WVU AD Oliver Luck says Big East will take 3 more schools

[ponyinNC]

if this is all about maintaining AQ status, we really do not add anything here, and they would be better to take UCF, UH or ECU. UCF and ECU make more geographical sense, but as we all know by now that means absolutely zero.

If The BE is really going to dip their feet into Texas, it certainly makes sense to take SMU and UH, and lock down the D/FW and Houston markets. I know UH doesn't draw Houston, nor do we really draw Dallas...but when you combine all 3 schools you have a really nice footprint into the state for recruiting, TV, travel, etc.

[S....M....U]

Making it make more geographical sense for tcu inherently makes them dollars by giving the big east a larger media prescence In dfw.

[S....M....U]

Duh harry

[StallionsModelT]

This is where Orsini has to be actively working hard to put us at the top of the pecking order. The moment is coming upon us quickly. I have complete faith in the man.

[WSGJ]

If The BE is really going to dip their feet into Texas, it certainly makes sense to take SMU and UH, and lock down the D/FW and Houston markets. I know UH doesn't draw Houston, nor do we really draw Dallas...but when you combine all 3 schools you have a really nice footprint into the state for recruiting, TV, travel, etc.

Does adding SMU and Houston really "lock down" the DFW and Houston market?

[Samurai Stang]

If The BE is really going to dip their feet into Texas, it certainly makes sense to take SMU and UH, and lock down the D/FW and Houston markets. I know UH doesn't draw Houston, nor do we really draw Dallas...but when you combine all 3 schools you have a really nice footprint into the state for recruiting, TV, travel, etc.

Does adding SMU and Houston really "lock down" the DFW and Houston market?

No, but the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

[S....M....U]

It gives the big east a lot more exposure in dfw than it has now. It won't surpass Texas and others schools hold on the market but ut will still make them some money

[S....M....U]

Time to see if orsini can really make us top 25 In everything we do

[Harry0569]

This is where Orsini has to be actively working hard to put us at the top of the pecking order. The moment is coming upon us quickly. I have complete faith in the man.

I do as well. According to unnamed sources, he has been working on conference realignment scenarios since the middle of 2009.

[S....M....U]

Wonderful

[1983 Cotton Bowl]

I'm am not very knowledgable about the factors that go into conference realignment. That being said, from what I've read it seems like the BE is trying to keep its AQ status by adding schools whose football performance over the past several years adds to the BE "bottom line" for conference strength purposes. TCU obviously does that. SMU does not. What we are selling right now is future potential, not past performance. If past performance is the key factor, then I don't see us being a top contender. If, on the other hand, future potential is a key factor, then I think we have a strong case.

WIth respect to academics, I know that most people feel they are not a factor. But is that entirely true? I thought the NCAA put in place certain academic requirements that schools must meet. Didn't Colorado recently run afoul of those requirements and suffer some ramifications? I'm not making an argument, I honestly don't know. If academics are at least some factor in the consideration, then that helps us.

[couch 'em]

If The BE is really going to dip their feet into Texas, it certainly makes sense to take SMU and UH, and lock down the D/FW and Houston markets. I know UH doesn't draw Houston, nor do we really draw Dallas...but when you combine all 3 schools you have a really nice footprint into the state for recruiting, TV, travel, etc.

Does adding SMU and Houston really "lock down" the DFW and Houston market?

No, but the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Plus, they aren't any "ready-made" big quality schools for them to take. SMU/TCU/UH are projects with lots of potential in huge markets.

It's a lot easier to advertise SMU or TCU vs a school people have heard of from the Big East than for an opponent like UAB.

[Harry0569]

WIth respect to academics, I know that most people feel they are not a factor. But is that entirely true? I thought the NCAA put in place certain academic requirements that schools must meet. Didn't Colorado recently run afoul of those requirements and suffer some ramifications? I'm not making an argument, I honestly don't know. If academics are at least some factor in the consideration, then that helps us.

I think you can make them a factor if they help you (which they do in our case). Obviously, UH would not want to speak to their academic prowess, or lack there of.

Right now the BE has only Georgetown ranked 21st ahead of us, and Rutgers/Pitt/UCONN within 10 spots of us.

[Harry0569]

It's a lot easier to advertise SMU or TCU vs a school people have heard of from the Big East than for an opponent like UAB.

If we joined the BE, our attendance would substantially increase for sports across the board. Let's see West Virginia or Tulane in football. UCONN/PITT/Georgetown or Rice? You decide.

[RednBlue11]

if they took us and Houston then that would allow them to make 2 divisions within the BE and keep them relatively regional.