USF/Big East Realignment Discussion Thread

[callmesuperman]

Being left out would be devastating for the program. Imagine playing UAB, Tulane, and Marshall in Conference USA instead of teams like West Virginia, TCU,and Pittsburgh in Big East. Recruiting and attendance would suffer tremendously. Also our OOC  schedule will suffer since teams in the ACC, PAC12,and SEC will play more in conference games then now; thus leading to less marquee OOC games.

I think the next few weeks will be the most important in USF history. Maybe a BE/ Big 12 league would be the best solution. USF administration needs to be aggressive in finding a new AQ league for USF. They will be assessed on results- going back to Conference USA would be unacceptable.

[Held_AccountaBull]

how does the "27 month notice" thing play out in all this? Are they still in BE for two more years?

It's been called negotiable, but money talks.  A majority of remaining Big East teams would have to approve any exception, so they need 8 votes from the 14 teams remaining to get a shorter exit.  

I think a lot will be predicated on if the other Big East schools feel they can adapt more quickly.  I doubt they will easily approve a move for next year since we're in the season and scheduling problems exist.  Pitt and Cuse will probably want to do it more quickly because they haven't filled out their schedules for next year yet.  They both only have three teams scheduled (Pitt has four, but if they go ACC then Virginia Tech becomes an in conference game - and VT might not be thrilled because they already need one more game to fill out their schedule and Pitt joining next year would mean they'd need to find two more teams to play).  

If the remaining Big East teams fold in with the remaining Big XII teams then Pitt and Cuse would likely be let go for the regular exit fee, though the basketball schools might prove to be a pain in the butt for them.  Nova, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, Seton Hall, St. John's, and DePaul (even ND, who would basically be downgraded to a lesser conference for their non-FB sports) are an eight team bloc that can block expediting the process.  

I'd guess the ACC doesn't want to get sued either, so they'll want Pitt and Syracuse to be able to get out cleanly.  I expect the SEC set the standard when it comes to legal waivers.

Remember, Notre Dame also would lose their bowl tie-ins if the Big East folds because we negotiate those together.  So Notre Dame does have an interest here.  This is the first time where I think they could conceivably join the Big Ten.  With the Big Ten paying out around $18M per school, that's greater than what they get from NBC and the Big East (around $14M).  And NBC's ratings continue to be down with NBC seriously pursuing a conference tie-in.

I think the most likely scenario is the the Big East folds as a football conference.  The Big XII also folds.  The remnants of both come together and form a new continental conference.  If the organizations fold, the TV contracts will void and the new conference is free to negotiate a new TV deal and come to an arrangement with the bowls as well.  

1. Texas

2. Texas Tech

3. Missouri

4. Kansas

5. Baylor

6. K-State

7. Iowa State

8. USF

9. Rutgers

10. UConn

11. Cincinnati

12. Louisville

13. TCU

14. West Virginia

Rutgers or Mizzou might go Big Ten to balance out ND IF they would decide to finally join a conference.  Then you pick from Houston, SMU, UCF, Boise St, etc.  

If it were me, I'd also look at bringing in several of the bball schools:  Marquette, Villanova, Georgetown, St. John's.  Doing so would get their votes to fully break up the Big East.  Then go out and let ESPN, NBC, and Fox bid on a TV contract while launching a national network that whoever wins that contract will manage.

Why in the world would you bring in bball only schools? The hybrid model is flat out stupid and the reason why the Big East will not survive.

[macphisto]

NC Bull - rabid fan base doesn't matter. It's about the TV dollars. And WV has no value to SEC.

Adds a little bit, but you're right, not much value.

The SEC would probably most like to add Virginia Tech to balance out A&M, but they would come with Virginia.  Maryland would be a huge get for them because of Baltimore and DC.  And adding UNC might be of interest to get into North Carolina.

But the ACC teams probably aren't going anywhere.  I think the Pitt and Syracuse movement is why FSU met to discuss conference stuff last week.

This is why it is best for West Virginia and USF to link up.  WVU does have the best longterm football rep in the conference.  We're in a large market with a tremendous upside.  

And as for UF not wanting us, they would never be able to publicly vote against us or lobby against us.  The Board of Governors would crack down hard on them.  Besides, if FSU actually was considering to jump and UF was willing to let that happen, why wouldn't they let in 'lil ole USF?  But UF can't block anything alone.  If we can convince the other SEC teams that we would benefit the conference, then it would help.  

For the SEC it is not entirely about markets.  Adding more teams allow them to renegotiate their contract and they are eyeing that PAC-12 deal and looking to get a $20M a year payout for all schools.  Going to 16 and possibly securing an in-conference playoff would allow them to make a lot of scratch.  CBS will pay big money to keep them and they also would be best setup to create a new network for themselves.

If they can't pluck the ACC, where do they look?  Mizzou is an obvious choice, but what if they want to go to 16?  WVU is there.  Then who else?  Louisville?  Cincy (yes, people in Cincy think they are southern)?  That's why working with WVU makes a lot of sense.  I think it would be far more attractive if we applied together to the SEC.  Heck, why not have WVU, USF, and Louisville all apply together as a package to bring the SEC to 16?

[Apis Bull]

This is what happens when you have a conference split between football and basketball interests.  This is why Miami, VaTech, and BC left in the first place.  They wanted the Big East to expand back then.  One would have thought that the Big East would have learned.  Now the Big East football will fall apart and the Big East will become the A10.2

[xguju]

I think it would be far more attractive if we applied together to the SEC.  Heck, why not have WVU, USF, and Louisville all apply together as a package to bring the SEC to 16?

I think this is a freaking amazingly ideal idea. All three of these schools are in relatively new markets for the SEC. All of these schools have SEC-style talent and football focus. Can someone without green and gold goggles on tell me why this would never happen?

[Apis Bull]

I think it would be far more attractive if we applied together to the SEC.  Heck, why not have WVU, USF, and Louisville all apply together as a package to bring the SEC to 16?

I think this is a freaking amazingly ideal idea. All three of these schools are in relatively new markets for the SEC. All of these schools have SEC-style talent and football focus. Can someone without green and gold goggles on tell me why this would never happen?

Because WVU believes they can get there without us.

[Joe]

Because the SEC will be able to pull in pretty much anyone they want. USF is not that "SEC" type school.

On top of that they have the Tampa market nailed down the the Gators.

I'd the SEC goes to 16 they angle for Missouri and the two Virginia schools. Guarenteed.

[SRQ]

I think it would be far more attractive if we applied together to the SEC.  Heck, why not have WVU, USF, and Louisville all apply together as a package to bring the SEC to 16?

I think this is a freaking amazingly ideal idea. All three of these schools are in relatively new markets for the SEC. All of these schools have SEC-style talent and football focus. Can someone without green and gold goggles on tell me why this would never happen?

UF & UK veto

[mikemcp88]

WVU does not need us to get there. Genshaft needs to be assertive and the team needs to win. That is all we can do at this point.

[Apis Bull]

Because the SEC will be able to pull in pretty much anyone they want. USF is not that "SEC" type school.

On top of that they have the Tampa market nailed down the the Gators.

I'd the SEC goes to 16 they angle for Missouri and the two Virginia schools. Guarenteed.

Just curious, how do you know this?