[Sly Fox]

The same can be said for the Big East if Louisville & WVU bolt for the Big XII. And with the strong possibility of the CUSA-MWC Champion having an auto bid, the need to go to the suddenly even more lackluster Big East is even more diminished.

[jbock13]

Sly, I honestly don't see why there's any reason to give the C-USA / MWC an automatic bid. The only reason would be is we wanted to create the unofficial "Boise State Bowl". Houston is great too, but then, who else is there that's a legitimate power?

[Sly Fox]

MWC-CUSA would have much better argument for auto bid than Big East based on what is left. UConn desperately needs to land somewhere soon or they are going to see their football investment wilt.

[From the class of 09]

Love the ticker on the bottom of the game that keeps saying the Big East is looking to add 6 football teams.

[Kricket]

Looks like Mizzou to the SEC and West Virginia to the Big 12, shrinking the Big East even more. I'm beginning to think that the Big East won't survive.

[TH Spangler]

Big East Football: Talks of a 32-Team Super-Conference

http://www.rantsports.com/big-east-foot ... onference/

The West division would include Boise St, Hawaii, UNLV, Fresno St, Nevada, San Diego St, Utah St and San Jose St.

The Mountain division would be made up of Air Force, Colorado St, Wyoming, New Mexico, SMU, Tulsa, UTEP, and Houston.

The Central division would be comprised of Memphis, Marshall, Tulane, UAB, Southern Miss, Rice, Louisiana Tech and Temple.

The Big East division would include Louisville, Connecticut, Cincinnati, Rutgers, South Florida, Central Florida, East Carolina and Navy.

[phoenix]

One thing that you have to consider when talking about LUO students is the changing face of online education. Right now, there are a lot of people who are getting second degrees, changing careers, etc. (like me). There are people who just want to expand their knowledge base, get some classes for a certification, and so on. BUT -- most research that I've seen has the average age of distance learners going down, and those students are looking at more long-term educational goals. At the very least, they're getting intro classes out of the way with a view to transferring them on campus later on.

There is also a movement in distance learning circles to build more of a community within classes, so that students feel more connected with the school and their classmates. LOTS of research going on here, including a lot of work among Liberty's Educational Technology faculty.

All that to say that short term, the impact of online students is liable to be minimal. BUT, long term, that impact could be great.

[lynchburgwildcats]

Big East Football: Talks of a 32-Team Super-Conference

http://www.rantsports.com/big-east-foot ... onference/

The West division would include Boise St, Hawaii, UNLV, Fresno St, Nevada, San Diego St, Utah St and San Jose St.

The Mountain division would be made up of Air Force, Colorado St, Wyoming, New Mexico, SMU, Tulsa, UTEP, and Houston.

The Central division would be comprised of Memphis, Marshall, Tulane, UAB, Southern Miss, Rice, Louisiana Tech and Temple.

The Big East division would include Louisville, Connecticut, Cincinnati, Rutgers, South Florida, Central Florida, East Carolina and Navy.

Numerous big hoops schools, but man talk about a lot of mediocrity.

[Purple Haize]

Which begs the question : Will it still be called the Big East? With a school in Hawaii you could make the case that is is close to China which is considered East, but the Rest?

[ATrain]

Which begs the question : Will it still be called the Big East? With a school in Hawaii you could make the case that is is close to China which is considered East, but the Rest?

Considering the BigTen now has 12 schools (as opposed to 11), the Atlantic 10 has more than 10 schools and includes St. Louis, the Big 12 has 10 schools, and the Pac-12 now has schools in Colorado and Utah...it makes perfect sense

[jbock13]

And considering these 32 team conferences are a plate full of BS and the media are just playing it so you keep watching...

You'd be surprised, but 5 years from now, I predict there won't have been many major changes to the alignment there is now.

[Sly Fox]

By this afternoon, many down here are expecting change. Hearing from folks in Columbia that Mizzou will make it official in applying to the SEC today.

That adds another opening in the Big XII ...

One of my buddies in Austin who has a national reputation associated with realignment (apparently he has phenomenal contacts inside the Big XII in particular) is suggested that Notre Dame is quietly letting the B1G & Big XII know that they plan to make a decision on whether or not they are prepared to move all sports including football into one of those two leagues in the next 60 days. Obviously the Golden Domers are less than pleased with the mess left from the dismantling of the Big East for their non-football sports.

If there is ANY chance that ND might consider a move to the Big XII, that league will hold an opening as long as necessary and not admit any more schools until they get a yea or nay. That means the folks in Morgantown, Louisville and Provo will have to hang in limbo for a bit.

Before some of you folks scoff at the thought of the Irish selecting the Big XII over the B1G, follow the money trail associated with television revenue.

As for the 32-team mindset for the Big East, I wouldn't rule out the possibility but not with the way it is laid out in that mess a few posts up. I mean seriously, how much thought was given to how that might look? I seriously doubt UH & Rice would be split up in same league when their campuses are about a 10-minute drive apart.

[flamehunter]

Which begs the question : Will it still be called the Big East? With a school in Hawaii you could make the case that is is close to China which is considered East, but the Rest?

That would be the "Big Far East".

[jbock13]

I think there might be a 120 team conference Big East in 2027.

Hey, but none of you could ever prove me wrong until then!

[Purple Haize]

By this afternoon, many down here are expecting change. Hearing from folks in Columbia that Mizzou will make it official in applying to the SEC today.

That adds another opening in the Big XII ...

One of my buddies in Austin who has a national reputation associated with realignment (apparently he has phenomenal contacts inside the Big XII in particular) is suggested that Notre Dame is quietly letting the B1G & Big XII know that they plan to make a decision on whether or not they are prepared to move all sports including football into one of those two leagues in the next 60 days. Obviously the Golden Domers are less than pleased with the mess left from the dismantling of the Big East for their non-football sports.

If there is ANY chance that ND might consider a move to the Big XII, that league will hold an opening as long as necessary and not admit any more schools until they get a yea or nay. That means the folks in Morgantown, Louisville and Provo will have to hang in limbo for a bit.

Before some of you folks scoff at the thought of the Irish selecting the Big XII over the B1G, follow the money trail associated with television revenue.

As for the 32-team mindset for the Big East, I wouldn't rule out the possibility but not with the way it is laid out in that mess a few posts up. I mean seriously, how much thought was given to how that might look? I seriously doubt UH & Rice would be split up in same league when their campuses are about a 10-minute drive apart.

Notre Dame has been and always will be a perfect fit for The Big Former 10. The Big East was good for all of their East Coast Alum but was one of the things killing them in recruiting. They already play or have played Purdue Michigan and Michigan St on a regular basis. Just think how adding OSU, Nebraska and Penn State to their schedule will look to recruits. Of course they are still going to get killed..... LOL

[alabama24]

If there is ANY chance that ND might consider a move to the Big XII

Sly - Sorry to break it to you... there isn't.

[Sly Fox]

Believe what you want to believe.

I just saw a tweet from the UH president indicating they have now scheduled a boar od regents meeting to vote on whether to accept an invitation from the Big East. The groundswell of UH folks around me don't like the idea. Nobody want to be left holding the bag.

[Sly Fox]

Update ...

West Virginia Close to Leaving Big East for Big 12
By PETE THAMEL
Published: October 25, 2011

West Virginia is headed to the Big 12, according to a person with direct knowledge of the situation, a move that leaves the Big East with five football programs and an uncertain future. The person said Tuesday that the Mountaineers had “applied and are accepted,” leaving only legal entanglements from making the move official. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been formally announced.

Click Here for Full Story

[Innocent Bystander]

By this afternoon, many down here are expecting change. Hearing from folks in Columbia that Mizzou will make it official in applying to the SEC today.

That adds another opening in the Big XII ...

One of my buddies in Austin who has a national reputation associated with realignment (apparently he has phenomenal contacts inside the Big XII in particular) is suggested that Notre Dame is quietly letting the B1G & Big XII know that they plan to make a decision on whether or not they are prepared to move all sports including football into one of those two leagues in the next 60 days. Obviously the Golden Domers are less than pleased with the mess left from the dismantling of the Big East for their non-football sports.

If there is ANY chance that ND might consider a move to the Big XII, that league will hold an opening as long as necessary and not admit any more schools until they get a yea or nay. That means the folks in Morgantown, Louisville and Provo will have to hang in limbo for a bit.

Before some of you folks scoff at the thought of the Irish selecting the Big XII over the B1G, follow the money trail associated with television revenue.

As for the 32-team mindset for the Big East, I wouldn't rule out the possibility but not with the way it is laid out in that mess a few posts up. I mean seriously, how much thought was given to how that might look? I seriously doubt UH & Rice would be split up in same league when their campuses are about a 10-minute drive apart.

Notre Dame has been and always will be a perfect fit for The Big Former 10. The Big East was good for all of their East Coast Alum but was one of the things killing them in recruiting. They already play or have played Purdue Michigan and Michigan St on a regular basis. Just think how adding OSU, Nebraska and Penn State to their schedule will look to recruits. Of course they are still going to get killed..... LOL

How has being in the Big East killed their recruiting? What has killed their recruiting is their focus on getting 4 year players that can get a degree from ND. That won't change with a move to the Big 10.

I think it is now inevitable that ND will join a conference for football. The loss of bowl access if the Big East crumbles will drive them in that direction. The question is which one. The rumors coming out of Austin have ND moving all but football to the Big 12 with the concession that ND plays 6 football games a year against Big 12 schools. If they are willing to do that, I think they would rather add 1 or 2 conference games and join the ACC or Big 10 for all sports.

[alabama24]

Believe what you want to believe.

If there is ANY chance that ND might consider a move to the Big XII, that league will hold an opening as long as necessary and not admit any more schools until they get a yea or nay. That means the folks in Morgantown, Louisville and Provo will have to hang in limbo for a bit.

Update ...

West Virginia Close to Leaving Big East for Big 12

So which is it Sly? If ND goes anywhere, it will be the Big Ten. They should and they will (eventually). The changes over the past year has hastened the demise of ND's independence. As I have always said (not necessarily on Flame Fans), ND should NOT be allowed in the BCS until they join a conference.

[jcmanson]

With WVA gone to the Big 12 is the Big East done? They're down to 5 football playing schools. At least they're all powerhouses - Louisville, USF, Cincy, UConn, Rutgers.

[Sly Fox]

Money talks in regard to ND.

As for the Big East, I'll bet the fact that they sent out those invitations last week and no one has answered back yet has to sting. They'll get someone to bite.

[jcmanson]

Money talks in regard to ND.

As for the Big East, I'll bet the fact that they sent out those invitations last week and no one has answered back yet has to sting. They'll get someone to bite.

Will they get someone to bite prior to the other 5 jumping ship? Louisville and Cincy have both been rumored to Big 12. UConn has made it public it wants in the ACC. Same with Rutgers.

[4everfsu]

Look at #14 for ND

http://espn.go.com/college-football/sto ... rformances

[From the class of 09]

Money talks in regard to ND.

As for the Big East, I'll bet the fact that they sent out those invitations last week and no one has answered back yet has to sting. They'll get someone to bite.

Will they get someone to bite prior to the other 5 jumping ship? Louisville and Cincy have both been rumored to Big 12. UConn has made it public it wants in the ACC. Same with Rutgers.

I know I know it won't happen, but right know I want to be that annoying kid who is jumping up and down saying pick me pick me pick me!!!