CollegeCard Wrote:

MichaelSavage Wrote:

wvucrazed Wrote:I just think we'd be foolish to cut adrift national programs like Georgtown, Villanova, etc, plus the NYC market. Maybe the solution is to go to 12 - keep G'town, Nova, St. John's and Seton Hall.

I suppose that's unlikely, though. I guess we'll see what happens.

I'd rather have Marquette or DePaul over Seton Hall.

If we ever were to form some sort of 12 team hybrid I'm not sure Marquette or DePaul would be likely candidates for inclusion. Despite Marquette's above average basketball and DePaul's Chicago market, we would be limited to 3 or 4 non-football's, depending on whether we added a 9th for football. At that point we have more geographically compact members that also bring big markets and in some cases quality basketball. My personal thought would be that Georgetown and Villanova would be included. After that someone from the NY metro or ND would be a likely 3rd.

In that case, just add a ninth team for all sports and have a 12 team hybrid. The conference could be:

Syracuse
Pitt
UConn
Rutgers
WVU
Louisville
Cincinnati
USF
Villanova
Georgetown
St. Johns
Memphis

I could live with that. It would work.

MichaelSavage Wrote:

CollegeCard Wrote:

MichaelSavage Wrote:

wvucrazed Wrote:I just think we'd be foolish to cut adrift national programs like Georgtown, Villanova, etc, plus the NYC market. Maybe the solution is to go to 12 - keep G'town, Nova, St. John's and Seton Hall.

I suppose that's unlikely, though. I guess we'll see what happens.

I'd rather have Marquette or DePaul over Seton Hall.

If we ever were to form some sort of 12 team hybrid I'm not sure Marquette or DePaul would be likely candidates for inclusion. Despite Marquette's above average basketball and DePaul's Chicago market, we would be limited to 3 or 4 non-football's, depending on whether we added a 9th for football. At that point we have more geographically compact members that also bring big markets and in some cases quality basketball. My personal thought would be that Georgetown and Villanova would be included. After that someone from the NY metro or ND would be a likely 3rd.

In that case, just add a ninth team for all sports and have a 12 team hybrid. The conference could be:

Syracuse
Pitt
UConn
Rutgers
WVU
Louisville
Cincinnati
USF
Villanova
Georgetown
St. Johns
Memphis

Where do I sign up?

TegaCayCard Wrote:Well this could really be good news...an amicable split which would benefit all parties.

1) The confederation idea (two conferences under a BE umbrella) was nixed by the NCAA. They would only consider it one comnference.
2) You could still be two conferences but a step away from the confederation.
3) You get buy-in from all the schools and you continue to have good working relationships with the conference officials.
4) An ESPN BE / EAC challenge?
5) I am sure SU, UConn, etc. do not want to lose the relationship with the NE basketball onlies so a nice working relationship could really enhance each others' schedules.
6) Rotate MSG each year with Brooklyn arena, Wachovia, etc.

None of these are thoughts that have not already been expressed before on this board. It is just really significant the MT and the basketball schools are worried about themselves in this arrangement. Hell, even a decent 13th BE team can't even go to MSG for the tourney now.

I am cautiously optimistic about what this could bring in the future:
1) a powerful 9-10 team BE football conference
2) a powerful 9-10 team basketball / other conference
3) good working relationships with the basketball schools used to enhance schedules in the future
4) continued high visibility on ESPN for all

The conference championships can be rotated to the Prudential Center the brand new arena in Newark that opens for the first time tonight, MSG, the Barclays Center in Brooklyn if it ever gets built, Wachovia Center down in Philly, the FleetCenter (I refuse to call it by that silly name TD BankNorth Garden) in Boston, and the Verizon Center in DC.

wvucrazed Wrote:I just think we'd be foolish to cut adrift national programs like Georgtown, Villanova, etc, plus the NYC market. Maybe the solution is to go to 12 - keep G'town, Nova, St. John's and Seton Hall.

I suppose that's unlikely, though. I guess we'll see what happens.

I really don't see how its that important to have St. John's and Seton Hall to get New York. Cuse and UConn are already bigger draws. Rutgers is part of the NY market and if Fred Hill gets us going where I think he's getting us going we're gonna be a big deal for basketball too.

brista21 Wrote:

TegaCayCard Wrote:Well this could really be good news...an amicable split which would benefit all parties.

1) The confederation idea (two conferences under a BE umbrella) was nixed by the NCAA. They would only consider it one comnference.
2) You could still be two conferences but a step away from the confederation.
3) You get buy-in from all the schools and you continue to have good working relationships with the conference officials.
4) An ESPN BE / EAC challenge?
5) I am sure SU, UConn, etc. do not want to lose the relationship with the NE basketball onlies so a nice working relationship could really enhance each others' schedules.
6) Rotate MSG each year with Brooklyn arena, Wachovia, etc.

None of these are thoughts that have not already been expressed before on this board. It is just really significant the MT and the basketball schools are worried about themselves in this arrangement. Hell, even a decent 13th BE team can't even go to MSG for the tourney now.

I am cautiously optimistic about what this could bring in the future:
1) a powerful 9-10 team BE football conference
2) a powerful 9-10 team basketball / other conference
3) good working relationships with the basketball schools used to enhance schedules in the future
4) continued high visibility on ESPN for all

The conference championships can be rotated to the Prudential Center the brand new arena in Newark that opens for the first time tonight, MSG, the Barclays Center in Brooklyn if it ever gets built, Wachovia Center down in Philly, the FleetCenter (I refuse to call it by that silly name TD BankNorth Garden) in Boston, and the Verizon Center in DC.

Well for now it could be between the Prudential Center and MSG. It would be great and I would love to see both leagues look like this:

BIG EAST
Georgetown - DC TV Market
Marquette - Milwaukee TV Market
Saint John's - NYC TV Market
DePaul - Chicago TV Market
Seton Hall
Providence
Villanova - Philadelphia TV Market
Notre Dame - National Program
Dayton
Xavier - Cincinnati TV Market

Eastern 10
South Florida - Tampa-St. Pete Market
West Virginia
Rutgers - NYC TV Market
Cincinnati - Cincinnati TV Market
Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh TV Market
UConn - Hartford TV Market
Syracuse
Louisville
Central Florida - Orlando TV Market - Fans are jackwads
Temple - Philadelphia TV Market

Temple?

wvucrazed Wrote:I just think we'd be foolish to cut adrift national programs like Georgtown, Villanova, etc, plus the NYC market. Maybe the solution is to go to 12 - keep G'town, Nova, St. John's and Seton Hall.

I suppose that's unlikely, though. I guess we'll see what happens.

a) You can't keep St. John's and Seton Hall but NOT keep Providence. The BE offices are in Providence, that was one of the founding schools...there's no way those schools are staying but Providence isn’t. Not going to happen.

b) It’s unlikely these few schools would join the FB schools because they would be a minority in ALL decisions and would never get a fair say in decisions that affect their institutions. The reason the hybrid has been able to stay for so long because of the balance b/w FB schools and BB-only schools.

brista21 Wrote:The conference championships can be rotated to the Prudential Center the brand new arena in Newark that opens for the first time tonight, MSG, the Barclays Center in Brooklyn if it ever gets built, Wachovia Center down in Philly, the FleetCenter (I refuse to call it by that silly name TD BankNorth Garden) in Boston, and the Verizon Center in DC.

There's no reason for the tournament to be played in Boston. BC isn't in the conference anymore and there's really no reason to play there. Also, setting up a rotation like that takes away the whole NYC factor and would open the door for another conference to use NYC for its tournaments. Setting up a rotation would take away the whole advantage of the BE Tourney.

Wilkie01 Wrote: Temple?

Temple=Philadelphia. Would you want to give up on that market in a split. We would already lose Villanova in a split and Temple would fill a void. Plus they do have historically good basketball and we are a Eastern League.

They are a better fit IMHO then ECU, UCF or Memphis.

If they could be competitive in football!

Maize, the BE didn't seem to think Temple was such a good fit before. What's really changed?

BJUnklFkr Wrote:Maize, the BE didn't seem to think Temple was such a good fit before. What's really changed?

Correct me if I am wrong but Temple main problem was they did not even try to improve.

Now, it seems like they are starting to move in that direction. Now I know they still have a LONG ways to go but it does appear they are finally putting forth an effort. Plus, you just can't throw out the Philadelphia TV Market in a split. Villanova would go with the Basketball schools and IMO any new Eastern League would need a Philly outlet.

Maize Wrote:

BJUnklFkr Wrote:Maize, the BE didn't seem to think Temple was such a good fit before. What's really changed?

Correct me if I am wrong but Temple main problem was they did not even try to improve.

Now, it seems like they are starting to move in that direction. Now I know they still have a LONG ways to go but it does appear they are finally putting forth an effort. Plus, you just can't throw out the Philadelphia TV Market in a split. Villanova would go with the Basketball schools and IMO any new Eastern League would need a Philly outlet.

Good answer... and I agree with that much. If they're dominating the MAC pretty soon and drawing 25K or so, then I guess it will be worth a good look.

Too much BCS competition already in the Bos-Wash area for recruits...I say no to Temple. I'd rather keep Nova and ask them to upgrade if it came to that.

TexanMark Wrote:Too much BCS competition already in the Bos-Wash area for recruits...I say no to Temple. I'd rather keep Nova and ask them to upgrade if it came to that.

A Villanova move to the FBS would work as well.

Quote:Eastern 10
South Florida - Tampa-St. Pete Market
West Virginia
Rutgers - NYC TV Market
Cincinnati - Cincinnati TV Market
Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh TV Market
UConn - Hartford TV Market
Syracuse
Louisville
Central Florida - Orlando TV Market - Fans are jackwads
Temple - Philadelphia TV Market

I agree 100%...if there is a split that is a very logical way to go...Its very PAC 10-like in terms of travel etc

Personally,I am no longer convinced that a split is the right thing to do given the possible canidates and the bball dollars


Jackson

There is no point of splitting from a hybrid only to go into a smaller hybrid. Mike Tranghese clearly told the Hartford Courant that a secret agreement already exists, and is locked up in his safe, as to what would happen in the event of a split. It would be a clean split. Nobody would be screwing four or five fellow Big East members. Get those ideas out of your heads because they will not happen. If they do somehow happen, of course, prepare to grab front row seats at the lawsuit of the century.

BIG NORTH
BC (or Temple) / Syracuse
Connecticut / Rutgers
Pittsburgh / West Virginia
Cincinnati / Louisville
South Florida / Central Florida

BIG EAST
Holy Cross / Providence
St. John's / Seton Hall
Villanova / Georgetown
DePaul / Marquette
Notre Dame / St. Louis

Do not start a debate about the particular schools I prefer for rounding both sides off to 10 members. This is merely an exercise to show that both sides would be perfectly fine, and probably even better off, after a split if everything was done properly. Maintaining a working relationship between the two sides would be most beneficial as everyone could continue to enjoy many of the benefits of our current arrangement with pretty much none of the drawbacks. All it requires is planning and vision.

BIG Eastern Conference
UConn / UMass
Syracuse / Rutgers
Pittsburgh / West Virginia
Cincinnati / Louisville
Memphis East Carolina
South Florida / Central Florida

Wilkie has a cool conference! I wish there was another team other than UCF in that scenario. Man, I wish G'town played real football!

I wish Nova and G-town both did.