UCF is also on the Sunshine Network. Is the Big East in any hurry to add them as well?? I have seriously have my doubts if USF was the best choice for Big East expansion. There were other choices out there that would have been better than USF, IMO. IMO, the best USF can hope to be is another BC. If that's what the Big East was looking for, they got it.

ROFLMAO Lash!!! I needed a laugh after having to work out in the trailers last night, getting my Wal-Mart Supercenter ready for blitz!! South Florida will NEVER be on the same level as Miami or F$U. Miami and F$U have been around for ages and have attracted very large and somewhat loyal fanbases (However, South Florida may indeed reach Miami's true fanbase which is about the same size as East Carolina's!!! Nothing to brag about, IMO.)

DawgNDuck, first of all there are no current opening for Central Florida in the Big East. UCF was a top candidate in the first expansion exercises.

One or two games on Sunshine Network gets a lot of attention from all those fast Florida boys looking for a college to play football.

Not that we should go back to the days when Miami considered dropping sports or Florida State was a women school, they both certainly caught up to U of Florida.

Nobody said South Florida has to be a Miami or Florida State, those roles will go to WVU and Louisville.

If BCS member South Florida gets the Florida requits that otherwise would have decided to go to the Big 10, or any other non ACC/SEC school, the program has a chance of being consistent top 20.

So DawgDuckfan, we know your concerns are with Conf USA stability and you should have concerns, however, less review the facts and look at South Florida requiting and be objective.

South Florida already is showing signs of major benefits to the new Big East.

Once Central Florida gets Big East membership, Conf USA will have slim pickens in the eastern seaboard.

DawgNDuckfan, please see my previous post.

In my arugance to reply and have some fun, hope you were safe from Francis and reasons for Walmart comments. Take care!

Arkansan, I agree with your point. That is an issue that gets reflected upon over and over.
I can understand some of the travel for big time fb and some men's basketball. But to travel 682 miles for a conference tennis match or a women's track meet when there may be dozens of teams closer does pose questions.

If cities and their tv sets is the major determining factor, then C-USA should have no problem ::)!
Some of the universites located in small towns and generally rural areas, have tremendous followings comparatively.

I think South Florida would be better off in the ACC and Boston College would be better off in the Big East.

Then the ACC could have split the divisions up right:

North
Duke
Maryland
North Carolina
North Carolina State
Virginia
Virginia Tech

South
Clemson
Florida State
Georgia Tech
Miami
South Florida
Wake Forest

No argument from me! - Arkansan

In its taking of USF, the BE proved BY ITS ACTIONS, that it's closer to C-USA/MWC than it is to a BCS league. It is C-USA that adds teams with an eye toward TV ratings and market size---they've done that since forever.

Now the RBE does precisely the same thing; USF doesn't have much of an athletic program, and isn't a compelling academic institution. But they have a market and location.

In its taking of USF, the BE proved BY ITS ACTIONS, that it's closer to C-USA/MWC than it is to a BCS league. It is C-USA that adds teams with an eye toward TV ratings and market size---they've done that since forever.

Now the RBE does precisely the same thing; USF doesn't have a distinguished athletic program, and isn't a compelling academic institution. But they have a market and location.

One of the observations, and sometimes complaints, was that the ACC had 4 teams from North Carolina. With their expansion, inclusive of added privates in Miami and BC, that may be less of a concern to many.
I really think the ACC has all it wants out of Florida with FSU and Miami. The BE having lost Miami, re-engaged Florida with South Florida as a replacement. Maybe Central Florida will leave C-USA for a BCS conference in the future; but not sure where that could be other than the BE if/when they expand further.
I tend to think BC will fit right into the ACC in everything except travel matters. Other than travel, BC was just the kind of school that appealed to the ACC. They may like the geography (Boston), but travel and no close by conference rival will be an oddity. Of course Miami has to travel too, but they would anyway, and the ACC move Miami took a more regional direction.

Adding West Virginia or even Rutgers to the ACC, instead of BC, would have made more sense to me in terms of athletic rivalry. Of course there are opinions that have been conveyed to the contrary.

Geographically (Philadelphia), and even travel wise, Temple would have been a great addition to the ACC as #12. But as well known, and many have posted about, the school draws very poorly in fb, has too many recent losing seasons, and has the negative stigma of being booted from the BE. Temple does have respected bb though.

I tend to think the prestige conferences are done expanding for the immediate future. A move by Notre Dame could change things quickly.

Temple would have been the best since they were alread booted out of the Big East, play good basketball, have a brand new facility in hoops, also in football with the Eagles stadium. Bigger market than Boston, plus geographically border ACC member school Maryland.

ACC

North
Duke
Maryland
North Carolina
Temple
Virginia
Virginia Tech

South
Clemson
Florida State
Georgia Tech
North Carolina State
Miami
Wake Forest

Alot of folks in upstate SC would have preferred WVU over BC and SU. They see WVU as more of a school like Clemson and VT. In addition, it would have helped to keep the ACC more 'regional'.

If you ask UVa or Duke or Wake, then BC is a great choice (geography aside). BC, an excellent, small private school and should fit right in with them.

I tend to think BC 'might' have an easier time fitting in because they already have about 10-15 years of annual athletic games/meets/events with Miami and VT.

It just really depends on who you ask.



If the ACC could have had anyone in the 'NE', they best choice would have probably been PSU (if hypothetically they were available). They would be a good geographic fit with the 'northern' ACC schools. In addition, PSU is still one of the most popular schools in the NE, despite being from such a small market as they generate thousands of alumni every year.

AS someone already mentioned, they are a huge state school though and they wouldn't sit too well with Duke and Wake.

North
PSU
Maryland
VT
UVa
UNC
Duke

South
Wake
NCSt
Clemson
GT
FSU
Miami

I am thinking the ACC made the wrong choice on BC over Louisville. The embarrassment on North Carolina/Lousville game could have been softened as a future conference opponent.

Additionally the state of Kentucky basketball fans would have really embraced ACC basketball.

At this point, BC from a sports stand point brings nothing but a football championship to the ACC.

<<At this point, BC from a sports stand point brings nothing but a football championship to the ACC.>>

So, Lash, you are predicting that BC will bring the 2004 Big East football championship trophy with them to the ACC? (Sorry, couldn't resist!)

Actually, South Florida to the SEC, South Carolina to the ACC and BC to the BE makes a lot more sense, not that it would ever happen (unless somehow the BCS does become a cartel and decides it needs 6 strong conferences and needs one in the NE). ACC and SEC each get 2 FL schools, they quit splitting South Carolina, which doesn't have that many TV sets anyway, and BC goes back where it geographically and historically belongs.

Throw in ND and Temple and you have a solid, stable NE conference with 4 schools with strong fb programs (ND,Pitt, WVU,BC), 4 schools with outstanding bb programs (UL,UC,UConn, Temple), one school with both (SU) and one outstanding market (Rutgers). With 2 more schools they could split into divisions and ND would only have to play 5 conference games.

Bullet, leaving out a word can change the total meaning of a statement. BC benefit to the ACC was for a conference football championship game.

You have a point on BC could take the BE football championship, however, Miami is already there and has many BE football championships. Not sure that would have much impact other than on the NBE.

Geographics have little to do with today's college sports.

I think South Florida in the BE is more important that BC to the ACC. Primary reason is Florida is part of the Big East footprint and South Florida will help maintain this footprint since Miami has left for the ACC.