[ATrain]

http://www.tbo.com/sports/bulls/MGBR893S74F.html

They've talked with Army and Navy, Notre Dame is happy being independent in football (plus has a standing invite to join the Big Ten)-so who do you think should get the invite?

[01LUGrad]

I guess we're busy this season, huh? Maybe next year?

[TDDance234]

The obvious answer is Liberty University, right? Ahh.. one day.

I think East Carolina or UCF are teams that could make the jump geographically but probably would take a few seasons to compete.

[JK37]

ECU has wanted in for years, but to no avail. They played a ton of Big East foes in the mid and late 90's, and never got a sniff. I'd be surprised if they're chosen.

UCF makes a lot of sense. Big market exposure! The only hiccup would be that South Florida would probably try everything they could to stop it.

Navy, to me, makes the most sense of all. Exposure in a big market that isn't close geographically to anyone else.

Army would be a big mistake. They've already been exploring going down to I-AA. Been terrible for years.

Don't count out the option of going back into Conference USA (Southern Miss?) or the MAC (Bowling Green?).

[Cider Jim]

We are...MARSHALL

[ATrain]

BRING BACK TEMPLE!!!

[Innocent Bystander]

Going to the MAC would be a shock. I don't think the Big East would go in that direction (and I am an alum of a MAC school so I am a little biased in their favor). The MAC school that probably has the best chance is former Big East football member Temple.
C-USA...I think this is where they will have to look. UCF would be the most obvious. If the addition were for all sports than Memphis would be near the top of the list as well.
On the far fringes of possibilities would be schools like Florida Atlantic and Florida International which would get them back into the Miami market. Both are building new football stadiums. The problem is that both are many years away from being competitive at the Big East Level.

To me, UCF makes the most sense.

[Stevev]

UCF would be my choice since I would think that they want to be on par conference wise with U of South Florida and give a reason for their fans to get exited about in addition to the new on-campus stadium they are building.

Maybe five years down the road and provided that things work out LU could be considered as a member.

[blwall1416]

UCF would be my choice since I would think that they want to be on par conference wise with U of South Florida and give a reason for their fans to get exited about in addition to the new on-campus stadium they are building.

Maybe five years down the road and provided that things work out LU could be considered as a member.

I could see LU being in C-USA as the best possible scenario for the future. I don't think we could ever set our sights higher than that caliber of conference (not knocking C-USA).

[paradox]

First of all, I'd like to offer a friendly little warning about Tusculum. Next, I'd like to say that Samford is a lock to get into the Big East, if they want in. Keep in mind, they are currently entertaining offers from the SEC and ACC as well

[JDUB]

First of all, I'd like to offer a friendly little warning about Tusculum. Next, I'd like to say that Samford is a lock to get into the Big East, if they want in. Keep in mind, they are currently entertaining offers from the SEC and ACC as well

haha, this may be your funniest post ever dox

[4everfsu]

ECU would be my first choice followed by UCF. BE is already in Fl but not yet in Carolinas, just a thought

[JK37]

There's no doubt that UCF would WANT in, but S. Fllorida would fight it for all it was worth. FIU and others in Miami would be nice to conider, but they would have to make a jump to a mid-major, first.

I had forgotten about Memphis. They make a lot of sense, and in all sports, would just be one more VERY high caliber school for basketball, not that there's any argument now that the BE is the best basketball conference, hands down! However, because the conference is so tough already, this is a situation where the basketball coaches may ALL not want another team in their conference. And nobody from the ones we've just mentioned is going to want to come in football only.

[kevinrmcguire]

Why not have Villanova fill out the last spot? They're already in the Big East for basketball? They draw better than Temple anyway!

[paradox]

It's clear that the Big East is looking a program that is already a national powerhouse or a team that is poised to have that kind of potential down the road. A small upgrade over Temple would be counterproductive.

[Cider Jim]

It's clear that the Big East is looking a program that is already a national powerhouse or a team that is poised to have that kind of potential down the road

That's why I'm voting for MARSHALL.

[Innocent Bystander]

I think as much as USF would resist the addition of UCF, I'm pretty sure West Virginia would resist Marshall even more. Don't underestimate the power of one school to block a potential member. Supposedly the reason Temple was never offered an all sports invite, despite having an outstanding basketball program at the time, is that Villanova didn't want them in.

[Sly Fox]

Never underestimate the power of a state assembly/legisilature to threaten to withhold funds to in order to get another state school into a league. Do I have a witness?

If the Big East expands for football and ECU doesn't get in, there probably should be a suicide watch put onto the entire eastern region of North Carolina.

[HenryGale]

Never underestimate the power of a state assembly/legisilature to threaten to withhold funds to in order to get another state school into a league. Do I have a witness?

That is the only reason UVA voted for VT to join the ACC (or so I was told)

[Cider Jim]

Never underestimate the power of a state assembly/legisilature to threaten to withhold funds to in order to get another state school into a league.

Well the WV governor literally had to step in and make WVU play Marshall every year over the next 7 years, beginning this fall.

[Sly Fox]

Its a fairly commonplace tactic across the nation when state schools are involved. Did you ever wonder how Baylor got in the Big XII over bigger and more successful schools (at the time) like TCU & Houston? Thank Ann Richards.

Depending on the makeup of a leg, they can do some crazy things when they stick their nose into sports.

[ATrain]

Never underestimate the power of a state assembly/legisilature to threaten to withhold funds to in order to get another state school into a league. Do I have a witness?

If the Big East expands for football and ECU doesn't get in, there probably should be a suicide watch put onto the entire eastern region of North Carolina.

Unless I'm mistaken though, the Big East doesn't have any members in North Carolina. Though that factor could play in UCF's favor.

And yes, HenryGale is correct, the only reason VT got into the ACC was b/c Mark Warner and the state legislature threatened to withhold funds from UVA.

[paradox]

I think as much as USF would resist the addition of UCF, I'm pretty sure West Virginia would resist Marshall even more. Don't underestimate the power of one school to block a potential member. Supposedly the reason Temple was never offered an all sports invite, despite having an outstanding basketball program at the time, is that Villanova didn't want them in.

Temple is no longer in the Big East due to simple arithmetic. Their attendance and their revenues were absolutely abysmal for football.

The Big East just wanted them out, period. As far as baskeball goes, the Big East simply doesn't need them. If an opening arises for basketball and the Big East considers a program from the A-10, then UMass would make the most sense, if they even want in.

[RagingTireFire]

And yes, HenryGale is correct, the only reason VT got into the ACC was b/c Mark Warner and the state legislature threatened to withhold funds from UVA.

I'm going to call bull crap on that one. I'm not saying that UVa necessarily wanted VT but in no way did the gov or the legislature threaten to withhold funding from UVa over it. That would have been a patently stupid thing to do.