PatherSC97, Louisivillecard01, according to several reports Navy is interested in joining a football conference full time. I agree that Air Force adds a lot to the MWC and Navy could add a lot for second tier Big East football teams.

My question was how serious is the Big East on going after Navy before the academy lands in some other conference.

The time just seems right to acquire Navy full time and then look into bringing Army latter.

I think Navy would consider Big East membership. The question is what effort is the Big East football schools taking to make this happen.

Navy would be perfect to get to 9 football members and allow 8 game balanced schedules.

I think the Big East should be seriously exploring bringing Navy in as a 9th football only member.

Wbyeager, I really like your new conference for bowl division in the Northeast to Georgia. My question for you do Charlotte and Old Dominion currently play football and what type of plans do either school have with moving up to bowl division football.? This conference would be perfect to play Big East teams in the proposed NYC Big Apple and Washington DC bowls. Likewise this would generate a lot of extra interest for college football in the east that is dominated by the NFL.

Charlotte - The school is supposed to receive a feasibility study by 1/31/2008. There would be no Bowl Subdivision (I-A) in the short-term (although theoretically there is nothing preventing a school from starting there). There seems to be enough momentum at Charlotte to support it, especially given the city of Charlotte's large corporate base. Charlotte was rumored to be in the running for a Big East invitation during the last realignment and supposedly would have been extended an invite if they had a I-A football program.

Old Dominion - The school takes its first snap in the Championship Subdivision (I-AA) in 2009 and will play its home games at 20,000-seat Foreman Field. There are no definite plans right now beyond the CAA, but the school is certainly large enough to support moving up.

wbyeager, thanks for the update on Charlotte and Old Dominion. Charlotte could play some games in the NFL stadium.

I would like to reserve Army and Navy for the Big East. I think eventually Notre Dame and Villanova could round out the 12 teams required for for Big East football.

What about moving Old Dominion and James Madison to the Atlantic division and adding Florida Atlantic and Florida International from the Sun Belt to this mix.

I didn't include FAU and FIU since there likely wouldn't be enough spots open for new teams in the A-10 because of the 6/5 rule-the A-10 I have above only has three Bowl Subdivision members who count for 6/5 compliance. If the A-10 were willing to go above 14 for all sports, then two more football members may be an option without having to wait another five years.

Also, by the time this would come to pass, would FAU and FIU want to leave the Sun Belt? That would also require the Sun Belt to add at least one new member to remain a I-A conference.