Big East and the 9th member

[Guest Hail Pitt]

Just want your thoughts on the Big East and 9th member issue.  It is starting to get more and more talk.  If the NCAA madates us to play 12 games, then we are only looking at four conference games and a hell of a time trying to get six more non-conference games.  Nine teams would really ease the burden, ten teams would be great, 12 would be perfect.  As of now, we may be stuck playing 2 or 3 D-1AA teams a year with other conferences such as the Big 12 and Pac 10 planning on playing one more conference game.  Just your thoughts?

[Ricky the Bull]

Notre Dame?

[Guest Hail Pitt]

I did not add ND to the list because they are against joining any conference for football.  Even with the 'rumored' deals that the Big East are trying to do allowing ND to only play 3 or 4 conference games a year, it won't happen.  Maybe I should had added Penn State, but then again, they stated that they are comfortable in the Big 10.

[Velcro]

As much as I dislike memphis fans... i'd pick them... football/basketball combo is much better than anyone on that list... and memphis is a basketball hotbed.... fits right in with the northern big east schools.

[USFMikeB]

I concur with VG.  Plus, we need to be thinking about the possibility of what happens when/if the league splits up with the non-football teams.

[bulls96go]

no one, lets keep the bucks split to 8

[smazza]

not a team from the traditional south like memphis

i can't beleive miami/fsu will stay together much longer

one will bolt

i imagine they would want someone already in conference like a gtown  because how can they add another bball member

[WoolyBully]

Umass. They're a good geographic fit, but I don't know if it would be anything but a 'place holder' move.

I don't understand the ECU to BE line of thinking....my gut reaction is that Memphis would be ahead of them in line.

However, as we're not dealing with reality here....I'd say Notre Dame. That would help get the BE the most.

8)

[lotsofbull99]

As long as UCF is excluded, they could add The College of Charleston for all I care

[JeffreyBEllis]

Clearly, as evidenced by South Florida's staunch opposition to the inclusion of East Carolina University, perhaps the selection of an institution other than ECU would behoove the interests of the USF fan base and Big East Conference constituency as a collective entity.

If East Carolina did not join the Big East Conference, then one might surmise that Marshall University would become a viable option for conference inclusion.

Contrary to the results of your poll, I do not believe that the University of Memphis would offer the same degree of athletic tradition and exemplary academic standards as other institutions of higher learning being considered.

From the perspective of the ECU observer, one might surmise that South Florida is becoming the Louisville of the new millennium.

As one might recall, then-Louisville head coach Howard Schnellenberger attempted to block ECU's inclusion into Conference USA.

At the current juncture, the proverbial shoe is on the other foot with South Florida attempting to block ECU's inclusion into the Big East Conference.

Traditionally, anti-ECU antagonists have not fared well in the court of public opinion.