I don't think we need to sugarcoat anything, as if the BE dies, then it dies (whatever that means). But simply put, there are at least 6 schools out there i.e. UCF, Memphis, SMU, Houston, East Carolina, Temple that all have something in common. They need a home (if not the BE) and odds are if one of the "Special 5" came calling, these schools would not be included. Cincy, UConn, USF have been able to achieve a little more, with a little more money that the Old Big East provided and may get "that special call" one day. Great.

But for now those schools are stuck out here in the wastelands with the rest of us until somebody comes knockin. Add in Navy if they still want to come. If not, bring in a USM or a Tulsa or both plus one more and reduce the entrance fees. Take the TV contract the way it is and move on. But either way a conference will survive with the same/different name or a new conference forms with most of these teams. I, for one, am just simply tired of reading the the crap / naysayers about the BE.

The schools that will remain or are coming in soon really have nothing to do with the "cancer" surrounding the original BE. These schools made a commitment to join this league, they are paying or will have paid large exit and entrance fees to join this league, most have made facility improvements and continue to do so in order to be competitive in this new league and in my ***** opinion, they ALL deserve better than to have people continuously trying to tear them or the conference down.

(02-14-2013 03:43 PM)ECUPirated Wrote:  I don't think we need to sugarcoat anything, as if the BE dies, then it dies (whatever that means). But simply put, there are at least 6 schools out there i.e. UCF, Memphis, SMU, Houston, East Carolina, Temple that all have something in common. They need a home (if not the BE) and odds are if one of the "Special 5" came calling, these schools would not be included. Cincy, UConn, USF have been able to achieve a little more, with a little more money that the Old Big East provided and may get "that special call" one day. Great.

But for now those schools are stuck out here in the wastelands with the rest of us until somebody comes knockin. Add in Navy if they still want to come. If not, bring in a USM or a Tulsa or both plus one more and reduce the entrance fees. Take the TV contract the way it is and move on. But either way a conference will survive with the same/different name or a new conference forms with most of these teams. I, for one, am just simply tired of reading the the crap / naysayers about the BE.

The schools that will remain or are coming in soon really have nothing to do with the "cancer" surrounding the original BE. These schools made a commitment to join this league, they are paying or will have paid large exit and entrance fees to join this league, most have made facility improvements and continue to do so in order to be competitive in this new league and in my ***** opinion, they ALL deserve better than to have people continuously trying to tear them or the conference down.

You and I are on the same page. I've not lost any sleep worrying about what conference/conference members Memphis will be associated with the next few years. The list above forms the core of a good, solid mid-level conference regardless of what happens.

(02-14-2013 03:43 PM)ECUPirated Wrote:  I don't think we need to sugarcoat anything, as if the BE dies, then it dies (whatever that means). But simply put, there are at least 6 schools out there i.e. UCF, Memphis, SMU, Houston, East Carolina, Temple that all have something in common. They need a home (if not the BE) and odds are if one of the "Special 5" came calling, these schools would not be included. Cincy, UConn, USF have been able to achieve a little more, with a little more money that the Old Big East provided and may get "that special call" one day. Great.

But for now those schools are stuck out here in the wastelands with the rest of us until somebody comes knockin. Add in Navy if they still want to come. If not, bring in a USM or a Tulsa or both plus one more and reduce the entrance fees. Take the TV contract the way it is and move on. But either way a conference will survive with the same/different name or a new conference forms with most of these teams. I, for one, am just simply tired of reading the the crap / naysayers about the BE.

The schools that will remain or are coming in soon really have nothing to do with the "cancer" surrounding the original BE. These schools made a commitment to join this league, they are paying or will have paid large exit and entrance fees to join this league, most have made facility improvements and continue to do so in order to be competitive in this new league and in my ***** opinion, they ALL deserve better than to have people continuously trying to tear them or the conference down.

Great post.

(02-14-2013 03:43 PM)ECUPirated Wrote:  I don't think we need to sugarcoat anything, as if the BE dies, then it dies (whatever that means). But simply put, there are at least 6 schools out there i.e. UCF, Memphis, SMU, Houston, East Carolina, Temple that all have something in common. They need a home (if not the BE) and odds are if one of the "Special 5" came calling, these schools would not be included. Cincy, UConn, USF have been able to achieve a little more, with a little more money that the Old Big East provided and may get "that special call" one day. Great.

But for now those schools are stuck out here in the wastelands with the rest of us until somebody comes knockin. Add in Navy if they still want to come. If not, bring in a USM or a Tulsa or both plus one more and reduce the entrance fees. Take the TV contract the way it is and move on. But either way a conference will survive with the same/different name or a new conference forms with most of these teams. I, for one, am just simply tired of reading the the crap / naysayers about the BE.

The schools that will remain or are coming in soon really have nothing to do with the "cancer" surrounding the original BE. These schools made a commitment to join this league, they are paying or will have paid large exit and entrance fees to join this league, most have made facility improvements and continue to do so in order to be competitive in this new league and in my ***** opinion, they ALL deserve better than to have people continuously trying to tear them or the conference down.

+2

No.... For that to happen, C-USA, MAC, and Sun Belt conferences would have to "Cease to Exist."

(02-15-2013 01:41 AM)oldtiger Wrote:  

(02-14-2013 03:43 PM)ECUPirated Wrote:  I don't think we need to sugarcoat anything, as if the BE dies, then it dies (whatever that means). But simply put, there are at least 6 schools out there i.e. UCF, Memphis, SMU, Houston, East Carolina, Temple that all have something in common. They need a home (if not the BE) and odds are if one of the "Special 5" came calling, these schools would not be included. Cincy, UConn, USF have been able to achieve a little more, with a little more money that the Old Big East provided and may get "that special call" one day. Great.

But for now those schools are stuck out here in the wastelands with the rest of us until somebody comes knockin. Add in Navy if they still want to come. If not, bring in a USM or a Tulsa or both plus one more and reduce the entrance fees. Take the TV contract the way it is and move on. But either way a conference will survive with the same/different name or a new conference forms with most of these teams. I, for one, am just simply tired of reading the the crap / naysayers about the BE.

The schools that will remain or are coming in soon really have nothing to do with the "cancer" surrounding the original BE. These schools made a commitment to join this league, they are paying or will have paid large exit and entrance fees to join this league, most have made facility improvements and continue to do so in order to be competitive in this new league and in my ***** opinion, they ALL deserve better than to have people continuously trying to tear them or the conference down.

You and I are on the same page. I've not lost any sleep worrying about what conference/conference members Memphis will be associated with the next few years. The list above forms the core of a good, solid mid-level conference regardless of what happens.

I don't think Memphis has anything to worry about. Honestly, I think if the nBE does "fall apart" that Cinci, UConn, Temple, USF, and Memphis are headed to ACC. Each of those schools fits a direct need for the ACC and the teams they could lose.