(12-01-2010 10:40 AM)CitrusUCF Wrote:  SMU + TCU gets you significant coverage in DFW. TCU + UH gets you so-so coverage in DFW and Houston. Better to have major penetration in a major market than so-so penetration in two of them imho.

That is true. That being said, I don't see TCU agreeing to take SMU.

I agree that'd be great to move to 12. If that is truly the plan...then it doesn't matter what Villanova does and UCF will step in and play by 2012. I think Houston gets the nod over ECU, due to market, travel for TCU.

(12-01-2010 10:55 AM)LuDawg Wrote:  That's two credible sources in 2 days. The Big East Official cited in the Star-Ledger yesterday and today the WVU AD.

If UCF turns down a football only, ECU gets the nod. UCF doesn't have nearly the clout to be dictating to the Big East what sports will be included in any invite the way Texas Christian did.

Dude seriously, just stop. If UCF gets an offer it will be for all sports, it has been that way since day one of this round and will remain that way. And if I'm wrong we will politely decline the offer and ECU will get in and life will go on. In the mean time go back to your OTM discipleship and stop constantly jumping into threads and throwing grenades... it's getting tired

(12-01-2010 10:56 AM)UCF-ENG Wrote:  

(12-01-2010 10:52 AM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  At least now UCF fans can't say that no credible source has ever mentioned ECU, even though I don't take this very seriously at all.

Luck has always been a big ECU supporter, he has mentioned them several times, I'm actually more surprised that he mentioned UCF than ECU... This may be the first time he has done so...

WVU in general has always had a very good relationship with ECU. We have played them more times than any OOC opponent other than NC State, and they have made more trips to Greenville than State as well. I have always assumed they would be a pretty big supporter of us.

FWIW as a UCF fan I've always wanted ECU to come with us to the BIG EAST if we were to go. I enjoy to heated rivalry between the fans and teams. Hopefully Villanova says no, then BIG EAST expands with TCU, UCF, ECU, Houston.

How could any right-minded BE fan or administrator not be concerned about the possibility/probabilty of a future raid or raids? We are weak and disjointed and we are located in an area of the country with the most population. That has guys like Delany seeing dollar signs when they go to bed at night. And you can bet your sweet arse that if the B10 - or another league - ever figures out how to get all of those eyeballs to buy their product the BE is going to be smashed to smithereens.

I would be VERY concerned if I was school like WVU as this whole thing seems to be market driven and that state is basically marketless. They could be to the ACC, SEC, or B10 what ECU appears to be to the BE during this process: a fan base that is recognized as being passionate and large but w/o a defined market to sell in this market crazy climate.

For those same reasons I would be very confident if I was Rutgers and Connecticut and to a lesser degree Pittsburgh.

(12-01-2010 11:01 AM)UCF-ENG Wrote:  

(12-01-2010 10:55 AM)LuDawg Wrote:  That's two credible sources in 2 days. The Big East Official cited in the Star-Ledger yesterday and today the WVU AD.

If UCF turns down a football only, ECU gets the nod. UCF doesn't have nearly the clout to be dictating to the Big East what sports will be included in any invite the way Texas Christian did.

Dude seriously, just stop. If UCF gets an offer it will be for all sports, it has been that way since day one of this round and will remain that way. And if I'm wrong we will politely decline the offer and ECU will get in and life will go on. In the mean time go back to your OTM discipleship and stop constantly jumping into threads and throwing grenades... it's getting tired

I'm not causing any problems. You're just defensive. The Big East decided to expand it's FOOTBALL membership. When they realized that TCU would not accept a football only membership, they bent under pressure and extended an all sports invite to get acceptance. If UCF tried the same tactics, the Big East would simply move on.

I'm not throwing grenades, I'm stating the facts. If you're willing to accept a football only, the spot will probably be yours due to the market your schools is in. Congratulations and life would go on.

If the Big East goes to 12....ECU may have a very slim chance. I know that WVU has always liked ECU...but that's not really helping ECU. ECU is out of the equations for this 10th spot for sure. They're best shot is if the BE bumps to 12 and Villanova declines. Even that's not guaranteed. Right now...UCF has the best shot over the remaining schools, hands down.

The next invite will not be football only. All-sports is what is on the table, next. With or without Villanova. Villanova moving up is NOT a factor to the 10th spot....Villanova will not be the 10th and final spot in 2012. There will be 10 football playing members in 2012 and it will be TCU and one other all-sports invitee.

How does the Big East benefit by going to 12???

10 gets them a 9-game schedule. 12 forces them to commit to 2 more unproven schools with mediocre histories & to close the door on future expansion.

7 years ago TCU was not on the Big East's radar. Time has allowed the cream to rise to the top & the Big East has been able to add a premier program. Stopping at 10 for now will allow the conference to do the same thing - let the various candidates compete to determine who is able to raise the level of their program to become a candidate that the conference simply can't refuse.

I can certainly see why fans of UCF & other candidates are excited about the thought of the conference adding 2 or 3 more new members, but I have no idea why Big East fans would see this as beneficial to the conference at this time. Waiting for the right candidate to identify itself by its success is by far the better way to go IMHO.

Maybe I'm missing something, but just why do UCF fans seem to think they are such a slam dunk? Is it because they read a couple of articles or twitter? Even though ECU has been mentioned, I will beleive ECU is invited when a public announcement is made. I personally think UCF would make a good addition, but I also think Houston, ECU, and Memphis would just as well. Also, ECU doesn't have an instate school that is likely working against it joining the BE like it appears UCF does.

Navy should be the tenth. They're the most consistently winning team out there right now.

WVU doesn't want Marshall involved, USF doesn't want UCF involved a no ACC team wants ECU involved but they can't block another conference's expansion. Both NC State and UNC would be against adding ECU to the ACC so it's a no brainer that both USF and WVU would do what it could to block UCF and Marshall.

My hope is that they go to 12, add ECU, Houston and UCF. Don't think you'd ever see SMU since they are only a few (20 miles or so) appart.

That would give them two Texas markets and new recruiting grounds, North Carolina/lower VA tidewater and another market in FL.

I am so tired of hearing about market size and televisions. What about product? When the Big 10 expanded they added Nebraska. Not exactly a big market but a great product. When the SEC expanded they added South Carolina and Arkansas; again not a lot of televisions but a great product with a passionate fan base. When the ACC expanded they went for markets and came up with Boston College. Great market . . . bad fit. By mere luck and a great Governor they got Virginia Tech. Terrible market . . . incredible product, year-in and year-out. Had the ACC had its druthers they would have had Syracuse rather than Tech. What would the perception of football in the ACC and Big East be had that happened . . . TCU would still be in the MWC.

(12-01-2010 11:14 AM)Bill Marsh Wrote:  How does the Big East benefit by going to 12???

10 gets them a 9-game schedule. 12 forces them to commit to 2 more unproven schools with mediocre histories & to close the door on future expansion.

The BE doesn't really benefit to go to 10, let alone 12, because any school that they add at this point is only going to take more money than they bring in.

(12-01-2010 11:30 AM)ej6687 Wrote:  

(12-01-2010 11:14 AM)Bill Marsh Wrote:  How does the Big East benefit by going to 12???

10 gets them a 9-game schedule. 12 forces them to commit to 2 more unproven schools with mediocre histories & to close the door on future expansion.

The BE doesn't really benefit to go to 10, let alone 12, because any school that they add at this point is only going to take more money than they bring in.

This is possible, but how can it be stated for certain?

(12-01-2010 11:30 AM)ej6687 Wrote:  

(12-01-2010 11:14 AM)Bill Marsh Wrote:  How does the Big East benefit by going to 12???

10 gets them a 9-game schedule. 12 forces them to commit to 2 more unproven schools with mediocre histories & to close the door on future expansion.

The BE doesn't really benefit to go to 10, let alone 12, because any school that they add at this point is only going to take more money than they bring in.

Are you talking post-TCU? Because TCU will certainly bring in money.

A 10th school doesn't necessarily bring in more money, but that doesn't mean that it doesn't have its benefits such as a 9-game schedule. The 9th game not only helps the schedule but has a financial benefit as well.

(12-01-2010 10:41 AM)Brick City Pirate Wrote:  

(12-01-2010 10:37 AM)No Bull Wrote:  Luck...is blowing smoke. TCU will not be in the same conference as SMU... for Luck to indicate SMU means his comments are pure subterfuge... probably to get someone on the fence to accept a Football only invite....

He doesn't have to say what he said publically to get the great UCF to accept a football only offer. If the UCF leadership doesn't already know that there are other good schools that would take a football only offer, then UCF needs new leadership.

I am not sure what audience Luck is playing too (was not implying UCF) but he is playing to an "audience" ; ECU? Perhaps.

SMU and The Acadamies are non starters...this tells me Luck is blowing smoke...and my guess is that it has a purpose.

(12-01-2010 10:19 AM)wvucrazed Wrote:  

(12-01-2010 10:12 AM)Goldenbuc Wrote:  Also...if he's not a fan of the FCS games...how is it difficult to play Marshall on an annual basis. I think it's great for the state and schools. Maybe it was the close call this year that brought up that thinking.

WVU has been against playing Marshall from the beginning - it does nothing at all to benefit West Virginia University, or the state. It's only benefit is to help prop up Marshall.

I disagree with that. Personally I like that game. I went up to the game in Huntingdon this past time and it was a great atmosphere. Better than many of our own home games. I'd much rather play Marshall than play a Coastal Carolina like we did. I'd like to see the Marshall series continue but if it dont thats okay too.

(12-01-2010 10:40 AM)CitrusUCF Wrote:  SMU + TCU gets you significant coverage in DFW. TCU + UH gets you so-so coverage in DFW and Houston. Better to have major penetration in a major market than so-so penetration in two of them imho.

If TCU and Houston can only get so-so coverage in Dallas and Houston respectively, UCF would only get so-so coverage in Orlando. Same situation.

NCstate doesnt want to play or continue their series with ECU either. Their rationale is the same. How miopic and narrow minded. When in state rivals play each other out of conference llike ECU/NCSU and MU/WVU local economies thrive for that weekend. Playing Pembroke and Coastal Carolina do nothing to enhance the football exposure and presence in either WV or NC. Its a waste of time and a missed opportunity for the fans.