Neither do a lot of folks. Perhaps that's why some schools left and their contracts are so weak? ;D

I looked through Notre Dame, Villanova, Notre Dame, Army, Navy, and Big East OFFICAL websites. I read the Philadelphia papers and USA Today daily. If there was even a stuctured partnership or schedule agreement with all 4 and Big East there certainly would be some press on it. Looking at the future schedules of all 4, there is no pattern of assimulation or absorbtion into Big East football. I even looked back at other posts on this subject and the Newday article cited about this is nothing more than a speculative talk stroking the ego of the Big East w/o showing commitment, and what verbal support was offered is no coalition of Notre Dame, Villanova, Army, and Navy to join the Big East eight in a pac.
As far as some minor bowl game, the agreement is Eig East team "OR" Notre Dame; Not Notre Dame "IS" a Big East Team. Notre Dame has not given up their independent BCS agreement.
The meaning of "IS"? Bill Clinton may have been right, after all, implying the term has degrees of interpretation.

Notre Dame's independence in football is just the same as Syracuse's independence in men's lacrosse.

So? And what does that have to do with Notre Dame not being a BE football participant as is Syracuse? I doubt the BE was created and sustained on the basis of men's lacrosse. I would, though, buy the basketball thought since the BE has proliferated itself in the sport, and their historical formation goes back to basketball.

Temple was in BE for fb only till they were forced exit. Miami when they were in the BE didn't play conference baseball. Other BE fb members were not readily added in basketball.

The BE can forget about Notre Dame playing BE football. They would have more success trying to cultivate 1-A football programs at Providence and DePaul.

I guess I cannot post under the BE section.

Westwolf, Dognthingys, and SportsKC---you guys are correct in your BE assessments. Keep providing the reality checks.

Lash, Tigershark2, Berc, and FriarFan---I disagree----the BE did NOT win out in the bowl agreements, the BE has made blunders, they are lucky to still be in the BCS, and Notre Dame is NOT a Big East football member, and there are NO press reports on Army and Navy joining BE football, and Villanova remain division 1-AA.

Check MT in the Pittsburgh Post Gazatte 7/20/05on Army/ NAvy Affiliation with the BE.Villanova wants to stay in the BE if there is a split in 2010,that is the reason for the movement.

If there is a BE split by 2010, then it would it not be something similar to the group of eight that pulled away from the WAC and formed the MWC? In the MWC case, it was eight within the 16 member WAC that pulled away, leaving behind those, in their view, did not meet their standards and criteria.

Would Syracuse, Louisville, Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Rutgers, and UCONN want to bring with them Villanova even by 2010? That would the the opportunity for the best of the BE to shake-off those they may not want, and add others who have no affiliation with the BE. While non-BE schools such as Army and Navy may be considered, it is difficult to envision the group taking on a 1-AA school who has not already well initiated the upgrade. 2010 is less than five years from now. In building a major program for 1-A in college football, it is a very short period of time.

If all the current football schools in BE 1-A hold together after a split, their options would extend beyond Villanova. In addition to Army and Navy, who may still want to remain independent, there may be considerations of a couple of MAC or eastern C-USA schools. The group may not go beyond nine or ten initially. They could expand to twelve once they garner a foundation. There are other eastern and southeastern 1-AA schools that have stronger means to get to 1-A compared to Villanova. Again, if it is 2010, then it may already be late for a 1-AA school to have a strong upgrade in place for the initial transition. Even Temple has a better chance.

Temple has only a chance to stay alive at the bottom of the MAC.Army and Navy and ND will be affilates of BE football.(MT already has secured ND(full time for BE in all other sports besides football)as an affiliated BE program in football .He is now working on Army and Navy for spots BE football affilates(with possible bowl and tv co-operation)Villanova would be the 9th full time member.An upgrade of their 4 million per 1AA program.Also if the breakup happens St.Johns and Georgetown would be in for all other sports besides football.A twelve team group for other than football and a 9 member group for football plus 3 affilates.

Man I wish I had what you are smoking.