 2010. I'm not going to rehash it, but there have been public comments made by both Big East officials and officals from Big East schools about a split sometime between now and 2010.

You are right in that if the BCS goes packing or if a playoff is instituted then it's a moot point. Howver, do you really think that either of those things will happen in the next five years? I don't.

3601, The BE now has 16 teams and that pushes the limit of where anyone wants to go. Anyone who tells you they are going to dump Villanova, Marquette and the others is insane, they have every reason NOT to do that. They put this deal together for a reason.
If you are waiting around for a split you will be waiting for a long long time. The problem is that the NBE is so strong in basketball that it is going to lift all ships....that is already happening. Could Memphis beat Villanova right now? You know the answer to that.
Memphis is right where it needs to be for now, in a southern based league playing in its own region. You will stay where you are or go to the sec at some point. Those are your only two viable options.