Air Force to Stay Put; Who Should Big East Offer Now?

1) It’s a lit nicer to visit than Philly
2) I’ve really enjoyed the back and forth between the teams since 07/08 and would love to see that high level of competition continue.
3) Gives us an additional TV market.
4) Memphis will finally be forced to face good conference competition.

Geography be damned, but I think it makes sense to hook up with schools of similar size and organization. Memphis really only wants in on the BE because it wants to be in a BCS conference, and at this point the BE is the lowest on the totem pole.

With ‘Cuse, Pitt, and WVU gone, we can’t sell ourselves as THE premier basketball league anymore. Yes, we are miles ahead of C-USA, but clearly competitive bball isn’t going to keep big schools around for long if the megaconferences go looking for more members. What is to stop Memphis from joining a reconstituted Big 12 in three years? The same goes for any other big public program, including UNLV.

Temple is a great bball program, and lately it has become a solid football school. They have a way better team than Memphis right now, which should keep the big schools content. The more we can hitch our wagons to the Novas, Temples, and Marquettes of the world: bball-first schools who will always be committed to maintaining upper-tier programs, the more confident I will feel in the long run, because there is no way all of those schools will collapse at once if realignment continues.

Also, it’s too bad that we couldn’t get SDSU as a bball member, but I would love it if the BE would make that a priority going forward.

http://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/index.ssf/2011/12/west_virginia_syracuse_take_di.html

"I think we’re just seeing what happens," Gross said today while taking part in the Sports Business Journal/IMG Intercollegiate Athletics Forum. We’ve been respectful of the entire process. With John making his announcement today, I think they’re putting together what the new Big East is going to look like. As they go forward to put together multimedia deals and all that stuff, they’re going to need us to move out of the way. We’re waiting for that.
"We want our departure to be more of a mutual respect for each other."

It is definitely the latter. No one has thought of anyone else but themselves in this conference realignment debacle, and that won’t change. I think Cuse is worried that its biggest rivals (and home games) are going to boycott them (Gtown, UConn, Nova) and Cuse needs them a whole of a hell lot more than we need them for local OCC games.

For the football side of the conference to be absolutely rock solid as can be. Keep pushing on USAFA and BYU for football-only membership (although of course BYU would be a good pickup for all-sports). I think demonstrating the strength of the current 10-team football program over the next couple of years will do a lot to burnish the league’s reputation and should bring at least one of the current fence-sitters over to our side.

I mean, as far as lunch documentation goes, I’d argue that Memphis offers more opportunities for casual BBQ (Rendezvous, Interstate) and though I’m growing tired of the usual Philly cheesesteak fare, I could stare at the roast pork sandwich from DiNic’s all day.

and your stealing of my errant clicks.

1) While we’re choosing between Memphis and Temple in the short term, eventually both will be added.

2) The big east will not stop at 12 we’ll move to at least 14 for football and maybe even 16. This is where who ever doesn’t get picked now will be added. I think it’ll either be 14-18, 16-18, or 16-20.

3) Navy is on board they won’t join the conference till later, but they’re pretty much signed sealed and delivered.

Some interesting info leaking on Twitter: #SBJIAF

- NBC interested in adding programming now have versus and 11 regional channels
- B10 Delany taking shots at 16 team conferences
- Verne Lundquist agrees that ESPN had role in shaping conference realignment

It would be interesting to see what happens with the Wells Fargo Center and if Owls would start to play any home games there. Anyone have any idea how tight Nova’s contract is with the owners?

I think Temple is the safe play here. Their football program is in a MUCH better position than Memphis’ (which has won 5 games in 3 years and has pretty terrible facilities) and their basketball program is strong and very stable (Dunphy probably won’t ever leave there and may be one of the most underrated coaches in the country).

I like Memphis for a lot of the reasons listed here (travel, better basketball team, though only slightly), but Temple is the safer play from a conference stability and prestige standpoint (from the football standpoint, which we aren’t directly involved in, but keeps the conference relevant and attractive to TV money, other schools, recruits, etc.)

are trying to catch on in NBA training camps which open tomorrow.
DaJuan I would guess will sign with someone. But any others – Free, CW ?
Is PE Jr signed for NO roster or just a training camp invitee?