WVU and Pitt will be leaving (Syracuse doesn't play baseball?!?) but will be replaced by Houston, Memphis, UCF and Temple. With extra income, SMU may (and should) field a team. Winning the Big East baseball championship in the coming years will be no easy feat. Where are the Big East baseball tournaments usually held? One of my dreams is to see Memphis play in Omaha before I cash in my chips.

(03-13-2012 11:29 AM)Gray Avenger Wrote:  WVU and Pitt will be leaving (Syracuse doesn't play baseball?!?) but will be replaced by Houston, Memphis, UCF and Temple. With extra income, SMU may (and should) field a team. Winning the Big East baseball championship in the coming years will be no easy feat. Where are the Big East baseball tournaments usually held? One of my dreams is to see Memphis play in Omaha before I cash in my chips.

I'm biased but I really feel the UCF and Houston programs are on the verge of something special. The coaching staffs they have in place can recruit with the best of them. UCF baseball coach Terry Rooney and UH baseball coach Todd Whitting came from GREAT coaching staffs at LSU and TCU and are relentless workers.
In many ways, I feel the Big East will benefit in baseball by the same means that football will benefit. Having a good foothold in Texas and Florida enables the conference to transcend some of the disadvantages of being nothern-centric. The new programs will definitely raise the competitive standards of the league. I'm anxious to see how Temple does this year with the new staff.

Memphis baseball has been close to "breaking out" several times in the past, but the murderer's row of Rice, Houston, Tulane, Southern Miss, UAB and ECU always proved a little too tough. Though Big East baseball will not be a cakewalk, it is more likely to allow our program a chance to develop into a national competitor.

(03-13-2012 11:47 AM)BigEastHomer Wrote:  I'm anxious to see how Temple does this year with the new staff.

Same. Valli was pretty miserable to bear

Terry Rooney and David Grewe were previously on Paul Mainieri's staff at Notre Dame.

Rooney was pitching coach and recruiting coordinator. He is a very good coach.

Just a thought- does San Diego St have the same deal with the Big East in baseball as they do basketball? If so, could be some good OOC games there.

(03-13-2012 11:29 AM)Gray Avenger Wrote:  With extra income, SMU may (and should) field a team.

Where would they play? SMU baseball languished in the SWC and played at a city park (Reverchon) because of no space on campus.

The only option would be to build on the soccer/track facility and move the soccer team to Ford Stadium, but I don't think that's in any discussions.

(03-13-2012 04:23 PM)stever20 Wrote:  Just a thought- does San Diego St have the same deal with the Big East in baseball as they do basketball? If so, could be some good OOC games there.

Aren't they moving to a really good baseball conference? I mean, Fullerton has multiple national titles. I wouldn't think they would need that kind of deal for baseball.

Remember it's #18 UCF Baseball!