AP source: Big East to invite Boise St, 5 others

AP ^ | 11/1/11 | RALPH D. RUSSO

[Redmen4ever]

PHILADELPHIA (AP)—The Big East is ready to start adding members...

[Redmen4ever]

The sticky wicket in the deal is that the Big 12 needs West Virginia to retain 10 teams and its big t.v. contract. But, West Virginia is contractually obligated to remain in the Big East for 27 months following the date it notifies the conference it's leaving. So, West Virginia is suing.

Possibly, the Big 12 could make an offer to the Big East sufficient for that conference to waive the waiting period, make the law suit go away, and be able to fulfill the terms of their t.v. contract.

The Big East would of course have to replace West Virginia for which there are several options.

The real beauty of this proposal is that Big East football would be greatly improved. It will lose one top twenty-five team (West Virginia), but pick up four top 25 teams (Boise State, Houston and SMU).

By picking off the best teams in the Mountain West and CUSA, it will solidify its position as the sixth best conference, whereas today it's maybe in a tie for that spot with the Mountain West and CUSA.

And, with twelve teams, it can host a football championship game at Yankee Stadium, a perfect complement to its basketball championship tournament in Madison Square Garden.

In terms of t.v. markets, it will lose Pittsburgh and Syracuse, but pick up Houston, Dallas and Orlando.

[ken21]

nebraska, oklahoma, colorado etc no longer produce good teams.

[BenKenobi]

Boise St’s come a long way. Surprised the Big 12 doesn’t poach Houston.

[truthguy]

These realignments are a mess. I like it better when conferences were geographically aligned. The last time I checked Boise is not in the East, or am I missing something.

All the conferences are trying to increase in size so as to have conference championship games. The SEC, ACC, Big 10 (with 12 teams), Big 12 (with 10 teams), PAC-12 (or is it 14, I lost count) now have championship games. Now the ACC wants to go to 16 teams, madness. What's happening here? No good is gonna come out of this.

[frogjerk]

The Big-not-so-East. Very Dumb

[Charles Henrickson]

Big East to invite Boise St. . . .

Well, I guess Boise is east of the Pacific.

That's a Really Big East.

[frogjerk]

All the conferences are trying to increase in size so as to have conference championship games. The SEC, ACC, Big 10 (with 12 teams), Big 12 (with 10 teams), PAC-12 (or is it 14, I lost count) now have championship games. Now the ACC wants to go to 16 teams, madness. What's happening here? No good is gonna come out of this.

It's like the government, more cash, more lunacy.

[Charles Henrickson]

East is East, and West is East, and sometimes the twain shall meet.

Let's see, does the Big Ten have twelve teams now and the Big Twelve ten? I'm so confused.

[Coldwater Creek]

But, the three teams that they would pick up from C-USA are not great basketball teams.

Have you ever heard of a Boise State Basketball team.

This BCS business is just insane.

[cherry]

I would hope the big east would insist on Boise removing that ridiculous blue rug from their stadium....

[bwc2221]

If the Big East adds Boise State and Cougar High (Houston) it will need to change its name. Big East will make as much sense as the 12-team Big 10 or the 10 team Big 12.

I would think that it would make more sense for Houston and SMU to be interested in joining the Big 12. TCU has already committed. With Texas, Texas Tech, TCU, Baylor, Houston and SMU, the Southern Conference of the Big 12 would resemble the old Southwest Conference.

The Big East is fine as a basketball conference, but has been one of the country’s least stable football conferences with BC, Virginia Tech, Miami, Pitt and Syracuse all bailing and Connecticut wanting out.

[bwc2221]

If you are not watching ESPN2, Toledo is leading Northern Illinois 60-56 with four minutes left. Yes, I am talking football.

[BenKenobi]

“Houston and SMU to be interested in joining the Big 12. TCU has already committed. With Texas, Texas Tech, TCU, Baylor, Houston and SMU, the Southern Conference of the Big 12 would resemble the old Southwest Conference”

This would be so awesome. I hope it happens.

Pity A+M bailed, they’d get squashed.

[Mike Darancette]

The last time I checked Boise is not in the East, or am I missing something.

I would think it would be hard for Boise St. to maintain top 25 form for too many years.

[bwc2221]

I agree. Missouri is planning to move from the Big 12, where it is competitive (in football) to the SEC, where it will be a doormat. Colorado is the new whipping boy for the PAC 12.

[bwc2221]

“And, with twelve teams, it can host a football championship game at Yankee Stadium, a perfect complement to its basketball championship tournament in Madison Square Garden.”

The Meadowlands would make far more sense. Ever watch a football game in a baseball park? The sightlines suck

[cincinnati65]

Should have gone with Southern Miss — competitive in the three major sports, but I know the TV market is too small. It’s a shame, because they have fine programs.

[al_c]

Big 12 wants bigger schools. SMU and Houston wont’ happen. They need more national contenders, not bush leaguers.

[OrioleFan]

Or a baseball game in a football stadium (i.e. Metrodome)

[Mozilla]

Yeah. There is not one person or team to blame. Everyone is to blame. My area bracing to take a hit when Missouri runs off to the SEC. The Big 12 was supposed to implode. But the Pac-10 realized adding some of the best teams in the conference was not good for some of the teams there so they had a revolt and chose not the accept. That lead to saving the conference. But, Missouri found a cushy deal with SEC while the conference was to implode. Long story they are leaving.

So now the big 12 which at one time was looking to have some teams join the Big east is now trying to remain alive by piking off Big east schools. West Virginia just filed a lawsuit to leave the Big East. As you probably know.

Well now the Kansas City metro is bracing for changes. The Kansas side is thinking about picking off the basketball tournament. See officials unsure of keeping the tourney in KC if the Missouri team leaves.

Missouri started all this in a way because they wanted to leave in 09. Tried joining the Big Ten. That began two years of problems over revenue sharing and team threatening to leave.