http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/colle....llege-football

[Navy A.D. Chet] Gladchuk said the academy is committed to remaining independent because the football program is sustaining itself.

"We can manage our schedule, we've got an outstanding television package and it's not critical for us to be in a revenue-sharing association [as many conferences are]," he explained. "The three main items - scheduling, TV and finances - are all in order as an independent."

Bowl invitations are an exception.

"There will always be disappointment if we don't go," he said. "But we think that each year there should be a slot or two available. Certainly, the pros of staying independent outweigh the cons.

oh well, maybe next year!

South Fla is already in the Big East 8-)

Who said Navy was being considered as a member of the new Big East. Just because Tigersharktwo and myself have made some references to Navy and Army, the officials of the new Big East are very happy with the 8 team football league and 16 team basketball league.

Besides the BE have said that a 9th football member must bring something to the table and Navy without Army would not bring much.

The BE needs to stay away from associate membership.

The Big East will hold out for Notre Dame as the 9th football member. The only way the conference expands in the future is if Notre Dame moves to the Big 10 and creates an opening for an all sports member.

Navy and Army will probally be the 9th members eveuntally. I look for both of them to be full football members if the BE splits fb/bb schools. Then look for Marshall and Temple/East Carolina to join to make it a 12 team fb league and 10 league in all other sports.

The Big East might be best remaining at 8, perhaps 9 with a single team addition when/if the confernece splits in 2010.

The conference is undergoing a tough change right now and can't wait for Louisville to get on board.

If BC loses it's final game of the year, WVU will be in the BCS, despite a ranking that will be below #20 and a similar AP poll ranking.

That means that the system that's in place, that' supposed to be the end-all-be-all of fair decisions will have a sub-#20 team in the BCS (if BC wins the conference, they will be #20 or #19) while 14 higher ranked teams sit at home.

Who get's screwed?

Not...

USC (1)
Oklahoma (2)
Auburn (3)
California (4)
Michigan (7)
BE: Boston College (#21) or WVU (#23) or Pitt (NR)
ACC: Florida state (8), Virginia tech (15), Miami (12)
Utah (#6)

If Utah is in, then Texas (#5) is out.




WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN?

Simply that the Big East is in a tough spot. They have the "bid" for now. But that could change. Watering down the league will just hurt them in the long run.

So I don't see any need to expand to 12 when it could put the automatic bid at risk, which brings in more money than a championship game would.

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