San Antonio (37) comes with a significantly better tv market than Tulsa (61). Would UTSA be that much of threat to SMU/Houston that they would try yo block them? They were cool with Tulane and New Orleans is not much further away from Dallas and Houston than San Antonio.

As far as MAC schools go they are a pretty tight knit group and they all seem pretty content where they are. They aren't that attractive when it comes to tv either. Ohio and Toledo led the league in home game attendance and they were each just over 20000.

Some of the C-USA teams in bigger markets are probably the safer bet for the BE.

SMU and Houston think of themselves as old SWC schools that got a raw deal in the 90's (like TCU did) they respect Tulane (similarly a former SEC school, current AAU, and great travel destination) and Tulsa has been competitive with them in CUSA for a decade.

Despite the market, UTSA's fb program is just a few years old and the school itsself is just over 40 years old. That just can't overcome the snob factor that these established schools don't want to be asssociated with them which will almost singlehandily get them blocked from the Big East (honestly CUSA is a great place for them) or send SMU/Houston to do something drastic whether it be start a new conference or join the MWC.

_________________
Fan of the Big 12 Conference, the Mountain West Conference and...

Hearing the ACC has 7 AM conf call to pick Louisville tomorrow. Let's see if it's true.

_________________

WRANGLERS 153-55-1 CVFL CHAMPS '04 '05 '09 '12

NFL CHAMPS '29 '30 '31 '36 '39 '44 '61 '62 '65 '66 '67 '96 '10

BW/WAC/MWC CHAMPS '77 '82 '85 '88 '89 '91 '92 '93 '99 '12
['08 NCAA BASEBALL CHAMPS]

The ACC seems to think that Conn and Cinc will always be there if they need more members, so they'll take Lou now.

then the Big 12 should call FSU and Clemson tomorrow and invite them if they say no, invite Cincinnati and UConn for spite.

_________________

WRANGLERS 153-55-1 CVFL CHAMPS '04 '05 '09 '12

NFL CHAMPS '29 '30 '31 '36 '39 '44 '61 '62 '65 '66 '67 '96 '10

BW/WAC/MWC CHAMPS '77 '82 '85 '88 '89 '91 '92 '93 '99 '12
['08 NCAA BASEBALL CHAMPS]

CSNBBS MB thread discussing report that Louisville will be leaving for the ACC at http://csnbbs.com/showthread.php?tid=602887

also,CSNBBS MB thread discussing report that ECU will become BE allsports now that Louisville will be leaving at http://csnbbs.com/showthread.php?tid=602791

From the above message board.

"Unless somebody beyond Louisville leaves, I think not. We now have 16 for BB. Nine all sports (UC, UConn, USF, UCF, Temple, Memphis, UH, SMU and Tulane), plus 7 BB schools."

This makes perfect sense, if Navy joins they'll try for another fb only member (or Nova upgrade), but I don't see them wanting to go past 16 in bball if they don't have to. If the 14th fb member requires a full invite then ECU may get pulled up but beyond that (or more defections, or a split) I doubt it happens. CAA seems most likely.

_________________
Fan of the Big 12 Conference, the Mountain West Conference and...

I wonder if the BE official who said recently that those schools (AFA, BYU) "will come crawling back after we announce our new TV contract" is even still part of the NBE?

For those who thought Villanova might upgrade and become the 14th fb school...

"As we move forward, our objective remains the same--insuring national prominence for our athletic programs, driven by men's basketball." Vince Nicastro, Villanova Director of Athletics

http://www.vuhoops.com/big-east/2012/11 ... ealignment

And another post complaining about their situation

http://www.vuhoops.com/big-east/2012/11 ... -athletics

_________________
Fan of the Big 12 Conference, the Mountain West Conference and...

Hartford Courant article discussing whether the BE has added enough "quality" content during this round of realignment to justify a hefty tv revenue increase in the next league tv deal.Link at http://www.courant.com/sports/uconn-foo ... 3708.story

Bonesville blog article discussing ECU/Big East FB only situation and apparent uncertainty regarding where the ECU non-FB sports will be housed in 2014.Link at http://bonesville.net/Articles/DennyOBr ... OBrien.htm

Blog article out of Hampton Roads(previously posted in another thread)with comments from CAA Commish who says his league would be willing to listen to ECU regarding a home for their non-FB sports if they cannot obtain an allsports BE membership at http://www.dailypress.com/sports/fairba ... 79254.post

The more of Ewart I read, the more I'm convinced the guy never went to 'Nova, or is a legacy admit; because he's an idiot. Such a stupid remark about the $22m project to re-landscape the campus...drive down Lancaster Avenue and you'll know why. It's where you get to see the most of Villanova's property. If the bleached gravestones of old, dead perverted priests aren't the first thing your eye is drawn to, then the service road nearby is. "One of the prettiest," indeed. Who else is on the list...just them and Harcum? What a joke.

But he's right to be pissed about Nicastro's letter. It's absolutely god-awful. No mention of football, and, ahem, Villanova has only ONE title for their beloved hoops program...their track and field and cross country combine for about 100. ONE HUNDRED! That Nicastro can't even put THAT as a catalyst to protect "the brand," screams that he has NO CLUE what he is doing.

ESPN article reporting that Rutgers has sued the Big East to challenge terms of that leagues exit fee and waiting policy at http://espn.go.com/new-york/college-spo ... -wait-time

Old Dominion University field hockey joins the Big East in 2013, as Conference USA doesn't sponsor the sport.
http://www.odusports.com/sports/w-field ... 12aaa.html