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[This message has been edited by Nacho (edited 06-08-2003).]

The more I think about the "new" Big East, the more I like the 16 school format. Adding Louisville, C.Fla & S.Fla makes sense for football, and the two bball choices might be determined by who brings the best all around athletics program, because the conference needs to have enough participation in all sports to have 8-12 members play most sports.

This would give CUSA a chance of suviving with a similar look to what they have today. They could invite Marshall, who will feel right at home with Cincy & ECU, schools rejected by others because of their poor graduation rates. Retain Army, Memphis, UAB, S.Miss, TCU & Houston and you have a 9 member football conference that's only slightly watered down by the losses of Louisville and S.Fla. CUSA can retain Tulane for all sports except football (assuming they drop football), so they will join St Louis, UNCC and probably DePaul to form a 12 school bball league (Army does not compete in bball). If both Marquette and DePaul go to the Big East, invite Cincy rival Xavier in for bball and other sports. There are lots of possibilities for that 12th bball member (someone that doesn't play football). College of Charleston is a possibility, as they would give UNCC & ECU someone in the neighborhood and they play decent baseball, soccer, golf, etc...Dayton might be another possibility.

Of course, this would leave the WAC and SunBelt Conference as vulnerable as they always have been. If the MWC takes 1-4 western WAC schools, the WAC & SunBelt are suddenly in a competition to see who survives.

The writer is right, the possibilities are endless.