Interesting article in the Newark Star Ledger

This past Sunday, there was an article about the eventual need for change in the makeup of the BE. I'll do my best to remember off the top of my head, but some of the details may be a little off. Basically, 4 future scenarios were suggested to the current BE.

Scenario 1 - Navy joins.

This gives us 1 less OOC game to schedule, and an even (4 home, 4 away) schedule. Not a bad idea. Although I'd rather it was a different team then Navy.

Scenario 2 - Rutgers leaves to join the Big 10.

The best idea recruit-wise, and financially. Plus, it gives the Big 10 a CCG. I'm worried that we'd be required to play a bunch of games at the Meadowlands, but Brandon Smith, Marcus Witherspoon, and JB Fitzgerald might be Scarlet Knights right now, if we were in the big 10. Having said that, it's the worst idea from a loyal BE fan's perspective. I'd actually comtemplate boycotting the team for a year if they did this.....Alright, not really, but I'd be PO'd.

Scenario 3 - Louisville and WVU leave to join the SEC.

This created a 14 team SEC. I'm not sure WTF they'd do that, but hey, it's not my idea. Not the end of the world, but pretty close. I think the article suggests that we'd have to choose from Temple, Memphis, and maybe UCF, but this would probably result in an ultimatum for ND, and a need for the other team (preferably ECU, or UCF) to jump from a top 40 to a top 25 team. Without ND, the auto BCS bid would probably be taken away.

Scenario 4 - All of the above. WVU and Louisville to the SEC, Rutgers to the BE, and a split of the remaining teams into a basketball confere nce (Depaul, St. Johns, Seton Hall, Providence, Marquette, Georgetown, Villanova, ND) and football (Syracuse, UConn, Pitt, USF, Cincy, ???, ???, ???).

At the end of the day, it seems like change is definitely on the way, it's just a matter of how.

Are there any among us that see a move to the Big 10 as a good idea?

Absolutely not.

I am a die hard Big East fan and think if we bailed, we would be hypocrites.

It seemed to me that Big East Football had been pretty successful the last 3-4 years.

Last year WVU and Louisville were both solid top 10 teams. This year WVU was one home win against Pitt away from a national championship. The Big East seems to do well in BCS games.

To me the Big East seems like a pretty decent football conference, and a really good basketball conference. I just don't see the overarching gain by dismantling the conference.

It can be better though. I do think the Big East needs at least one more team. Notre Dame would "fit" because of the basketball tie-in, but they don't fit in too well with the football programs.

I guess I would like to here from the big muckity mucks in the BE what the utlimate goal is? Do they see value in aligning the basketball programs with the football programs? If so, the best move IMHO is to find another BE basketball program that wants to compete in BCS football.

Personally, I don't see the value in aligning basketball with football. I woulf focus more on finding a good standalone football program that can "fit in" with other Big East Schools. I think it would have to be an east coast team, in a reasonably good recruiting area, and with facilities that can accomodate a minimum of ~35-40k fans.

I'm a faithful Big East fan and would like to see it thrive.  I'd hate to see us go to the Big 10.  Penn State was THE team in the East for years.  They're still considered as an "add-on" in the Big 10 (which couldn't even change its name!)  And quite frankly I couldn't  care less about Minnesota, Iowa, Purdue,  Michigan St., Northwestern, Indiana or Illinois. 

I saw a Big 10 board last year discussing Rutgers joining.  They're all for it.  They think we're another Northwestern, good for a couple years then return to doormat status.

 I think a move to the Big 10 could become inevitable though.  Suppose we get the invite and turn it down.  Does this end the threat to the Big East, or do they go to Syracuse, or West Virginia or Pitt?  If they go, do Louisville and WV go to the SEC?  We could be left holding the bag.  And if you think it's tough getting respect now, try it if the Big East becomes a non-BCS conference. We dodged a bullet last time because Cincy, Louisville and USF got good fast.  We can't keep losing teams and replacing them with Conference USA teams and expect to be in the BCS.  Not to mention, moneywise, the Big 10 is definitely more lucrative.

I don't think the ACC raid was the last.  The Big 10 and SEC are too close for comfort.  I predict a major realignment of teams about the time the bowl agreements expire.  Unfortunately, I think the only way the Big East survives is if it starts winning NC's and gets better bowl games.  Then  maybe some major (Penn State? Notre Dame?) looks at us and says, "Hey neat league, good bowl tie ins and I've got a one out of 9 chance of going to a BCS bowl without having to butt heads with Michigan, Ohio State, or the half the SEC every year.  Adding Navy, ECU, Memphis, or UCF is not going to increase our bowl negotiating power. Who knows, maybe when Joe Pa steps down, PSU will look east again.