TCU Football: Do the Horned Frogs Make Big East BCS Worthy?
TCU football made big news today as it was announced that the school would be joining the Big East as a multi-sport member according to ESPNDallas.com's Richard Durett and other media outlets.
The Horned Frogs will join the Big East in 2012-13 according to the reports, and we'll see what TCU is made of when the move finally happens. It's going to be interesting to see if TCU gets the respect it believes it's been denied in recent years when it joins the Big East.
But does this move make the Big East BCS worthy? Inside are five reasons why this helps the conference and why this move really doesn't do much for the Big East's standing.
Any thoughts or comments? Leave it below.
No. 5 Worthy: Television Contracts
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In 2013, the Big East's television contracts, and a team like TCU, will certainly help the conference's negotiating position.
The Horned Frogs would be one of the more high-profile teams in the entire conference and their games can help draw eyes. If TCU continues to contend for a national championship, that type of team will be a must-see.
Adding TCU can help bring the conference some extra money.
No. 5 Not: Travel
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When you think Big East, TCU doesn't exactly come to mind.
It's a long way to travel for TCU and the other teams in the conference to play in these games, and it kind of makes the name Big East sound foolish. Then again, the Horned Frogs didn't exactly fit the Mountain West moniker either.
The Horned Frogs and the travel involved is going to pay a toll on the bodies and minds of the players, as well as on the pockets of these universities.
No. 4 Worthy: Possible Future Conference Championship Game
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The Big East now has nine football members with the addition of TCU, and it's no secret the conference is trying to get to 10.
Villanova has had an offer on the table from the Big East for a while now, but hasn't taken the bait. The Wildcats are a member in basketball, but remain in the FCS classification for football. The addition of Villanova would get the Big East closer to a future conference title game.
You need 12 teams to have a conference title game, and if the Big East can get there it's another way to get your conference talked about and bring some extra money into the conference.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
No. 4 Not: Current Record In BCS Bowl Games
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The Big East isn't exactly what you'd call a monster in the BCS.
There have been 12 appearances in BCS bowl games by Big East teams—tied for the fewest among AQ Conferences with the ACC. In those games, Big East teams are 6-6, the second fewest wins of any major conference, with the ACC only having two.
TCU is 0-1 in BCS bowls losing to Boise State last year. Right now, the Horned Frogs don't really bolster the Big East's resume in big time bowls.
No. 3 Worthy: National Championship Contender
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Like it or not, TCU has been in the national title hunt the past two years.
Last year, Cincinnati went undefeated in the regular season and was pummeled by Florida in the Sugar Bowl. West Virginia had a elite years, but ended up choking away any chance at the big game. With TCU, the Horned Frogs will be able to compete for a national title, something they couldn't reasonably do before today.
Everyone wins in this scenario.
No. 3 Not: Conference Expansion
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Conference expansion was a big story this summer and in the end, when it comes to the expanding conferences, the Big East comes up a bit short.
The Big Ten got Nebraska and the Pac 10 gets Utah and Colorado, while the Big East nabbed TCU and wants Villanova in football.
I feel like the Big East comes up a bit short in this one. Both the Big Ten and Pac 10 will have conference title games while the Big East will be in the same spot the Big Ten and Pac 10 have been in the past few years.
It's a good move, just not a great move when looked at in context.
No. 2 Worthy: Big East's Current Reputation
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Right now, the Big East isn't getting a lot of love from people across the country.
Established media members—and even people like yours truly—look at the Big East as a bit of a joke and aren't happy that it gets the automatic BCS bowl bid. The winner, likely Connecticut, will stumble into the BCS and likely get beaten down.
TCU will give the Big East a little more respect than it's getting right now.
No. 2 Not: Big East Compared To Other Conferences
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I think it's blatantly obvious to everyone, including the teams in the Big East and the fans that root for them, that the Big East is not the strongest conference in America.
In fact, this year, it might have been the worst conference in America. Is there any team in the Big East that can beat Virginia Tech? I'm not sure there is. TCU is a good team, but it's not a shift in the balance of power in terms of conference supremacy.
It's going to be a little while before the Big East is back to being a power. It really hasn't been the same since Miami and Virginia Tech left.
No. 1 Worthy: Recent Success
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This year and last, TCU will be going to a BCS bowl.
Sure, the Horned Frogs lost to Boise State, but TCU will be in either the BCS National Championship—if Auburn or Oregon lose this weekend—or in the Rose Bowl if everything stays the way it is heading into the final week of the season.
TCU has worked its way into the public sphere of college football and adding that to the Big East is a great move for the conference. Even if it is just to get people talking about the Big East.
No. 1 Not: Perception of TCU
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While TCU has been successful recently, it's not without some backlash.
Plenty of people have criticized schools like TCU and Boise State, who want to compete for a national championship, but haven't played the schools that other contenders play on a weekly basis. People think TCU can't compete in major conferences and now we'll find out.
However, don't think that this is like Nebraska going to the Big Ten. Not everyone thinks TCU is a good football team. I'm not one of them, but those people exist.
Conclusion
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In the end, it's a good move for the Big East when it comes to the BCS. At best, the Horned Frogs can still be national championship contenders, but have the respect of being in a major conference.
If TCU ran the table in the Big East this year, regardless of the strength of the conference, you better believe that there would be a much larger debate about TCU and the national championship game.
It gets the people talking about the Big East in a more positive light with how down the conference is this year. I can't wait to see the Horned Frogs go through a Big East schedule.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
