(11-07-2011 01:17 PM)BullsFanInTX Wrote:  Word is filtering out of BYU land that they are interested and talks are heating up with the BE.

Great news, if true... got a link?

Here's an article just posted by the Salt Lake Tribune:

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogsbyuspo...e.html.csp

Interview with BYU head coach Bronco:

"http://pandora.bonnint.net/audio/2011_11_07_byu_interviews_head_coach_bronco_mendenhall_on_big_east_interest_in_byu.mp3"

He confirmed that BE and BYU are in discussion.

If this is true, I can't imagine a better scenario for convincing at least 2 service academies that the Big East is stable enough to join.

BYU would be a huge get....as would Boise.
we get both of them and the we lose are AQ talk should subside....

Add that to UC, UofL, Houston and co. and we are good to go

Big East----------Big West
Louisville---------Boise State*
Cincinnati--------Houston
UConn-----------BYU*
Rutgers----------SMU
USF-------------UCF
Navy*-----------AFA*

* Denotes football only

I could also see Navy preferring to be in the Western division in which case UCF would swap places in the East. Really looking forward to this set up...

(11-07-2011 08:43 PM)UCbball21 Wrote:  Big East---------Big West
Louisville---------Boise State*
Cincinnati--------Houston*
UConn-----------BYU*
Rutgers----------SMU
USF-------------UCF
Navy*-----------AFA*

* Denotes football only

I could also see Navy preferring to be in the Western division in which case UCF would swap places in the East. Really looking forward to this set up...

I have a theory that the 12 team conference model doesn't include any service academies. Not until 2015 anyway. This is what I perceive happening at present.

Big East-----------------Big West
Louisville----------------Boise State*
Cincinnati---------------Houston*
UConn------------------BYU*
Rutgers-----------------SMU
USF--------------------Nevada
UCF--------------------SDSU
Temple or ECU-----------Memphis or Southern Miss.
Navy*------------------AFA* ( Both not available until 2015)

This is only if any of the previous articles have any truth to them. There have been some with UCF lawmakers trying to get them in, Temple fighting to get in and they have ComCast in their corner, Southern Miss publicly asking why they weren't concidered and the latest news with Nevada and SDSU's names being thrown out there. While it's all interesting. I would rather it be done and recovering from the after party.

Here is yet another example: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/os...0780.story

14 teams with no service academies? Excuse me while I look for a barf bag!

The only reason we go to 14 is to bring in Army if they change their mind later on, or to bring in BYU if they're not convinced this round. Without the service academies, I doubt we get BYU.

(11-07-2011 10:02 PM)SmallVoice Wrote:  The only reason we go to 14 is to bring in Army if they change their mind later on, or to bring in BYU if they're not convinced this round. Without the service academies, I doubt we get BYU.

I think BYU is tied more to their own ambitions and a possible BCS berth. Althought having Boise St pushing for them doesn't hurt. I believe even without the service academies, BYU would enter if they believe the conference will be stable and have AQ. Boise St with a tiny help from Houston secures the AQ, while BYU becomes the travel partner for Boise St.

It's all just a guess until something is announced anyway.

(11-07-2011 08:43 PM)UCbball21 Wrote:  Big East----------Big West
Louisville---------Boise State*
Cincinnati--------Houston*
UConn-----------BYU*
Rutgers----------SMU
USF-------------UCF
Navy*-----------AFA*

* Denotes football only

I could also see Navy preferring to be in the Western division in which case UCF would swap places in the East. Really looking forward to this set up...

I too am looking forward to this setup....only one exception: just need to remove Houston's asterisk.

GO COOGS!!! GO BIG EAST!!!

(11-07-2011 08:43 PM)UCbball21 Wrote:  Big East----------Big West
Louisville---------Boise State*
Cincinnati--------Houston*
UConn-----------BYU*
Rutgers----------SMU
USF-------------UCF
Navy*-----------AFA*

* Denotes football only

I could also see Navy preferring to be in the Western division in which case UCF would swap places in the East. Really looking forward to this set up...

Yep, IMO this is how it should be. UCF is better to put in the West, bigger airport than BWI. Plus Navy is more valuable and harder to sell this conference on. No reason to add additional hurdles by making them play in a western division (unless they want to for some reason)

That said, I dont think any yearly cross division games should be forced. Just do UCF/USF and Navy/AFA. No reason to try and invent rivalries that dont exist.

(11-08-2011 12:07 AM)tom-cat Wrote:  

(11-07-2011 08:43 PM)UCbball21 Wrote:  Big East----------Big West
Louisville---------Boise State*
Cincinnati--------Houston*
UConn-----------BYU*
Rutgers----------SMU
USF-------------UCF
Navy*-----------AFA*

* Denotes football only

I could also see Navy preferring to be in the Western division in which case UCF would swap places in the East. Really looking forward to this set up...

I too am looking forward to this setup....only one exception: just need to remove Houston's asterisk.

GO COOGS!!! GO BIG EAST!!!

Corrected, not sure how I missed that.

UCbball21: No biggie.