Big East Expansion: 5 Steps to Saving the Big East

It's the end of the world as we know it, and I don't feel so fine.

Pittsburgh, Syracuse, and West Virginia are leaving the Big East less than 10 years after Miami, Virginia Tech, and Boston College left.  I'm not really sure we can call it the Big East anymore.

They quickly adapted to their new reality in 2003 after losing Miami, VT, and BC by bringing in Louisville, Cincinnati, and South Florida.

All three schools have developed unique identities and have flourished since their arrival.  

The Big East hopes they can repeat that success by picking the right teams to replace Pitt, Syracuse, and West Virginia.

The loss of Syracuse barely matters; they haven't been consistently good since the late 80's/early 90's.

However, losing Pittsburgh and West Virginia will be difficult to absorb.  They'll need to quickly replace them with quality programs that maintain the league's level of competition.

There are several options out there to help weather the storm, but let's look at five options that I can think save the Big East.  

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1. Get Notre Dame

Notre Dame is already a member of the Big East conference for basketball, so this would be a natural fit.  Notre Dame basketball has benefited greatly by its participation in the Big East and it's time for the school to step up and help save the league.

The addition of Notre Dame could actually put the conference on track to improve from where they are in 2011.  

Notre Dame officials have long held out of joining a conference, mostly for reasons concerning tradition.  However, tradition in college football is being slowly stripped away.  Schools are jumping conferences, rivalries are being torn apart, one day—hopefully very soon—there will be a tournament to decide the champion.

A move to the Big East could be the beginning of a new tradition for the Irish.  One that might actually result in them winning football games on a consistent basis again.

2. Get Boise State

This is a no-brainer move for Boise State. 

The Broncos have been playing in an awful conference that is stunting the growth of their program.  It's hard to take them serious when they have San Diego State, Wyoming, and New Mexico on their schedule.

A move to the Big East would increase their profile and possibly create some amazing rivalries.  Boise State vs. Louisville sounds like a naturally great game every season.

This would be a great move for the Big East because Boise State is currently one of the best teams in the nation.  They have been consistently better than anyone in the Big East for several years and have been getting the recruits to sustain their success.

3. Get Navy

Adding Navy does two things.

1. It helps to keep at least one of Notre Dame's rivalry games intact in the form of a Big East conference game, making the Big East just a little bit more attractive for the Fighting Irish.

2. Navy has a quality football program and a certain aura of prestige.

The move would be very beneficial to Navy who would get to be a part of a conference with an automatic qualifier into the BCS.

4. Get BYU

BYU is the final piece to the puzzle.

They are a very good program and their addition to the Big East along with Notre Dame, Boise State, and Navy would mean a significantly improved conference.

A BYU vs. Boise State is another rivalry that I could envision as a staple of future of Big East play.

5. Don't Bring in Trash

I wouldn't bring in Central Florida or Temple under any circumstance.

The absolute worst thing the Big East can do is to dilute their product.  A Big East without Notre Dame and Boise State is nothing more than Conference USA with a different name.

The additions of Memphis and Houston would back that assessment even more.

The most important thing they can do is carry themselves as if they are an elite conference.  There is likely to be even more movement in the coming months and years, so if they can't get the teams they want now, then they should just wait to see if better teams become available.

Perhaps Miami or Boston College would be interested in a return?  Don't eliminate those options by bringing in Conference USA castoffs.

The New Big East

1. Boise State
2. Notre Dame
3. Cincinnati
4. BYU
5. Rutgers
6. Navy
7. Louisville
8. Connecticut
9. South Florida