(09-27-2010 02:16 PM)brista21 Wrote:  

(09-27-2010 01:53 PM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  ...but conferences affirmatively kicking members out based on poor performance simply doesn't happen. It's a complete waste of time to speculate otherwise.

I agree completely. It wouldn't surprise me on the other hand if they begrudgingly had to downgrade to a lower Division I league or more likely Division III. I say this because as an institution they just aren't doing that well financially, its not just the athletic department. Combine that with just overall crappy performance in the Big East and it could be that they might deemphasize athletics in the near future.

Seems that you are hearing/seeing more Div I teams dropping down to Div III of late.

Two of the latest Div I-A schools to do so (drop to Div III for next year)...both in Louisiana:

Univ of New Orleans
Centenary (Shreveport)

Believe there are few others dropping down to Div III next year...as the cost for some is just too great.

i think some people put too much emphasis on a "balanced" conf. Up until the current setup there never was a real FB/non fb balance. The current setup IMO was primarily setup in case of a split the 2 sides would survive without the other
Seton Hall still sponsors more(or same) than a few other BE members. Maybe they could follow Marquettes lead and focus on fewer sports but better programs. Of course they dont have the same budget so that might not work either. I wish i had the answer

And the Big East would rather associate themselves with teams like this instead of ECU, TCU, and UCF.....Hell Temple has a better program then this. The BE better start looking hard at this. I think the BE deserves better then this.