Pitt Fans Should Rally 'Round Marinatto's Invite to 'Nova Football

Finally John Marinatto, Big East Commissioner, is looking proactive.

Finally, the guy who loves Italian food, vintage cars, and comb overs has a plan.

This good Italian guy who could blend in at the Pleasure Bar in Pittsburgh's Bloomfield  neighborhood has announced a plan that could actually work.

All along Big East football fans have complained about the mafia-like power base centered in Providence, Rhode Island.

Marinatto's plan to help Villanova move up in Division 1 football from FCS to FBS resolves the main sticking point to Big East football expansion: The delicate balance between the eight members with FBS football teams and the eight without.

Making friends with your enemies is a tried and true conflict resolution strategy.

Not only could the Big East football market return to Philadelphia, Villanova adds a balance-tipping vote for the football members of the conference.

Won't football expansion be easier to accomplish owning a 9-7 majority? Won't the Wildcats jump on the bandwagon to do whatever it takes to bring Big East football revenues in line with the other five BCS conferences?

Philly Mayor Supports Villanova Football

The Honorable Michael A. Nutter, Mayor of Philadelphia, values big time college football.

He established the "Mayor's Cup" game between Philly's two Division 1 universities Temple and Villanova.

With the mayor's support, this year's Mayor's Cup drew 33,000 fans to Lincoln Financial Field.

The mayor wants Temple and 'Nova to make the cup an annual opening day event.

Villanova Football Is a Winner

Villanova won the FCS last season.

Villanova Rallies for 23-21 Win Over Montana in NCAA Championship  

Junior wide receiver Matt Szczur (Erma, N.J.) rushed for a career-high 159 yards and carried No. 2 seed Villanova (14-1) to its first national championship on Friday night in front of 14,328 at Finley Stadium. The Wildcats knocked off No. 1 seed and undefeated Montana (14-1) to win a national title as head coach Andy Talley reached the pinnacle of college football in his 25th season on the Main Line. 

Villanova Has History In The Big Time

Villanova has played games against West Virginia and Pitt in the last decade.

In the past the Wildcats have played in the Sun and Liberty Bowls.

1961 (8-2-0)
Coach: Alexander F. Bell
33 . . . . . . . . at Miami (OH). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    0
22 . . . . . . . . Virginia Military Institute. . . . . . . . . .      0
20 . . . . . . . . at Holy Cross. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
33 . . . . . . . . Massachusetts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
28 . . . . . . . . Buffalo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
6 . . . . . . . . at Boston College. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    22
34 . . . . . . . . Quantico Marines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   0
40 . . . . . . . . West Chester. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
6 . . . . . . . . at Detroit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    20
Sun Bowl
17 . . . . . . . . Wichita State at El Paso, Texas. . . . . . 9
239 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 89
1962 (7-3-0)
Coach: Alexander F. Bell
31 . . . . . . . . West Chester. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . 6
24 . . . . . . . . Virginia Military Institute. . . . . . . . . .     0
13 . . . . . . . . Boston College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
36 . . . . . . . . at Buffalo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
22 . . . . . . . . at Delaware. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
16 . . . . . . . . Xavier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
14 . . . . . . . . Detroit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
18 . . . . . . . . Massachusetts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 19
34 . . . . . . . . at Rutgers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
208 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 89

Villanova Has Several Stadium Options

Villanova Stadium holds only 12,000, 3,000 below the NCAA FBS minimum.

The Wildcats have several options in Philadelphia.

Franklin Field, home of the Penn Quakers, seems to be the best option.

Lincoln Financial Field is under a long-term contract with the Temple Owls. The contract gives the Owls almost complete control over college football at the venue.

The Wildcats might also play at PPL Park in Chester, PA.

Finding a suitable stadium should not impede the Wildcats from moving up.

Philadelphia Is Nation's Sixth Largest City

Arguments that Philadelphia cannot support two FCS teams aren't supported by the facts:

Philadelphia is the largest city in Pennsylvania with a metro population of 5.4 million.

Philadelphia is the sixth largest city in the US.

Philadelphia is in the middle of Eastern PA and New Jersey's fertile recruiting grounds.

Philadelphia is a sports-crazed city whose fans are known across the world for their sometimes out-of-control passion.

With a good marketing plan and competitive ticket prices Villanova football can make money in its market place.

Philly Has Its Own Stadium Section of Town

Although the structures in this photo have been torn down and replaced by new facilities, the photo demonstrates just how crazed those Philly fans are.

Philadelphia has its very own Broad Street sports complex.

Lincoln Financial Field, Citizens Bank Park, and the Wachovia Center focus fans' attention as they go about their daily lives in the City of Brotherly Love.

Pitt fans surely remember the Panthers' loss to the Wildcats in 2009 at the Spectrum, the last basketball game to be played in the venerable arena.

Pitt-Villanova Already Have Heated Hoops Rivalry

Villanova fans don't like to admit their growing antipathy for Pitt.

After all, Villanova is located on the Main Line and Pitt's campus is in rowdy blue-collar Oakland.

I guess dismissing Pitt hasn't worked for the Wildcats.

Why would they decide to host the Panthers at their small home court this upcoming basketball season?

Yes, they obviously realize they need a home court advantage to win! The cavernous Wachovia Center doesn't provide it.

Big East Conference Loves Villanova & Will Support Football Upgrade

John Marinnato has pledged the Big East football teams' support to the Wildcats. Marinatto went so far as to promise financially supportive scheduling arrangements between the eight football schools and 'Nova.

If the football universities are smart, they will do everything in their power to help the Wildcats make the difficult and expensive upgrade from FCS to FBS.

Villanova President Peter M. Donohue seems to be excited by the proposition. He has also stated, however, that 'Nova faces many, many obstacles if they decide to move up.

The BCS Power Of Notre Dame Will Support Villanova

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 11: Head coach Brian Kelly of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish waits to enter the field with his team including Carlo Calabrese #44 and Ethan Johnson #90 before a game against the Michigan Wolverines at Notre Dame Stadium on Septem

Notre Dame has a vested interest in keeping the Big East together. If a football school should split for the Big Ten or ACC, the Irish could potentially lose some financial value from being in the conference.

The Notre Dame-Texas series recently announced is a good example of the Irish always looking out for themselves. It helped keep the Big East intact.

If Villanova decides to upgrade from FBS from FCS, Irish support could prove to be extremely valuable. Not only do the Irish share Catholic roots and practice with the Wildcats, Notre Dame could schedule 'Nova as soon as the Wildcats make a decision to move up, generating hundreds of thousands of dollars for the 'Nova football program.

Generally viewed as weak in the past, Marinatto will exert pressure on the Irish to step up.

Marinatto has given the Irish wide prerogative to do as they wish, but in this case he will be firm.

What a pleasure that will be to see!