Big East Expansion: 7 Reasons Boise State Broncos Are Doing the Right Thing

For years people have been complaining about Boise State's strength of schedule and giving all sorts of advice on how to improve it.

For years now, all Boise State has tried to do is improve that said schedule.

They went from the WAC to the Mountain West, where BYU, Utah and TCU would be conference foes. Well, we all know how that turned out.

No sooner had the Broncos announced they were joining the Mountain West that Utah and BYU announced they were leaving. Not long after that, TCU made plans to leave for the Big East.

Of course, TCU left the Big East before it ever arrived, trading it for the Big 12.

So, where did that leave the Broncos? Quite frankly in WAC II. The new MWC is not any stronger than the old WAC, and all those critics are complaining again.

So, what did Boise State do in response? They took another step up—which just happened to be east.

The Big East Conference is the next logical step for a program that is focused on upward mobility and continued success.

Still, the move is not without its critics.  Some of those same people who criticized the Broncos' schedule are now complaining that this is the wrong move for BSU.

The college football universe is a crazy place.

Now, with all the naysayers out there, it would probably be good to show you why this move for Boise State is a good move—despite what some might say.

Let's look at seven reasons why the move to the Big East is a good thing for the Broncos.

Step Up in Competition

No matter what some might say, the Big East is a step up from the Mountain West.

Look at these comparisons of the "New Big East" compared to the "New Mountain West"

*Teams not yet committed  

Which Conference has better competition?

New Big East	New Mountain West
Boise State	Wyoming
Houston	Fresno State
Louisville	Nevada
Cincinnati	Colorado State
UConn	UNLV
Rutgers	New Mexico
South Florida	Air Force*
Central Florida	Hawaii
San Diego State
SMU
Navy*
Air Force*

Keeping the Coach Happy Means Keeping the Coach

Chris Petersen has been the greatest coach Boise State has ever had.

He is loyal, hard working, determined, and has a strong desire to succeed.

Don't think for a second he wouldn't leave Boise State if he felt it had come to a dead end.

With the brand new football complex being built next spring, and the conference jump to the Big East in 2013, Coach Petersen will probably stick around.

Had these things not happened, who knows?

Spreading the Brand

The best thing a small-market team like Boise State could ever do is spread its brand.

What better place to do such a thing than the east coast? If you want to get the message of Bronco football told, you need Madison avenue.

Well, with the Big East, you got it.

Could you imagine the Broncos playing in the New Era Penstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium?

Could you imagine all those people back east now interested in a team from Idaho?

Well, it is going to happen. Not only that, but those in Florida and Texas will now be watching too.

If Boise State wants to put itself in a position down the road to either be a viable independent or a valued commodity sought after by big conferences, you have to build your brand.

The Big East allows them to do that, and if the conference begins to build and grow, who knows how far it will go? BSU may never need to look elsewhere, even 10 years down the road.

Recruiting

You want to find more guys like Kellen Moore or Doug Martin?

With the additions of Texas and California schools, the Big East now has a presence in every major recruiting market in the United States.

Think about how unique it is: no other conference can boast this kind of recruiting footprint; no other conference reaches into every major hub in the nation.

Look at the new recruiting map:  

California: San Diego State

Texas: Houston, SMU

Florida and the South: South Florida, Central Florida, Louisville

East Coast: Rutgers, UConn

Midwest: Cincinnati

Pacific Northwest: Boise State

Money

Money is a major reason Boise State made this move.

Even with the most conservative of estimates, Boise State will bring in three to four times the television revenue in the Big East as compared to the MWC.

This will help the Broncos build new facilities and expand their stadium.

It will also help with marketing, coaches salaries, and the cost of a brand new athletic director.

BCS

The Broncos are taking a bit of a gamble in the hopes that the Big East will remain an automatic qualifying conference for the BCS.

However, even if it doesn't the conference change to the Big East makes the Broncos a little more relevant in the conversation.

With the improved schedule and increased exposure, Boise State is banking on the fact that it will all help with reputation and familiarity.

If the Broncos had that kind of recognition this year, perhaps the Sugar Bowl would have chosen them instead of a Virginia Tech team that just got blown out by Clemson.

Back on ESPN

The Broncos are very excited to be going back to ESPN, and so are their fans.

After a season in purgatory (i.e. the Mountain West television deal), every Bronco fan, coach and player is excited to return to prime time and ESPN.

The kind of exposure ESPN brings can never be matched by playing a game in front of a fraction of viewers on a network most people have no clue even exists.

This move to the Big East is a good one, no matter what critics might say.

Final Note

On one final note, this move will be good for other sports as well. Despite what some might think, the basketball teams will benefit.

Even though both men's and women's basketball are going back to the WAC conference, they will really get the best of both worlds.

First, they will play in a league that can help to build both programs.

The WAC is a league that gives the Broncos a legitimate shot at making the NCAA tournament every year.

Not only that, but the out-of-conference schedule will improve greatly.

As part of the football team moving east, the Big East agreed to work out two home-at-home deals a year with the Broncos.

This means some of the premier basketball teams in the country will be on the Broncos schedule.

That would be four games a year with teams like UConn, Villanova, St. John's, Seton Hall, Notre Dame, Marquette, Louisville, Georgetown, DePaul and Cincinnati.

Again, it would be a "best of both worlds" scenario for Boise State.

Over all, moving east is moving up for Bronco Nation.