The Conference Expansion Thread

[diabsoule]

Originally Posted by Smooth Criminal

Kansas would be alright. Definitely feels like more of a Big Ten school. Obviously great basketball. Not sure what they're academics are though.

Georgia Tech turns me off. Atlanta in the Big Ten? No thanks.

I would be beyond shocked to see Georgia Tech go to the Big Ten. I also don't think Delany brings in GT because I don't think there would be a cable provider, outside of DirecTV, that would offer the B1G Ten Network in the heart of SEC country.

[Giantsfan1080]

Tulane to the Big East. Announcement at 1.

[DcmRulz]

Someone care to explain why in the world Tulane of all teams is joining the Big East?

[Giantsfan1080]

There is no explanation.

[Giantsfan1080]

ECU also to the Big East.

[JoeJoeBrown]

Originally Posted by Giantsfan1080

ECU also to the Big East.

The Big Least becomes even more leaster.

They should just say **** it and become a basketball only conference.

[DcmRulz]

Originally Posted by Giantsfan1080

ECU also to the Big East.

yup, only in football, but this makes what, 14 for them?

Wouldn't be surprised if either this sets off a powder keg that forces the Pac-12 and Big X(II) to react and start adding to keep up, or if Louisville/Connecticut (maybe both) get announcements that they're moving on.

[jrdrylie]

ECU is at least decent, but Tulane? Give me a break! They haven't even beaten Memphis in 12 years and Memphis is a joke. Tulsa would have been a better grab. Hell, even FIU and FAU, despite having similar lacks of success, would have been better because it opens up the Miami market. At least this will give UCF another team to beat up on every year.

My guess for the Divisions would be an East-West split

West:
Boise State
San Digeo State
SMU
Houston
Tulane
Memphis

East:
Connecticut
Temple
Louisville
UCF
USF
Navy
ECU

Hopefully to gain a little bit more credibility they can get BYU to join. Then add either an upper-echelon MAC team or Army to get to 16. And for the love of God, change the name of the Conference. When four of your teams are west of the Mississippi River and two of your other schools are in cities the Mississippi River goes through the middle, you are no longer the Big East!

[Grizzlegom]

Apparently they got Tulane to try and get the New Orleans market.

[Bert Macklin]

Originally Posted by Giantsfan1080

Tulane to the Big East. Announcement at 1.

Big East better watch out! Curtis Johnson pain train up in this beeyotch!!!

[DcmRulz]

BYU said no to the big east invite.

[MassNole]

Originally Posted by DcmRulz

BYU said no to the big east invite.

Smart move.

[bearsfan_51]

Originally Posted by DcmRulz

Someone care to explain why in the world Tulane of all teams is joining the Big East?

Why not?

The Big East is essentially the old Conference USA at this point. If UCONN leaves they won't have a single original football member.

Louisville, Cincinnati, Memphis, Tulane, DePaul, Marquette, UCF, East Carolina, South Florida, Houston, and SMU ALL came from C-USA.

I mean really, if we're getting into the weeds about arguing whether Tulsa or Tulane is a better fit, we might as well just pack up and go home. I can't think of anything more irrelevant.

[Giantsfan1080]

The basketball schools killed the conference. I don't know why they are attempting to move forward with it.

[bearsfan_51]

Eh....you're probably right but I tend to think that's overrated. The truth is that the other five conferences were always in a better position than the Big East from a structural standpoint. I get that the waffling from the basketball schools about expanding create a sense of instability which pushed schools like West Virginia and Pittsburgh out, but I also think those schools would have left anyway (and certainly Rutgers would have at any point the Big Ten asked).

The only real school that could have been saved, I think, is Syracuse, and that's not making a whole heap of difference.

[brat316]

If they only took the contract ESPN was offering. ESPN is trying to wipe out the conference.

[Giantsfan1080]

Originally Posted by bearsfan_51

Eh....you're probably right but I tend to think that's overrated. The truth is that the other five conferences were always in a better position than the Big East from a structural standpoint. I get that the waffling from the basketball schools about expanding create a sense of instability which pushed schools like West Virginia and Pittsburgh out, but I also think those schools would have left anyway (and certainly Rutgers would have at any point the Big Ten asked).

The only real school that could have been saved, I think, is Syracuse, and that's not making a whole heap of difference.

This goes back to the Miami, V. Tech, and BC move. The conference always catered to the basketball schools and was never pro-active in any of it's thinking. It deserved to die with the terrible leadership from Tranghese and Marinatto. They were content to let basketball lead the way never realizing that's not how money is made. It akways created a crater in conference. Oh well I'm ecstatic to be out of that garbage conference.

[bearsfan_51]

I know, but even going back to those three schools, the Big East had the weakest hand in the conference competition.

[brat316]

Instead of becoming old C-USA they should have at least tried to pick up some of the competitive MAC teams.

Ohio, Toldeo, NIU, always are at the top of the MAC.

[bearsfan_51]

The MAC's ability to play decent football far exceeds its attractiveness in other areas. Very small potatoes when it comes to things that interest administrators.

[Grizzlegom]

Why would the MAC want to break up though? They are one of the Group of Five conferences. The reason they are able to raid Conference-USA is because of old rivalries. There are no MAC rivalries that the Big East can use to draw other MAC teams. They could probably get UMass...Nova needs to come up to the FBS and join.

Why haven't they invited Army yet?

[brat316]

Originally Posted by bearsfan_51

The MAC's ability to play decent football far exceeds its attractiveness in other areas. Very small potatoes when it comes to things that interest administrators.

that is true. No market = no monies.

but at this point someone should implode the league.

I was thinking maybe the remaining Big East football schools join up with ACC. Then the ACC would own the whole East coast..minus New York.

But after ACC is raided by SEC and L'Ville joins Big 12, WV needs a partner.

[MassNole]

Originally Posted by bearsfan_51

Why not?

The Big East is essentially the old Conference USA at this point. If UCONN leaves they won't have a single original football member.

Louisville, Cincinnati, Memphis, Tulane, DePaul, Marquette, UCF, East Carolina, South Florida, Houston, and SMU ALL came from C-USA.

I mean really, if we're getting into the weeds about arguing whether Tulsa or Tulane is a better fit, we might as well just pack up and go home. I can't think of anything more irrelevant.

The only original football member they have is Temple, and they were thrown out of the league for a while.

[brat316]

Originally Posted by MassNole

The only original football member they have is Temple, and they were thrown out of the league for a while.

no Temple was an add on with few other schools, when they wanted Football.

[Smooth Criminal]

Big East is an absolute joke. Louisville and Cincy have got to get out of there. If anyone will take them.

I'd love the Big Ten to add Louisville. Always liked it down there. And they have good facilities. Not sure about their academics. Not much of a tv market. But I think it's a better natural fit. Not that that matters anymore.