Aren't y'all overlooking somebody? I would say Notre Dame because the Big East might not have any bowl tie-ins without them.

Relax, Cat's Claw. It's just a joke. I really think it's Cincinnati.

Seriously though, ND is important to the Big East. I don't think anyone would deny that. The question was worded "to the BE", not "in the BE".

SU is the most important because they are one of the charter schools and the most likely to leave at this point. Next I would rate Pitt and WVU because they are the core of what remains as the BEast. Louisville is important in their own way because they are the team under the microscope. They have to prove their worth. Are they a lump of gold the BEast was fortunate enough to stumble upon or are they a lump of coal? next in order of importance to the conference would be Rutgers because they are part of the old guard and also because of their TV market, then UConn because they the state university and carry a certain amount of prestige...then Cincy and South Florida, not because they are not important or unworthy or anything like that, I feel if they are not successful immediately, it will not be detrimental to the conference.
Just one more opinion.

Bearcat T Wrote:How could anyone say UC is dead weight? How many Big East teams have been to five bowls in seven years and graduate 86% of their players? None.......Lets give the Cats a couple seasons before
judging them. If this were last years team we would be saying they were in the top 1/2 of the conference.

Who said UC is deadweight? No real Big East fan has said this. I have seen some C-DOA fans on here and in a fit of jealousy, they have said we will be deadweight but otherwise nobody is saying this. The Cats may have a tough year this year but they have a VERY young team and should be great in a couple of years or so. Who knows, with Dantonio, they may even surprise us THIS year. Go CATS!!!!

If the coaching situation remains as it is now, I expect to see Syracuse and Cincinnati become the defense-first teams in our league and to improve in the next 2 years or so into contenders.

cuseroc Wrote:Sort of like memphis and everyone else in cusa, right?

Exactly.

Wilkie01 Wrote:Louisville is just as likely to get asked as the schools you mentioned.

Don't count on getting an invite to the SEC as long as Kentucky is there.

Tigeer Wrote:

Wilkie01 Wrote:Louisville is just as likely to get asked as the schools you mentioned.

Don't count on getting an invite to the SEC as long as Kentucky is there.

Well, according to Sister Cleo... the 3 most important football teams in the Big East are Louisville, Cincinnati, and Memphis. :laugh: