(03-12-2012 12:28 PM)johnbragg Wrote:  

(03-12-2012 12:01 PM)buckaineer Wrote:  

(03-08-2012 08:25 AM)No Bull Wrote:  IF the AFA does not join...ECU is the only way to go. How they have not been invited yet is beyond me.....

Continue to see you and others repeat this same desire. The Big East has expressed no interest in adding ECU and continues to add other programs.
Out of curiosity, what is it about ECU exactly that makes you feel they are "the only way to go" and question how they haven't been invited?

Not an ECU fan myself, but
1. 40-50,000 people in the stands consistently
2. Statewide TV audience in a good-sized state (NC) with some spillover in the Norfolk area.

I think their profile fits well with the New Big East. That profile is large public school with no major football history but some claim to a sizable fanbase and a commitment to pursue big-time football. ECU shouldn't be in a conference with St Johns, Depaul, Georgetown and Villanova. But grouping them with Rutgers, UConn, Temple, USF, UCF, Cincinatti, Louisville, Houston and Memphis makes some sense. Call it the Coast-to-Coast Conference, call it C-USA 2.0, but it's a group that ECU fits in with.

No major football history:
ECU fans: No one cares about one Peach Bowl win 20 years ago.
Houston fans: Your history in the SWC means about as much as Rice's SWC titles, or Tulane being in the SEC.
Cincinatti: Your BCS bowls aren't history until the trophies get dusty.

16 appearances in final AP and Coaches Poll,
1 Heisman Trophy winner,
10 Conference Championships/Co-championships,
4 Hall-of-Fame inductees,
Won 3 Southwest Conference titles in first four seasons in league,
5 top-10 finishes

If our football history means nothing, especially seeing as we've just come off of another top-25 finish in both polls after beating a top-25 B1G school, then what on Earth would you classify as "major football history". Oh wait, i guess that classification is only reserved for teams that have already been gift-wrapped conference affiliation *cough* Baylor *cough* Texas Tech *cough* Washington State *cough*. Say what you will, but history has proven that under proper leadership (as in the 60's/70's and finally again now) that UH can and will come into your league, adopt your resources, and kick your @$$ across the field and court with them. Can't wait to see UH vs SJU at MSG when we're wiping our asses with red storm jerseys after the game.