(09-18-2009 06:32 PM)MeanGreen61 Wrote:  If Memphis does leave for the Big East, should the Belt be pro-active and go after a couple of the better CUSA teams to round up to 12 ? I'm not for expanding past 10, unless the opportunity did arise to bring in a couple of quality, established teams that would definately add to the conference.

With four private schools in CUSA having their own agenda, would it be possibly to maybe entice Houston and Southern Miss to join the Belt ? Just thinking......what are your thoughts ?

If Memphis does bolt, we absolutely should be proactive and grab two more members.

Southern Miss would be first on my list, after that it's a bit of a toss-up, unless ECU isn't involved in the Big East expansion, in which case ECU would be my 2nd choice. Granted, ECU expands our geographic footprint, but having two divisions would minimize the impact of that geographic expansion.

News Flash: Memphis hopes for Big Six move
By Tom Dienhart, Yahoo! Sports
Sep 17, 11:33 am EDT

Memphis wants to move out of Conference USA and into a Big Six league. But does any elite conference want the Tigers?

The Memphis Commercial Appeal reported Wednesday that Memphis has hired former Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese to serve as a consultant. He will evaluate the school’s programs and recommend what it needs to do to better position itself to join one of the nation’s top leagues.

Tranghese was hired Aug. 1 and is being paid $5,000 per month on a six-month contract, which can be renewed; the money is coming from privately donated funds. Tranghese asked Memphis athletic director R.C. Johnson what his duties would be; Johnson’s response: “There are six BCS conferences. Just get us in one.”

Memphis has been a member of Conference USA since the league’s formation in 1995. The Tigers saw C-USA brethren Louisville, Cincinnati and USF bolt for the Big East after the 2004 season, bringing that conference’s football-playing configuration to eight schools. Tranghese has said Memphis was left behind then “because our football people just felt they had to be in Florida.”

Now, Memphis is making noise about trying to join the big boys once again and the most logical destination is the Big East, where it already has established rivals in Louisville and Cincinnati.

But not everyone is on board with that idea.

“If we are going to add someone, it has to be someone who is really special,” said a Big East athletic director who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “You tell me – would you add Memphis?”

Memphis would seem to bring little from a TV-market standpoint [the city is the nation’s No. 50 TV market]. The football program historically has been average to below-average, though coach Tommy West has enjoyed one of the school’s best runs in recent history in guiding the Tigers to five bowls in the past six seasons.

There are some who feel the addition of a ninth team would make scheduling easier. As it stands, there are just seven conference games per season, meaning half of the Big East schools have only three league home games each season.

“I don’t buy that,” the Big East A.D. said. “I have scheduled for four or five non-conference games, and I’m not sure it really makes any difference.”

Basketball has been Memphis’ strength, which dovetails nicely with the Big East. But Memphis currently is under investigation by the NCAA for major violations and recently lost coach John Calipari to Kentucky. And while the Big East features eight football-playing members, the conference has 16 teams in its basketball configuration. To make room for Memphis, would someone be asked to leave?

Add it all up, and Memphis could be facing long odds.

“I can say that Memphis never is mentioned in any discussions we have about expanding,” the Big East A.D. said. “I just never hear their name.”

This article appeared on the Yahoo Sports website on Thursday, September 17, 2009.

(09-18-2009 07:30 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  

(09-18-2009 06:32 PM)MeanGreen61 Wrote:  If Memphis does leave for the Big East, should the Belt be pro-active and go after a couple of the better CUSA teams to round up to 12 ? I'm not for expanding past 10, unless the opportunity did arise to bring in a couple of quality, established teams that would definately add to the conference.

With four private schools in CUSA having their own agenda, would it be possibly to maybe entice Houston and Southern Miss to join the Belt ? Just thinking......what are your thoughts ?

If Memphis does bolt, we absolutely should be proactive and grab two more members.

Southern Miss would be first on my list, after that it's a bit of a toss-up, unless ECU isn't involved in the Big East expansion, in which case ECU would be my 2nd choice. Granted, ECU expands our geographic footprint, but having two divisions would minimize the impact of that geographic expansion.

I don't beleive that Southern Miss & ECU are kissin' kuzins (like each other very much). Plus ECU is doing everything it can to get into the Big East. They definately wouldn't be a good long haul candidate. IMHO the possibility of getting 2 from CUSA would be their compatibility and package deal appeal. Beleive that Houston & Southern Miss would be much better package candidates.

(09-18-2009 10:30 PM)MeanGreen61 Wrote:  

(09-18-2009 07:30 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  

(09-18-2009 06:32 PM)MeanGreen61 Wrote:  If Memphis does leave for the Big East, should the Belt be pro-active and go after a couple of the better CUSA teams to round up to 12 ? I'm not for expanding past 10, unless the opportunity did arise to bring in a couple of quality, established teams that would definately add to the conference.

With four private schools in CUSA having their own agenda, would it be possibly to maybe entice Houston and Southern Miss to join the Belt ? Just thinking......what are your thoughts ?

If Memphis does bolt, we absolutely should be proactive and grab two more members.

Southern Miss would be first on my list, after that it's a bit of a toss-up, unless ECU isn't involved in the Big East expansion, in which case ECU would be my 2nd choice. Granted, ECU expands our geographic footprint, but having two divisions would minimize the impact of that geographic expansion.

I don't beleive that Southern Miss & ECU are kissin' kuzins (like each other very much). Plus ECU is doing everything it can to get into the Big East. They definately wouldn't be a good long haul candidate. IMHO the possibility of getting 2 from CUSA would be their compatibility and package deal appeal. Beleive that Houston & Southern Miss would be much better package candidates.

IMHO, there are only two CUSA schools that would more than likely consider a common sense pitch from the SBC, Tulane and UAB. Memphis still has visions of being elite, and they would ride it out with CUSA until they can possible reach their goal. However, Tulane with its budget issues and UAB with its potential budget issues may be swayed to come to the SBC and enjoy solid competition along with reduced spending.

(09-19-2009 08:31 AM)bluephi1914 Wrote:  

(09-18-2009 10:30 PM)MeanGreen61 Wrote:  

(09-18-2009 07:30 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  

(09-18-2009 06:32 PM)MeanGreen61 Wrote:  If Memphis does leave for the Big East, should the Belt be pro-active and go after a couple of the better CUSA teams to round up to 12 ? I'm not for expanding past 10, unless the opportunity did arise to bring in a couple of quality, established teams that would definately add to the conference.

With four private schools in CUSA having their own agenda, would it be possibly to maybe entice Houston and Southern Miss to join the Belt ? Just thinking......what are your thoughts ?

If Memphis does bolt, we absolutely should be proactive and grab two more members.

Southern Miss would be first on my list, after that it's a bit of a toss-up, unless ECU isn't involved in the Big East expansion, in which case ECU would be my 2nd choice. Granted, ECU expands our geographic footprint, but having two divisions would minimize the impact of that geographic expansion.

I don't beleive that Southern Miss & ECU are kissin' kuzins (like each other very much). Plus ECU is doing everything it can to get into the Big East. They definately wouldn't be a good long haul candidate. IMHO the possibility of getting 2 from CUSA would be their compatibility and package deal appeal. Beleive that Houston & Southern Miss would be much better package candidates.

IMHO, there are only two CUSA schools that would more than likely consider a common sense pitch from the SBC, Tulane and UAB. Memphis still has visions of being elite, and they would ride it out with CUSA until they can possible reach their goal. However, Tulane with its budget issues and UAB with its potential budget issues may be swayed to come to the SBC and enjoy solid competition along with reduced spending.

I don't think anyone would jump from C-USA to Sun Belt, unless the BE raid of C-USA happens. If BE were to take just one team from C-USA than it wouldn't make any sense for C-USA to stay at 11, meaning either they grab one from the Sun Belt, or possibly La Tech, or we grab two from them to drop them to 9 and bump us up to 12.

If the SunBelt's goal is to only add revenue enhancers from the basketball tourney, why would they consider Southern Miss or ECU?

If memphis jumps alone, there is no team in the CUSA that would add to the pie. They would only chip away at what little pie the SunBelt gets at this time.

(09-20-2009 12:44 AM)SunBelt Watcher Wrote:  If the SunBelt's goal is to only add revenue enhancers from the basketball tourney, why would they consider Southern Miss or ECU?

Because they're cooler than whatever school you pull for. I guess? Who knows why anyone is talking about conference realignment now. The season is in full motion now. There are PLENTY of other things to talk about besides this completely blind conjecture.

The only way Tulane would be in the Sun Belt is if we dropped Div. I football and joined as a non-FB member. I don't think there is anyone -- either at Tulane or in the SBC -- who would view that scenario with any enthusiasm.

And another thing -- I'd bet that the Big East does not expand at all in the next 6-8 years.

There is no consensus in that league for who the "9th member" should be, plus there is no consensus on whether the expansion should be for football-only or for everything.