I didn't say they'd all become Delaware fans. But some would. But were talking about after Delaware first upgrades, then joins a BCS conference, and becomes competitive. That's more than Maryland has done in the ACC in a long time...

I think the hiring of Bernard Muir (former Georgetown AD) speaks volumes about UD's aspirations. You don't see UMass making hires like that.

I don't think it should be a umass vs udelaware thing...if your gonna go down that road, take them both...take the 8 big east football school's and add umass, udelaware, temple, and c. flordia...tempted to really go state flagshipish and add URI instead of either temple or c.f though and go with the 9 football, 3 non football concept (umass, uri, udelaware than one football school either temple or cf)...the whole point though is instead of going power cusa-ish, the big east football school's need to grow some eastern flagships, that is where they void is in the college football world + there are 2 big ones out there to grow, ie umass + udelaware. Point to remeber is they don't need to come on aboard playing football asap if the big east football school's went with the 9 football, 3 non football theme...Yet, this concept assumes the big east football school's want to split from the catholics...still waiting on that...

(07-15-2009 12:58 PM)KnightChris Wrote:  UMass is not the best school in Massachusetts. Boston College is. If we can't get BC back, then I say just move on. Even if a school in Amherst could deliver us the Boston market (which I doubt they could), the people would still see them (and by extension the Big East) as second best. That's not exactly the view of the Big East I want to cultivate.

Cincinnati, Louisville, South Florida, and Pitt aren't the premier programs in their state. I don't think they're too bad, do you?

UMass has proved they throw weight around in Boston when they're good. They have a game vs. Memphis there this year, in fact.

New Model

Central Florida
Cincinnati
Connecticut
Louisville
Pittsburgh
Rutgers
South Florida
Syracuse
Temple
West Virginia
UMass (basketball only)
Delaware (basketball only)

During the initial stage, the 8 current Big East football schools split to form a new conference. Central Florida and Temple are added as full members. UMass and Delaware would be offered partial membership (basketball + Olympic sports) initially with the promise of full membership after five years provided they meet specific criteria.

The benefits of this expansion model are:

1) the conference gains a stronger foothold in the unclaimed NE region of the US and is able to solidify itself as THE Northeastern conference.

2) The conference would receive at least partial coverage in the following TV markets: #1 New York City, #5 Philadelphia, #8 Boston, #19 Tampa, #23 Orlando, #26 Pittsburgh, #37 Hartford, #38 Cincinnati, #55 Louisville.

Note: Delaware might be able to gain some limited exposure for the conference in #7 Washington D.C. and #22 Baltimore though my personal opinion is that this is unlikely.

3) Big East teams get a recruiting trip to Florida every year.

(07-27-2009 08:07 AM)UofL07 Wrote:  New Model

Central Florida
Cincinnati
Connecticut
Louisville
Pittsburgh
Rutgers
South Florida
Syracuse
Temple
West Virginia
UMass (basketball only)
Delaware (basketball only)

During the initial stage, the 8 current Big East football schools split to form a new conference. Central Florida and Temple are added as full members. UMass and Delaware would be offered partial membership (basketball + Olympic sports) initially with the promise of full membership after five years provided they meet specific criteria.

The benefits of this expansion model are:

1) the conference gains a stronger foothold in the unclaimed NE region of the US and is able to solidify itself as THE Northeastern conference.

2) The conference would receive at least partial coverage in the following TV markets: #1 New York City, #5 Philadelphia, #8 Boston, #19 Tampa, #23 Orlando, #26 Pittsburgh, #37 Hartford, #38 Cincinnati, #55 Louisville.

Note: Delaware might be able to gain some limited exposure for the conference in #7 Washington D.C. and #22 Baltimore though my personal opinion is that this is unlikely.

3) Big East teams get a recruiting trip to Florida every year.

I dont like that hybrid model and i dont think the football members would get rid of Gtown, Nova, marquette and the others for that. Sorry but financially it makes little sense. You also have 10 footbal schools that would limit OCC to three games and unbalances the conference schedule, it also precludes a championship game that brings extra money.
For football is either 9 or 12 but there are not nough teams outthere to bring the extra money to 12. So for Big East 9 football members is the best deal for the near future unless yo can bring in some heavyweights.

(07-27-2009 08:07 AM)UofL07 Wrote:  New Model

Central Florida
Cincinnati
Connecticut
Louisville
Pittsburgh
Rutgers
South Florida
Syracuse
Temple
West Virginia
UMass (basketball only)
Delaware (basketball only)

So, trade DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John's, Seton Hall, Villanova, and non-football-Notre-Dame in exchange for UCF, Delaware, UMass, and Temple?

I don't think that concept would find a whole lot of support around the Big East of today.