I just wanted to clear up some misconceptions about Memphis and whether or not they would be a viable candidate for the Big East if it ever expands.

Memphis WILL bring the Liberty Bowl to whatever conference they are in. That is a FACT. Steve Eahrhart the exec. Director of the Liberty Bowl is at every Tiger game and was on the sideline last night in New Orleans supporting the program.

Memphis is the only non BCS team to go to a bowl, the NCAA basketball tourney and the NCAA Baseball tourney in the same year.

Memphis has been to a bowl game in 4 of the last 5 years, took 6,000 fans to the New Orleans Bowl to watch a bad Memphis team play a school no one has ever heard of and then had 19,000 fans at the Georgetown game less than 12 hours later.

Memphis has a $32 million athletic budget and is improving facilities. Memphis is conducting a feasibility study for a new on campus football stadium, is building a new $4 mil baseball stadium, a $3 mil athletic hall of fame,a $1.5 mil. Golf facility, a tennis facility and have begun plans for a new on campus soccer stadium.

Memphis football is not very good right now but I believe with BCS affilliation they are a sleeping giant. It was not that long ago they beat Louisville 37-7 on the road, Cincinnati and USF by convincing margins. Being non BCS kills their recruiting when they are surrounded by the SEC.

Memphis has won conference titles and/or participated in the NCAA tournament in basketball, baseball, golf, track and soccer all in the last year. Imagine what they can do with a BCS check every year.

Informative post.

I just want to say that I appreciate, in my short time here, the confidence and relative modesty of the Memphis fans who frequent this board. Unlike the supporters of a certain other institution, Memphis fans will not grovel for admittance. I respect that. I have not for some time been a 'great' fan of Memphis' addition simply because I've always felt that other regions needed to be explored first. But I've largely changed my mind about that, largely but not entirely.

I think all of your stats are very encouraging, if I had a say in adding maybe 2 teams, Memphis would almost certainly get in. Football is still the driving issue and the BE may, in the near future, need immediate fball power, and that speaks more for UCF than it does Memphis at this point. But I think the area where you guys reside would readily afford very good football prospects, as you suggested.

If the BE goes to 10, assuming a split, then Florida and the NE have to be scrutinized first, IMO. But w/out UMASS moving up, and Temple still reeking, Memphis would be an easy choice. We also have to keep in mind that if the B-10 takes Rutgers or the 'Cuse, then that makes it almost critical to take in Memphis along with UCF and maybe a NE team.

I would love to see Memphis in the BE. I am in SEC hell down here and would love to see some Big East love around here. I think Memphis certainly has things to recommend it. I am not sure they are enough to overcome the geographic barrier. If Temple doesn't get their act together I could see Memphis getting in ahead of them. The problem is that Philadelphia would be the second largest market in our footprint and I can't see us just leaving it to the BB schools.

Good information. I'm sure all the BE posters on this forum will take it under consideration when we vote on who to add to the BE conference.

Athletic Budget
Memphis ------’02-’03---------’03-’04---------’04-’05--------’05-’06---------’06-‘07
Revenues----$20,261,583---$22,503,541---$24,289,378---$27,155,528---$29,335,795
Expenses----$21,663,503--------- “--------------- “ ----------- “ ----------- “

Big East -------- ’05-’06 ------------’06-‘07
Avg. Rev. ----$40,622,546------$42,081,242
Avg. Exp. ----$37,858,307------$41,124,791

ACC-- -------- ’05-’06 ------------’06-‘07
Avg. Rev. ----$49,319,156------$49,680,288
Avg. Exp. ----$48,438,509------$48,420,226

PAC-10 -------- ’05-’06 ------------’06-‘07
Avg. Rev. ----$48,478,992------$52,963,077
Avg. Exp. ----$47,469,727------$51,162,169

B12------------ ’05-’06 ------------’06-‘07
Avg. Rev. ----$55,959,646------$58,313,826
Avg. Exp. ----$51,042,753------$54,410,064

B10 ------------ ’05-’06 ------------’06-‘07
Avg. Rev. ----$64,297,408------$69,659,430
Avg. Exp. ----$59,393,328------$64,407,135

SEC------------- ’05-’06 ------------’06-‘07
Avg. Rev. ----$57,262,388------$63,792,809
Avg. Exp. ----$53,499,423------$58,100,799

SO#1 Wrote:Athletic Budget
Memphis ------’02-’03---------’03-’04---------’04-’05--------’05-’06---------’06-‘07
Revenues----$20,261,583---$22,503,541---$24,289,378---$27,155,528---$29,335,795
Expenses----$21,663,503--------- “--------------- “ ----------- “ ----------- “

Big East -------- ’05-’06 ------------’06-‘07
Avg. Rev. ----$40,622,546------$42,081,242
Avg. Exp. ----$37,858,307------$41,124,791

ACC-- -------- ’05-’06 ------------’06-‘07
Avg. Rev. ----$49,319,156------$49,680,288
Avg. Exp. ----$48,438,509------$48,420,226

PAC-10 -------- ’05-’06 ------------’06-‘07
Avg. Rev. ----$48,478,992------$52,963,077
Avg. Exp. ----$47,469,727------$51,162,169

B12------------ ’05-’06 ------------’06-‘07
Avg. Rev. ----$55,959,646------$58,313,826
Avg. Exp. ----$51,042,753------$54,410,064

B10 ------------ ’05-’06 ------------’06-‘07
Avg. Rev. ----$64,297,408------$69,659,430
Avg. Exp. ----$59,393,328------$64,407,135

SEC------------- ’05-’06 ------------’06-‘07
Avg. Rev. ----$57,262,388------$63,792,809
Avg. Exp. ----$53,499,423------$58,100,799

It's true you wont see Memphis fans lobbying over here. We have too much f'in pride. But what exactly does this prove UConn fan?

We still have a larger budget than some of your current schools, and
without the benefit of that BCS check.

wvucrazed Wrote:Good information. I'm sure all the BE posters on this forum will take it under consideration when we vote on who to add to the BE conference.

Memphis has always had my vote, but, fact is, our votes don't count

If you take $17M divided by 8 you get $2.125M and if subtract that from $40M you got an average of $38M. You attribute everything to BCS. You fail to realize that the fans of these schools provide the resource for them. When Louisville came in they only second to UConn without any benefit from BCS.

SO#1 Wrote:If you take $17M divided by 8 you get $2.125M and if subtract that from $40M you got an average of $38M. You attribute everything to BCS. You fail to realize that the fans of these schools provide the resource for them. When Louisville came in they only second to UConn without any benefit from BCS.

Who cares what the average is? We still spend more and earn more than
some. Is that even an argument?

umtiger94 Wrote:Memphis football is not very good right now but I believe with BCS affilliation they are a sleeping giant. It was not that long ago they beat Louisville 37-7 on the road, Cincinnati and USF by convincing margins. Being non BCS kills their recruiting when they are surrounded by the SEC.

Memphis only beat Cincinnati by 5 points at home actually. But you point still stands, I really think Memphis could be a force with a BCS tag. And the havoc the havoc they would wreak in SEC territory, both on the field and on the recruiting trail, would be very enjoyable to watch.

Come on gang! How sweet would it be to have a Memphis in SEC territory and an ECU in ACC territory, and have them both be successful and regularly beat those other conferences teams, but fly under the BEast banner! That would leave a very good taste in my mouth. I know you would love that too.

army56mike Wrote:Come on gang! How sweet would it be to have a Memphis in SEC territory and an ECU in ACC territory, and have them both be successful and regularly beat those other conferences teams, but fly under the BEast banner! That would leave a very good taste in my mouth. I know you would love that too.

Don't forget about Charlotte that is looking a getting a football team. They already have a big time hoops program, big financial market, and a big t.v market. That is really in the heart of ACC country.

Since none of this will happen for years I wanted to add another team to your list.

Charlotte is 10 to 20 years away from the BCS.

Wilkie01 Wrote:Charlotte is 10 to 20 years away from the BCS.

S. Fla says it can be done. The Big East is going to go after media markets like the last expansion round. Charlotte is the #3 financial center in the US. They have "BIG" time money. Don't count them out of expansion down the road. It is very likely the conferences will shake up in a major way in the next 10 years and Charlotte might be a big time team by then.

KNIGHTTIME Wrote:

Wilkie01 Wrote:Charlotte is 10 to 20 years away from the BCS.

S. Fla says it can be done. The Big East is going to go after media markets like the last expansion round. Charlotte is the #3 financial center in the US. They have "BIG" time money. Don't count them out of expansion down the road. It is very likely the conferences will shake up in a major way in the next 10 years and Charlotte might be a big time team by then.

I don't expect the Big East to go after markets this time around. The reason it went after markets last time was so that the Big East could have such a huge collection of markets that it would be impossible for the BCS to kick us out. It was basically a bargain chip. The advantage, in theory, that Charlotte has is that they have a solid basketball program. But ECU could have a strong basketball program with the right coach.

Don't want to steal the Memphis love or Charlotte's thunder, but don't forget about Georgia State. We too only need an approval by our State Board of Regents in April to get things started in 2010. By all indications, it will be a formality. I assure you, with what Georgia State is building downtown, they will be on a few short lists as well in the next decade.
http://www.ajc.com/business/content/busi..._1213.html
http://projects.ajc.com/gallery/view/bus...1212gulch/
http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwmsp/2006/masterplan/index.htm
The above plans allows for 10,000 students out of the projected 40,000 enrolled to be in downtown dorms in the next ten years. Before you say it, it is becoimg less of a commuter school each year, there are plans for a new 10,000 seat arena, and we have former national basketball coach of the year Rod Barnes righting the ship. That Plus the over 95,000 almuni in metro Atlanta is a pretty good fan base to start with.
I hate to pimp, but somebody's gotta remind folks.

This is all very interesting everyone, but I still don't see ECU, Charlotte, or now GA. State as realistic prospective expansion candidates. It's nothing personal, but the Northeast, the state of Florida, and Memphis is about as far as the BE should look to expand. Though, any other prospective candidates out there, please step up, this continues to be quite interesting. And since my 'vote' doesn't count in league HQ anyway, there's no chance of a veto on my part.

ChooChoo Wrote:Don't want to steal the Memphis love or Charlotte's thunder, but don't forget about Georgia State. We too only need an approval by our State Board of Regents in April to get things started in 2010. By all indications, it will be a formality. I assure you, with what Georgia State is building downtown, they will be on a few short lists as well in the next decade.
http://www.ajc.com/business/content/busi..._1213.html
http://projects.ajc.com/gallery/view/bus...1212gulch/
http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwmsp/2006/masterplan/index.htm
The above plans allows for 10,000 students out of the projected 40,000 enrolled to be in downtown dorms in the next ten years. Before you say it, it is becoimg less of a commuter school each year, there are plans for a new 10,000 seat arena, and we have former national basketball coach of the year Rod Barnes righting the ship. That Plus the over 95,000 almuni in metro Atlanta is a pretty good fan base to start with.
I hate to pimp, but somebody's gotta remind folks.

Do you have a football team and a stadium? If, yes, what division and what is your avg. attendance per game?

The B*E*A*S*T
[/i]East
UMass
UConn
Cuse
Rutgers
ECU
USF

West
Pitt
WVU
Cincy
The Ville
ND
Memphis