The Big East strikes back

[Da Coach]

The Big East, which is scrambling to try to bolster their football conference after TCU backed out, and Syracuse and Pitt decided to move to the ACC, is now planning on inviting Boise State, Air Force, Navy, and Central Florida to join the Big East.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/story/2011-10-14/big-east-expansion-realignment-boise-state-central-florida/50774102/1

What next? If they don't get Air Force, will they go after Hawaii next? This is getting ridiculous.
Air Force, which was seriously interested in joining the Missouri Valley, now appears certain to accept the invitation to join the Big East. Boise State, Air Force, and Navy will join the Big East in football only. Central Florida will join for all sports.

[tornado]

There is also rumor that the Big East is preparing to invite Temple and Saint Louis if other options fail

Majerus also just hired ex-Evansville coach Jim Crews as his new assistant at Saint Louis

[TheAsianSensation]

The MWC and CUSA announced their alliance presumably as a counter to all the Big East movement.

Boise appears to be saying no to the Big East. Air Force is leaning heavily towards no because their service academy bretheren aren't coming. Central Florida looks like they're leaning towards going. Houston and SMU also appear to now have gotten all sport invites, and no one knows what they'll do. Villanova has blocked Temple for now.

There's all sorts of contingencies where the Big East will increase exit fees if all four of Boise, AFA, Houston, and SMU join....there's no clear hierarchy of which schools are next on the invite list, whether they're football only, basketball only, or both....it's a mess.

[Bravesfan]

The MWC and CUSA announced their alliance presumably as a counter to all the Big East movement.

Boise appears to be saying no to the Big East. Air Force is leaning heavily towards no because their service academy bretheren aren't coming. Central Florida looks like they're leaning towards going. Houston and SMU also appear to now have gotten all sport invites, and no one knows what they'll do. Villanova has blocked Temple for now.

There's all sorts of contingencies where the Big East will increase exit fees if all four of Boise, AFA, Houston, and SMU join....there's no clear hierarchy of which schools are next on the invite list, whether they're football only, basketball only, or both....it's a mess.

Boise State would certainly bolster the Big East, but of course there is just one problem. The closest to the Big East Boise State is eastern Oregon as Boise, Idaho is only about an hour west of the Oregon/Idaho border! I can see why they are saying no to the Big East.

[Da Coach]

More conference realignment silliness- San Diego State is now a target to join the Big East

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/os-ucf-big-east-expansion-1108-20111107,0,5910780.story

[buschsquirrel2011]

More conference realignment silliness- San Diego State is now a target to join the Big East
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sport...,5910780.story

SDSU is East of Hawaii.

[Bravesfan]

More conference realignment silliness- San Diego State is now a target to join the Big East
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sport...,5910780.story

It's getting even worse by the minute. BYU now being invited to join the Big East!

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=ap-byu-bigeast

No way are they going to join! Being an independent in football allows them to pick and choose their own schedule just like Notre Dame. And joining the likes of Gonzaga and St. Mary's arguably makes the West Coast Conference just as potent as what's left of the Big East, outside of maybe UConn. I've been wrong before, but I don't see this happening.

[Bradleyguy10]

Imagine the money and resources spent by that conference if these teams join....

Not to mention the toll that it would take on the players for those west coast teams to travel. I think all of that would be considered. Do the schools pay for the transportation or is it the conference?

[amckillip]

Imagine the money and resources spent by that conference if these teams join....

Not to mention the toll that it would take on the players for those west coast teams to travel. I think all of that would be considered. Do the schools pay for the transportation or is it the conference?

Schools pay for it, but for these schools they are planning on the revenue increase outweighing the increased travel costs (which would be true if the Big East remains a top conference, though I doubt that personally).

[Da Coach]

There is also rumor that the Big East is preparing to invite Temple and Saint Louis if other options fail

There are rumors that Temple will officially join the Big East after this season.

[tornado]

and further rumors that other teams could leave the A-10 causing a domino effect and
thus teams like SLU, Dayton, Xavier - perhaps calling and inquiring about MVC membership -- wow........

[TheAsianSensation]

and further rumors that other teams could leave the A-10 causing a domino effect and
thus teams like SLU, Dayton, Xavier - perhaps calling and inquiring about MVC membership -- wow........

SLU, I wouldn't be surprised if their attitude is "get us a travel partner or get us out". Xavier and Dayton should stay and wait for the Big East to finally split.

The real question is what the A-10 does. They can get VCU or Mason (doubt ODU or W&M because ODU doesn't want to move their football), or they can maybe even poach a MVC team to pair with StL. Of course Butler is the obvious candidate.