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Look, I will start of saying that I know that USF is not a big time program in football or maybe not any bigger than Memphis, but adding Memphis just reeks of small time to me.

The best conferences hang their hats (and their TV contracts) on their big time programs.

Big 12: Texas & Oklahoma
Pac 12: USC & Oregon
Big 10: Ohio St, Michigan
SEC : Alabama, LSU, Florida
ACC : Florida St & Virgina Tech
Big East: West Virginia ?

My concern is that we are lacking in the "big time" schools category.

Where are the big time schools for the Big East?

We need to get BYU and Notre Dame ASAP

Notre Dame is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Won't happen.

The BE tried to get BYU. They put impossible conditions on the deal and the BE walked. BYU is notoriously fickle and a huge pain in the rear to deal with. They've bailed on every conference they've ever been in and left a lot of other schools (SMU included) in the lurch.

Notre Dame will never join a conference until they are left with absolutely no choice. That time has not yet come.

Memphis is a monster in hoops. This is the price that the BE basketball schools extracted from Marinatto to go along with the football plan. Sometimes in life you have to compromise to get things done.

Memphis should be able to bounce back in football pretty quickly. Fuentes is a good coach and will do well there. They certainly can't get any worse.

Is that Daisy Fuentes?

I get with what you are saying USF04.
But I'd argue there aren't any traditional powers currently in BE other than West Virginia. Pitt at one point was, but is a shell of its former self and has been for a while.
Boise St. is clearly the tentpole of the new BE football conference. There's certainly a chance for other schools to establish themselves nationally as well.

Also, every conference has their weak sisters, i.e. Washington State, Kansas, Vanderbilt, Duke, and Ole Miss.

AusTxPony wrote:Also, every conference has their weak sisters, i.e. Washington State, Kansas, Vanderbilt, Duke, and Ole Miss.

Every school has their ups and downs. All it takes to build a good program is a good coach that can recruit and coach, or at least know when to let the assistance coach, and an administration that recognizes the benefits of college athletic. I think the BE will be just fine as SMU and Houston gain more and more national exposure and rebuild their programs. There is no reason both of us can't complete with Boise, TCU, Baylor, TT, etc. and with just a little luck, OU and UT. We can get there and we have. We just needed to get into an AQ conference and help build that conference into power conference.

DiamondM75 wrote:

AusTxPony wrote:Also, every conference has their weak sisters, i.e. Washington State, Kansas, Vanderbilt, Duke, and Ole Miss.

Every school has their ups and downs. All it takes to build a good program is a good coach that can recruit and coach, or at least know when to let the assistance coach, and an administration that recognizes the benefits of college athletic. I think the BE will be just fine as SMU and Houston gain more and more national exposure and rebuild their programs. There is no reason both of us can't complete with Boise, TCU, Baylor, TT, etc. and with just a little luck, OU and UT. We can get there and we have. We just needed to get into an AQ conference and help build that conference into power conference.

agreed...our foot is in the door, now it is our responsibility to prove we belong in the BCS house.

I am more worried about our TV money. We make almost nothing now and that is with having West Virginia, Pitt, and Syracuse.

There is a reason why Boise St was not invited to the Big East initially or invited to the Big 12. TV wants to have UT vs OU, LSU vs Bama, USC vs Notre Dame, etc... I am just worried that we don't provide them with anything to get excited about. (Granted, I could watch SMU play USF in my backyard and get big time exctied, but I'm a different species)

This next television contract will make or break the Big East in my opinion. If we can't find a way to pull in atleast $12M per football school then I don't see how we could ever keep Louisville from going to the Big 12

USF04 wrote:Look, I will start of saying that I know that USF is not a big time program in football or maybe not any bigger than Memphis, but adding Memphis just reeks of small time to me.

The best conferences hang their hats (and their TV contracts) on their big time programs.

Big 12: Texas & Oklahoma
Pac 12: USC & Oregon
Big 10: Ohio St, Michigan
SEC : Alabama, LSU, Florida
ACC : Florida St & Virgina Tech
Big East: West Virginia ?

My concern is that we are lacking in the "big time" schools category.

Where are the big time schools for the Big East?

We need to get BYU and Notre Dame ASAP

FedEx has HUGE money invested in making Memohis a better University. They will probably end up throwing a lot of sponsorship dollars to Big East tv partners.

Plus, Memphis is a name BB school and that will help keep BB schools happy - especially Loiseville. With Memphis in their conference for BB, they might not think Big 12 is the right place for them.

Did Memphis join the BE?

That's a good point, but unfortunately adding Memphis makes Pitino happy...but not necessarily Louisiville. Remember Pitino is leaving soon.

I'm sure I'm just being pessimistic in nature. Being in the Big East will do that to you over the past year. You start to hold your breath at every announcement. LOL.

Disclaimer: I'm not trying to come over here and make it sound like I think USF is too big time for any of the Conf USA schools. Heck, we've been lucky just to be in this conference in the first place. It would be like if yall were in the Big 12 and Texas, OU, OSU all said goodbye we are too good for you. It kinda pisses you off.

USF04 wrote:That's a good point, but unfortunately adding Memphis makes Pitino happy...but not necessarily Louisiville. Remember Pitino is leaving soon.

I'm sure I'm just being pessimistic in nature. Being in the Big East will do that to you over the past year. You start to hold your breath at every announcement. LOL.

Disclaimer: I'm not trying to come over here and make it sound like I think USF is too big time for any of the Conf USA schools. Heck, we've been lucky just to be in this conference in the first place. It would be like if yall were in the Big 12 and Texas, OU, OSU all said goodbye we are too good for you. It kinda pisses you off.

We pretty much already have had that happen

USF04 wrote: It would be like if yall were in the Big 12 and Texas, OU, OSU all said goodbye we are too good for you. It kinda pisses you off.

Re: big 12. Texas, OU, OSU have already tried that and will again given the opportunity.