During the last 20 days - after returning from Memphis, Tenn., where they watched the Golden Hurricane football team defeat Iowa State in the Liberty Bowl - University of Tulsa officials resumed their survey of the Conference USA condition, their dialogue with representatives of other schools and leagues, and their conversations with significant donors who occupy positions within TU's inner circle.

As of today, this is TU's status:

The university's switch from Conference USA membership to Big East Conference membership seems to have graduated from a possibility to a likelihood.

TULSA WORLD: Tulsa likely to head to Big East

(01-20-2013 10:26 AM)Southern Miss Alum Wrote:  During the last 20 days - after returning from Memphis, Tenn., where they watched the Golden Hurricane football team defeat Iowa State in the Liberty Bowl - University of Tulsa officials resumed their survey of the Conference USA condition, their dialogue with representatives of other schools and leagues, and their conversations with significant donors who occupy positions within TU's inner circle.

As of today, this is TU's status:

The university's switch from Conference USA membership to Big East Conference membership seems to have graduated from a possibility to a likelihood.

TULSA WORLD: Tulsa likely to head to Big East

Found this quote interesting:

"If TU is destined for a transfer to the Big East, a football-attendance average of 20,020 wouldn't make a favorable first impression."

If real attendance at Temple, USF, SMU, Tulane are any indication, Tulsa should be considered an upgrade for attendance.

How long will the so called Big East have a name? They could lose their name and have to call themselves the Orphan's Conference or something. If Tulsa wants to go I say fine, but I really don't see it as being worth the money and effort.

(01-20-2013 10:32 AM)MinerInWisconsin Wrote:  

(01-20-2013 10:26 AM)Southern Miss Alum Wrote:  During the last 20 days - after returning from Memphis, Tenn., where they watched the Golden Hurricane football team defeat Iowa State in the Liberty Bowl - University of Tulsa officials resumed their survey of the Conference USA condition, their dialogue with representatives of other schools and leagues, and their conversations with significant donors who occupy positions within TU's inner circle.

As of today, this is TU's status:

The university's switch from Conference USA membership to Big East Conference membership seems to have graduated from a possibility to a likelihood.

TULSA WORLD: Tulsa likely to head to Big East

Found this quote interesting:

"If TU is destined for a transfer to the Big East, a football-attendance average of 20,020 wouldn't make a favorable first impression."

[/b]If real attendance at Temple, USF, SMU, Tulane are any indication, Tulsa should be considered an upgrade for attendance.[/b]

That is very true. Although I was a little surprised at the turnout in the Championship game against UCF. Didn't look like a good turnout on TV.

(01-20-2013 10:39 AM)SgtGoldenEagle Wrote:  How long will the so called Big East have a name? They could lose their name and have to call themselves the Orphan's Conference or something. If Tulsa wants to go I say fine, but I really don't see it as being worth the money and effort.

3 to 4 x the money each year....That is all that has to be said.

(01-20-2013 10:55 AM)ECU-DMB Fanatic Wrote:  

(01-20-2013 10:39 AM)SgtGoldenEagle Wrote:  How long will the so called Big East have a name? They could lose their name and have to call themselves the Orphan's Conference or something. If Tulsa wants to go I say fine, but I really don't see it as being worth the money and effort.

4 x the money each year....That is all that has to be said.

I don't think you guys will get 4x the money. Pipe dream IMO. Why would you get 4x more?

(01-20-2013 10:55 AM)ECU-DMB Fanatic Wrote:  

(01-20-2013 10:39 AM)SgtGoldenEagle Wrote:  How long will the so called Big East have a name? They could lose their name and have to call themselves the Orphan's Conference or something. If Tulsa wants to go I say fine, but I really don't see it as being worth the money and effort.

4 x the money each year....That is all that has to be said.

I understand that claim but frankly where is that big money coming from when the TV contract looks to be in trouble of being little to no increase, and the media is pretty much in step on saying it is just another C-USA now? I would like to know how the conference is going to provide that big money when it hasn't shown the income to pay it.

Wonder what would happen if the Big East got even more "thanks, but no thanks" responses?

The B.E. seems to be banking on its past with schools long gone for a good TV package.

You get to the point of is the short term expensive investment worth whatever the B.E's long term gain may or may not be?
It just seems like an expensive gamble to me; way too expensive for a conference that will still be a Go5 conference.

GMG!

(01-20-2013 10:58 AM)SgtGoldenEagle Wrote:  

(01-20-2013 10:55 AM)ECU-DMB Fanatic Wrote:  

(01-20-2013 10:39 AM)SgtGoldenEagle Wrote:  How long will the so called Big East have a name? They could lose their name and have to call themselves the Orphan's Conference or something. If Tulsa wants to go I say fine, but I really don't see it as being worth the money and effort.

4 x the money each year....That is all that has to be said.

I understand that claim but frankly where is that big money coming from when the TV contract looks to be in trouble of being little to no increase, and the media is pretty much in step on saying it is just another C-USA now? I would like to know how the conference is going to provide that big money when it hasn't shown the income to pay it.

Exactly. It's not there and they know it. They gambled and lost. Once Cincy and UConn move on there will be no more original BE schools left.

(01-20-2013 10:58 AM)SgtGoldenEagle Wrote:  

(01-20-2013 10:55 AM)ECU-DMB Fanatic Wrote:  

(01-20-2013 10:39 AM)SgtGoldenEagle Wrote:  How long will the so called Big East have a name? They could lose their name and have to call themselves the Orphan's Conference or something. If Tulsa wants to go I say fine, but I really don't see it as being worth the money and effort.

4 x the money each year....That is all that has to be said.

I understand that claim but frankly where is that big money coming from when the TV contract looks to be in trouble of being little to no increase, and the media is pretty much in step on saying it is just another C-USA now? I would like to know how the conference is going to provide that big money when it hasn't shown the income to pay it.

Meant to type 3-4 x the money than CUSA...That is not big money at all compared to the "Big 5" conferences. All of the latest estimates are saying anywhere from 3 to 5 million a year. Not great money but a good increase. I am not going to get into an argument about it because I sure as hell do not have any proof but it appears that the estimates for the money are starting to come in line....We should know soon enough and all the speculation can end. I do not understand why people keep calling this among big money...It is still a drop in the bucket comparatively speaking.

We have the worst beat writer ever. Regurgitates what the national media has been writing for a week and throws in some random jabs at marketing for variety.

(01-20-2013 11:02 AM)MUHERD76 Wrote:  

(01-20-2013 10:58 AM)SgtGoldenEagle Wrote:  

(01-20-2013 10:55 AM)ECU-DMB Fanatic Wrote:  

(01-20-2013 10:39 AM)SgtGoldenEagle Wrote:  How long will the so called Big East have a name? They could lose their name and have to call themselves the Orphan's Conference or something. If Tulsa wants to go I say fine, but I really don't see it as being worth the money and effort.

4 x the money each year....That is all that has to be said.

I understand that claim but frankly where is that big money coming from when the TV contract looks to be in trouble of being little to no increase, and the media is pretty much in step on saying it is just another C-USA now? I would like to know how the conference is going to provide that big money when it hasn't shown the income to pay it.

Exactly. It's not there and they know it. They gambled and lost. Once Cincy and UConn move on there will be no more original BE schools left.

The sad part is USM is mentioned as potentially getting invited, and then when one such as myself ask these questions, they get all defensive about it. So why should I get excited about their new conference and support USM going when I can't get answers to important questions.

(01-20-2013 10:55 AM)ECU-DMB Fanatic Wrote:  3 to 4 x the money each year....That is all that has to be said.

can we have the basketball tourny back now please?

(01-20-2013 11:02 AM)MUHERD76 Wrote:  

(01-20-2013 10:58 AM)SgtGoldenEagle Wrote:  

(01-20-2013 10:55 AM)ECU-DMB Fanatic Wrote:  

(01-20-2013 10:39 AM)SgtGoldenEagle Wrote:  How long will the so called Big East have a name? They could lose their name and have to call themselves the Orphan's Conference or something. If Tulsa wants to go I say fine, but I really don't see it as being worth the money and effort.

4 x the money each year....That is all that has to be said.

I understand that claim but frankly where is that big money coming from when the TV contract looks to be in trouble of being little to no increase, and the media is pretty much in step on saying it is just another C-USA now? I would like to know how the conference is going to provide that big money when it hasn't shown the income to pay it.

Exactly. It's not there and they know it. They gambled and lost. Once Cincy and UConn move on there will be no more original BE schools left.

Who knows it? And how in the hell would you know anything about it? I tend to trust the word coming out of administrators at the involved schools and quotes from industry sources than some nameless and faceless person on a message board who likes to speak in absolutes when they have no first hand knowledge. I could be wrong and you could be wrong....Lets just wait another 30 days and revisit this topic. No need in debating it at this point as none of us have any direct knowledge or proof....We will just go around in circles over this topic like has been done in numerous other threads with no resolution.

(01-20-2013 11:06 AM)SgtGoldenEagle Wrote:  

(01-20-2013 11:02 AM)MUHERD76 Wrote:  

(01-20-2013 10:58 AM)SgtGoldenEagle Wrote:  

(01-20-2013 10:55 AM)ECU-DMB Fanatic Wrote:  

(01-20-2013 10:39 AM)SgtGoldenEagle Wrote:  How long will the so called Big East have a name? They could lose their name and have to call themselves the Orphan's Conference or something. If Tulsa wants to go I say fine, but I really don't see it as being worth the money and effort.

4 x the money each year....That is all that has to be said.

I understand that claim but frankly where is that big money coming from when the TV contract looks to be in trouble of being little to no increase, and the media is pretty much in step on saying it is just another C-USA now? I would like to know how the conference is going to provide that big money when it hasn't shown the income to pay it.

Exactly. It's not there and they know it. They gambled and lost. Once Cincy and UConn move on there will be no more original BE schools left.

The sad part is USM is mentioned as potentially getting invited, and then when one such as myself ask these questions, they get all defensive about it. So why should I get excited about their new conference and support USM going when I can't get answers to important questions.

Personally SGE, I wish the BE would add Tulsa, SMiss and Marshall. Put Tulsa and SMiss in the West and Marshall in the East and go to 16. Many will argue that does nothing to add money to the pot, but ultimately I think it does. It weakens CUSA further and puts some football programs together that give any other conference in the GOF a run for their money when it comes to the Access Bowl. It also brings back IMHO some great rivalries that existed or were developing.

(01-20-2013 11:08 AM)ECU-DMB Fanatic Wrote:  

(01-20-2013 11:02 AM)MUHERD76 Wrote:  

(01-20-2013 10:58 AM)SgtGoldenEagle Wrote:  

(01-20-2013 10:55 AM)ECU-DMB Fanatic Wrote:  

(01-20-2013 10:39 AM)SgtGoldenEagle Wrote:  How long will the so called Big East have a name? They could lose their name and have to call themselves the Orphan's Conference or something. If Tulsa wants to go I say fine, but I really don't see it as being worth the money and effort.

4 x the money each year....That is all that has to be said.

I understand that claim but frankly where is that big money coming from when the TV contract looks to be in trouble of being little to no increase, and the media is pretty much in step on saying it is just another C-USA now? I would like to know how the conference is going to provide that big money when it hasn't shown the income to pay it.

Exactly. It's not there and they know it. They gambled and lost. Once Cincy and UConn move on there will be no more original BE schools left.

Who knows it? And how in the hell would you know anything about it?

My school is often mentioned in being invited to join this new conference and before I support such a move I want to know what we are getting into. I can not support promises without guarantees and chase wild dreams of grandeur that causes an always stressed budget like USM has historically always had, to be found lacking in such a move. If a conference makes claims to attract members, it better be able to show how it will make it happen. I am waiting for the proof and until then, why should I support it.

As for the "And how in the hell would you know anything about it?" that is a pathetic statement that says to most rational people, "I don't have an answer so I will get mad and go pout in this corner." It isn't a winning statement.

(01-20-2013 11:07 AM)BamaScorpio69 Wrote:  

(01-20-2013 10:55 AM)ECU-DMB Fanatic Wrote:  3 to 4 x the money each year....That is all that has to be said.

Ok guy...How much is it going to be?

(01-20-2013 11:12 AM)ECUPirated Wrote:  

(01-20-2013 11:06 AM)SgtGoldenEagle Wrote:  

(01-20-2013 11:02 AM)MUHERD76 Wrote:  

(01-20-2013 10:58 AM)SgtGoldenEagle Wrote:  

(01-20-2013 10:55 AM)ECU-DMB Fanatic Wrote:  4 x the money each year....That is all that has to be said.

I understand that claim but frankly where is that big money coming from when the TV contract looks to be in trouble of being little to no increase, and the media is pretty much in step on saying it is just another C-USA now? I would like to know how the conference is going to provide that big money when it hasn't shown the income to pay it.

Exactly. It's not there and they know it. They gambled and lost. Once Cincy and UConn move on there will be no more original BE schools left.

The sad part is USM is mentioned as potentially getting invited, and then when one such as myself ask these questions, they get all defensive about it. So why should I get excited about their new conference and support USM going when I can't get answers to important questions.

Personally SGE, I wish the BE would add Tulsa, SMiss and Marshall. Put Tulsa and SMiss in the West and Marshall in the East and go to 16. Many will argue that does nothing to add money to the pot, but ultimately I think it does. It weakens CUSA further and puts some football programs together that give any other conference in the GOF a run for their money when it comes to the Access Bowl. It also brings back IMHO some great rivalries that existed or were developing.

Yes you make some good points and certainly as a long time USM fan I do regret the end of rivalries such as ECU and Memphis, not so much Tulane since they seldom brought a winning team to the match up, but I like match ups we will have with La. Tech (we first played them in 1923 if I remember correctly) and have played them often. MTSU played us in a N.O. Bowl and beat us, as well they seem to have their program growing. I am a big fan of Marshall and want them to be part of any conference we are in, so there are many rivals we would enjoy in either conference. The big question for USM is where's the money?

I wouldn't be surprised at all if the BE gets x3 or x4 more cash as CUSA.