The Big East Conference: 11 Teams to Consider When Adding 2

The Big East made the first move, now it needs to make the second.

To be a viable football conference the Big East must do what it can to make sure it has the teams it needs for longevity and stability.

With the latest additions the conference will now have ten football playing schools come 2013.

Those schools are:

West Division	East Division
Boise State	Cincinnati
Houston	Rutgers
San Diego State	UConn
SMU	USF
Louisville	UCF

The Big East certainly has a plan to add more schools, but what schools would be the best fit?

Would there be more football only schools?

Would the focus just be on football?

Could the Big East get creative? Really creative?

Let's take a look at some viable options for the conference.

Notre Dame

University of Notre Dame

Location: South Bend, Indiana

Established: 1842

Enrollment: 11,733

Certainly Notre Dame would be the best team to add to the Big East for football.  They already play all their other sports in the league.

Now, before you don't think it is an option, the Big East could get very creative on this one.

Offer Notre Dame the choice to only play the five in-division games each season.  The Big East is going to two divisions of six teams each.  Each team will have five in-division games a year, plus three cross-over division games.

Let Notre Dame decide if they want to play those three other Big East games each year.  Maybe they just play one or two.  Maybe they don't play any, but give them the choice.

Give Notre Dame the exclusive television rights for their home games.  BYU wanted this, but it makes way more sense to give it to Notre Dame.

The Irish are a much bigger and more popular program. You simply negotiate a deal for away games, and BCS monies.

Some might think this is a crazy idea to offer this kind of concessions to any team.  However, in these crazy times, it might just work.

Temple

Temple University

Location: Philadelphia, PA

Established: 1884

Enrollment: 37,696

Temple is an ideal candidate.  They would add to the Basketball value of the conference, and their football team is on the rise.

This does two things for the Big East:

It adds basketball value, which makes Louisville and Cincinnati happy.

It adds another East Coast team for a league that may need to add another team or two west of the Mississippi.

This decision makes sense.  Temple is a well respected school with name recognition.  Even if it takes their football team a while to get there—they will.

Navy

United States Naval Academy

Location: Annapolis, Maryland

Established: 10 October 1845

Enrollment:  4,400

Navy has been talked to by the Big East, but there is no word if they are going to join.

If they do, it would make for a great addition in the Big East.  A Military Academy adds a flavor you just can't get with a state or private school.

There are three benefits adding Navy:

Navy has a national and international draw.  With fans all over the world, you could count on interest for their games, especially when they play Air Force and Army.

It gives you some leverage to have a government school in your league.  This would come in handy if the BCS tries to do anything to exclude the Big East from future negotiations, bowls, or conversations.

It would bring a wonderful flavor to an already unique league.

Overall, Navy will be a great catch if the Big East lands them.

Nevada

University of Nevada

Location: Reno, NV

Established: 1874

Enrollment: 17,679

Nevada is an excellent school with lots of tradition.  They would be a great addition as a football only member, and here is why;

They are a huge rival with future member Boise State.  These two teams have had some exciting and dramatic games over the years.

The Wolf Pack have a football program that can already compete well in the new Big East.  There would be no adjustment time.

It adds another member to the western division.

Nevada would bring excitement, tradition, rivalry, and another western partner for the Big East.

Southern Miss

The University of Southern Mississippi

Location: Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Established: 1910

Enrollment: 18,029

Southern Miss would be a great addition for a couple of reasons;

Good football school, with a good tradition.

Natural rivalry with SMU and Houston, two future members of the Big East.

The Southern Miss Golden Eagles would be another excellent addition to the league.

Other Schools

Other schools that should be considered as well:

East Carolina University

Memphis

Fresno State

Try again for BYU

UTEP

Tulsa

It will be interesting to see how it all shakes out but I think the Big East has a good start.  Now, they just need to finish well.

The Big East would look good with at least 12 football schools and a conference championship game live on national television each year.