Pretty accurate observation.

Realignment 101: Getting to know the new landscape of college sports

Well looks like Pat Forde not giving the AAC much of a chance. I think the AAC will surprise folks in the future.

Western Athletic just might be the biggest winner for the exact reason mentioned - being out of major football. That's the only way to be safe in this realignment mess.

The American got railed.

"WAC--- What’s still to come: Nothing other than perhaps a clearance sale on all WAC football paraphernalia. "

Forde is douche

At least the AAC still exists.

The A-10 wasn't even mentioned...but the Big East (all basketball) was.

I'm slightly bitter about that, if ya can't tell. :)

(07-01-2013 12:17 PM)LouPower Wrote:  At least the AAC still exists.

The A-10 wasn't even mentioned...but the Big East (all basketball) was.

I'm slightly bitter about that, if ya can't tell. :)

I'd like to bring VCU and Saint Louis to come play on our court (conference) personally.

(07-01-2013 12:02 PM)NBPirate Wrote:  Forde is douche

Yup. His writing would have you believe Rutgers still regularly turns in 0-4 win campaigns every year. We've had at least a winning record every year but 1 starting with 2005. We're not exactly a power program, but I wouldn't call us watering down the Big Ten's football product either. Plus both Maryland and Rutgers in addition to large markets bring in new and high quality talent production regions.

Louisville homer.

The Catholic 7/Big East became a loser the minute they signed onto that settlement giving up the farm for a conference name that will mean very little in coming years. Take a guess who "left" the Big East over the years Boston College, Virginia Tech, Miami, Syracuse, Pitt, Notre Dame, Louisville, UConn, Cincinnati, USF, and WVU. They replaced those schools with small private institution and got out of the major college football business.

Yes, I know the American is the true successor to the old Big East but most casual fans wonder what happened to a league was the best basketball conference in the nation and produced rising football programs like Virginia Tech, Miami, WVU, Louisville, and Cincinnati. I think the Fox deal isn't going to help them out either when nobody can find their games because ESPN ignores them.

The American has its own issues. Its a loser right now but for its also a nice step up for most of its new members. Performance on the field and on the court can change circumstances for the conference as well. There is a chance for the conference to become a winner if things remain stable and program like Cincinnati, UConn, USF, UCF, and Houston all become top 25 level programs. That might not happen but there is room for growth. The Big East can only go down for being the best basketball conference and in a few years could be considered a mid-major because every conference that doesn't sponsor football has been lumped into the have nots pile.

(07-01-2013 12:48 PM)bearcatlawjd Wrote:  The Catholic 7/Big East became a loser the minute they signed onto that settlement giving up the farm for a conference name that will mean very little in coming years.

The BE also got a TV deal from Fox that pays them more than any other conference without football. It's a deal that might not have been available to them had they stayed with the FBS programs for another year or two fighting over exit fees and NCAA hoops money, because Fox wanted them to be on FS1 from day one. And, having the Big East name is better than not having it.

IMO they did the best they could do for themselves as a no-football conference.

(07-01-2013 12:48 PM)bearcatlawjd Wrote:  The Catholic 7/Big East became a loser the minute they signed onto that settlement giving up the farm for a conference name that will mean very little in coming years. Take a guess who "left" the Big East over the years Boston College, Virginia Tech, Miami, Syracuse, Pitt, Notre Dame, Louisville, UConn, Cincinnati, USF, and WVU. They replaced those schools with small private institution and got out of the major college football business.

Yes, I know the American is the true successor to the old Big East but most casual fans wonder what happened to a league was the best basketball conference in the nation and produced rising football programs like Virginia Tech, Miami, WVU, Louisville, and Cincinnati. I think the Fox deal isn't going to help them out either when nobody can find their games because ESPN ignores them.

The American has its own issues. Its a loser right now but for its also a nice step up for most of its new members. Performance on the field and on the court can change circumstances for the conference as well. There is a chance for the conference to become a winner if things remain stable and program like Cincinnati, UConn, USF, UCF, and Houston all become top 25 level programs. That might not happen but there is room for growth. The Big East can only go down for being the best basketball conference and in a few years could be considered a mid-major because every conference that doesn't sponsor football has been lumped into the have nots pile.

Bitter much?

Oh and everyone will know where FS1 is. They will be airing Big XII, Pac-12, MLB, UFC, NASCAR, Golden Boy Promotions Boxing, the World Cup and very soon B1G games. They also just hired Bill Rafferty to team up with Gus Johnson to call all the Big East games including the tournament. Fox is investing heavily in the Big East. Hard to ignore us when they are promoting our games during the NFL playoffs.

Forde's take on the Big East was way off. They had Dan Bebee helping get the league up and running and had it's fall sports schedules in place before they hired Ackerman. Just because they like to keep things quiet doesn't mean they aren't doing anything.