1. split. its why i believe that marquette and depaul were included along with louisville, cincinnati and south florida. there were now 8 football conference members and 8 non football conference members. all schools agreed to a 2010 date when schools could break away with no penalty. it made sense then, it makes sense now.

2. maintain status quo. other than for football reasons, there isn't any reason why there needs to be a split because none of the membership is overtly angry at each other or another school.

3. add one school for football only. my personal feeling, highly unlikely. very highly unlikely.

4. add notre dame as a football conference member. even more highly unlikely, and in the end very bad for the non football side of the conference. instead of being an 8-8 equitable split, now it's at 9-7 and those schools would be worse off.

Split & go to 12 with Memphis, UCF, Temple & hybrid of East Car FB & Baseball / ND olyimpic sports. The money is there, just need the gonads.
Stay together and add 1 or 2 FB only.

First I would split, have the the 8 basketball schools invite Florida Gulf Coast University, Savannah St., College of Charleston, and VMI. Then the fooball schools would add North Dakota, North Dakota St., Montana, Monatan St., Idaho, Idaho St., Wyoming, South Dakota, South Dakota St. and Minnesota St. That would be perfect!

Split and add East Carolina.

At some point in the future determine whether the conference needs to add additional schools like Memphis, Temple, and UCF.

Krocker Krapp Wrote:

esayem Wrote:1. Fine, except add Xavier in for da Cross. The next best New England option is UMass, you know it, and I know it.

2. Fine, except New Basketball League wouldn't go to that many members, beyond 10 is fuzeball territorr.

3. Fine, you love this freakin' idea, except I kinda prefer Memphis over UCF in this scenar.

4. Northern Private School likes playing alone in the ACC.

5. For sho.

6. Thanks for ending with the dis.

Did he ask for people to critique other posts? Everyone has different ideas and are unlikely to change.

1. Massachusetts is not Catholic. Holy Cross is Catholic. Xavier and Dayton should not be separated.

2. If you love Xavier so much, and Dayton by extension, this is the best way to get the two aboard.

3. Obviously if I loved the idea it would be #1 instead of #3. It is temporary to get by for a few years.

4. Boston College has no choice but to like playing alone for now but that might change in the future.

5. Agreement? Maybe the new ultraviolet light scientists found means the end of the universe is near.

6. No problem. I would also dis John Swofford to his face, but more professionally, if I had the chance.

Stop whining. Dayton and Xavier have hardly been in a conference together for their whole history, they can be seperated. A ND basketball conference would take Xavier and prob stop at 9.

I don't believe Dayton or Xavier will leave each other going forward. The two schools have really become a close couple of institutions over the last 15 years or so.

They are a good rivalry, they are close to each other for travelling purposes, they are both catholic. Also, something to think about, Notre Dame has a much longer tradition with Dayton than Xavier. So does Marquette and Depaul. I don't see Xavier or Dayton leaving anywhere without each other.

omnicarrier Wrote:

Jose_Jalapeno_on_a_Stick Wrote:Rank what you consider the most to least preferred configuration direction the BE should take, and explain why. Let’s speak in general terms and try to avoid squabbling over particular schools.

Well, since you said "preferred" and not necessarily realistic, here are mine. And since you said no names, this will be tough...

1. Get a certain golden member of the conference to join for football, add the two furthest apart geographical members of the ACC, convince a certain lost lamb (er... lion) to come home and convince 3 bb schools that life would be so much better for them in another conference, for a 12-team football and 16-team basketball Big East.

2. Knowing the above is pie-in-the sky, split, add the C-USA candidate that is closest to Graceland, and convince a certain golden member and two other bb schools to join with us.

3. Split, add two C-USA candidates, the one closest to Graceland and the one in purple whose fans probably consider Captain Jack Sparrow competition.

Cheers,
Neil

Well done, sir. I know it was tough, but you did well.

Add Memphis and go to 17 if they and FED EX gurantee the Liberty bowl. It gives the FB schools 4 home and 4 away games for the conference. Play round robin 8 home and 8 away BB games. The Liberty bowl and the Memphis BB team are 2 plus's for their consideration. This is the best and most conservative approach. It keeps all of the markets intact for the TV contracts and gives the FB side more time together while relieving the scheduling problem. The BB cash cow stays in place for continued milking while the FB cash cow contiues to grow. Keep working on better bowls and revenue payouts too while the league see's how it goes for another five years. In the meantime the BE can keep watch on the B10 movements for either ND, Cuse, or Rutgers in their expansion. Also give get of jail free cards to both sides if either side leaves as a group. If Memphis can't gurantee the Liberty bowl add UCF to solidify the Florida market and bowl situation instead. This move could keep the BE together for at least another 10 years if they wait for the TV contract to run out.

panite Wrote:Add Memphis and go to 17 if they and FED EX gurantee the Liberty bowl. It gives the FB schools 4 home and 4 away games for the conference. Play round robin 8 home and 8 away BB games. The Liberty bowl and the Memphis BB team are 2 plus's for their consideration. This is the best and most conservative approach. It keeps all of the markets intact for the TV contracts and gives the FB side more time together while relieving the scheduling problem. The BB cash cow stays in place for continued milking while the FB cash cow contiues to grow. Keep working on better bowls and revenue payouts too while the league see's how it goes for another five years. In the meantime the BE can keep watch on the B10 movements for either ND, Cuse, or Rutgers in their expansion. Also give get of jail free cards to both sides if either side leaves as a group. If Memphis can't gurantee the Liberty bowl add UCF to solidify the Florida market and bowl situation instead. This move could keep the BE together for at least another 10 years if they wait for the TV contract to run out.

The Liberty Bowl is a Memphis run Bowl, and has stated on several occasions they support and will go with the University of Memphis. If we went to the Sunbelt etc, maybe they would reconsider that committment, but not if we are in the Big East. The Liberty would like a BCS vs BCS game rather than BCS vs C-USA. They would also have a larger payout per team than the present 2M.

omnicarrier Wrote:

Jose_Jalapeno_on_a_Stick Wrote:Krocker, the auto-bid for basketball is, IMO, the most overrated factor in all this, or close to it. Suppose Neil's #2 comes to pass. Then suppose the five remaining basketball schools pick another school located in Southwestern Ohio, starts with "X", and has a rather disturbing blue blob of a mascot (how's that Neil ). Do you honestly think a conference with that school and the one near Laverne and Shriley's old brewery have to worry about an automatic NCAA qualifier for three years?

You done good.

And I totally agree on your last point.

Cheers,
Neil

Thanks Neil... and by the way,

Stax Museum of American Soul Music :band: >> Graceland

JMO

Both, plus Sun Studios, recommended for those who go.

mlb Wrote:I don't believe Dayton or Xavier will leave each other going forward. The two schools have really become a close couple of institutions over the last 15 years or so.

They are a good rivalry, they are close to each other for travelling purposes, they are both catholic. Also, something to think about, Notre Dame has a much longer tradition with Dayton than Xavier. So does Marquette and Depaul. I don't see Xavier or Dayton leaving anywhere without each other.

Doesn't matter. If a ND conference was to ask a school to come join them they wouldn't say, 'oh, I can't leave these guys behind'. Right now Xavier is the top candidate, Dayton just doesn't have the recent tourney track record. If they get a school in southern Ohio, they aren't going to look at another one right away.

All kidding aside and since this is "pie in the sky" instead of something that is rooted in economic reality:

This would be perfect.

All BCS conferences shall have 11 members.
All conferences must play the same number of conference games (10), with either a 12 or 13 games schedule.
There would be no conference championship games.

BIG EAST
gets Boston College from the ACC
gets Miami from the ACC
gets Penn State from the Big 10 (11)

THE ACC
gets south carolina from the SEC

THE BIG 10 (11)
gets Notre Dame from independent status

THE PAC 10
gets Colorado from the BIG XII (now 11)

This requires a minimum of movement of teams.
The Penn State/Notre Dame move is interchangeable, but I would rather see Penn State playing in the Big East.
The only real stretch is Colorado to the PAC 10, but something has got to give.
True conference champions in each league because everyone plays everyone else in their league. No division games.
Utopia!

XLance Wrote:All kidding aside and since this is "pie in the sky" instead of something that is rooted in economic reality:

This would be perfect.

All BCS conferences shall have 11 members.
All conferences must play the same number of conference games (10), with either a 12 or 13 games schedule.
There would be no conference championship games.

BIG EAST
gets Boston College from the ACC
gets Miami from the ACC
gets Penn State from the Big 10 (11)

THE ACC
gets south carolina from the SEC

THE BIG 10 (11)
gets Notre Dame from independent status

THE PAC 10
gets Colorado from the BIG XII (now 11)

This requires a minimum of movement of teams.
The Penn State/Notre Dame move is interchangeable, but I would rather see Penn State playing in the Big East.
The only real stretch is Colorado to the PAC 10, but something has got to give.
True conference champions in each league because everyone plays everyone else in their league. No division games.
Utopia!

Not bad. My tweaks: BYU deserves to be in a BCS conference. ND stays independent. Pac 10: Adds BYU. Big XII: Loses Missouri. Big Ten: Loses Penn State, gains Missouri. SEC: Loses South Carolina. ACC: Loses Miami and BC, gains South Carolina. Big East: Adds Penn State, Miami and BC.

Jose_Jalapeno_on_a_Stick Wrote:Krocker, the auto-bid for basketball is, IMO, the most overrated factor in all this, or close to it. Suppose Neil's #2 comes to pass. Then suppose the five remaining basketball schools pick another school located in Southwestern Ohio, starts with "X", and has a rather disturbing blue blob of a mascot (how's that Neil ). Do you honestly think a conference with that school and the one near Laverne and Shriley's old brewery have to worry about an automatic NCAA qualifier for three years?

It does not matter. They signed a contract in 2003 stipulating, as far as we know, that any split in 2010 would be a clean break along football and basketball lines. Unless the contract signed by all 16 schools and currently locked in Mike Tranghese's office safe provides any other kinds of out clauses, there will not be a reduced hybrid, so it is not a realistic option unless three basketball schools want to face some serious lawsuits. Breaking a contract and then saying "they will be okay because they have other assets" will not fly in a court of law and schools are mindful of that.

esayem Wrote:

mlb Wrote:I don't believe Dayton or Xavier will leave each other going forward. The two schools have really become a close couple of institutions over the last 15 years or so.

They are a good rivalry, they are close to each other for travelling purposes, they are both catholic. Also, something to think about, Notre Dame has a much longer tradition with Dayton than Xavier. So does Marquette and Depaul. I don't see Xavier or Dayton leaving anywhere without each other.

Doesn't matter. If a ND conference was to ask a school to come join them they wouldn't say, 'oh, I can't leave these guys behind'. Right now Xavier is the top candidate, Dayton just doesn't have the recent tourney track record. If they get a school in southern Ohio, they aren't going to look at another one right away.

It matters to Xavier and Dayton. Their institutional plans may be quite different from what you, a fan from a far away state and totally different team, wish to see. Both administrations have publicly stated that they will stay together in the future. Working relationships are more important than recent NCAA Tournament appearances. Xavier probably would not say no to an invitation to join Notre Dame in a post-split Catholic Big East, but they would ask for Dayton to go along too, and the Fighting Irish, DePaul, and Marquette would work together to ensure it happened. End of story.

Krocker Krapp Wrote:They signed a contract in 2003 stipulating, as far as we know, that any split in 2010 would be a clean break along football and basketball lines.

What about AFTER 2010?

Jose_Jalapeno_on_a_Stick Wrote:Rank what you consider the most to least preferred configuration direction the BE should take, and explain why. Let’s speak in general terms and try to avoid squabbling over particular schools.

Me first:

1. Split. BB schools continue with 9-10 (add Xavier and maybe one other), and FB schools add 1-2 (NO MORE THAN 10). Both sides probably agree that few home-homes for basketball is no way to run a conference, or build rivalries.

2. Maintain reduced hybrid of 12 (add FB member, retain 3 BB). There are enough prosperous B-ball only members in solid markets to make this happen.

3. Keep conglomeration as is, wait for candidates to emerge. Not my preference at all. But, unwieldy as it is, it’s better than the following…

4. Split and maintain eight football members (don’t add). Since the football scheduling issue is one of the drivers toward the split sentiment, what’s the point of splitting and NOT adding a member?

5. Pump the monster up to 18 by adding a FB and BB. It might solve FB scheduling, but that’s it. More mouths to feed = weak revenue/school.

6. Split and expand to 12. With the general failure of conference championship games (except SEC, B12), there is no point in diluting the product this significantly.

My preferance would be

Choice 3-- There are some good things about the current set up. The league and its members are making more money then ever before. They are no clear choice(s) for #9 or #10. I would rather extend the get out of jail free card and wait for Temple and/or Boston College

Choice 4-- If the get out of jail free card can not be extended, I like this option. Again, IMO there is no clear choice on who would be the best addition. Split and get the NCAA units but don't make any additions untill a worty canidate makes itself known. The down side of course is that with only eight teams, certain sports would suffer because not every football school is active in every current BE sport. Some EAC sports may only have six or seven members

Choice 1-- UCF and Temple would be my choices here...I really like the travel partner model

Choice 2--looking at the additions of UCF, G-Town, Nova and St Johns(?)

-- I don' think any of the other options are viable at this point

Jackson

Unless Fb goes to 12, there no need to split, at least 3 schools already said they would accept FB only. If hybrid works for BB, why would it not work for FB.
I don't buy nobody ready to join BE if there is a split. Memphis adds BB, Bowl game, granted FB struggling. but somebody has to struggle. East Car fan base is ready, UCF has advantages. The 12th school needs work, who ever they are.

Or we just go to ten teams and add Memphis and UCF.

Wilkie01 Wrote:Or we just go to ten teams and add Memphis and UCF.

This is the best and easiest plan by far......it gets Memphis back with UC/UofL. Adds a tremendous bball school. Most likely gets Liberty Bowl tie. Puts us in SEC country. Adds another team to loaded state of Florida. Adds USF's arch rival and another up and coming fball school.....

It's just that easy folks.

Now..for the name....Eastern 10? No...we need a cool name. What do you offer for a name if this was the conference:

UC
UofL
Cuse
Pitt
WVA
USF
UCF
Memphis
RU
UCONN

name?

The Eastern Athletic Conference

It allows you to have teams anywhere East of the Mississippi River.