Post by elp525 on Oct 12, 2011 3:39:47 GMT -5
October 11, 2011
By Dave Hickman
The Charleston Gazette
MORGANTOWN - In attempting to carefully reconstruct its membership, the Big East has apparently settled on two goals above all others - to attract the best football programs possible and to grow the football membership to 12.
Geography is not a consideration and market size, while still a factor, is not the driving force.
That's why Boise State is squarely on the league's radar, along with Houston. Those are currently the only Top 25 programs that are not members of or committed to one of the nation's six BCS automatic-qualifying conferences.
"All other considerations aside, that's the most important aspect of any expansion,'' said a source familiar with the league and its efforts to rebuild the conference in the wake of the departure of Syracuse and Pitt to the ACC and TCU to the Big 12. "The BCS formula is going to change. That's certain. But no matter how it is reconfigured, they still have to respect good football.''
On Monday, the Big East's presidents authorized commissioner John Marinatto to aggressively pursue expansion to 12 football-playing members. On Tuesday, the league's presidents and athletic directors met again via a conference call and began the process of hashing out the details.
According to various reports, the schools on the league's radar include Central Florida, Temple, Navy, Air Force, Boise State and either Houston or SMU - or both.
Central Florida, Temple and the Texas schools would be invited to join the league in all sports. Boise, Navy and Air Force would be football-only members.
Assuming there are no other defections - and that is always a dangerous assumption - the league would then have at least 12 members playing football. That would allow the Big East to split into divisions and conduct a championship game, although according to sources that's not the primary motivation.
What does motivate the league to expand to 12 is the continued uncertainty surrounding its membership. Were Pitt and Syracuse to depart today, the Big East would lose its automatic qualifying status, if for no other reason than Football Bowl Subdivision rules require a conference to have at least eight members. Expanding to 12 would at least give the Big East a cushion.
"That's certainly a consideration, perhaps the first one,'' the source said. "But we also are looking for geographical diversity, which could help down the road.''
The notion of inviting the service academies has long been on the Big East's laundry list. Army was approached informally, as well, but has apparently declined. The Cadets were in Conference USA between 1998 and 2004 and did not fare well.
Officials at the Air Force Academy have stated publicly that membership in the Big East is an option for the school, which is located near Colorado Springs, Colo. Navy, on the other hand, appears to be sitting on the fence in regard to membership.
As for Houston and SMU, part of the reason is football strength, at least in the case of the Cougars, who are 6-0 and this week cracked the Associated Press Top 25. But there is also that geographical diversity, not to mention providing Boise State with at least some semblance of a geographic partner.
Were expansion to take place along those lines, the league has not actually discussed possible divisions. But members have tossed around scenarios depending upon what schools ultimately are asked to join the league. And it is a mixed bag as far as West Virginia is concerned.
In one scenario, the Eastern-most schools in the league would play in one division - Connecticut, Rutgers, UCF, USF, Temple and either Navy (should it elect to join) or, if it upgrades its football program, Villanova. That would leave WVU in a Western division with Cincinnati, Louisville, Air Force, Houston and SMU.
The wild card there is Boise State. If the Broncos sign up, they could replace West Virginia in the West, or the Mountaineers could simply stay there and SMU or Houston would be eliminated. West Virginia seems only ticketed for an East division spot if Boise State joins and Navy elects not to.
As far as strength of the football members is concerned, Boise State would seem a must-have for the league. If the Broncos, who are currently No. 5 in the AP poll, became members, it would give the league at least two perennial Top 25 programs. West Virginia has been ranked in the AP Top 25 at some point every season since 2002 and in 20 of the last 24 seasons. Boise State has been ranked every season since 2002, including 48 weeks in the Top 10.
How quickly any of this happens seems just as fluid as the membership itself. Central Florida coach George O'Leary hinted that an invitation seems imminent and could happen in a matter of days. League officials, though, have no timetable.
At least one segment of the membership, though, believes that the movement of schools out of the Big East is over for at least the time being, or at least the next year or two. There is still the question of Missouri and its plans to either remain in the Big 12 or attempt to jump to the SEC, but even if that school was to decide today to make a move it appears the Tigers are locked into playing in the Big 12 through at least 2012.
If that's the case, there should be no rush for either the Big 12 or the SEC - or any league other than the Big East - to make immediate membership moves.
By Dave Hickman
The Charleston Gazette
MORGANTOWN - In attempting to carefully reconstruct its membership, the Big East has apparently settled on two goals above all others - to attract the best football programs possible and to grow the football membership to 12.
Geography is not a consideration and market size, while still a factor, is not the driving force.
That's why Boise State is squarely on the league's radar, along with Houston. Those are currently the only Top 25 programs that are not members of or committed to one of the nation's six BCS automatic-qualifying conferences.
"All other considerations aside, that's the most important aspect of any expansion,'' said a source familiar with the league and its efforts to rebuild the conference in the wake of the departure of Syracuse and Pitt to the ACC and TCU to the Big 12. "The BCS formula is going to change. That's certain. But no matter how it is reconfigured, they still have to respect good football.''
On Monday, the Big East's presidents authorized commissioner John Marinatto to aggressively pursue expansion to 12 football-playing members. On Tuesday, the league's presidents and athletic directors met again via a conference call and began the process of hashing out the details.
According to various reports, the schools on the league's radar include Central Florida, Temple, Navy, Air Force, Boise State and either Houston or SMU - or both.
Central Florida, Temple and the Texas schools would be invited to join the league in all sports. Boise, Navy and Air Force would be football-only members.
Assuming there are no other defections - and that is always a dangerous assumption - the league would then have at least 12 members playing football. That would allow the Big East to split into divisions and conduct a championship game, although according to sources that's not the primary motivation.
What does motivate the league to expand to 12 is the continued uncertainty surrounding its membership. Were Pitt and Syracuse to depart today, the Big East would lose its automatic qualifying status, if for no other reason than Football Bowl Subdivision rules require a conference to have at least eight members. Expanding to 12 would at least give the Big East a cushion.
"That's certainly a consideration, perhaps the first one,'' the source said. "But we also are looking for geographical diversity, which could help down the road.''
The notion of inviting the service academies has long been on the Big East's laundry list. Army was approached informally, as well, but has apparently declined. The Cadets were in Conference USA between 1998 and 2004 and did not fare well.
Officials at the Air Force Academy have stated publicly that membership in the Big East is an option for the school, which is located near Colorado Springs, Colo. Navy, on the other hand, appears to be sitting on the fence in regard to membership.
As for Houston and SMU, part of the reason is football strength, at least in the case of the Cougars, who are 6-0 and this week cracked the Associated Press Top 25. But there is also that geographical diversity, not to mention providing Boise State with at least some semblance of a geographic partner.
Were expansion to take place along those lines, the league has not actually discussed possible divisions. But members have tossed around scenarios depending upon what schools ultimately are asked to join the league. And it is a mixed bag as far as West Virginia is concerned.
In one scenario, the Eastern-most schools in the league would play in one division - Connecticut, Rutgers, UCF, USF, Temple and either Navy (should it elect to join) or, if it upgrades its football program, Villanova. That would leave WVU in a Western division with Cincinnati, Louisville, Air Force, Houston and SMU.
The wild card there is Boise State. If the Broncos sign up, they could replace West Virginia in the West, or the Mountaineers could simply stay there and SMU or Houston would be eliminated. West Virginia seems only ticketed for an East division spot if Boise State joins and Navy elects not to.
As far as strength of the football members is concerned, Boise State would seem a must-have for the league. If the Broncos, who are currently No. 5 in the AP poll, became members, it would give the league at least two perennial Top 25 programs. West Virginia has been ranked in the AP Top 25 at some point every season since 2002 and in 20 of the last 24 seasons. Boise State has been ranked every season since 2002, including 48 weeks in the Top 10.
How quickly any of this happens seems just as fluid as the membership itself. Central Florida coach George O'Leary hinted that an invitation seems imminent and could happen in a matter of days. League officials, though, have no timetable.
At least one segment of the membership, though, believes that the movement of schools out of the Big East is over for at least the time being, or at least the next year or two. There is still the question of Missouri and its plans to either remain in the Big 12 or attempt to jump to the SEC, but even if that school was to decide today to make a move it appears the Tigers are locked into playing in the Big 12 through at least 2012.
If that's the case, there should be no rush for either the Big 12 or the SEC - or any league other than the Big East - to make immediate membership moves.
