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And Nova is not one of them:

http://ncaabbs.com/showthread.php?tid=466894

other candidates according to Luck:

Academies
UCF
ECU
SMU
Houston

May make this kind of a big game.

So, the small private college is the odd man out. Three decent to large state schools against a small SMU. Not liking those odds.

I am liking being a part of the conversation.

Our biggest selling point will be that we are in the Dallas Market.

I don't know anything about ECU's academics... but if they consistently have 40k plus fans, have local rivals, fit geographically, and have been in contention in CUSA and with other Big East/ACC teams in the area I think they may be hard to beat.

That being said, maybe Big E is consciously trying to get a couple of Texas/southern schools to compliment TCU and help with Texas recruiting. Either way... should be interesting

ponyboy wrote:I am liking being a part of the conversation.

That's really 90% of the battle. You get yourself talked about when the conference ADs and Presidents meet, and that's better than the schools who get ignored. How would you like to be Rice (not mentioned at all?) or Memphis (also not mentioned?). We've got better chances than those schools.

Now, I really don't believe that the Big East is going to survive, but as many have pointed out, it's better to get in for a few years to improve your position for future realignments than not be in at all.

Harry0569 wrote:Our biggest selling point will be that we are in the Dallas Market.

And we are helped out by the fact that TCU never delivered the market by themselves, as evidenced by cable systems' refusal to add The Mtn to Metroplex cable.

Can't imagine TCU would let/want us to come on along IF there were any truth to this rumor. UH could be their travel buddy, gives Big East a new market. TCU then has two close games a year, us and UH, plus their home games. Since I think it is doubtful we go, I hope it is just a rumor. Losing Houston would be a big blow to the CUSA West, especially when you replace with a LA Tech or a UNT.

ponydawg wrote:Losing Houston would be a big blow to the CUSA West, especially when you replace with a LA Tech or a UNT.

La Tech

UH makes way more sense for BE than we do, unfortunately. And no way TCU lets us tag along.

ponydawg wrote:Can't imagine TCU would let/want us to come on along IF there were any truth to this rumor. UH could be their travel buddy, gives Big East a new market. TCU then has two close games a year, us and UH, plus their home games. Since I think it is doubtful we go, I hope it is just a rumor. Losing Houston would be a big blow to the CUSA West, especially when you replace with a LA Tech or a UNT.

Houston's downfall is their terrible academic reputation. That is hindering them from making the leap (although UT would never let them into the Big XII). We must sell ourselves in 3 distinct ways: Dallas Market, Academic reputation, up and coming football program with the potential to sell out every game.

Harry0569 wrote:

ponydawg wrote:Can't imagine TCU would let/want us to come on along IF there were any truth to this rumor. UH could be their travel buddy, gives Big East a new market. TCU then has two close games a year, us and UH, plus their home games. Since I think it is doubtful we go, I hope it is just a rumor. Losing Houston would be a big blow to the CUSA West, especially when you replace with a LA Tech or a UNT.

Houston's downfall is their terrible academic reputation. That is hindering them from making the leap (although UT would never let them into the Big XII). We must sell ourselves in 3 distinct ways: Dallas Market, Academic reputation, up and coming football program with the potential to sell out every game.

Academic reputation does not matter as much for Big East as it does for Big Ten, PAC, ACC, etc.

Assuming TCU's dead set against us, how much pull do they really have as a new member of the Big East?

Ucf uh and navy or ecu would be pretty stout.

I would've guessed ucf Memphis uh..Memphis is killed by their crappy football program