The Big East expansion groundswell thread

[pellegrino]

I think this is a no-brainer for Maryland. The modern reality is that without football generating revenue it is hard to be a big time college athletic program. Maryland is just stuck in a rut in the ACC and is putting 35K fans in the seats of its 55k stadium. Being in the Big 10 will open recruiting doors that were previously closed and I totally agree that Maryland culturally is much more Big 10 than ACC. This might be the thing that jars them into being more competitive. I also agree with the idea that it is great for the Big 10 to now be in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast markets. Maryland gets a lot of coverage in DC even though they suck and that will now be even more true.

how is maryland more culturally big ten? is it simply because they're an AAU school? So are half of ACC schools (UNC, UVA, Duke, GTech, UMD, Pitt). I'm not arguing against it, I just don't understand the reason behind that statement.

FTR, I do not fault MD for jumping ship. They need more revenue and this provides a quick path to financial security. What I don't like is the predatory nature of all of the conference expansion, and that goes back to 2003 when the ACC raided the Big East.

[pellegrino]

http://espn.go.com/college-football/...rn-sources-say

Boise State, San Diego State and BYU have had conversations with Mountain West membership about the possibility of returning to the league, sources told ESPN.

These talks originated after last week's decision in Denver by the BCS commissioners awarded an automatic access bowl berth to the highest rated champion to the "Group of Five" conferences. That decision, in essence, put the Mountain West on equal footing as far as playoff access with the Big East starting in 2014.

Sources said Monday those talks are expected to bring on greater significance after Maryland announced it was leaving the ACC for the Big Ten. ESPN reported Rutgers will announce it's leaving the Big East on Tuesday so the Big East will lose Rutgers and then potentially either UConn or Louisville to the ACC.

With the Big East losing two more schools and having the same playoff access as the Mountain West, Boise State and San Diego State are considering their options. One of the main reasons both schools opted to join the Big East was for more television revenue with the Big East as opposed to the Mountain West.

[CJF]

I don't get this decision.. I think it is just rumors and it won't happen. Big 1G is going to remain at 12...

Good call.

[USUC]

http://espn.go.com/college-football/...rn-sources-say

[UtahJazzFan88]

Invite Houston (SMU if you want too!) to the MWC and you basically have the Big East West division!

[pellegrino]

Invite Houston (SMU if you want too!) to the MWC and you basically have the Big East West division!

it's still a shitty conference.

[Coach McGuirk]

Just let it out man.

[UtahJazzFan88]

it's still a shitty conference.

That was my point, although at least in the Big East there WAS some decent teams out east in Rutgers, Louisville, Cincy UCONN, USF, etc.

This is just a huge mess, but I highly doubt BYU has any reason to move back to the MWC.

[Moliere]

it's still a shitty conference.

Yeah, I'm not a huge fan of returning to the MWC, especially as it is now constituted (even with BSU and SDSU). As much as I don't like Novembers as an independent, I've thoroughly enjoyed seeing BYU come out east more often. I hit 4 games last year.

I don't get why BYU didn't get in to the Gang of 5 equation. We should have been included in that group without hesitation.

[UtahDan]

how is maryland more culturally big ten? is it simply because they're an AAU school? So are half of ACC schools (UNC, UVA, Duke, GTech, UMD, Pitt). I'm not arguing against it, I just don't understand the reason behind that statement.

FTR, I do not fault MD for jumping ship. They need more revenue and this provides a quick path to financial security. What I don't like is the predatory nature of all of the conference expansion, and that goes back to 2003 when the ACC raided the Big East.

Basically, they are not southern.

[pellegrino]

Basically, they are not southern.

ok, but they're not midwestern either.

[Scorcho]

the only scenario where I could see BYU rejoining the MWC is if football scheduling is projected to become increasingly more and more difficult.

I think only Holmoe knows the answer to that question.

[USUC]

I sure the hell hope any negotiations with the MWC consist only of some sort of 6 game scheduling agreement.

Besides, If SDSU and Boise State go back to the MWC that puts them at 12. BYU would be 13th. the numbers don't add up, right?

[Pelado]

I sure the hell hope any negotiations with the MWC consist only of some sort of 6 game scheduling agreement.

Besides, If SDSU and Boise State go back to the MWC that puts them at 12. BYU would be 13th. the numbers don't add up, right?

I wouldn't mind a rotation against the MWC. Six might be a little high. Unless we're including USU and BSU in the 6.

[wapiti]

I highly doubt that the MWC will be interested in helping BYU out with scheduling. Judging by the number of MWC games we have scheduled, they still don't like us much. Most of the jilted AD's and head coaches will need to rotate through and maybe Hair would need to be replaced before we start seeing them on the schedule again, not to mention a formal agreement with the conference as a whole.