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accept offer to CUSA tomorrow. Thats pretty good news for several reasons. Now it appears that ECU is definitely not leaving and it makes the league more appealing to UCF in case they are torn between football only invite to BE and CUSA all sports. This also helps secure TCU and their flirtation with the MWC...Marshall helps CUSA power rating and ESPN/east coast appeal.

I don't know where everyone keeps getting the idea that the Big East will invite a football only member. The future Big East will look like this:

Football: W.Va, Pitt, Syracuse, UConn, Rutgers, Louisville, Cincy and probably USF

BBall: G'town, Nova, St Johns, Seton Hall, Providence, Marquette, DePaul & Notre Dame

Big East wil try to get ND to play football as an "associate" member, much like CUSA is going to do with Army/Navy. Those schools will play 4 games against CUSA opponents and BE will try to get ND to do the same. In exchange, ND would be eligible for Big East bowl spots. My guess is they will work them into eligibility for the BE's BCS bid, if their BCS rating is strongest of all BE football schools. Not sure how BE handles revenue sharing, but the team earning BCS bid should get half the take, with other half going into conference revenue sharing pool.

I will be surprised if any different scenario surfaces at this point.

I don't have a link, but I think several northeast papers are speculating about a football only invitee including UCF. I didn't dream up the concept, I think the New Haven Register was one that had quotes from the Uconn AD today.

Article in the Orlando Sentinel yesterday. The way the BE is thinking, who knows if they'll take an extra football member. Seems to me like UCF feels they deserve to be in the same conference as USF and they're gonna wait out a BE offer. If it doesn't come, look out for a C-USA deal.

www.orlandosentinel.com/s...tf-knights

Big East-USF link doesn't faze UCF

By Alan Schmadtke | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted October 23, 2003

UCF Athletic Director Steve Orsini had little reaction to reports that USF will replace exiting Boston College in the Big East.

"I've always said a South Florida-UCF package would be a great package for a conference, even though those are two independent decisions," Orsini said. "I know the Big East is considering several schools for membership options. Beyond that, I'm not going to comment on speculation."

Big East officials said the reformed league still is considering a ninth, football-only member. UCF and Navy are considered two primary choices, but Army also is being considered, sources close to the league told the Orlando Sentinel. Navy is said to enjoy its other-sports affiliation with the Patriot League; UCF wants to move its other sports out of the Atlantic Sun and into the same league as its football team as quickly as possible.

The Big East will unveil its master plan Nov. 4 in New York. However, it's growing more likely, sources said, that a federated membership offer may not be extended until after that date.

Orsini said he has not been contacted by Commissioner Mike Tranghese or anybody else in the Big East.

Meanwhile, Conference USA Commissioner Britton Banowsky will not come to Orlando this week. Orsini said he asked C-USA to wait until the Big East's plans are announced. "We don't know when that will be," Orsini said.

<small>[ 10-24-2003, 03:21 AM: Message edited by: FloridaMustang ]</small>