TCU to join Big East Conference(in 2012)

ESPN ^ | November 29, 2010 | Richard Durrett (ESPN Dallas)

[greatdefender]

FORT WORTH, Texas -- TCU has accepted a bid for full membership to become the 17th member of the Big East Conference, effective July 1, 2012.

"Having BCS automatic-qualifying status was a priority for our football program and a great reward for the success we've had the last decade," TCU athletic director Chris Del Conte said in a statement.

The conference change allows TCU to play in an automatic BCS-qualifying league beginning in the 2012-13 school year. TCU currently plays in the Mountain West Conference, which does not have an automatic bid to the BCS and is going through some changes of its own. BYU and Utah are leaving the conference just as Boise State enters.

TCU, which has an enrollment of 9,142, would become the Big East's ninth football team. The conference has extended an invitation to Villanova to become its 10th football member.

"Located in one of the top five media markets in the country, TCU also enables the Big East to extend its media footprint, which already encompasses more than a quarter of the country," league Commissioner John Marinatto said.

TCU is 12-0 and ranked No. 3 in the BCS. The Frogs are at the very least headed to the Rose Bowl. But if Auburn or Oregon slip up this weekend, TCU is poised to play for a national title.

[FTJM]

The better place for them was the Big 12 North. By all accounts this is a bi move for TCU. If they keep up their strong play in football, they will never be left out.

[ml/nj]

Guess this is sort of like Southwest Airlines flying to Boston.

ML/NJ

[wideawake]

Well, I guess Fort Worth is technically a couple of hundred miles closer to the Atlantic than it is to the Pacific.

And it is slightly less than a 1,000 miles from the closest other Big East school.

[xkaydet65]

Besides being stupid this is stupid.TCU has no historical relationship with any BE school.It is 725 miles from its nearest conference opponent, Louisville. A 1000 miles+ from Rutgers, Pitt.Syracuse WVa,UCONN. The Big 12 lost two major components in Neb and Co. I can’t believe the conference bigwigs could let Texas dictate not taking TCU, unless that was part of the deal to keep Texas from the Big 10. But this decision, if in all sports,is going to cost the school mucho bucks in travel. A lot to pay for a BCS spot, both in dollars and lost classroom time for the athletes.

[massgopguy]

Boston College’s only connection to the ACC is the Atlantic Ocean. So, when do we play France?

[quadrant]

The Big Twelve is saving a spot for ND, once the Irish come to their senses and realize they can't go it alone.

[Timocrat]

The better place for them was the Big 12 North.

The commissioners of the Big 12 have their collective head up a very dark place. TCU has outstanding Football and Baseball programs and a good academic reputation. The Big 12 needs to sort itself out or it's going to be torn apart.

[No Truce With Kings]

I miss the Southwest Conference.

[shotdog]

Hey. Miami is 1500 miles south of the northeast. That made a lot of sense. They bolted the Big East. Good riddance. sd

[FTJM]

Texas doesn’t want more in conference competition for in state recruits. The Big 12 should have replaced Colorado and Nebraska with TCU and Houston, or gone after Arkansas.

[End Times Sentinel]

Big East is a sinking ship. Rutgers is looking to leave, as is Pitt. Look for the ACC to swallow up another school or two. Will the Big East even have BCS at that point?

Is TCU joining as Football only, or are they going to send their women’s fencing team up to Syracuse?

Bad move TCU.

[greatdefender]

A 1000 miles+ from Rutgers, Pitt.Syracuse WVa,UCONN

No fooling. Look at La. Tech in the WAC Conference. Their closet game is in New Mexico(State Univ.). Why they choose La Tech is a mystery to me. In addition, when UCF was in MAC conference years ago.Their closet game was Marshall ( in WV!). I know what you are saying.

[Crawdad]

TCU goes 6-6 next year.

[xkaydet65]

Distance wise very true, but there was hope of building the hoops pgm at Miami and the fact that the games would attract alums from G’town,SJU,Syracuse et al who had moved to Fla.And there had been past history of playing Cuse, Pitt and WVa when Miami was an independent.

[Timocrat]

The Big 12 should have replaced Colorado and Nebraska with TCU and Houston, or gone after Arkansas.

If they really had their act together they should be trying to build a super league of 16. Two more in the South Division ( possibly two of TCU, Houston, Rice or SMU) and four in the northern ( Arkansas, Utah, BYU, Air Force, Nevada - I was going to suggest Boise as a possibility but any team that plays on a blue field should be shunned!)

[Kid Shelleen]

Modern sports conferences will be aligned by TV markets not geography.

[rstrahan]

Baylor vetoed a prior attempt by the Big 12 to take TCU in the conference, so the Big 12 was a non-starter. The Big 10 the same as Colorado or Nebraska would not want them in. That leaves a lower-end BCS conference, and the Big East was the best remaining option.

Will they have to make another jump in about 3-4 years, probably. But, this gets them into a conference where TCU can get an automatic bid both in football, as well as a much more attractive bid in basketball.

[FTJM]

I don't really get the appeal of the super conferences, other than money. It would be great to see Houston and SMU get back to big conferences, Arkansas doesn't fit in the SEC, no natural rivalries but Texas doesn't want change, so there won't be change.

OTOH, ND should be in the Big 10, and Penn State should be in the Big East and there should be at least a plus 1 system but they won't happen anytime soon.

[Timocrat]

Baylor vetoed a prior attempt by the Big 12 to take TCU in the conference, so the Big 12 was a non-starter.

The only reason Baylor got in the Big 12 was because Ma Richards stuck her oar in when the Southwest Conference broke up and the rump joined to form the Big 12. Baylor is not in a major media market.