"A source told ESPN college football reporter Joe Schad on Wednesday that Villanova is leaning toward accepting football membership. The Big East wants an answer by the end of the year."

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5756898

added tidbit from their earlier article

begining to look like TCU and Villanova are a lock. 17 teams work for basketball..play every coference member once. Weird combo though..Philadelphia and Ft Worth. Nova really not ready...no fans no stadium.... but it's the Big east and the basketball schools had to be thrown a bone to except expansion.

(11-03-2010 10:13 AM)No Bull Wrote:  begining to look like TCU and Villanova are a lock. 17 teams work for basketball..play every coference member once. Weird combo though..Philadelphia and Ft Worth. Nova really not ready...no fans no stadium.... but it's the Big east and the basketball schools had to be thrown a bone to except expansion.

Except that if Villanova comes they will have solved both the fan and stadium situation-at least in large part. They can't move up if they don't have the attendance and if they don't have a place to play that meets the necessary criteria. If they agree to move then both have been worked out.

(11-03-2010 10:13 AM)No Bull Wrote:  ... Weird combo though..Philadelphia and Ft Worth ...

...weird at first look, but the Cowboys have always been in the East with the Eagles, Giants and Redskins... so there is a football-culture connection...

Decent source in Orlando is reporting Villanova is leaning toward accepting football membership. TCU to be extended football only invite.