Posted on 11/29/2010 1:11:13 PM PST by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.espn.go.com ...
Unfortunately money is the name of the game. The more eyeballs the larger the TV contract.
..but Texas doesn't want change, so there won't be change.
Hopefully Texas will come to its senses - they're going to have to do something about the loss of Colorado and Nebraska.
Prior to 1992 (when PSU was in the Big Ten), Penn State had once considered to the Big East. But Pitt vetoed the vote to allow them in- even though BE did not sponsor football that time.
Interesting. This automatically makes them the big dog of the big East.
I wonder if the BCS will drop the ‘auto’ bid for the East now.
I understand that. I remember when the ‘Cuse was in the ECAC. We formed the BE, built the Dome and sat out a year to join the new league. I’td make more sense to arm-twist Notre Dame into the BE for football. TCU is a half continent away. Good lord. Seventeen schools. What must Dave Gavitt be thinking? Tranghese front loaded the league up to the current 16. It’s too big imo. Without divisions, the roster would be to play each team once with 2 - 3 extra-league teams. It’s a freaking nightmare. sd
My guess is the days of the private schools and big time sports is drawing to a close.Except for a few privates success in FBS FB will be rare and without that success, success in hoops will be harder to achieve.That’s why Tranghese wants BCS $$$ and he’s seen the BE falter on the gridiron. Maybe the 85 scholly limit will help spread the talent around but I wouldn’t count on it. Good luck with the Orange. I wish my Fordham Rams had your problems.
Next year TCU will still be in the Mountain West and will probably still go 11-1 or better. When they join the Big East in 2012, they might not go 11-0 or 12-0, but 6-6 is highly unlikely.
My husband is an alum of SU, both undergrad and law school, and my son is a freshman at the I school there this year, and proudly wears his “I opened the Dome” t-shirt which of course preceded his birth by almost a decade, but he thinks it’s cool nonetheless : )
I don’t know what to think about the private schools. You might be right. SU’s been thrashing around in the mud since post ‘01. Marrone has them going in the right direction.
On the bright side Boeheim’s boys are No. 8 in the AP poll. That might be a bit optimistic in the cold glare of sunlight, but we’re looking forward to a good BE BB season. He’s got a really good bunch of frosh to replace the really good bunch of frosh from last year. sd
All sports. TCU doesn't have a women's fencing team, so Syracuse has nothing to fear in that sport from TCU. However, TCU does have Women's basketball, cross country, Equestrian, Golf, Rifle, Soccer, Swimming/Diving, Tennis, Track & Field, and Volleyball.
The women's volleyball team traveled this season to locations as far from FW as New Brunswick NJ, San Diego CA, Fort Collins CO, Laramie WY, Las Vegas NV, and Provo and Salt Lake City UT.
The women's Equestrian team schedule this season includes travel Martin TN, Fresno CA, and Dover DE and visits to Fort Worth by teams from Auburn, Delaware State, Fresno State, and Georgia.
The Women's National Champion Rifle team (who competes agains both men and women btw) this year travels to such locations as Morgantown WV, Murray KY, Charleston SC, Fairbanks Alaska, Lincoln NE, and Columbus GA, and will host teams in Fort Worth from Kentucky, Nebraska, and Air Force (Colorado Springs).
I don't think joining the Big East will be a big strain on our tough and beautiful Texas women from a travel standpoint.
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