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Big East commissioner John Marinatto tells ESPN.com blogger Brian Bennett that the conference could add a 10th football member before learning Villanova's decision on whether that school will upgrade its program to Division I-A. That means that by the time the Wildcats are ready to announce, at the end of April, the league might already be at its ideal size.

"We're not waiting for Villanova," Marinatto said. "It's their institutional decision to make, and they have a process set up to make it. They've got to determine what's in their best interest, and we've got to determine what's in our best interest. ... If the right situation developed in between, we would move on it. That's a very real possibility. We're not going to make a decision or not make a decision based on Villanova's study."

The long-rumored next school on the Big East's list is Central Florida, which has been clamoring for a BCS-conference bid for years now. Bennett says that because it would take Nova several years to attain full I-A status, the conference could add the Golden Knights now and then fold the Wildcats in when they are ready. (We imagine if that happens, the league would add a 12th team so that it could split into division.)

Meanwhile, Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel puts a bit of a damper on the news, writing that it certainly appears as if South Florida is trying to block Central Florida's entry into the Big East.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/o ... 055.column

South Florida blocks UCF, Big East turns to SMU. TCU tries to block but is ignored.

I thought someone said we were going to the PAC-10

what is the dynamic between USF and UCF? I could understand TCU blocking SMU, but the Florida schools are both public...vis a vis UNLV & Nevada...

RGV Pony wrote:what is the dynamic between USF and UCF? I could understand TCU blocking SMU, but the Florida schools are both public...vis a vis UNLV & Nevada...

Orlando is fairly close to Tampa. Two schools in the same area competing for the same kids for a BCS conference. All I can think of.

Mitch McConnell wrote:

RGV Pony wrote:what is the dynamic between USF and UCF? I could understand TCU blocking SMU, but the Florida schools are both public...vis a vis UNLV & Nevada...

Orlando is fairly close to Tampa. Two schools in the same area competing for the same kids for a BCS conference. All I can think of.

You would think with the Disney-ESPN-Orlando connection UCF would be a no brainer.

I would think the BE looks to East Carolina next if USF c*ckblocks UCF.

just seems like if UCF does get in, it would make for some incredible rivalry games between them and USF

RGV Pony wrote:what is the dynamic between USF and UCF? I could understand TCU blocking SMU, but the Florida schools are both public...vis a vis UNLV & Nevada...

UCF and USF are 40 miles apart. Their main recruiting grounds are south and west of Orlando. USF has gotten more talent in past years simply because they are an AQ School. Think about kids who decide to go to Baylor instead of SMU - the AQ status is the only advantage that Baylor has. USF doesn't want to jeopardize their recruiting advantage. The big three in FLA (Miami, UF and FSU) get the first choice on kids. USF doesn't want to jeopardize the little ground they have staked out. Especially because they have to fight off all of the ACC, SEC and other BE Schools trying to poach in your territory.

StallionsModelT wrote:I would think the BE looks to East Carolina next if USF c*ckblocks UCF.

NO WAY. ECU has no market. They are down the list below both Houston and SMU.

couch'em,

Really? I mean I understand both Houston and SMU have huge markets, but ECU has a very large student body population and is really the only show in town around there. Also, its a geographical fit and they've been good at football for the last handful of years.

depends on how you look at it. If the BE TV deal is like others we've heard of, adding a state makes the conference more money. They already have FL, so they'd make more $ adding NC

StallionsModelT wrote:couch'em,

Really? I mean I understand both Houston and SMU have huge markets, but ECU has a very large student body population and is really the only show in town around there. Also, its a geographical fit and they've been good at football for the last handful of years.

The Big East is considering Villanova, a school that is not even Division I. The reason this is so is because of the market in which Villanova is centered. This is a clear demonstration that television markets, not alumni base, will be the driving factor in expansion.

Samurai Stang wrote:

StallionsModelT wrote:couch'em,

Really? I mean I understand both Houston and SMU have huge markets, but ECU has a very large student body population and is really the only show in town around there. Also, its a geographical fit and they've been good at football for the last handful of years.

The Big East is considering Villanova, a school that is not even Division I. The reason this is so is because of the market in which Villanova is centered. This is a clear demonstration that television markets, not alumni base, will be the main factor in expansion.

It's only part TV market with Villanova. The bigger factor is that they are already part of the Big East for all other sports. The conference is already bloated for all sports but football and it is rumored that they dont want to add another school for all sports if they do not have to.

StallionsModelT wrote:couch'em,

Really? I mean I understand both Houston and SMU have huge markets, but ECU has a very large student body population and is really the only show in town around there. Also, its a geographical fit and they've been good at football for the last handful of years.

The BE cares solely about $$$$, not location. Although I have heard the Greenville, NC market is quite huge, the Dallas market squeaks by in size.