Big East Expansion: 10 Schools That Will Shake Up BCS the Most
Big East expansion is the topic of my latest article.
Officials for the Big East conference announced today that they are keenly aware that they need to grow. The Big East is currently the smallest conference in the Big East. Questions of revenue and sustainability are at the top as reasons to expand the conference from the current eight to ten.
TCU, Houston, Memphis and Villanova have all been mentioned as suitors for the two openings the Big East will soon provide. There are more schools that would do well in the smaller conference. Here is my take on the ten that the Big East should look at.
Mountain West: TCU
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TCU is currently a member of the Mountain West. A move for them would do little for their prestige. Both conferences lack consistent national contenders. They would leave one soft conference for another. At least they now have Utah to lend some credence to their yearly schedule.
What is more is the travel. TCU would have to travel the farthest of any team in the Big East. The Big East would love to have the prestige of a TCU in their conference, but there is no upside here for the Horned Frogs.
Conference USA: Houston Cougars
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If the Big East cannot land TCU, they will stll want to get a foothold out west. Look for them to take a crack at recruiting Houston.
This one makes more sense for both parties. Houston would be in bit tougher conference and the Big East would get exposure farther west.
Conference USA: Memphis Tigers
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I really like the Tigers for the Big East. They may be having a down year this year, but Memphis perennially fields a formidable team.
They would also renew some old rivalries which would be great for college football and the Big East.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
CAA: Villanova Wildcats
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The Big East has always been good about taking a smaller program and promoting and growing it within the conference. That is precisely what they hope to do with Villanova. Known mostly for their basketball acumen, Nova would do well to enter a higher division of football.
Their name alone would buy the conference credence, regardless if it comes from the basketball program.
Conference USA: UCF Knights
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Central Florida is also rumored to be in the running for a Big East spot. Why not? They match the description of a Big East team.
They are a small program that can win a big game. This year alone they knocked off UAB who has played spoiler to bigger teams. Many will remember that in 2007, they gave the Texas Longhorns a scare. They lost a close one 35-32. Texas was ranked sixth nationally at the time.
Conference USA: East Carolina Pirates
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Continuing with the conference USA love, we move onto East Carolina. This is another small program that has proved to be able to win games.
In 2008 and 2009 they put together back to back conference titles. But greener pastures were calling for their head coach Skip Holtz and he bolted to the University of South Florida. East Carolina continues their winning ways and are second in their division behind UCF.
Mid-American: Temple Owls
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Temple is a bigger program than their current conference currently touts. They have loftier goals that they can work toward in the more prestigious Big East.
Temple is a program that deserves much more media attention than the one Penn State game they have every year. Going to the Big East would allow that.
Independent: Notre Dame Fighting Irish
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Notre Dame needs no introduction. They are the most storied program in all of college football. The Big East would welcome the Irish with open arms if they were interested.
This is the longest of shots for the Big East. I only included them here because they happen to be in the conference for basketball. Notre Dame will remain independent in football for the foreseeable future.
Patriot League: Georgetown Hoyas
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While we are at it, why not include another Big East basketball participant.
The Hoyas are renowned for basketball and take part in the conference during round ball season. Could they take a crack at the conference for football? Doubtful.
The Hoyas are a very small football program. They are currently trying to stay afloat in the patriot conference, with schools like Lehigh and Holy Cross.
Conference USA: UAB Blazers
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As the Big East begins to cherry pick the best and the brightest from conference USA, they would do well to take a look at UAB.
The team has shown some growth this year in two startling near upsets. UAB almost took down Tennessee sending the game into overtime late. They then almost shocked the college world by almost defeating Mississippi State on the road.
Teams To Beat
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There you have ten rumored schools. Well, who is the best of the bunch? Who would add instant credibility to a small conference like the Big East?
TCU and Notre Dame would have a target on their backs all year. The smaller programs would drool over the national exposure. These are sadly the long shots to join. After that you have to look at Memphis. Their lackluster season is not the norm for a program of their caliber. They might do quite well in the Big East.
Biggest Losers
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The proposed move has some losers for those already in conference. The only teams that a move does not make sense for as I have noted are TCU and Notre Dame.
As for those in conference, the biggest losers depend greatly on who accepts an invitation. If Villanova gets in. Top teams like West Virginia lose credibility while schools like Rutgers get to pencil in a win every year.
If TCU accepts, the whole conference wins. You now have an annual contender to the BCS title in conference. Sure it will hurt getting beat by them every week, but at least pundits will respect your program.
Villanova would struggle immediatley upon joing the conference. This is not to say that they should not do it. They are a small program and the Big East is ideal to test your mettle on the bigger stage.
UAB could also experience some growing pains, especially if their current season's play is nothing but a flash in the pan.
Rivalries
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The biggest change to rivalries has to be if Memphis enters the conference. The Tigers had a long history with Cincinnati and Louisville. Their shared hatred would be renewed.
I could see a definite rivalry starting between Villanova and their basketball counterparts such as Cincinnati and Rutgers.
The Big East is a relatively young conference. Some of their mainstays have recently left, namely Miami, Temple, and Virginia Tech. The growth they are proposing will do well to promote a sustainable conference membership. Once they accomplish that, rivalries can grow from within.
Travel
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Many of the potential suitors have to take into account countless things in making their decisions. One of the highest on the totem pole has to be travel. You never want to force yourself into a situation that would mirror Hawaii's nightmare travel situation.
In this case there are only two losers here. Both Houston and TCU would have the longest flght. They would also have to cross a time zone to get to most of their games. While Memphis is also on central time, they would not have to fly nearly as far.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
