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

[couch 'em]

I see what you're saying, but no one cares about the current BE football teams in TX. I don't think anyone outside the SMU/TCU communities would care if TCU were hosting UConn or we were hosting Pitt, when you've got UT, OU, A&M, etc all playing the same day.

BE basketball is big-time, and basketball drives the BE more than most other BCS conferences, but football is still what is spearheading all of this. And the BE basketball teams (Providence, St. John's, Seton Hall, etc.) may defect and form their own league soon. And besides, what do we contribute in basketball? If the BE wanted to expand their recruiting footprint for hoops, they'd add UH next, and besides, UH is leaps and bounds ahead of SMU in basketball.

I don't necessarily disagree with what you are saying (except I would argue that BE teams playing in town would get attention - not UT attention obviously, but much, much more than CUSA or MWC teams) nor am I saying that on the whole the SMU & UH to BE scenario is necessarily the most likely expansion for BE. I am just saying that it is possible and plausible. Given TCU to BE, and what has been said by the WVU AD and others, it is quite possible.

[goldenstang]

I might be wrong but if they add 3 more schools that would put them at 20 for basketball. That's basically two conferences.

[couch 'em]

Academics used to matter to the BE but not anymore. WVU, Pitt, Louisville, Cincy, and USF are not great bastions of academic rigor. My view is that if the BE took another Texas team it would be UH for a number of reasons: Former rivalry with Louisville, Cincy, DePaul and Marquette; A difference media market; and a state school. They also would probably lean toward UCF although I understand USF is not thrilled about that. ECU is in their footprint, but is a small media market and its football is decent. SMU doesn't add much to their football or basketball and certainly doesn't corner any market for their brand. My view would be that Orsini should probably sell us to the ACC as a defensive play for that conference to avoid having the Big XII, BE, SEC or Big Ten take the Texas market and leave them in the lerch. Also the ACC cares about academics and might very well look favorably toward a Rice and an SMU as partners. Doh's presence might actually help us with the ACC (certainly UNC). I don't see the SEC being interested in us. Nor do I see the Big Ten. However, if the Big Ten and SEC raided the Big XII, its leftovers might be interested in us.

Come on man, did you seriously just suggest Rice, a school with no following AND blatantly doesn't try to win in football, to an AQ conference? Really?

[NickSMU17]

Sounds to me like a possible split football/basketball is coming...

[East Coast Mustang]

If the BE wanted to expand their recruiting footprint for hoops, they'd add UH next, and besides, UH is leaps and bounds ahead of SMU in basketball.

SMU does not offer as much as Houston, this is correct. It is more a question of whether the Big East desires another school on the Atlantic, or if they would rather make a larger footprint in Texas. If the Big East's drive is to increase its exposure in Dallas, then SMU will be taken. That, above all else, would be the motivation for taking SMU were we to be selected.

I don't know of a simpler way to put it: The Big East will not be adding SMU.

1. The BE isn't interested in the Texas market per se, they want TCU for continued AQ status
2. The BE doesn't really care about academics like the B10 and ACC do
3. TCU would fight tooth and nail for our exclusion (opposite of inclusion)
4. Our basketball program sucks, and our football team has still averages at least 10,000 empty seats a game in a 32,000 seat stadium

[Samurai Stang]

No one is mentioning it but why wouldn't the Be want to solidify their presence in Florida with UCF?

Among UCF, ECU, and Navy, I believe UCF would be the most intelligent choice for the Big East. Due to its large alumni base, the television markets of Florida, and the recruiting the state offers, there would be advantages in making them an addition.

Meanwhile, ECU is in a small, over-saturated market with little recruiting to offer. True, their attendance is high, but that is not the driving factor in expansion.

Navy is an interesting candidate given its nature as an independent and a military academy. Many schools are uncomfortable with academies, due to the number of "walk-ons" they are capable of having. As an East Coast school, Navy would not be bringing much in terms of recruiting or media markets that the Big East does not already possess. Navy does, however, enjoy a national fan base.

I expect UCF to be chosen.

[East Coast Mustang]

Sounds to me like a possible split football/basketball is coming...

It's been talked about for years, and I wouldn't be surprised if the addition of TCU expedites it. I imagine Providence, St. John's, Villanova, and Georgetown are none too thrilled with the prospect of playing TCU in hoops

[HB Pony Dad]

1. The BE isn't interested in the Texas market per se, they want TCU for continued AQ status

Nothing more needs to be said!

EXCEPT: BEAT UCF

PONY UP

FIGHT ON

[East Coast Mustang]

And it's a perilous continued AQ status at that. Wait until the Big 10 goes 14/16 and then all the dominos fall again. Hopefully that's when Orsini, Turner, and company are prepared to make moves

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Plus, the funny thing is TCU won't even be able to help them when the next BCS evaluation takes place since they probably won't be nearly as good as they have been the past year or so.

[Samurai Stang]

SMU does not offer as much as Houston, this is correct. It is more a question of whether the Big East desires another school on the Atlantic, or if they would rather make a larger footprint in Texas. If the Big East's drive is to increase its exposure in Dallas, then SMU will be taken. That, above all else, would be the motivation for taking SMU were we to be selected.

I don't know of a simpler way to put it: The Big East will not be adding SMU.

1. The BE isn't interested in the Texas market per se, they want TCU for continued AQ status
2. The BE doesn't really care about academics like the B10 and ACC do
3. TCU would fight tooth and nail for our exclusion (opposite of inclusion)
4. Our basketball program sucks, and our football team has still averages at least 10,000 empty seats a game in a 32,000 seat stadium

1. If the Big East is not interested in the Texas market, why is it examining Texas schools and specifically named SMU? If it was only looking to preserve its AQ status, why was Southern Miss. not mentioned? Because you are wrong.

2. I never said a word about academics as a motivating factor.

3. TCU will do what is best for them. Their only objection to SMU would be if SMU damaged their AQ status. Also, TCU does not control the Big East. Whereas the Pac-10 required that all members approve a candidate for expansion, it is not so in the Big East. TCU may object to SMU joining, but they would not leave the Big East over it.

4. By your own admission, football is driving this expansion. However, attendance in football and basketball will improve with joining a BCS conference. This is similar to how winning improves attendance.

Lastly, I realize that you are the troll onttheedgeofmyseat. You argue in the same style, ignoring facts presented to you and simply rephrasing your original argument. This, of course, is because you do not believe a word you say, but only want to create controversy.

[EastStang]

There is one other name in CUSA not mentioned, but ought to be. Memphis. Memphis adds nothing to BE football, but would be an interesting addition for basketball (which is the heart and soul of the BE). And while they are not on everyone's first choice list, they might get a nod over ECU/SMU simply because they look better in basketball.

And yes, if the ACC wanted to move into the Houston and Dallas markets, who's left to ask, SMU and Rice. Why not UH? UVA, Duke, Wake and UNC would drop the black ball faster than you could say Cougar- due to academics. Rice would give Duke a team they might actually be able to beat in a conference game. Like I said, academics matters to the ACC.

[East Coast Mustang]

1. If the Big East is not interested in the Texas market, why is it examining Texas schools and specifically named SMU? If it was only looking to preserve its AQ status, why was Southern Miss. not mentioned? Because you are wrong.

2. I never said a word about academics as a motivating factor.

3. TCU will do what is best for them. Their only objection to SMU would be if SMU damaged their AQ status. Also, TCU does not control the Big East. Whereas the Pac-10 required that all members approve a candidate for expansion, it is not so in the Big East. TCU may object to SMU joining, but they would not leave the Big East over it.

4. By your own admission, football is driving this expansion. However, attendance in football and basketball will improve with joining a BCS conference. This is similar to how winning improves attendance.

Lastly, I realize that you are the troll onttheedgeofmyseat. You argue in the same style, ignoring facts presented to you and simply rephrasing your original argument. This, of course, is because you do not believe a word you say, but only want to create controversy.

1. Where do we have any confirmation that the BE is even considering SMU, besides another message board? Even if they are, consideration is about as tangible as unicorns- what difference does it make if you're first runner up?

2. Others had previously in the thread, that's what I was referencing.

3. It would make zero sense for them to want to include SMU. Why put us on equal footing in regards to recruiting? It's a similar situation to us and UNT. Why give your immediate competition an upper hand (or in this case, a level playing field)? I can promise you UVA was none too happy about having to speak up for VT and get them in the ACC in 2003, but they're a public school and the Governor made them do it. You think Boise wants Idaho to join them in the MWC? No, they want to leave them in the dust. Just like the B12 schools did us in '96

4. I don't really think playing Rutgers, UConn, Cincinnati, and Syracuse is going to drastically boost our attendance, and it would probably hurt most of the current schools having to schedule us. They won't like that. They need TCU for AQ status because they realize that their conference is constantly on the brink of extinction. We don't help their AQ status.

Lastly- nope, this is the only handle I've ever had for five years here. Just because I haven't accumulated a bazillion posts doesn't mean I'm a troll. And don't get me wrong- I'd love to see SMU get a Big East invite, I just realize that it's not going to happen. You can take that to the bank. And I hope and pray I'm wrong and those sentences end up in people's signatures for years to come. But we're simply not that attractive to an AQ conference right now...

...that being said, if we can sustain our progress and continue to mirror JJ's 5 year plan, that may be different in the future. If we're selling out Ford, beating BCS schools, and nationally ranked and playing on television often, then we'll be in business. And if the real conference shakeups occur in a few years (as many have speculated, with 16 team superconferences) we may just put ourselves in an excellent position to improve our standing. But we're not there yet.

[couch 'em]

1. Where do we have any confirmation that the BE is even considering SMU, besides another message board? Even if they are, consideration is about as tangible as unicorns- what difference does it make if you're first runner up?

The only reason anyone is even talking about SMU being a possibility is because of the other message board. The other message board referenced, and later posted a link to, a radio interview with the WVA Athletic Director where he stated BE will go to 12 schools and specifically mentioned Navy, Army, ECU, SMU, and Houston as possible expansion schools.

[RednBlue11]

its a solid reason tho, and these things snowball before they melt away.