MT again says NO to 9th football school

[TyBull]

BULLS BEAT

Big East Eyes Another Florida Bowl

By BRETT MCMURPHY

Published: Nov 2, 2006

If the University of South Florida wins one of its final four games, the Bulls could go bowling for a second consecutive season with the most likely destinations the Birmingham or International bowls.

However, if Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese gets his wish, in the future the Bulls - and other league teams - could go bowling in a Tampa Bay bowl.

Tranghese reiterated last week in New York that the Big East is interested in another Big East bowl in Florida when the league's current bowl cycle expires in 2009.

"You have to make sure it has a chance to succeed, what kind of team can we send, can we draw fans?" Tranghese said. "Tampa/St. Petersburg is a market we're interested in. I think we'd like to get another bowl somewhere in Florida, that seems to be the consensus of our people.

"Obviously the Outback Bowl is very successful. Can the Tampa Bay area sustain another bowl?"

Another question: Would the Outback Bowl welcome another bowl in the area? There aren't many cities with two bowls (Orlando, New Orleans, Phoenix/Glendale, Ariz., and San Diego) and if the Outback folks aren't behind this - and money talks - it would be difficult to get a Big East bowl in Tampa. Another possibility could be another group bringing a bowl to St. Petersburg's Tropicana Field.

BOWL REPS: Attending Saturday's USF-Pittsburgh game will be representatives from the Texas and International bowls. Texas gets the third selection from the Big East, while the International and Birmingham bowls share the final two selections among Big East teams.

The Big East's other bowls, which they are in the first year of a four-year agreement with: BCS (champion), Gator or Sun (second selection), Meineke Car Care (although Navy is guaranteed a spot with one more win).

The Big East has four bowl-eligible teams (West Virginia, Louisville, Rutgers and Pittsburgh), while USF and Cincinnati need only one more win.

NO NUMBER 9: For any Conference USA teams out there hoping to join the Big East, don't hold your breath: the Big East is not seeking a ninth football member.

"We're not talking to anybody about bringing in a full member," Tranghese said. "I don't think our membership would support it. It would take a very, very special program to become No. 9 in football and No. 17 [member in non-football sports]. One doesn't exist that's available.

"We're not going out and talking to people. But if someone would pick up the phone and call us, there are a couple of special programs out there and our members would vote them in tomorrow, 16-0. It would have to be someone special. We're not going to take [a full member] just for the sake to get to nine [in football]."

ODDS AND ENDS: Ranked ninth nationally in the preseason, the men's soccer team finished ninth overall in the Big East and fourth in the Red Division. The Bulls (9-6-4), who lost in the Big East quarterfinals Saturday, are long shots to receive an at-large NCAA bid when the NCAA field is announced Monday. … Sophomore 1B Joel Cardieri, son of former USF baseball coach Eddie Cardieri, and sophomore 2B Carlos Armstrong of Wharton were among seven players cut from the baseball team by new coach Lelo Prado. Only six of Cardieri's final 10-player recruiting class is at USF. … The women's basketball team received four votes in the ESPN/USA Today coaches preseason poll.

http://www.tbo.com/sports/bulls/MGB8SFLL0UE.html

[Apis Bull]

"We're not going out and talking to people. But if someone would pick up the phone and call us, there are a couple of special programs out there and our members would vote them in tomorrow, 16-0. It would have to be someone special. We're not going to take [a full member] just for the sake to get to nine [in football]."

Notre Dame?

Penn State?

Maryland?

Georgia Tech?

Are these the special ones he's reffering too?

[Guest AstroBull]

I think just the first 3.  

[BullsFanInTX]

Well the "special" programs are ND and PSU.  We'd probably take Maryland, and possibly even Navy, but I don't know if those are the "special" programs he is talking about.  JUST SAY NO to any CDOA teams!!!  

[smazza]

notre dame or psu

maryland isnt coming becasue of basketball and their football program is nothing special

[South_Florida_Flip]

I think just the first 3.  

I think he was referring to the first one, and the first one only. I doubt any non football playing member would want another all sports program.