Big East, Boom Outta Here?

[fsquid]

I'm guessing it will go to basketball only once WVU, Rutgers, and UCONN jump ship.

[pk500]

The Big East is dead. It will disintegrate. At best, it will remain as a mid-major competing for scraps with the likes of the A-10 and the MAAC.

Football stirs, shakes and mixes the drink in big-time college athletics. So if a school lacks a Division I-A football program, it's f*cked as a national college athletics power.

The current Eastern-based Big East schools without strong football programs, such as Georgetown, Nova, Providence, St. John's, etc., probably will be absorbed into the A-10 and the MAC. Who knows where DePaul and Marquette will land. The Ohio Valley? Missouri Valley? Conference USA?

Louisville is somewhat f*cked, I would think. Excellent basketball program, but the football program isn't good or storied enough to attract much interest from superconferences, especially since it's nestled in SEC and ACC land. So Cards' fans and boosters can kiss Pitino goodbye if Louisville is relegated to Conference USA. Ricky's ego only will allow performances on Broadway.

I rue the loss of traditional rivalries with G'town, Nova and the Johnnies with Syracuse's defection to the ACC, but it was vital that the Orange have a seat in one of the four 16-team superconferences that are rapidly forming before the music stopped.

Joining the ACC is a push for basketball for Syracuse, as the Big East was the best hoops' conference in the land the last few seasons. But it's a big plus for football, and it instantly bolsters the ACC as the dominant lacrosse conference in the nation, hands down. You may sniff at the lax reverberations, but that's a big deal up here.

[Teal]

I'd like to see Louisville get an SEC nod for basketball, because we NEED a good basketball team, but I agree that it's not likely to happen because of it's pretty dismal football program.

[icvu42]

It's ironic and sad that the Pitt and Syracuse announcement came the same day founder and original comminssioner Dave Gavitt passed away.

Back in 1981, Penn State wanted into the Big East and the Big East said no. Although that was 30 years ago, I really believe that was a huge moment in all of this. Penn State would have given them much more stability once they started playing football. Boston College likely wouldn't have jumped ship.

As a Syracuse resident, the Orange definitely made the right move. They needed to take care of their future. It will be interesting to see if the ACC adds UConn and one more.

My brother and I were talking about this yesterday and we both agree once these superconferences are formed, watch them break away from the NCAA, and eventually split back into smaller conferences.

Think about it, with a 16 team football conference split into two divisions, and 9 conference games a year, if you play everyone in your division each year (7 games) that leaves only 2 games per year against the other division. It will take 4 YEARS to play everyone in your conference.

[Murph]

I have to hold my breath for a while being a UConn guy, as the ACC could easily hold at 14 for...well, forever possibly and my school will be stuck in the 'Big Left Behinds'.

[pk500]

I have to hold my breath for a while being a UConn guy, as the ACC could easily hold at 14 for...well, forever possibly and my school will be stuck in the 'Big Left Behinds'.

I doubt that, Murph. UConn's hoop program is too strong, and its football program is ascendant. Plus it's one of only two "major" college athletic programs in New England.

It makes too much sense for UConn to join the ACC. Gives BC the natural geographical rival it needs, and it adds more Big East lineage and longtime rivalries with Syracuse and Pitt.

[icvu42]

I have to hold my breath for a while being a UConn guy, as the ACC could easily hold at 14 for...well, forever possibly and my school will be stuck in the 'Big Left Behinds'.

I doubt that, Murph. UConn's hoop program is too strong, and its football program is ascendant. Plus it's one of only two "major" college athletic programs in New England.

It makes too much sense for UConn to join the ACC. Gives BC the natural geographical rival it needs, and it adds more Big East lineage and longtime rivalries with Syracuse and Pitt.

I agree that Uconn will get in...the question then becomes, who will team 16 be? Rutgers? South Florida makes geographical sense. I would like to see West Virginia to maintain that rivalry...plus they would be a natural fit with the two Virginia schools.

[fsquid]

It will be Rutgers. Miami and FSU wouldn't want to see USF get in.

[pk500]

It will be Rutgers. Miami and FSU wouldn't want to see USF get in.

I doubt USF even has a square on the ACC Rubik's Cube. USF only started playing Division I-A football in 2001, and Bulls' basketball sucks.

Rutgers and West Virginia probably are competing for the last spot. Rutgers is more desperate, as WVU probably is receiving overtures from the SEC. You read and hear about Rutgers negotiating with the Big Ten, but that's an odd match.

Frankly, I don't see how Rutgers adds cache to any conference. Its football program has been joke for the last three decades other than the Schiano years, and its basketball program has been mired in the Jersey swamps of mediocrity forever. Sorry, New Jersey-ites, but Rutgers simply does not scream, "THE HEART OF MID-ATLANTIC COLLEGE ATHLETICS!"

P.S.: I love the quote from former Syracuse AD Jake Crouthamel in the Syracuse Post-Standard this morning: “Those Duke-Syracuse basketball games at the Carrier Dome are sold out already.”

Indeed.

[icvu42]

So is this the end of Notre Dame as an independent? When the Big East completely crumbles, do they want to keep their hoops team in what will essentially be a mid-major? None of the super conferences are going to accept them if they don't join for football. I wonder if they are on the phone with the Big 10 today.

[snaz16]

So is this the end of Notre Dame as an independent? When the Big East completely crumbles, do they want to keep their hoops team in what will essentially be a mid-major? None of the super conferences are going to accept them if they don't join for football. I wonder if they are on the phone with the Big 10 today.

If they're not,they should be. If that was to happen,it may me a a place for Louisville to land. Geographically they would be a fit.

[skinsfan]

Louisville is a commuter school light on research. It is a poor fit academically with the Big Ten.
With UK dominating the Louisville metro area in fan interest and TV ratings, UL doesn't add anything to the $EC, either.
They are in a very precarious position, and they know it.

[toonarmy]

What a total mess. We've seen a 16-team conference before and it failed. There are too many competing interests in a 16-team conference and a lack of traditional rivalries. I think these super-conferences will ultimately hurt college athletics more than help and we will see conferences go back down in size. How long that will take I haven't a clue. It will also be a mess in trying to get TV contracts reworked. The lesser schools in disintegrating conferences who relied on conference TV deals are going to feel screwed and will likely file lawsuits.

You guys are correct that a team such as Louisville is left between a rock and a hard place. The SEC sure as hell will not want them because they don't bring anything to the table when it comes to football. Perhaps we will see a new super-conference or two emerge that is composed of leftovers. If a football playoff is not introduced then the whole BCS process is also going to have to be redesigned to make it more fair for super-conferences that have multiple football powers in the same season.

[pk500]

Louisville is a commuter school light on research. It is a poor fit academically with the Big Ten.
With UK dominating the Louisville metro area in fan interest and TV ratings, UL doesn't add anything to the $EC, either.
They are in a very precarious position, and they know it.

I chuckle at these references to "academics" in terms of the new world order of athletic conference affiliation. Do you honestly think conference commissioners and school athletic directors give four flips about academics as long as the school is reaping millions from gate receipts, licensing deals and TV deals while also keeping NCAA investigators at bay?

[pk500]

You guys are correct that a team such as Louisville is left between a rock and a hard place. The SEC sure as hell will not want them because they don't bring anything to the table when it comes to football. Perhaps we will see a new super-conference or two emerge that is composed of leftovers. If a football playoff is not introduced then the whole BCS process is also going to have to be redesigned to make it more fair for super-conferences that have multiple football powers in the same season.

A superconference is comprised of schools with legitimate Division I-A football and basketball programs. Many of the leftovers lack Division I-A football, such as Georgetown, DePaul, St. John's, Marquette, etc.

So any alliance of schools left without a chair in the superconferences might be appetizing for hoops but not football.

Good point about a redesign of the BCS. Maybe the formation of superconferences will have a positive effect on football, creating necessary changes to the postseason.

[toonarmy]

I'm thinking that a 16-team football playoff will almost have to happen now, with conference championship games perhaps being axed so as not to have too many games due to the increase in games due to a playoff. I don't see how a fair BCS formulation is possible with all the new super-conferences emerging.

[Brando70]

Louisville is a commuter school light on research. It is a poor fit academically with the Big Ten.
With UK dominating the Louisville metro area in fan interest and TV ratings, UL doesn't add anything to the $EC, either.
They are in a very precarious position, and they know it.

I chuckle at these references to "academics" in terms of the new world order of athletic conference affiliation. Do you honestly think conference commissioners and school athletic directors give four flips about academics as long as the school is reaping millions from gate receipts, licensing deals and TV deals while also keeping NCAA investigators at bay?

Not directly, but the ADs certainly have to deal with the presidents/chancellors and the boards of their respective schools. Aside from Michigan State and Northwestern, the rest of the B10 are all flagship state universities and are one of the more academically solid collections of D1 universities. That does factor into their brand. Much like a college application, a solid football program could elevate its consideration despite not cracking the top 100 of the US News ranks, but their lower academic coupled with a one-dimensional sports profile doesn't make them appealing.

[Brando70]

I'm thinking that a 16-team football playoff will almost have to happen now, with conference championship games perhaps being axed so as not to have too many games due to the increase in games due to a playoff. I don't see how a fair BCS formulation is possible with all the new super-conferences emerging.

I think it will actually be easier because fewer conferences means fewer conference champions. There will still be the usual American Idol-level dumbfuckery of voting for the two teams with the best football jazz hands, but there should be fewer teams in the mix.

[greggsand]

Four '16 team super confs' would make playoffs much easier to pull off. 8 teams (2 best from each conf) = round 1, each conf winner (4 teams) = round 2, the 2 winners = champ game. Round 1 could start in mid-december & end in Jan (like usual).

All the other teams could still go play bowl games & such as those bowl games are already meaningless.

[pk500]

Not directly, but the ADs certainly have to deal with the presidents/chancellors and the boards of their respective schools. Aside from Michigan State and Northwestern, the rest of the B10 are all flagship state universities and are one of the more academically solid collections of D1 universities. That does factor into their brand. Much like a college application, a solid football program could elevate its consideration despite not cracking the top 100 of the US News ranks, but their lower academic coupled with a one-dimensional sports profile doesn't make them appealing.

And that all mattered how much at Ohio State during its vigilant oversight of Jim Tressel's football program?

The ACC also is filled with prestigious schools, and Donna Shalala can be proud of her hawk-like scrutiny of the U's football program.

The positive receipts and alumni donations based on winning far outweigh the negative publicity of lower academic standards for all big-time college athletic programs. The term "student-athlete" should be reversed to better reflect the priorities of the students and their programs.

[Badger_Fan]

Not directly, but the ADs certainly have to deal with the presidents/chancellors and the boards of their respective schools. Aside from Michigan State and Northwestern, the rest of the B10 are all flagship state universities and are one of the more academically solid collections of D1 universities. That does factor into their brand. Much like a college application, a solid football program could elevate its consideration despite not cracking the top 100 of the US News ranks, but their lower academic coupled with a one-dimensional sports profile doesn't make them appealing.

And that all mattered how much at Ohio State during its vigilant oversight of Jim Tressel's football program?

The ACC also is filled with prestigious schools, and Donna Shalala can be proud of her hawk-like scrutiny of the U's football program.

The positive receipts and alumni donations based on winning far outweigh the negative publicity of lower academic standards for all big-time college athletic programs. The term "student-athlete" should be reversed to better reflect the priorities of the students and their programs.

Academics do matter in the Big 10, at least in terms of who they allow in the conference. There was grumbling from some of the members that Nebraska was let in, especially now that they're not a part of the AAU (Assoc of American Universities). For instance, while Oklahoma would potentially be a fit for the Big 10, the fact that Oklahoma State goes wherever OU goes makes it a non-starter. Same with Kansas State, Iowa State, Texas Tech, etc. There is no way that the Big 10 would bring in Louisville. It waters down the academic reputation of the conference without bringing in a geographic market that would even come close to making it worthwhile.

[Zlax45]

I was on the conference call on Sunday with the ACC and the only thing I learned is that Heather Dinich needs to learn how to talk into her phone and Andy Katz just likes to cause trouble.

[skinsfan]

Louisville is a commuter school light on research. It is a poor fit academically with the Big Ten.
With UK dominating the Louisville metro area in fan interest and TV ratings, UL doesn't add anything to the $EC, either.
They are in a very precarious position, and they know it.

I chuckle at these references to "academics" in terms of the new world order of athletic conference affiliation. Do you honestly think conference commissioners and school athletic directors give four flips about academics as long as the school is reaping millions from gate receipts, licensing deals and TV deals while also keeping NCAA investigators at bay?

Previous additions to the Big 10 fit the profile-Nebraska and Penn State. So does their most coveted school, Missouri.
Louisville almost never sells out their 55,000 seat stadium for football, and is relegated to lower tier TV showings. That is why they jump at the chance to play on Tuesday and Thursday nights.

Anyway, it looks like Mtn West and CUSA may merge, like zombie Big12 and Big East. Either of these would be a good landing spot for UL.

[RallyMonkey]

Report is that UCONN president Susan Herbst and Jim Calhoun have called the ACC to request entry. No surprise.

And don't be surprised if Notre Dame is your 16th ACC team. I'm not sure they want to leave the independent label, but if they do, I think they would rather land in the ACC than in the Big Ten.

[icvu42]

Looks like TCU is off to the Big 12 before even playing a game in the Big East. Wonder who the next to jump ship will be.

Rick