(11-01-2010 12:14 PM)BullsFanatic Wrote:  

(11-01-2010 09:22 AM)Gray Avenger Wrote:  Memphis brings a top 50 TV market which it delivers, the tradition-rich Liberty Bowl, strong corporate support for the Big East network, nationally-recognized rivalries with Louisville and Cincinatti, is a logical extension of the Big East footprint and a great basketball program. Big East officials would be foolish to overlook all that UofM offers.

Here's the problem...UAB can say many of those things too. They bring a Top 40 TV market, the tradition-rich Legion Field, a bowl game the Big East already has a tie-in with, strong academics, they are a logical extension of the Big East footprint, and they bring a great basketball program that isn't on NCAA probation. They also seem to be making some attempts to replace their "tradition-rich" stadium, whereas Memphis is not.

Yet, no one here talks about UAB as a candidate. The only reason Memphis gets mentioned is due to their long term rivalries with Louisville and Cincinnati. That's unlikely to be enough to get Memphis an invite.

Good points. I've brought up UAB previously and in fact in many ways they are a much better candidate than Memphis would be and in several ways better than many CUSA possibles.