Brick City Pirate Wrote:buckaineer, From what I've been told, ECU was actually a little ahead of VaTech as far as football success was concerned before VaTech joined the Big East. Even though ECU is not in the Sate of Virginia, it's a good bit closer to the recruiting hotbeds of southeast Virginia than both UVA & VaTech. I don't know when VaTech joined the Big East, but in 1991 ECU finished the year ranked #9 in the nation. During the 80's & 90's ECU played Syracuse, Pitt, Temple, West Virginia, Miami, & even Penn State, so I'd say ECU had a pretty decent history with the same northeastern schools that VaTech played.

ECU may have been a better program than VT in the late 80s and they had a nice year or two in the very early 90's. I felt back then that ECU would have been a great add for the football teams in the BE. Things have changed since then though, with the BCS and huge payouts that come with being a part of this. The BE teams have several disadvantages as compared to other BCS leagues especially in the area of revenues. They are trying to move ahead, not fall behind.
TV drives the bus nowadays and so unless a team like ECU is just a major standout force in college football, it is unlikely that a league like the Big East could split and add them because it would cost the existing members too much. Teams can't give up the money and prestige of playing bb schools like Georgetown and Villanova in order to play ECU in football --which they can do anyway. The basketball schools might agree to add a Memphis (top notch bb) but not an ECU.

If teams were to be considered nowadays, they will have to either be just great for years with some national following, or more likely come from large markets(still trying to recoup the loss of Boston and Miami markets for tv), bring corporate sponsorship, multiple good sports, facilities and the possibility of bowls and the revenues that would bring.

Right now it appears that no single "available" team out there would bring enough of a financial surge to merit being added or to initiate a split. Only way this changes is if another member or members are lured away, or if going to twelve and a conf. championship becomes the only way to maintain a chance to play for the mnc.

buckaineer Wrote:The real reason some Big East teams are concerned with football scheduling is money--they need another home game for the years when in the current alignment they only get 3 BE games at home. They have to pay an OOC team money and this amount of money is increasing dramatically as other conferences with more money can buy out the BE scheduled teams. Smaller teams are demanding more money. To add another conference team would mean 4 guaranteed home games every year-and the money that brings. Also that would be less money required for pay out to an extra OOC team. All this doesn't mean that they would split or add a team that would drain their existing revenues though. That would be counterproductive. If the BE schools don't gain revenue then they aren't going to move to add or to split.

Gee buckaineer, and only 118 posts to boot? Robert Byrd must be proud!

You see, I say "scheduling" and you say "money". Get this... My scheduling argument is really about "money", too.

But you take it one step more... You are suggesting there is a team like Penn State or Notre Dame that is going to come and bring that something extra to the table. See buck, we know that. We also know that there is not a team like that out there that is considering the Big East (or just the football schools).

buck, we, on the boards, call that a "dilemma".

Now, if you could convince BYU to move to Virginia, you may have a real argument.

Bearcats#1 Wrote:

knight87 Wrote:

Bearcats#1 Wrote:

firmbizzle Wrote:Split add Memphis and UCF. and do it now!

I think we should split and add Utah and BYU....

I think you are dead on. Maybe even New Mexico, Boise State, or Fresno State.

I was actually kidding....firmbizzle had recommended Utah and BYU a week or two ago and was laughed off the forum.

To quote you..."let it rest man, let it rest."

chess Wrote:

buckaineer Wrote:The real reason some Big East teams are concerned with football scheduling is money--they need another home game for the years when in the current alignment they only get 3 BE games at home. They have to pay an OOC team money and this amount of money is increasing dramatically as other conferences with more money can buy out the BE scheduled teams. Smaller teams are demanding more money. To add another conference team would mean 4 guaranteed home games every year-and the money that brings. Also that would be less money required for pay out to an extra OOC team. All this doesn't mean that they would split or add a team that would drain their existing revenues though. That would be counterproductive. If the BE schools don't gain revenue then they aren't going to move to add or to split.

Gee buckaineer, and only 118 posts to boot? Robert Byrd must be proud!

You see, I say "scheduling" and you say "money". Get this... My scheduling argument is really about "money", too.

But you take it one step more... You are suggesting there is a team like Penn State or Notre Dame that is going to come and bring that something extra to the table. See buck, we know that. We also know that there is not a team like that out there that is considering the Big East (or just the football schools).

buck, we, on the boards, call that a "dilemma".

Now, if you could convince BYU to move to Virginia, you may have a real argument.

Excuse me, but where did I suggest a team like PSU or ND would be interested in coming in. I didn't as we all know that won't happen.

What I suggested is that nothing at all will happen because there isn't a good option most likely. But if something forces the BE hand again --then teams with major markets will be the only possible targets in order to try and retain revenues or boost them. Unless a team like ECU can get really really good quickly and maintain that for awhile and develop a true national following that tv would recognize and reward, it simply wouldn't be economical to add such a small market program.