I'll quote a guy from another site (www.ncaabbs.com) on this:


oddly enough, we've actually talked about some of these names before. :o

if this happens lets examine the ripple effects...
ecu would have to leave cusa and would probaby join the a10 for other sports with boston u to get them at 16

then cusa would have 11 and would either lose marshall who is now really out of place, or expand and take la tech or a sunbelt school.

whoever loses a member will be pressed to get a replacement, but i wouldnt kill them.

i say just split already and let the real fun begin.

Look at Villanova for BE football.
Point 1 they have not entered CAA yet from A10
Point 2 1AA classification to go away possibly by April 2005.
Point 3 Maybe they share 9th spot with ND.

if nova joins with big east football, that would really screw temple in the realm of 1-a football. of course, if 1-aa is eliminated those two could just trade places with temple joining the new caa football league instead of nova, who has there old big east spot.

We've been discussing this on other BE boards (you'll find mine on thenewbigeast.com, as well as additional posts from the original Cuse fan). Some concern about this general direction remains. Most BE purists would rather have a Philly school and if that were to happen ECU would become unnecessary, to a degree. TS2's reminder of the potential changes to D1 classifications is also key, as that could open up a myriad of options that might prove more favorable.

Basically, ECU has a lot of appeal as an easy quick fix, but when starting the assessment from the stand point of what's the best long term interest for the BE, more critical assessment becomes warranted. If ECU felt they had an escape plan in case the future full-member scenario didn't work out, I'd say go for it for both parties. Especially since the BE has some time to play with, they should not be hasty in their actions now.

Other than ND as full time member, which won't happen, the BE is not in great shape for expansion. ECU may be the best of an unattractive group. Lash had promoted Memphis, and I agree they are the most appealing, but distance and attitude apparently killed that idea.

Geographically, 'Nova, UMass and Delaware make the most sense, but who knows if there's enough inclination and backing (government, alumni, community) for any of them to make the jump to IA. I was in Orlando last week and read that UCF is pressing for a 45,000 seat on-campus playpen, and that might help their cause.

Does playing at the Citrus Bowl, 15 miles away, really have that bad of an affect on attendance?

Do students show up?

A few comments:
1) Exactly what is "partial" membership for one particular sport? It means little beyond individual scheduling, and what conference, including the BE, has officially such a designation whereby a school playing 2 to 4 fb games against opponents of a particular conference, makes them eligible for the conference championship? Use Army and Navy as supplements? "Oh, please" (quoting Exotica, the best dancer at Morgantown's top hoochie-coochie club)!
2) The elimination/assimilation of D-1AA could have a significant impact on the BE and current non-BCS conferences, plus the better, current D-AA conferences. Agree on this one, TS2.
3) If Villanova is to BE fb, their slate will need to include the other eight current fb teams in the BE. It would be the same for whoever is identified as #9 fb.
4) East Carolina and Marshall have no particular bond other than both being now, C-USA members. If East Carolina leaves C-USA for a BE fb offer, C-USA could add LA Tech, as noted, or another. Actually, the WAC may not mind LA Tech leaving that much due to the geographic divide created last year with conference changes/expansion. However, that would leave the WAC at eight, who may have more problems with their own, future expansion initiatives. Well, Montana or N. Arizona???
5) ECU was on the fringe of C-USA geographically, anyway. Marshall, fits OK, considering, with C-USA as it was re-structured. They do not appear to be a BE candidate for several reasons. Though some have advocated Memphis, there is a real geographic issue there, and the school would be hesitant to accept something less than All Sports. ECU may be a different situation from several indications.
6) D&Dfan's posting may not be far-fetched, and the BE could commit to a fb #9 prior to settling on any future split. Since Army and Navy are not open, currently, to a #9 fb BE role, and Temple is not being invited back, then substantive speculation about East Carolina is logical. (Of course I would not want to label the BE as being consistently logical ::)).

The importance of a 9th member is based on scheduling.That is each of the 8 schools in the BE will have an equal number of home and away games.That is each will 4 homes with BE members and 4 away games.If the 9th slot is made upes with ND and 5 games with Villanova the 9th slot is taken care of.(shared 9th slot).Also the BE will have scheduling alliances with Army and Navy,this will keep an eastern flavor to football.This wad another point of NDplaying H/A with both army and navy.

D&C;

Marshall and ECU were members of the Southern Conference together until ECU left, so they do have some limited history together.

East Carolina, Richmond, and William & Mary all left the Southern Conference at about the same time and were replaced by Marshall, Tennessee-Chattanooga, and Western Carolina, however, there might have been a slight ECU-Marshall overlap (I believe that Richmond's departure was effective a season earlier than the others)...

This business of "partial scheduling" is ridiculous. The BE may play a few games with ND, but they won't count in the standings, so BE teams will still have 4 or 3 home conference games on an alternating basis until a 9th full-time member is found.

ND is already partner to BE bowl games.They are already receiving the prizes.By the way Villanova looking at sharing the 9th membership with ND.

There isn't going to be a "shared membership". You don't really think that the end-of-season standings are going to show ND, Villanova, Army, Navy or anyone else with records of say 2-2 while the other 8 have played 8 games do you?

Of course not.But ND and possibly Villanova could be part of a bowl agreement.