Villanove to big east for football

by **NickSMU17** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 10:26 am

Signs appear to be pointing to Villanova trustees voting to upgrade the school's football program to Division I-A and accepting a standing invitation to join the Big East in that sport.

VUHoops.com says that finances are the final hurdle. Surveys showed that students, alumni and area residents were all in favor of the move, the administration is said to no longer be concerned about a lack of attendance. Moreover, a source told the site that trustees have been approaching major donors with the hopes of raising the $25 million to $35 million that the school needs to proceed.

If the Wildcats follow through, this would seem to put the breaks on Big East expansion for the time being, which means the good folks in Orlando get the short end of the stick again.

by **One Trick Pony** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 10:58 am

UCF would be a good fit. And I'm not so sure V gets the cash.. Much easier to fill s basketball arena than a football stadium.

by **Water Pony** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 3:56 pm

Villanova

I guess that can't readmit the stronger Philadelphia college FBteam, Temple, who they kick out a few years ago. :lol:

by **pwnyxpress** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 10:20 pm

"Half" the high school football stadiums in Texas are bigger than Villanova's stadium.

Way to go Big East!

by **Undercover Frog** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 11:49 am

Yeah, I don't like this move. But neither do any of the football schools in the Big East. They did it because they know they have to expand to survive, and the basketball-only schools won't approve anyone that further threatens the symmetry of their league.

It's all politics. The basketball schools are thinking that by bringing up Villanova, they'll gain a crucial vote in conference decisions while stealing one from the basketball schools. That may allow them to invite who they like in the future. But a split between the two groups is brewing.

by **West Coast Johnny** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 1:27 pm

Non-AQ teams bust their tails for years hoping to go to a BCS conference, and then a team that, plays home games in a high-school stadium gets the red carpet rolled out for them.

by **leopold** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 3:33 pm

West Coast Johnny wrote:then a team that, plays home games in a high-school stadium

I've heard this insult used to describe both of our schools.

by **couch 'em** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 3:48 pm

leopold wrote:
West Coast Johnny wrote:then a team that, plays home games in a high-school stadium

I've heard this insult used to describe both of our schools.

The difference being that the largest high school stadiums in Texas top out at around 20,000, so saying SMU has a high school stadium is an exaggerated insult. On the other hand, Villanova's stadium capacity is exceeded by Standridge Stadium in Carrollton.

by **One Trick Pony** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 4:25 pm

by **PoconoPony** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 4:43 pm

Big pressure in the Philadelphia area for the entertainment dollar. Four major pro teams, several AAA minor league sports teams, five major college basketball programs plus Temple football trying to re-emerge. Villanova has very strained relations with the town of Villanova who are in opposition to virtually everything the university does that places any pressure on the housing situation, traffic, noise....etc. In addition, as I have pointed out before on this board, there is simply not enough fooball talent in NY, PA, NJ, DE, MD, VA to sustain the number of top level programs that primarily recruit this region. For example, Penn State only recruited 4 PA kids in their 2011 class. They were forced into Michigan, Ohio, AZ and Florida to come up with the quality of kids to sustain their program. Tough decision for Villanova and I am not sure they are smart to jump into the Big East and top division football. Their situation is far more conducive to stay exactly where they are now.

by **DFW HOYA** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 8:57 pm

[quote="Undercover Frog"]It's all politics. The basketball schools are thinking that by bringing up Villanova, they'll gain a crucial vote in conference decisions while stealing one from the basketball schools. That may allow them to invite who they like in the future. But a split between the two groups is brewing.[/quote]

No split brewing--both sides see this as an opportunity for one of the league's two schools playing I-AA football to share in the TV revenues. Eventually the BE will move to a 12 team football/20 team basketball arrangement.

However, only ONE I-AA invite, not two. The Big East can stomach adding Villanova, but will not extend it to Georgetown.

by **EastStang** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 3:02 pm

No way Georgetown upgrades in football. They are 1-AA in name only. They play lower rung 1-AA teams and lose most of them. For some reason, they can't be Division 2 in football and Division 1 in basketball, so they go through the charade of being 1-AA without the commitment. I don't think they even have scholarship players in football (unless they are trying to add players for other sports and using football scholarships to man them - like lacrosse or track).

by **Charleston Pony** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 6:02 pm

agree it's unlikely G'town upgrades football. I still think the best path for Big East to reach 12 football members is Nova (10), UCF invited for all sports (travel partner with USF and bball back to even number 18 teams) and finally Navy invite for football only.

by **goldenstang** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 7:00 pm

EastStang wrote:No way Georgetown upgrades in football. They are 1-AA in name only. They play lower rung 1-AA teams and lose most of them. For some reason, they can't be Division 2 in football and Division 1 in basketball, so they go through the charade of being 1-AA without the commitment. I don't think they even have scholarship players in football (unless they are trying to add players for other sports and using football scholarships to man them - like lacrosse or track).

As part of the Patriot League for football, Georgetown is not allowed to give out any football scholarships.