I think ECU would certainly work as a football only member for the short term.
I frankly think they would work as an all sports member as well. Mind you, I think they would struggle in bb, but they have shown steady improvement, and membership in the BE would only help their recruitment of quality players (fb and bb). Their other sports show they are not a one-dimensional athletic program (baseball and track are top programs). ECU has a good fan base, and a good location. Admittedly, not a huge town, but a lot of people in the tidewater region. Syracuse, for example, is not a big city, but there are a lot of folks in upstate NY.
So, I think we bring in ECU for fb as soon as possible. 2006 presumably. If we could, I would also say all sports, but otherwise they would surely get a seat in the A10.
I am on record as not being convinced that we need 12 schools. When you get too many schools then you suddenly find that you cannot play everyone. Part of being in a conference is.... playing the other teams. But 9 schools are really needed for balance.
9 schools for fb gives us the breathing room to build the fb side of the conference. Internally. Not with adds, but with hard work.
No powers next year? Who said that? I think Louisville starts in the top 10. Certainly top 15. An initial guess of the order of schools next year:
Louisville
West Virginia
Pitt
Syracuse
Connecticut
Cincinnati
Rutgers
South Florida
but... that's just initially. I think there's ample room to change that order on the ground.
Back to the topic....
A 10th team. I understand the idea to provide a sandbox partner for USF. UCF would do that, but I'm not sure it makes more sense to put two of our eggs down in the swamp, than one. UCF is certainly LESS ready to move up than UConn was. LESS ready than ECU is.
Considering that 10th, 11th, and even 12th schools are essentially gravy, I don't see the need to jump prematurely for UCF.
Assuming the Big Split comes in 2010-2011, then we will probably want those extra schools. UMass, given five extra years to prepare, seems attractive.
Delaware? hmmm. I'd doubt it.
Villanova? possible. just like Umass there are money issues i think.
Penn State.
Notre Dame.
Those last two have been endlessly discussed. I think we leave the door open, but they come inside if they want to. Not likely I'm afraid.
And really that's about it. Buffalo? New Hampshire? Re-energized Temple?
Otherwise, we go fishing down south. ECU is as far south as I think we should be fishing.
Memphis, Southern Miss, etc. etc. etc. etc. Just say no.
So, I guess my point here is that ECU seems sensible and logical. And any other move at this time is either STUPID (see Memphis, Southern Miss, etc. etc.) or premature (Umass, UCF) or just a pipedream (ND, PSU).
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