It's so hard to believe it's been five years since all of this started.

In the summer of '03, we were so sure that we'd be going with Cincinnati and Louisville to the Big East. There was simply no way they could turn down that package deal, we all thought.

But USF got the invite, and it was a kick to the gut that many of us still haven't recovered from.

If there are indeed teeth to this rumor......man, I can't even begin to imagine it just yet.

We've wanted this for quite a while now.

animus Wrote:i saw the news report on i think fox 13. a booster came out to the media not the ad. so i have an itchy feeling that this is just a rumor coming out of memphis. we'll hear about this in the next coming days

lol...you act like it's going to be announced in the next few mins...Fox Memphis is saying that Memphis and the Big East are talking...that's all.

i talk to people every day...i would like to think Memphis will be added to the Big East...but it doesn't happen overnight.

but this is a very good sign...baby steps.

Go Tigers!!!
Drew

fsquid Wrote:AD wouldn't comment during the news. A booster did though.

ECU's AD and Coach did not comment either, but yet terms of negotitions were leaked. This is going to be pretty interesting over the next couple of days, because if this stuff is to be believed then it looks like both schools are being considered.

all i know is...Memphis/Louisville/Cincy simply belong together...i know it sounds weird, but i miss you guys.

i hope we get in the BE...

Go Tigers!!!
Drew

SF Husky Wrote:If Memphis comes, it better come with the Liberty Bowl. It wouldn't be bad if Memphis offered the same deal ECU did just to get in.

I would think this would be a given that if Memphis came to the BE that the BE would soon replace CUSA in the LB. The LB definitely wants to keep the SEC happy and bringing in a BCS opponent would sweeten the deal for the SEC.

ADDTHETIGERSNOW!!!!!

Follow that up with an invite for ECU.

Like I said on the Memphis board. This is truly great news. Let's consider this is true and wheels are in motion. Does this mean a split is coming or is it a one and done situation?
CJ

UofMemphis Wrote:all i know is...Memphis/Louisville/Cincy simply belong together...i know it sounds weird, but i miss you guys.

I never did see why Memphis didn't come in with UC and UofL. All 3 were huge rivals.

bitcruncher Wrote:

UofMemphis Wrote:all i know is...Memphis/Louisville/Cincy simply belong together...i know it sounds weird, but i miss you guys.

I never did see why Memphis didn't come in with UC and UofL. All 3 were huge rivals.

we couldn't move the school to Florida.

fsquid Wrote:

bitcruncher Wrote:

UofMemphis Wrote:all i know is...Memphis/Louisville/Cincy simply belong together...i know it sounds weird, but i miss you guys.

I never did see why Memphis didn't come in with UC and UofL. All 3 were huge rivals.

we couldn't move the school to Florida.

It's a pity it's not downstream on the Mississippi. Memphis may eventually float down to the Gulf.

bitcruncher Wrote:

fsquid Wrote:

bitcruncher Wrote:

UofMemphis Wrote:all i know is...Memphis/Louisville/Cincy simply belong together...i know it sounds weird, but i miss you guys.

I never did see why Memphis didn't come in with UC and UofL. All 3 were huge rivals.

we couldn't move the school to Florida.

It's a pity it's not downstream on the Mississippi. Memphis may eventually float down to the Gulf.

Law School's new location will be on the bluff overlooking old man river. Maybe a shove is in order?

One good flood could do the work for ya.

Memphis certainly deserves a Big East invite! I'd hate to lose them in CUSA, but they can't turn down a Big East invite.

SF Husky Wrote:If Memphis comes, it better come with the Liberty Bowl. It wouldn't be bad if Memphis offered the same deal ECU did just to get in.

I think full membership is the only way. I think what happened to Temple was the partial membership made them a step child inthe BE. Let's treat all new members as equal partners so they can maxamize their potential.

That special deal crap only works for ND because ND sucks.

army56mike Wrote:ADDTHETIGERSNOW!!!!!

Follow that up with an invite for ECU.

I have always been a proponent of Memphis and ECU. I still am, especially now that Memphis bb is on a serious role, and ECU fb seems to be poised for some big things.

But now I am thinking about the repercussions of the BE taking a PR hit. Before, when the BE took schools from Cusa, it was a matter of survival. Now, to take 2 schools from Cusa is only to enhance the league. It would be the same as what the Acc did to the BE, afterall, they were looking to enhance their league as well.
Dont get me wrong, because I am all for either or both of these programs to be added, preferably both, but if the rumors are true, get ready for some comparisons to the acc raid.

GrayBeard Wrote:You would have to think that USF would be lobbying hard against that. They are pretty much the same market and in direct competition for recruits, TV coverage, etc.

Congrats...believe you are the first person to ever say that the Tampa/St Pete/Clearwater/Sarasota TV Market is the same as Orlando/Daytona Beach/Melbourne TV market.

Only thing both have in common is that BOTH of them are Top 20 TV Markets.

cuseroc Wrote:

army56mike Wrote:ADDTHETIGERSNOW!!!!!

Follow that up with an invite for ECU.

I have always been a proponent of Memphis and ECU. I still am, especially now that Memphis bb is on a serious role, and ECU fb seems to be poised for some big things.

But now I am thinking about the repercussions of the BE taking a PR hit. Before, when the BE took schools from Cusa, it was a matter of survival. Now, to take 2 schools from Cusa is only to enhance the league. It would be the same as what the Acc did to the BE, afterall, they were looking to enhance their league as well.
Dont get me wrong, because I am all for either or both of these programs to be added, preferably both, but if the rumors are true, get ready for some comparisons to the acc raid.

There will be people who will complain but the PR hit was nothing on the ACC. It did not impact their ticket sales or TV contracts. Bottom line that is all that matters. Most people, who matter, understand the business aspect of college sports.

What has been more of a PR hit for the ACC was their crappy play on the field.

There seems to be a lot of smoke in this "expansion" talk. Coming from a lot of different locations.

If Memphis is being considered it will not be for football only. Which means all sports which will mean another basketball team added. This would be 18 basketball playing schools which seems unlikely.

OR

it means a complete split and the Big East football schools go to 9 teams or maybe 12. There does not seem to be any benefits going to 10 UNLESS you will be playing a 9 game conference schedule. That has certainly been discussed lately.

I think ECU's position, and I may be wrong, is to be a player in either scenario. If in the Big East meeting they decide to split, Memphis will will go and ECU has certainly made a push to be a part.

If they decide against a split, then ECU also has the offer of the football only option which will be a big benefit for football scheduling.

A Memphis addition will require a BIG TIME shake up in the Big East. ECU could be added comparitively easy. I am not saying that is or should be a reason.

KnightLight Wrote:

GrayBeard Wrote:You would have to think that USF would be lobbying hard against that. They are pretty much the same market and in direct competition for recruits, TV coverage, etc.

Congrats...believe you are the first person to ever say that the Tampa/St Pete/Clearwater/Sarasota TV Market is the same as Orlando/Daytona Beach/Melbourne TV market.

Only thing both have in common is that BOTH of them are Top 20 TV Markets.

LOL, I thought that statement was kind of funny too. I was born and raised in Sarasota, and the only time that I was ever able to watch Orlando TV stations was when I was acually in Orlando.
The 2 towns are pretty close, about an hour and a half apart, maybe thats what he was saying.

you left Sarasota for Rochester?

KnightTower Wrote:If Memphis goes, its more likely that another CUSA team (or teams) moves up as well.

How so? All we need is one more to make football workable.