As more expansion news hit the internet, and I would expect a great deal more, it looks like the death of the Big East is all but imminent.
It's like waiting for your execution date. The
NY Post is reporting the basketball schools had a secret meeting (that's nice of them), and aren't waiting for the Grim Reaper.
“The concern is if that there will be too much carnage to the football league, we want to be in a position to be the best possible league we can be,” said the athletic director of a non-football playing Big East program.
The more it looks like it is that the football schools left post Big Ten expansion are going to have to scramble.
Now, this is conjecture, there is no back room sources, and "nothing imminent." That leads me to a point a little off topic. The sourcing done on these expansion stories has been a bit of embarrassment to the profession. Whatever happened to confirming a single source? It is essentially throw something on the wall and see if it sticks.
Perhaps my standards are too high. I try to find a second confirmation everything. Darn journalism school.
Anyhow, back to the task at hand. After studying this for the last couple of months the only school the Big East can afford to lose is Rutgers. The school hasn't really added much to the Big East athletically except for a good women's basketball team and a lot of promise in football, but nothing that is even close to being realized. That's a shot at Rutgers, but right now they are unrealized potential.
As far as UConn is concerned there is a chance they won't have a chair when the music stops. It's clear to me that no one knows what's going down except Jim Delaney and the college presidents.
The only way the Big East could be saved is if Notre Dame joins in football, which is not going to happen. I know there is sentiment to kick out the Irish in all sports and force their hand -- called from now on the Edsall Ultimatum. Here is our old friend the
Fat White Guy on it.
Letting Notre Dame keep this loose affiliation is a dangerous move for the Big East. Should push come to shove in 2010, there could be major controversy -- the type that rips the conference from the inside out. Should a spectacular team with a good record in the Big East be passed over for a mediocre Notre Dame team -- simply based on ticket sales or the power of the Notre Dame network -- it will look awful for the Big East in terms of publicity and respectability among the college football ranks.
That is a nice feel good scenario. Many say the Irish can save the Big East by going to the Big Ten. Sorry folks, the Big East will still struggle in football.
Why you may ask?
There is one thing that Mike Transghese and his successor John Marinatto have always said with regards to Notre Dame --- It helps Big East football. Without Notre Dame the Big East's bowl ties would be severely hampered. In the current contract you can thank Notre Dame for the Champs Sports bowl and even the Yankee Bowl on Notre Dame. Champs wouldn't do this deal without Notre Dame and when the new cycle is done in several years the same bowl wouldn't be available.
Kick them out, and the Big East No. 2 would probably end up in Charlotte.
It doesn't help that UConn loses its president to a Big Ten school after 3 1/2 years. Perhaps that puts a UConn favorite into the room when they discuss, or at least have some input. But, it has destabilized the university at such a critical juncture. The Big Ten isn't just an athletic union, it's also an academic consortium. It's hard to sell the school when there is no top guy.
I have played around with my own scenarios for the Huskies and I'll join the party below.
UConn to the Big Ten with Cuse and Rutgers: This one is the only way UConn gets into the Big Ten. This would solve everything, but relegate the football team to the second division. But, hoops is saved (actually be an easier road) and its tons of cash. This to me would be ideal. You can get a Big Ten East and play Rutgers, Penn St., Syracuse etc. Maybe once every 15 years you make a run to the BCS. I do like the logic of the Big Ten surrounding NYC. I think all 3 schools get the market. I don't get taking Rutgers, Cuse and Pitt and not UConn. If you are going to take 3, the NYC trio is the way to go. If only 1? Then take Rutgers.
UConn to ACC as ACC expands to 14: If UConn is out of the Big Ten scenario, then the only option is to beg into the ACC. I don't know where the ACC is at with expansion. A lot of it is going to be reactionary to the Big Ten. The ACC would do great adding UConn and West Virginia as the 13th and 14th members? It gives BC a team regionally despite their sworn blood oath never to play UConn again. West Virginia and Maryland can also be partners. This is a good scenario, but will ACC expand? And, what affect will the lawsuit from seven years ago have?
UConn stays in Big East: This is problematic, because depending on who leaves, the Big East could be a reduced football conference that loses its BCS bid. That's a disaster. And, why would the non-football schools add East Carolina, Memphis and UCF to then mix? They could just say we are breaking off from football all together and essentially have a Catholic school league and be done with this football thing. What would that do to UConn football and hoops? Perhaps the conference should have split apart several years ago.
UConn in C-USA or MAC: This is the disaster scenario. UConn playing football in C-USA is a step down with no regional ties, and it destroys hoops, they would rather stay in the Big East.
The alternative is to stay in the Big East as a basketball only and find a home for football. That could be the MAC, which has adjunct members. Seriously though folks, UConn spent $150 million on a new stadium and practice facility. They pay their football coach a million plus. After selling us for 15 years on major college football, the best rivalry we get is UConn-Temple? That is so 1999, and that would eviscerate the football program.
There you have it. I don't think it's hyperbole to say that this is going to be the most consequential summer in college sports history this summer.
Let's hope the Big Ten has at least a conscience in what it does and doesn't destroy athletic programs in Storrs, Louisville, Tampa, Morgantown and Syracuse for the sake of just straight cash.
