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Big East considers adding TCU

http://m.nypost.com/p/sports/college/fo ... sdAib7x6KK

By LENN ROBBINS
Last Updated: 4:37 PM, September 28, 2010
Having survived the most recent wave of expansion intact, the Big East Conference is studying ways to bolster its position and has targeted TCU as very attractive candidate to help strengthen its football league, The Post has learned.

“We are in a situation that requires us to evaluate and analyze all our options including expansion and television," said a source close to the league who requested anonymity. “There are a dozen or so schools that we’re looking at."

Two sources said the TCU discussion developed recently. The school’s tradition, academics and recent success have lifted the university’s profile. TCU (4-0) is ranked fifth in the polls and many believe it is currently the best team in Texas.

Great. I hear they are also considering adding Villanova.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5553575

Villanova's tradition, academics, and recent success have lifted the university's profile.

All jokes aside, however, if it was Carolina Christian or New York Christian or Georgia Christian ya'll would be in by now.

Of course, if Joseph Smith had just kept his butt in NY maybe BYU would be, too.

If this happens, does the MWC fold or effectively merge with the WAC? They lose BYU, Utah, and TCU, gaining only Boise St.

And before you ask, why in the holy hell would we leave CUSA to joing a weakened MWC? CUSA would be in a much better position than the MWC if this goes down.

Granted, not sure that TCU would want to join the Big East. Your closest conference game is where, Louisville?

this seems unlikely given that the Big East already has 16 basketball teams,

no brainer that TCU was going to be seriously considered by the Beast. they are a weak 8 team football league and tcu is not far enough west to be out of the question, and they have DFW airport. Plus they have a bit of history with Louisville, Cincy and South Florida.

WGAS

Was this what Patterson was referring to when he said..."I know a lot things you don't know.''..after the BYU stuff started happening?

George S. Patton wrote:Was this what Patterson was referring to when he said..."I know a lot things you don't know.''..after the BYU stuff started happening?

No. If you look at the article the discussions of TCU to the BE is fairly recent. Patterson said that line because he wanted BYU to stay in MWC. It was a bluff, and BYU called it.

Conference realignment talk is for the offseason when nothing else is going on.
During the season it is silly.

I brought this up a few months ago and the idea was quickly shot down as "absurd" by a few other posters. Interesting that we're hearing about it again now.

If we keep winning and showing the nation that SMU is a program on the rise I think we will in a much better situation this coming off season when realignment is again the hot topic.

Big Hoss wrote:If this happens, does the MWC fold or effectively merge with the WAC? They lose BYU, Utah, and TCU, gaining only Boise St.

Fresno State and Nevada already accepted MWC invitations also. The MWC is losing 2 schools and adding the 3 strongest WAC football schools.

Garret wrote:

Big Hoss wrote:If this happens, does the MWC fold or effectively merge with the WAC? They lose BYU, Utah, and TCU, gaining only Boise St.

Fresno State and Nevada already accepted MWC invitations also. The MWC is losing 2 schools and adding the 3 strongest WAC football schools.

Ah, that's right. So effectively, the MWC becomes the best of the WAC, and what's left of their current teams.

i know basketball isn't considered highly here in Texas but speaking as someone who has a parent in a Sr administrative position at a Big East school...don't underestimate what it would mean to change the 16 team system they have at the moment.

Dude, they can figure out what to do about adding basketball teams. Split into two, 10-team divisions, whatever. As long as the core, longtime Big East rivals remain together in a division, who cares?

And it isn't just Texas. Basketball isn't thought of highly in conference realignment by anyone. In terms of revenue generation, it's small potatoes compared to football. If basketball mattered, why do you think Kansas was going to be left out in the cold when the Big 12 was about to split?

Here's what's important to us: If the Big East is considering a radical move by adding a far-flung TCU, it only makes sense for them to add another school that's close to TCU. Why send a team halfway across the country to play one game when it can play two? (I'm talking sports like basketball and volleyball, of course, that play more than once a week).

I have my doubts that TCU would support pairing up with us, but if the Big East tells them it's a package deal or no deal, they would do it. Anything to get the security and revenue of a BCS league. We may have even changed the minds of some TCU folks with our commitment to football under June Jones that we're a worthy partner. I hope Mr. Orsini is making a few calls to friends in the Big East.

Noticed in the NY Post story linked to this thread that the writer, in two instances, says that many assumed TCU would join the Big 12.

That tells me the writer doesn't understand the objectives of conference realignment, much less the dynamics of TCU's situation with the Big 12. That's pretty sad.