panite Wrote:

GunnerFan Wrote:

bitcruncher Wrote:I think it would be a good idea for The BEast to setup a special fund for providing assistance to schools desiring to upgrade their programs to Division 1A. This would include any BEast program desiring to make a jump, and not just Villanova.

Now that sounds familiar.

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Nova doesn't have the depth of financial resources as Cuse, especially in the "loose change" department for athletic facilities. And they would need to upgrade their stadium (12k) and training facilities if they were to make the jump. (Such measures would also necessitate a new track facility, new sports for women to balance scholarships, etc.) But that may not be allowed: The school has often battled with the town/county over special events, where the locals aren't too thrilled about the prospects of anything larger than what they've already got.

And unless I find otherwise the last I heard was Temple has an exclusivity clause for use of the Linc as a home field for a college football team. Teams like ND and Navy can have one-off contests there but it would require a buyout or other arrangement with Temple for Nova to use the Linc.

Agree on all accounts. Add there is no room to expand the stadium (I have been there.) There is no room on the infrasture to carry the additional pressure (traffic flow and parking) if you could expand the stadium. And plain and simple there is no interest at the administrative level to expand. Go out and get a 17th all sports school that is interseted and that doesn't have to be carried and be done with it. Add Temple for all sports if you really need or want a Philly FB team. At least they have everything in place now if Golden can win. By the way he just missed last week at Conn on a disputed call depending on which side of the fence you are on.

All of you have made some excellent points. The bottom line is Villanova was offered the chance to upgrade their program a decade ago and declined the opportunity. It would be harder for them to do so now ... not easier ... and the conditions there simply do not seem to allow it.

If the Big East is going to remain the oversized hybrid monstrosity that it is today, then the only healthy way to add another football school is to also add another basketball school. Like it or not, the basketball schools do vote and they do want to maintain their balance of power.

Temple would never be allowed in because Villanova would veto them. That brings us back to the usual suspects. It is known that I favor UCF as the ninth football school - no need for a discussion - and I have recently started leaning toward St. Louis as the ninth basketball school.

Otherwise there would have to be a much-speculated-upon split with the football schools going one way while Notre Dame and the Catholic basketball schools go another way. Then we can look for Temple or, better yet, Boston College to join the party as a Northeast partner.

Hey why don't we invite the SEC, ACC and Big 10 to join the Big East. We would be the Big South East Coast Conference. Then we could declare sports war against all other piddly remaining conferences.

I'll man the heavy guns. :noisycricket: