Big East, Big 12 talk merger if Texas, Oklahoma leave Big 12
NEW YORK -- A person involved in the discussions tells the Associated Press that school and conference officials from the Big East and Big 12 have been discussing ways to merge what's left of the two leagues if Texas and Oklahoma leave the Big 12.
The person, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk publicly about what is going on behind the scenes, said Monday there has been dialogue between athletic directors and high-level officials in the conference offices.
Syracuse and Pittsburgh have announced they will be leaving the Big East for the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Texas and Oklahoma are both trying to decide whether to leave the Big 12 for the Pac-12, taking Oklahoma State and Texas Tech with them.
8 months ago
UL is my hot hot sex
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The LOVE of money...
And, that is what we have going on.
Stout Out!
by tdstout on Sep 19, 2011 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment. For we entered into this world with nothing and we cannot take anything out of it. But with food and clothing we should be content. But the people who desire to be rich will fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that many have wandered away from the faith into many pangs
it doesn’t say anything about ruining college football but read contextually, it’s there
by uoflcard on Sep 19, 2011 8:12 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Beer is
the source of and solution to all of life’s roblems
Great
A new conference full of the superconference rejects. Lovely. We’re so screwed. If we were Louisville, Missouri the SEC would come calling. It’s all so stupid.
It is very, very stupid. Any system that ranks Rutgers, Cincinnati and South Florida above us as athletic departments is insane
And that is precisely what we have.
Goooooooo LOGIC!
by uoflcard on Sep 19, 2011 8:20 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Rumors now circulating that
Texas is trying everything they can to keep Big 12 together. The new solution? Add Louisville, Cincy, WVU, & TCU. This would be NICE if it stayed that way..
Texas
Texas Tech
Oklahoma
Oklahoma St
Kansas
Kansas St
Baylor
Iowa St
Missouri (guessing they won’t stick around)
Louisville
Cincy
WVU
TCU
"Right now, the light at the end of the tunnel? It’s not safe. It’s not safe. The future is coming, and if you’re in the way we’re going to roll right through you."
by Jurich 4 President on Sep 20, 2011 9:28 AM EDT up reply actions
I think I'd be ok with this
twitter.com/jasonpsmith
by quiet cardinal on Sep 20, 2011 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions
Can we just LEAVE?
I mean, SU and RU bring absolutely nothing to the table, and they get stability. Don’t give me TV markets. I know for a fact that the two biggest teams in NYC (and I would assume NJ) are Penn State and Notre Dame. SU I guess gives you upstate NY, but what do they bring to the table that a Louisville, a South Florida, a Cinncinatti doesn’t?
Anywho, why can’t we apply for SEC membership? At this point, Tom needs to be scrambling at the conferences meeting this weekend to get us somewhere, anywhere else. Heck, if we’re left out in the cold, going indie would be a better option than the above.
Programs like those 3, up and comers, will be absolutely wrecked by realignment. And I believe that it will set the program back a very generous 6-8 years.
"Morgan Newton sucks!"
- Victor Anderson
I agree
Lets start talking with whomever will listen in the ACC or SEC… We need a home and a place with rejects is not a place I wanna call home
Don't get me wrong,
The conference of rejects is honestly better than the conference today, but when you’ve had your heart set on the SEC or ACC for a long time, its a bit tough to take in.
"Morgan Newton sucks!"
- Victor Anderson
Lived in NYC for 8 years
and I can tell you I saw a Rutgers fan maybe 5 times outside of their one good year. UCONN, SU, GTown all have good followings during basketball season, but SU and UCONN have close to nothing during football. The biggest football teams are PSU, Notre Dame, USC, Florida because they have large alumni bases in Manhattan.
For the love of all things sacred, no.
No, no, no, no, no. This is not what we want, Tom, Rick—anyone else who will listen. This is not what we want and it is not what we need. NO.
This \/. Especially the last sentence.
Kind of surreal when you say that about a school that, in the last 6 years, has a Final Four, a BCS bowl trophy, and championship appearances in baseball, soccer, and women’s basketball. And is one of the most profitable athletic departments in the country.
College sports are no longer about the sports.
Card_G6
"Morgan Newton sucks!"
- Victor Anderson
It's hard to get excited about this conference option
Particularly if we think that it won’t include UConn, Rutgers or West Virginia. I was a UofL fan during the C-USA days, and I’ll be a fan forever, but this is going to feel like a step backwards.
That said, there’s nothing to be done about it. You’re crazy if you don’t think Tom is trying other options. If the B1G, ACC, SEC, and PAC-16 all say no (newsflash: They all said no) then this is the best option.
Add that to the facts that odds are we won’t have President Ramsey or Rick Pitino in 5 years, and I can’t imagine CCS sticking around in the new conference, our athletic future just took a nasty turn.
True
Once you’ve eaten at the big kids table you don’t want to be eating at the kiddie table the next year.
Located in Miami, Florida
by The White Mandingo on Sep 19, 2011 7:24 PM EDT up reply actions
We are at the big kids table?
This scenario would not change our BCS status, and the football will actaully get a little better.
I think its much better than beating our heads against a brick wall trying to win the SEC.
Kiddie table?
Worse. More like table 9.
by Leeroy Jenkins on Sep 20, 2011 8:36 AM EDT up reply actions
just saw on twitter that a source has said he SEC denied WVU's application...
wonder if this is true…if so…uh oh
i wanna get chocolate wasted!!!!!
This is good.
For us. Not so much for them.
by Jason G on Sep 19, 2011 6:28 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Not sure about that
I assumed we’d have more luck landing in the ACC than the SEC. If WVU isn’t going to the SEC then they’re taking up a spot in the ACC.
If true, it may mean that Mizzou is the SEC’s #14 and they’re stopping there for now.
Mizzou to SEC, yes
WVU to ACC? No. The next 2 to go ACC are Uconn and probably Rutgers. WVU has a worse academic standing than Louisville, so they’d be blocked for the same reason.
Why would the SEC take WVU?
Won’t happen.
WVU does not imporve the $$$$ for the $EC. And $$$$ is what is driving this.
Same for the ACC for that matter.
WVU is stuck with us!
I mean, they belong there
because they are so redneck and tacky….But still, stuck with us.
by GOCARDSATTITUDE on Sep 19, 2011 9:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Ugh
I thought we might end up in the ACC Saturday, but it’s been all downhill since. The idea of merging with the Big 12 is awful. The conference would be full of rejects. Rick Pitino would love it because it’s easier in basketball. I never thought we’d go back to mid major football status.
If that happens the BCS bid will still be there.
The BCS just opened up the access MORE because of the threat of congressional hearings on anti trust violations.
They are not going to shut it back down again, or scale it back, or they face that again.
I don’t like Mitch McConnel AT ALL, but he would be all over it like white on rice.
Ok, not to sound like an idiot...
I get that jumping conferences is all about the money. But can someone explain exactly what that involves? Do tv deals pay some conferences more than others? Are football deals worth more than basketball? This may be dumb logic but there are way more basketball games than football games so shouldn’t Big East b-ball make a lot of money?
Speaking strictly from a fan standpoint,I would rather be in a good basketball conference because we watch more basketball. I get that the Big East may fall apart, I’m talking about if it was stable.
Someone please set me straight. But be nice, I’m just a girl that loves her Cards.
Yes, football makes more money. LOTS MORE.
Football drives much higher ratings than basketball. Other than the NCAA Tourney, college hoops isn’t much of a mainstream ratings draw. Ratings-wise, college football is to college hoops what the NFL is to the NBA: A much bigger deal.
Compound that with the notion that the NCAA, since it runs the hoops tourney, gets major cut of the basketball postseason revenue (where all the money is). In football, the BCS and lesser bowls run the postseason, so the schools and conferences keep all the money.
Bottom line, football brings in way more revenue to schools than hoops does, period.
We might get an auto BCS bid in sch league for a year....or two
unless, suits start taking place to brake the BCS monopolies—-and that is not that far fetched
Actually, hybrid league would keep its BCS bid
The BCS by its own bylaws, I’m led to understand, is required to have between 5 and 7 automatic bid conferences. Where it has six now, the floor of 5 was there as threat to the Big East in case it ever got too lame. The ceiling of 7 was there as a possibility for some lesser league, largely as a legal defensive measure for those lawyers who called the BCS a cartel.
If the Big East and Big 12 merge, it ensures the members stay in a BCS league. ANd believe you me, while these schools may not have TV markets or AAU memberships, they have some serious senators and representatives from their home states. Any attempt to scuttle their BCS status would see federal inquiry so fast it would make your head spin. We’ll stay in a BCS league, it will just be the weakest one ever — one that earns the least money and can’t keep good coaches.
Really hate the part about can't keep good coaches.
by Carolina Cardinal on Sep 19, 2011 8:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Conferences don't keep coaches, programs do.
A committed administration, world class facilities, and the easiest route to a BCS bowl – what coach wouldn’t want that? And weak conference or not, if we were to dominate any BCS conference for a few years, we would be in the national championship picture.
"...and the present, for us, is something that we really look forward to."
- Rick Pitino
Uhhhhh? Really?
Cause last time I checked we’ve been a stepping stone for coaches to “better” jobs. So, why would that change if we go to a lesser football league?
It wouldn’t
Coaches like Charlie Strong want to win, and they want to win National Championships/ have the opportunity to win National Championships.
No team that wins the BIG East/12? is getting into the BCS Championship game. Not unless they go undefeated in a year 2-3 of the other teams are highly ranked, and they get 1-2 other good/ highly ranked teams on the non-conference schedule.
As it stands, we can’t get good teams on our schedule without them backing out, why would that change?
by Chick-Stratino'sUrDaddy on Sep 20, 2011 9:33 AM EDT up reply actions
think about it
if we merge, add kansas, k-state, baylor, iowa state, plus tcu. i think the big east bball wise will be better. it’s the football stand point that concerns me.
As it stands now
Losing SU and Pitt, replacing them with everyone from the B12 outside of the TX’s and OK’s (plus TCU) makes a better football conference than the current BE.
You lose 2 really good basketball teams, and pick up one of the great ones in KS.
Check out the Sagarin ratings from last year, see what I’m talkin’ ’bout.
Math, bitches.
Not a "TRUE" fan
Yeah, I do agree with this.
If we have a bid now, then that conference won’t lose a bid.
The Mid-9?
"Morgan Newton sucks!"
- Victor Anderson
Can someone explain why someone would want Rutgers over us? I think our football and basketball fan base are much bigger. I just don’t see why, if the acc expanded again, they wouldn’t want uconn and Louisville. They would be a damn good football and basketball conference then, and have a lot of veiwing territory.
-Dustin
by Civicman86 on Sep 19, 2011 6:54 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Two words: New York
The combination of UConn, Syracuse and Rutgers gets every D-I football team broadcast locally into the New York market. That’s why.
By if we've learned anything about this backwards system, it's that conferences don't want redundant teams in TV markets
If they already have Syracuse and UConn (even just Syracuse) that gets them “in” the NYC market. Then what the heck does Rutgers add on top of that? Nothing. An empty basketball gym and a football program with a proud 100+ year history of LOSING.
The case for Rutgers is non-existant considering they add nothing that Pitt, Cuse and UConn already add. We, meanwhile, add about 4-5,000,000 to the ACC footprint (the entire state of Kentucky plus southern Indiana). How do we not add more
value than Rutgers?
by uoflcard on Sep 19, 2011 8:28 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I also thought that with Syracuse, and especially if you add UConn, you have a solid in to the New York market.
What additional benefit is there by adding Rutgers? I don’t see any.
by Carolina Cardinal on Sep 19, 2011 8:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Connecticut and New Jersey are decent-sized markets on their own
even if no one actually cares about Rutgers, and no one cares about UConn football.
But who in the hell watchs Rutgers?
I lived in NY for a while, and my sister still lives there.
Nobody gives a crap about Rutgers. HELL! Rutgers is in New Jersey!
I don't like the thoughts of us playing in the same conference as Baylor.
We would be up against Quincy Miller and Deuce Bello whom we recruited and lost plus have to play Kansas every year.
Sounds like Texas and OU have the green light to go to the PAC.
Which sounds like the Big East/Big 12 merger is a good chance. Sigh…Hopefully WVU doesn’t go to the SEC and stays with the Big East.
$EC will NOT take WVU
They bring nothing to the table to imporve the $$$.
RACISM
This is the SEC playing puppet master and keeping a successful African American coach out of the spotlight. The SEC tried for years to keep Strong out of coaching and knows that he is getting big name recruits they will try Thats why they want to break up the Big East.
You think it is just coincidence that this was all announced on the same day that Strong beats an SEC team. This is nothing more than the good ole boys planning to keep a former SEC assistant from winning the big one in a few years.
And why do they want West Virginia… one of the whitest states in the nation. Well, besides the obvious, it will make sure Joker has someone stealing recruits in his backyard even when UofL is out of the picture. This is the plan.
Unless you have some proof to back that up
That whole comment is absolutely ridiculous.
They say that nobody is perfect. Then they tell you practice makes perfect. I wish they'd make up their minds.
by LvillefaninLex on Sep 19, 2011 7:22 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
LMAO
Dude are you serious? BAhahahaha
Located in Miami, Florida
by The White Mandingo on Sep 19, 2011 7:26 PM EDT up reply actions
+1

@DavefrmLville.....is fun to follow on twiiter!
by Dave from Louisville on Sep 19, 2011 11:52 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
check your facts
The SEC has had black head coaches.
This by far
is the worst post in this story. We all are upset about how things are happening but racism needs to stop being the first thing that is brought up when something does not go our way. This is about one color and that color is green. Money is the reason behind all the moves. If this was a joke I apologize but lets not joke about racism.
by Cardsfan86 on Sep 20, 2011 9:33 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
There's nothing funny about racism
Now Alzheimer’s, there’s something to joke about
Not a "TRUE" fan
@Cardinal Dude
Then, tell me why Louisville is not even being talked to by the SEC? We’re in the south east aren’t we? Only south florida is more southern than us… We have a HUGE rival in their league that would make for great TV and the best facilities… It’s cause we’re an urban school with an African American coach that went on record about the SEC’s racism. IMHO
Yeah,
The fact that Louisville has barely anything to offer them in the way of a new t.v. market has nothing to do with it.
by DowntownCards on Sep 19, 2011 7:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Well, for one,
you don’t know how to reply, but that’s the least of everyone’s worries.
ALL HAIL
by Cardinal_Pride on Sep 20, 2011 1:51 AM EDT up reply actions
@Downtonwn Cards
No one has anything to offer them. The whole nation watches SEC football. It’s all about rivalries. The average joe turns on the TV. to see a heated rivalry… Auburn vs. Alabama. Florida vs. Tennesse and what about…Kentucky vs. Louisville? It would be huge!
The more I think about this, the more the numbers don't work in our favor
The whole Commonwealth has 4.3, let’s say 4.4 million people (for good measure). Sure that’s more than WVU (1.8) and that’s probably why, if the rumors are true, the SEC turned WVU down. In the Super (Duper) Conference (Football) framework the currency is population numbers and television demographics. Yep, Rutgers seems odd to add to the ACC—but the state itself has over 8 million people (almost twice the commonwealth) and that’s a lot of advertising and television revenue. West Virginia, Louisville, we literally just don’t have enough people. We have the independent money, the competitive athletic squads, but we simply don’t have the people. We’d fit fine into the ACC—and probably would throw our weight around the SEC—but we don’t have the people, the television sets, to convince those leagues to add us.
Now by this same logic, UCONN seems like an odd addition to the ACC
It has about 3.5-3.7 million people. In that instance, we would seem to be a more enticing add for the ACC’s television numbers.
I agree. I feel like adding us and uconn makes more sense than adding uconn and rutgers. Not to mention we are a college town, our 4.4 million only care about college, they don’t have to share the light with the nfl or nba.
-Dustin
Plus, you know that the blues would tune in to watch us play Duke and UNC
if only for the hope of a little bit of schadenfreude.
Learned them big ol' words at your fancy pants private girl's school did ya?
by Leeroy Jenkins on Sep 20, 2011 8:44 AM EDT up reply actions
What can I say - "haters gonna hate" is the current zeitgeist
by Leeroy Jenkins on Sep 20, 2011 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions
I disagree with a portion of this
Yes the state is a lot larger than the commonwealth. This however only matters is people tune in to watch the game.
I dont see as many people tuning unto a Rutgers game as a LVL game no matter the size of the state . I may be wrong but thats my story and im sticking to it for no
Is it necessarily the 'tuning-in' or just the cable subscription revenues alone?
Many cable customers in Louisville, for instance, have the B10 channel. It receives revenues from their subscriptions although a good number of them may never watch it. The same would go for an ACC network in NJ.
Yes, it's about TV sets, not population or how many will tune in (which is zilch for RU in NYC)
But Rutgers doesn’t add any sets that Pitt, Cuse and UConn don’t add
by uoflcard on Sep 19, 2011 8:32 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Its not about state populations. Because:
1. What is a state watching compared to the WHOLE nation. When two schools that have decent teams are in the same area, it creates a rivalry buzz. Alabama vs. Auburn Florida vs. Georgia…
2. Pittsburgh and Syracuse are all in the area of the Atlantic Coast/East Coast area ACC make sense.
3. Louisville is a southern city and we are decent at football. We should creat great rivalries in the SEC…
4. SEC doesn’t want Strong after he dissed them.
Yeah and I'm watching and paying to see school that are good in my area. I don't want to see Boise State or USC
Guess what, if you get UVerse here in Louisville you are also paying for the Big Ten Network!
And when the SEC gets their network, you will pay for that, too! You are paying money to the Big Ten and SEC even if you never turn those channels on. And sure, boycott by not getting cable. But most will not do that. They want ESPN (even if they just want it for NASCAR) or even just the Golf Channel, so they’ll pay their bill, and in the process of that they’ll pay conferences they couldn’t give a crap about. That is how it works. Heck, a household might not even care about sports at all. It could be a single middle aged woman who wants HGTV. And she will pay the Big Ten if she gets UVerse
by uoflcard on Sep 19, 2011 8:46 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
So you just said it is about the WHOLE NATION and then...
said you only watch games for teams in your area. Okaaaay….
And exactly how did Strong “diss” the SEC?
Please quit.
This is the conference staring us in the face
Assuming UConn and Rutgers to the ACC , Mizzou to the SEC, and OKalhoma, OK State, Texas and Texas Tech to the PAc-16…
Baylor
Cincinnati
Iowa State
Kansas
Kansas State
Louisville
South Florida
Texas Christian
West Virginia
Mediocre hoops, mediocre football.
Honestly, FB is probaby better than we've had
Syracuse has sucked tremendously for a decade, Pitt has done absolutely nothing except get trounced by Utah in the “bridge” year in 2005, and UConn has been decent at what they do and capitalized on the worst BCS conference ever. TCU has been way better than all of them for 10 staright years, KState is decent every once in a while, and Louisville and WVU when we’re right can be really good. The problem for us will again be keeping a good coach. Let’s say CCS has us nationally competitive in 2 years. There will be some big time programs getting their butts handed to them in one of these monstrosities and in search of a new coach. Who you gonna call? And we would be powerless to stop it, as we always have. If we’re in the ACC or SEC we have a chance, but not in the Tweast
by uoflcard on Sep 19, 2011 8:38 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
If we keep a BCS bowl spot...I think we keep Charlie for 2-3 more yrs--- he will ave the easier
road to the top
If not……………
DON'T SAY THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We stay a BCS school we keep HCCS!
That is my story, and I am sticking to it!!!!!
hey..." dude" ...I bought a piece of Papa John's stadium
like u I assume…..
My culture is logic— if we keep a BCS spot, then we keep him. If not, he’s gone
Yes I was referring to you talking about HCCS leaving
Your post reads if we keep the BCS bid we keep him for ONLY 2-3 more years.
I don’t have that mindset.
My feeling is he is NOT Bobby Petrino, and U of L is a BCS job now with a 55K stadium (which is was not when John L was here). If he has everything he needs to go to BCS Bowls and compete for an NC then why leave?
And yes I own my seats.
by scorpiocard on Sep 19, 2011 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh, you read it a little differently than I meant
I meant what I stated later:
if we keep a BCS spot, then we keep him. If not, he’s gone
So we are in agreement
Wouldn't it be smart of Jurich to offer Coach Strong a long term deal with a hefty buyout?
I go back to the Coach K scenario. He has been offered MUCH more money to leave Duke SEVERAL times but always declines. Why? He has job security, enough money to do whatever he wants. control of his program, and a community that worships him like a God. If Charlie Strong is the quality guy we think he is (energy, enthusiasm, academics, recruiting, etc.), why can’t we give him a package similar to what Duke gives Coach K? I’m not sure of the exact $ amount but if you take care of all the other listed items, along with enough money to make him financially secure, and throw in a big buyout, we could maybe lock him up for a long time.
by Carolina Cardinal on Sep 19, 2011 8:50 PM EDT up reply actions
In the end it may just depend on the person
……… Such as the Denny Crum era.. He was offered pro and college positions which would have paid well more than he was getting. In the end he stayed.
I agree lets make him financially secure however ultimately its gonna be up to him
Obviously that is true, but the old expression "money isn't everything" is true, as long as there's enough money
Again, the Coach K example is applicable. As long as we provide the stability, control and community adoration and support, along with financial security, that would be a lot to walk away from. Especially, for just more money. All that love and adoration go a long way IF you have enough money to be financially secure. Coach K could have gone to New York or LA several times for more money, but he would have to reestablish to winning tradition and would have to earn that adoration from a much tougher fan base. Why take on that challenge when you already have plenty of money? That’s what I’m saying.
by Carolina Cardinal on Sep 19, 2011 9:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Unless HCCS is dominating that league and going to BCS Bowls
TJ will pay him, so why would he leave?
Why is this worse than the current BE?
Its not.
You’re forgetting Georgetown and Villanova. That would make a good basketball conference.
Yes, that is Spike Lee.
by TheRealSlimShady on Sep 19, 2011 9:05 PM EDT up reply actions
The BB only schools make basketball much better than this.
St. John’s, Georgetown, Marquette, DePaul, etc.
And there’s this for football.
WVU=WVU Unchanged
TCU_>_Pitt Pitt has accomplished close to zero in the last ten years.
USF=USF Unchanged
UC=UC Unchanged
L’ville=L’ville Unchanged
ISU=RU Two programs that have honestly never been very good. ISU is looking really good this years though. Could be a steal if they can sustain momentum.
Baylor (recently especially)> Syracuse This is true if Robert Griffin III comes back.
KSU>> UConn Hoops on the rise, football is equal if not better.
And you get a basketball world beater in Kansas as a nice little bonus.
"Morgan Newton sucks!"
- Victor Anderson
ok so I didnt read all the way down before replying.
and I left Depaul out on purpose.
Careful man, there's a beverage here!
Memphis
My guess is, that if this happens, they do say to Memphis if you want in get your football house in order.
by scorpiocard on Sep 19, 2011 10:27 PM EDT up reply actions
arent you forgetting
Georgetown, Notre Dame, Nova, Providence, St. Johns, & Marquette who will still be with us in basketball?
I’d say that Louisville, Kansas, Nova, Georgetown, St. Johns, WVU & Marquette is still one hell of a bball conference.
Careful man, there's a beverage here!
In the Big 10/B1G
Where they have been for decades.
They are not going to get kicked out.
by scorpiocard on Sep 20, 2011 12:50 AM EDT up reply actions
Television is a factor
Do you think that ESPN is excited about reaching Ames Iowa? That’s what Iowa State brings. ACC won’t have us because of academics, same with the Big 10. Pac whatever doesn’t make sense. UK delivers the Louisville media market for the SEC. What’s that leave?
If Pitt and Cuse can't leave BE till June 2014...
Will everything stay the same for us until then. Can we just live life as usual but hate them more than usual? Can we just beat the living daylights out of them for 3 more glorious seasons
I mean… by 2014 I will be grown and might even be able to handle conference realignment.
by GOCARDSATTITUDE on Sep 19, 2011 9:17 PM EDT reply actions
GASP!
GCA, we will miss the afdjklafjadlkjfdlksjfal;k so much! They grow up so fast…
"Morgan Newton sucks!"
- Victor Anderson
They will buy out.
No way in hell they’re still around till 2014. Sorry.
I insist we all go to CGD on the 21st.
Show them a little BIG EAST play from the VILLE!
by GOCARDSATTITUDE on Sep 19, 2011 9:30 PM EDT up reply actions
That sounds exciting to me
(Do you STILL miss him….?)
by GOCARDSATTITUDE on Sep 19, 2011 9:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Big East has said they will hold them to the time table.
They will not be leaving early.
by CardinalDude on Sep 19, 2011 10:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Either that, or he is old.
They used to be called U of K.
by scorpiocard on Sep 19, 2011 10:04 PM EDT up reply actions
OK and TX
Permission to launch.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/20/us-football-conferences-idUSTRE78J0EG20110920
That's a done deal
TX and OU are gone soon as they can figure out where to go (PAC-16). Brings up one step closer to a Big East rejects and Big 12 rejects hybrid conference. Oh, the travel nightmares of this. Just shoot me now.
by CardsRuleBE on Sep 19, 2011 10:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Just think!
You get to see new parts of the country!!!!!
Kansas! Iowa! WACO TEXAS!
Waco Texas?
oh…..just shoot me now too please.
by scorpiocard on Sep 19, 2011 10:17 PM EDT up reply actions
I live 90 minutes from Waco
And it’s a nice town, actually. But yeah, if this happens it’s gonna be a travel nightmare for the fans of the teams involved. All spread out to kingdom come.
by CardsRuleBE on Sep 19, 2011 10:24 PM EDT up reply actions
You gotta be pissed.....
You’ll have to change your handle here. CardsRuleBERB12RHC
ALL HAIL
by Cardinal_Pride on Sep 20, 2011 2:02 AM EDT up reply actions
Thamel says Big East is going to make Pitt and Cuse honor the contract
Which means they aren’t leaving until 2014. 2 years to boo them at games! I’m ready!
Louisville has no chance of getting into the B1G. The B1G will only accept Association of American Unviersities (AAU) schools. Do we really want to go the SEC? The ACC is a possibility, although remote. UCONN is definitely headed that way. While I believe that the Ville brings a lot more to the table athletically than Rutgers, the ACC will still probably take Rutgers. Yes, conference realignment sucks. Where things could get interesting is if the B1G decides to take two more schools. With Pitt and Syracuse, along with Maryland, off the table, that limits the B1G’s potential pool to Iowa State, Kansas, Missouri, and Rutgers. The B1G offered Rutgers membership in 1991 when the conference added Penn State. Hopefully, Missouri and Rutgers pressure the B1G to allow them in and the conference reciprocates. That would free up UCONN and Louisvilel to the ACC and WVU to the SEC. So, bascially we should all hope that Missouri finally gets what it wants and Rutgers follows.
But why would the ACC take us, and why would the SEC take WVU?
What happens to Kansas and Kansas St?
I say there will be 5, and not 4, confenreces.
Locking teams out will result in law suits and congress getting involved on anti trust issues.
It already almost just happened with the BCS just recently. That would come right back.
by scorpiocard on Sep 19, 2011 10:39 PM EDT up reply actions
I think there will be 5 BCS conferences-- at least at first
And I do believe congressional scrutiny could well come to bear on these monopolistic entities….and noted that with a link on it, on my blog
They narrowly averted it just recently
And these powerbrokers are well aware of that realtiy they have to consider.
by scorpiocard on Sep 20, 2011 12:20 AM EDT up reply actions
Maybe we could get Southwest Airlines to sponsor it.
And give us all a discount!
And B1G
YES! That is the ticket!
FIVE “super” conferences. Nobody left behind. Maybe even some new ones on board, and no law suits or congressional hearing on anti trust.
I bet money that is how it goes down.
by scorpiocard on Sep 19, 2011 10:57 PM EDT up reply actions
I did some math
I looked at the football conferences as they currently exist. Between the 6 AQ conferences, there is 66 total teams. I then took into account the following non-AQ and independent schools that I think would receive consideration: ND, TCU, Boise, BYU, ECU, Houston, and UCF. In total, that is 73 teams. Assuming there will end up being 4 conferences of 16 teams, then that is a total of 64 teams and 9 teams that get left out.
Assume Texas, Texas Tech (bitches riding the coattails of UT), Oklahoma, and Oklahoma St. go to Pac16. Assume Pitt, Cuse, Uconn and Rutgers go to the ACC, Mizzou and ND (yes, worst case they change from indy) to the B1G, and Texas A&M and WVU to SEC (even though not confirmed). Assuming all conferences won’t stop at 14, that would leave two spots in the SEC and ACC each. If ND stays indy, that leaves 5 total. I like our chances (putting TV markets and supposed low level of academics for UL aside) that UL will end up in either the SEC or ACC considering the major players left. If Rutgers instead goes to the B1G, then I think we end up in the ACC.
Ultimately, I think that ECU, Houston and UCF won’t get consideration, which continues to suck for them. Baylore and Iowa St. are out. We have more to give than Cincy and USF (I mean, which conference has a Florida school that wants to add them?). Kansas and KSU could be a package deal with SEC or B1G being a likely destination. I would hope, however, that SEC would take us over KSU because we bring so much more. BYU will likely stay indy. I think TCU will end up in one of them and Boise being left out (because they are too far away for B1G and SEC).
In summary, I think we will be fine and am hoping we would end up in the ACC. Am I missing something?
I bet against this
I think this “only four super conferences” talk is a bunch of crap.
So you have a great year, and you finish forth or fifth in a sixteen team league.
How long is that going to fly with fans of a LOT of these schools?
by scorpiocard on Sep 19, 2011 11:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Faith
Tom, Charlie, Rev$, and last but not not least…success in multiple sports. This waiting around is for the birds
by CardTrainHustle on Sep 19, 2011 11:08 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
This Four 16 team leagues talk is bunk.
There is no logic to it.
Why does the $EC go to 16? What is the motivation? I can see adding Texas A & M, and maybe Mizzou, but then who adds to the pot for them after that? WVU? NO WAY.
Why does the B1G go to 16? Who beside ND is a good add for them? Who really brings anything that adds to the pot for them? Mizzou? OK…if they go there, who does the $EC take that adds to the pot for them now?
Stopping at 14 make total sense for the $EC and the B1G. No motivation to add anybody else.
So perhaps the Pac 12 and the ACC do go to 16, and the B1G and $EC go to 14. I don’t see the logic in anything else.
They can call us the Big Mediocre
And run away laughing after they smack us in the dicks and gut our coaching talent every 3 years.
Seriously though, although that tends to lean toward being a slightly better football conference than we are in now (assuming no one else bolts), in comparison to the new superconferences being created it looks like crap, is worse off than the current Big East is in the landscape of college football. A 12-0 team from that conference will never, ever play for a national championship over 1 of the conference champions from the 4 super conferences.
by James Sutherland on Sep 19, 2011 11:35 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
4 Superconferences
may well leave us out. That’s the reality. We’re in the same boat as Cincinnati and USF. Geography screws us all. I more and more believe that what’s coming is 4 Supers and a bunch of wannabes, and our wannabe will be the best with a combo of the remnants from the Big East and Big 12… maybe a Houston and UCF thrown in to complete the picture. I hate that I’m so pessimistic about this, but it’s how I honestly see this going. Once we’re on the outside of the AQ world, we’ll lose Strong and Pitino will retire a couple years early when he can’t go to MSG for the tourney and play against top competition nearly every week. This is not gonna go well for us, I fear. Damnit all to hell.
And how DARE THEY
take away my warm fuzzies after watching our boys issue a UK beat down. I’m supposed to be giddy all week. F*ckers.
by CardsRuleBE on Sep 19, 2011 11:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Check this out- What if Texas and OK just raid the Big East football schools
Rumors flying that #Cincinnati, #Louisville, #TCU and #WVU could all end up the new Big 12. #Texas still working to keep Big 12 in tact
http://twitter.com/#!/fbrumormill
@DavefrmLville.....is fun to follow on twiiter!
by Dave from Louisville on Sep 19, 2011 11:58 PM EDT reply actions
That would be great
but we’d be under Texas’s thumb, which would grate and cause the same friction that led to this shit in the first place. But the upside in football is obvious if that happens. Retention of AQ status is no issue if Texas, TCU, and WVU are anchoring. In basketball, you have a pretty good Texas program and obviously Louisville, WVU and Cincy bring good hoops to the mix. But I think Texas is gone to the PAC-Infinity conf.
by CardsRuleBE on Sep 20, 2011 12:03 AM EDT up reply actions
I don't think so
Egos are big in Texas, and if all of these schools merged to retain the Big 12 they would still be the big dog in the conference. The last thing they want is to be a part of California’s Conference.
I think Pitino retires if this before this happens.
@DavefrmLville.....is fun to follow on twiiter!
by Dave from Louisville on Sep 20, 2011 12:08 AM EDT up reply actions
That's because they want to keep all their Longhorn Network money.
They can’t do that in a Pac 16.
There is still a dozen or more ways this could all go down.
The simple and ILLOGICAL one of four 16 team leagues is the LEAST likely I say.
by scorpiocard on Sep 20, 2011 12:04 AM EDT up reply actions
The LHN can easily be transformed into the Pac-1X Texas network
The question is whether or not UT-Austin’s ego can handle that.
There is talk a compomise was reached.
But it involved Texas having to share some of that money with the other Pac whatthefuckever teams.
They want control. I could see them staying put, but then, why would the Big 12 take us then?
We could be screwed, because the Big East is toast very likely.
by scorpiocard on Sep 20, 2011 12:13 AM EDT up reply actions
If OU and OK State go
That’ll leave a pretty depleted Big 12, right? Down to 7 teams. I could see them taking us if we’d play ball on the Texas special revenue deal. At the very least they’d need one to get to 8. Do they take someone like UofL or stick closer to home and snag someone like TCU or Houston? Again, this worries me.
by CardsRuleBE on Sep 20, 2011 12:55 AM EDT up reply actions
Yes
A possibilty.
Maybe TCU, Houston, U of L and somebody else.
We used to play teams out that way back in the Missouri Valley Conference days. I know there are a few on here besides myself that remeber that. It is our heritage, from 1963-1974.
Too many moving parts here
1) The 4 “superconference” argument originated with the Pac-10’s expansion last year and was only based on what TV was willing to offer. If the B1G can’t get Pitt, SUNJ, Mizzou, AND Notre Dame then why would they be interested in expanding? More hands to divvy the loot to. Ditto the SEC — obviously they’re going to 14, but why go to 16 unless it means an additional $40 million a year in media contracts. Where are they going to get that from? Certainly not by adding us.
2) The ACC actions were solely made on the basis of self-preservation. They’re going to survive now, even if the SEC, for whatever reason, decides that they want Florida State and/or Clemson. They’ve added Shittsburgh and Otto; do they really need to add more? I’m sure they will, but something to keep in mind.
3) You know this is all going to blow up by 2020, if not earlier. Too many egos with too little in common being thrown together in tight quarters. And, as Scorpio alluded to above, schools are going to be looking for a competitive environment that isn’t suicidal. In fact, this might be better for us in the long run. It could be the way to finally get the dregs out of the surviving conferences. We’ve already been down this road before, right Mountain West Conference?
4) I sincerely hope that Jurich doesn’t get burned for backing Villanova as a 10th conference member. This was a dumb idea from the start, and it might rank as an even worse decision than hiring he-who-shall-not-be-named. But, going back to #3, if something like that can lead to a conference’s destruction, what’s going to happen to these mega-conferences?
5) Does the BC$ reconfigure itself in the world of mega-conferences? More/less auto-bids? More/less BC$ bowls? Too many questions.
6) I hope that, on October 29th and November 12th, our fans “creatively express our displeasure” towards the traitors.
by 520Card on Sep 20, 2011 12:02 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Spot on
No idea if or when everybody gets to 16. I’m certain ESPN is pulling strings in the background, but there’s no guarantee they want nothing but 16-team leagues.
Missouri Valley Conference
Something interesting. Most of these schools that are being mentioned as possibilities for this hybrid Big 12 / Big East conference were at one time or another members of the Missouri Valley Conference.
Check it out! Interesting stuff!
LMAO! I was thinking the same thing!
They better get busy building those stadiums!
And don’t forget Wichata St!
White Castle was founded in Wichata! It doesn’t get anymore cool than that for a town!
Forgive my french, but this fucking fiasco is flat out feloneous.
I can’t bear to read anymore about it. It has fucking ruined what should otherwise have been a great weekend/week, and I’m fucking fed up. Just way too many ’if’s, and’s, but’s, and maybe’s. Someone please wake me up when this nightmare is over and just tell me where we are.
Sorry.. but this is all money hungry bullshit by bigwigs who want more fucking money. It’s disgusting and Im over it… fucking whores
by grey on Sep 20, 2011 5:57 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
Wow
I thought I was really upset. I kind of feel better now ;)
They say that nobody is perfect. Then they tell you practice makes perfect. I wish they'd make up their minds.
by LvillefaninLex on Sep 20, 2011 8:04 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Nice alliteration
Seriously though, I’m just as pissed as you are. This has been a miserable Beat Kentucky Week victory hangover.
"We are on a collision course with the national championship; the only variable is time"
Thufferin' thuccotash
Not a "TRUE" fan
by mclade01 on Sep 20, 2011 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
This write-up by the NYT
Excellent article, with a dooming quote for us...
“The most popular team in New York, for instance, is Rutgers. They have about 600,000 fans in New York City. That isn’t bad, but it represents only about 20 percent of college football fans in New York (in addition to some competing teams like Syracuse, many New Yorkers are transplants and bring their football loyalties with them). It also represents only about 3 percent of New York’s overall population.”
Worse, by this estimate, we have the smallest FOOTBALL fanbase in the Big East. We may be a major program, but our preference for hoops over the gridiron has doomed us.
Shocking
the numbers speak for themselves in that article. I can not believe our fan base is that low. The metro area is over 1 million people and our fan base is the lowest in the Big East? No wonder Rutgers, UCONN, and everyone else in the conference is getting looked at over us. This was a good yet depressing article that shined a light on whats going on.
Big 12 or bust
That’s the unvarnished truth in this article for Louisville football. Yes, we have the most profitable basketball program in the nation; no, the major BCS conferences don’t really care about that. Football is in the money driver’s seat for expansion, and we’re screwed in that regard. So here’s to hoping the greed of Texas keeps them in Texas and the Big 12. That’s looking more and more like our only real shot at maintaining AQ status and not just being a glorified C-USA.
by CardsRuleBE on Sep 20, 2011 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions
Relax. This is total BULLSHIT turned out by some writer at the NYT.
So Rutgers has 600,000 fans of their football team, but only manages to get 46,000 to show up for games, while U of L with half as many fans, averaged 50,000 last year.
OKAAAAAAY! Makes total sense to me.
I used to live in NY near the city, and my sister does live in NYC. NOBODY gives a crap about Rutgers in NYC.
This idiot has Auburn with more fans than Alabama (lunacy) and Texas A & M with almost as many fans as Texes. Aggies Network anybody? ESPN are you listening?
Total load of bullshit.
-1
This idiot is Nate Silver an extremely good statistician who invented Baseball Prospectus and has accurately predicted an insane number of elections since 2006.
New York is filled with Tony Saprano wannabes without an education that cheer for Rutgers and Jets.
@DavefrmLville.....is fun to follow on twiiter!
by Dave from Louisville on Sep 20, 2011 10:40 PM EDT up reply actions
the findings are unscientific
No way Arkansas State has more football fans than Louisville just b/c Silver’s “research” showed that people in Jonesboro Google’d “college football” more than folks in Louisville. Scorpio & I could get together with a calculator & census data and come up with more accurate #’s.
by UL is my hot hot sex on Sep 23, 2011 5:46 AM EDT up reply actions
that is crap
Based on Google searches. If that is valid data then the computer nerds in Speed school need to write a script that searches google for ‘louisville football’ every .001 second of the day.
What, specifically, is crap?
The statistics quoted in the article? Please tell me you’ve found better numbers!
by centre_card on Sep 20, 2011 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Just because you can't find "better" numbers
Doesn’t give weight to the accuracy of the authors “research”.
by Jason G on Sep 20, 2011 12:25 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
pretty sure
I saw a graph that said Detroit has 5 million people in it (they use the word Population). It doesn’t. Google search is hardly good data to gauge fan interest. It seems flimsy at best. If that were the case UK would be #1 between all the people at KSR and Cat Pause not to mention the trolls in just about every comment section of any website on the planet.
Our fanbase is not worst in the BE.
Rutgers literally had about 20,000 people in the stadium against us last year. South Florida’s stadium was routinely much emptier than ours. Cincy’s stadium holds about 35,000 people. UConn has never been good. SU is average.
The only two teams who are far and away better than us are Pitt and West Virginia.
"Morgan Newton sucks!"
- Victor Anderson
Even Pitt is questionable, but likely.
WVU is the only one clearly with more fans than U of L.
I call bullshit.
You’re telling me Rutgers has a million fans but can even fill up their stadium? But Louisville only has 300k? So 1 in 5 Louisville fans is at the game every week? You’re telling me south Florida has more fans than us, even with Florida, Miami, Florida state, central Florida etc. How the hell are we more profitable with the least fans? I know I’ve read before that Louisville basketball games are some of the highest rated on espn and the number one program at times in our market.
I applaud the effort to make some sense of it all but that can’t be correct.
by Jason G on Sep 20, 2011 12:24 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
YES!
The author says it is “unscientific”.
I’ll say. Unscientific load of BULLSHIT.
It's worse b/c it attempts to pass itself as scientific
Most people won’t read that blur about google search data. They see the graphs & data and due to Silver’s irresponsibility, propagate it as fact b/c it appears tidy & the NYT is actually credible (for a newspaper). Due to the source, it needs a bigger “WARNING” sign, in my opinion.
by UL is my hot hot sex on Sep 23, 2011 5:50 AM EDT up reply actions
I still think there's a good chance UT stays in the Big 12(?)
Mac Brown is on record as saying he wants to stay, and word is that the Pac 12 (14?) wants revenue sharing from the Longhorn Network (which Texas doesn’t have to do in the Big 12). If UT and Texas Tech stays then we are an obvious top choice for expansion.
The potential new Big 12:
West:
Texas
Texas Tech
Baylor
Iowa St
Kansas
Kansas St
East:
Louisville
West Virgina (maybe on this one, I’ve read rumors that the SEX rejected there application)
TCU
Cincy
USF
With Boise St and BYU being brought on for the 12th team?
My thoughts: Keep a massive basketball conference, a move to 16 teams in football
The breakdown (assuming Texas and TTU gone; OU and OSU gone; Mizzou stays put; and a CUSA raid).
Football
East: Louisville, Cincy, USF, WVU, Army, Temple, ECU, Memphis
West: Kansas, Kansas St. Iowa St. TCU, Baylor, Mizzou, SMU, Rice
Basketball
East: Louisville, Cincy, Marquette, Notre Dame, Seton Hall, St. John’s, Temple, Georgetown, Villanova, Providence, WVU, USF, Army
West: Kansas, Kansas St., Iowa St., TCU, Baylor, Mizzou (FULLLLLLERRRR!); Depaul (for sentimental reasons); SMU; Rice; Memphis
Feasible? Absolutely not. But the basketball would still be pretty sweet.
by centre_card on Sep 20, 2011 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions
But then we wouldn't even have ONE DePaul Day every year!
"...and the present, for us, is something that we really look forward to."
- Rick Pitino
I told my wife that I was worried about where Louisville would end up
And, she said, “Don’t you have anything more important to worry about?”
Should I be getting divorce paperwork ready?
More important than Louisville skill competing for BCS games, and being able to recruit basketball players with the promise of top notch competition? No, I don’t have anything more important to worry about. Sheesh.
by johnnyjoejohnson on Sep 20, 2011 11:54 AM EDT reply actions
She sounds like a jerk, dude.
No offense.
ALL HAIL
by Cardinal_Pride on Sep 20, 2011 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions
UofL Academics vs. the ACC
US News and World Report ranks undergraduate and graduate schools. Currently, the lowest overall-ranked undergraduate school in the ACC is North Carolina State at #101. The highest ranked is Duke at #10. Louisville is currently ranked #168. The scale is logarithmic, though, not linear. That is, the difference between the #1 and #67 ranked schools is much greater than the difference between the #101 and #168 ranked schools. Louisville’s law school is currently ranked #100, tied with Syracuse. Louisville’s engineering school is ranked #112. Miami is the lowest ranked engineering school in the ACC at #122. Louisville’s business school is ranked #111. North Carolina State is the lowest ranked ACC school at #100. One bright spot, interestingly enough, is that UofL has produced more Fulbright scholars in the last two years than Duke, and would be second in the ACC behind only North Carolina. With that said, UofL is clearly on the bottom side of the ACC in academics, but we are really so far behind as to necessarily rule UofL out. Think Nebraska compared to the rest of the B1G.
Rankings are neither linear nor logarithmic
They’re an ordering of the schools being ranked.
"...and the present, for us, is something that we really look forward to."
- Rick Pitino
I agree. There is not necessarily any mathrmatical correlation between #1-10 and #50-60 is there?
Isn’t it purely a ranking high to low on whatever numerical criterion they use?
by Carolina Cardinal on Sep 20, 2011 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions
That comment is technically true. US News compiles a raw score and then assigns rankings according to that raw score. The “rankings” themselves are just ordinal numbers assigned to the schools based on their raw scores. Graphing the raw scores, which are actual scores, yields a roughly logarithmic curve. I left out these details in the original post for brevity’s sake, but since I have been called out on it, I will respond in kind.
OK, that I can buy
Thanks for the clarification.
"...and the present, for us, is something that we really look forward to."
- Rick Pitino
My Version of The Big TWeast, aka the ACC will not kill off Big East bball as easily as they think.
Here is my proposal for the Big TWeast
Basketball
Cincy, Louisville, USF, Villanova, (Missouri and/or West Virginia pending the SEC), Baylor, Iowa State Kansas, Kansas State, DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Notre Dame, Providence, St. John’s, Seton Hall, (UCF or FIU for the Florida market), SMU, Houston, Eastern Carolina.
That leaves the conference with 20 schools in basketball. Not quite as good as the ACC right now, or even arguably the old Big East, but this could be the second best basketball conference around given the recent mediocrity of the PAC-12, B1G, and the always basketball poor SEC.
Perhaps we could even “trade” some of the basketball only schools. Say Providence and Seton Hall for Xavier and Richmond or George Mason and VCU. Possibly some combination of the two.
This plan would allow us to keep the NYC and D.C. recruiting areas open for UofL and the rest of the old BE football schools, while possibly adding some recruiting areas in Florida, Virginia and North Carolina, i.e. the ACC’s backyard, as well as Texas.
The Big East bball tournament could still use MSG, while possibly adding Greensboro, N.C., when the ACC is not using it, to our rotation. (Assuming that the ACC will add MSG to their rotation.) As I am biased, Louisville could be added to that list, along with Houston.
As a side note, the volunteers of the Derby City Classic have done a phenomenal job for a very long time, but it is time that we add a corporate sponsor to that event. Either Adidas or Under Armour. That would help out Big East, specifically UL, recruiting a lot.
Football
Cincy, Louisville, So. Florida, TCU, Villanova, (Missouri and/or West Virginia pending the SEC), Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, (UCF or FIU for the Florida market), SMU, Houston, Eastern Carolina.
That leaves us with 14 football teams, assuming that either Mizzou or West Virginia jump ship to the SEC. (If Mizzou goes to the B1G, then UL probably goes to the ACC.) This conference might actually be stronger in football than the old Big East. At the very least, it should be enough to retain BCS AQ status.
I have to agree with CRP
20 is way too many in basketball.
"...and the present, for us, is something that we really look forward to."
- Rick Pitino
My Version of The Big TWeast, aka the ACC will not kill off Big East bball as easily as they think.
Here is my proposal for the Big TWeast
Basketball
Cincy, Louisville, USF, Villanova, (Missouri and/or West Virginia pending the SEC), Baylor, Iowa State Kansas, Kansas State, DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Notre Dame, Providence, St. John’s, Seton Hall, (UCF or FIU for the Florida market), SMU, Houston, Eastern Carolina.
That leaves the conference with 20 schools in basketball. Not quite as good as the ACC right now, or even arguably the old Big East, but this could be the second best basketball conference around given the recent mediocrity of the PAC-12, B1G, and the always basketball poor SEC.
Perhaps we could even "trade" some of the basketball only schools. Say Providence and Seton Hall for Xavier and Richmond or George Mason and VCU. Possibly some combination of the two.
This plan would allow us to keep the NYC and D.C. recruiting areas open for UofL and the rest of the old BE football schools, while possibly adding some recruiting areas in Florida, Virginia and North Carolina, i.e. the ACC’s backyard, as well as Texas.
The Big East bball tournament could still use MSG, while possibly adding Greensboro, N.C., when the ACC is not using it, to our rotation. (Assuming that the ACC will add MSG to their rotation.) As I am biased, Louisville could be added to that list, along with Houston.
As a side note, the volunteers of the Derby City Classic have done a phenomenal job for a very long time, but it is time that we add a corporate sponsor to that event. Either Adidas or Under Armour. That would help out Big East, specifically UL, recruiting a lot.
Football
Cincy, Louisville, So. Florida, TCU, Villanova, (Missouri and/or West Virginia pending the SEC), Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, (UCF or FIU for the Florida market), SMU, Houston, Eastern Carolina.
That leaves us with 14 football teams, assuming that either Mizzou or West Virginia jump ship to the SEC. (If Mizzou goes to the B1G, then UL probably goes to the ACC.) This conference might actually be stronger in football than the old Big East. At the very least, it should be enough to retain BCS AQ status.









