Georgetown, Villanova's Eye on Realignment

[TexasTerror]

How much does what is potentially happening with the Big East as far as the 'reconstruction' or realignment of college athletics impact their football programs?

If all the Big East football schools were to leave, whether it to the Big 10, SEC or ACC, does the Big East stay together as a non-football conference? Or does it break apart, especially if Notre Dame goes all-sports elsewhere?

If that were the case (minus football & Notre Dame), you would have...

Villanova
Marquette
Georgetown
Seton Hall
St. John's
Providence
DePaul

Not sure how attractive of a league that is anymore for Georgetown or Villanova as a basketball league, especially since you would want or have to add one or three additional members.

Thoughts?

[colorless raider]

Putting on my rose colored glasses how about Villanova and Georgetown both joining the Patriot League as full time members.

[TexasTerror]

Putting on my rose colored glasses how about Villanova and Georgetown both joining the Patriot League as full time members.

That may be too optimistic! xnodx

I think Villanova likes where their football program is and both have too much at stake as far as basketball to drop to a mid (or low) major basketball conference.

Would think that the Big East basketball schools would look towards the A-10 or CAA to fill their holes...

[DFW HOYA]

Not sure how attractive of a league that is anymore for Georgetown or Villanova as a basketball league, especially since you would want or have to add one or three additional members.

No, not very attractive on a number of levels. If VU or GU had another offer at that point they should consider it, but not the PL.


Putting on my rose colored glasses how about Villanova and Georgetown both joining the Patriot League as full time members.

Umm, not interested nor very practical. Neither school can maintain its athletic program nationally in the PL.

[Seawolf97]

No, not very attractive on a number of levels. If VU or GU had another offer at that point they should consider it, but not the PL.



Umm, not interested nor very practical. Neither school can maintain its athletic program nationally in the PL.

The ACC would probably be a fit for both GU and VU-basketball wise and lacrosse. Especially Georgetown stuck between Virginia and Maryland. Going to FBS football for both schools would be an issue . I dont think the ACC would want non football members no matter how strong their B-ball programs are.

[Go...gate]

Putting on my rose colored glasses how about Villanova and Georgetown both joining the Patriot League as full time members.

Let me have a shot of whatever Colorless is having....:D

[Jackman]

You can pencil Xavier into that league. Actually, you can use ink for that. Use pencil for St. Louis and Dayton.

[TexasTerror]

Here's a very colorful, detailed PDF on how things may break down...

http://media.nj.com/ledgerarchives/other/colorBIG10.DT.pdf

And an article on Rutgers' situation as it pertains to the radical realignment...

http://www.nj.com/rutgers/index.ssf/2010/05/rutgers_at_major_crossroads_as.html

[Catsfan2]

Villanova won't consider going to the Patriot unless and until Talley retires. If the football program shows the slightest interest in a non-scholarship conference, the school administration would be all over it. It would mark the end of Nova football.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

If you think it takes a beer bong to believe that Villanova would consider the Patriot League, you had better take a closer look at that PDF where Fresno State and San Diego State are part of the Pac 10, which has about as much chance of happening as me being the new commissioner of said conference. Never mind the psychotropic drugs that are required to have a "Big Atlantic" conference with 20 teams in it.

This is just one of many breathless thoughts of conference realignment without realistically looking at the financial implications. I mean, a basketball conference splitting revenue 20 ways? There hasn't been a TV contract written in history that would make that work, let alone the logistical nightmare of planning sports in all these conferences in the league offices.

People are reading far too much in one year of revenue - one! - from the Big Ten network and projecting it out into mindless proportions. It's my thought that these articles will all look pretty silly when the Big East splits into two conferences and the Big Ten quite possibly ends up with nobody.

[DFW HOYA]

This is just one of many breathless thoughts of conference realignment without realistically looking at the financial implications. I mean, a basketball conference splitting revenue 20 ways? There hasn't been a TV contract written in history that would make that work, let alone the logistical nightmare of planning sports in all these conferences in the league offices.

One-twentieth of something is still more than one-eighth of nothing, which is what awaits a lot of these teams.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

That's a lot different, however, than how conference realignment is being "marketed", i.e. $22 million dollar checks as far as the eye can see.

And that presumes that the existing TV contracts - with smaller conference sizes - can't be renegotiated to higher numbers, either.

[GA St. MBB Fan]

I still don't understand how Georgetown and Villanova can willingly miss out on all of that Big East-BCS football money.

[TexasTerror]

Villanova was mentioned in a sidebar of a Houston Chronicle article, something along the lines that they may be asked to move from FCS to FBS to fill a spot in the new Big East pending realignment...

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Villanova was mentioned in a sidebar of a Houston Chronicle article, something along the lines that they may be asked to move from FCS to FBS to fill a spot in the new Big East pending realignment...

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/college/6996754.html

The move seems like the gleam in one sportswriter's eye at the moment, as that scenario is listed under "Big Change" in the scenarios.

And it comes after the Baylor and TAMU's ADs downplayed some of the more hysterical scenarios out there:


Baylor athletic director Ian McCaw isn't buying the idea Missouri or Nebraska, for instance, will bolt for the Big Ten, despite the potential for earning roughly $10 million more annually in revenue, thanks to a sweeter conference television contract.

“The Big 12 has a very bright and stable future,” McCaw said. “We're on solid ground. I'll be surprised if the Big Ten (which has 11 members) expands beyond 12 schools. Fourteen and 16 teams are unwieldy from a scheduling standpoint.”

Plus, McCaw added, the Big Ten likely doesn't want to spread its considerable annual payout — reportedly $22 million per school — over too many programs. The Big 12 reportedly pays from $7 million to $12 million per school.

“There are a lot of reasons why they won't go past 12,” McCaw said of the Big Ten, in downplaying the idea of a super conference of 16 or more teams. “And I think the Big Ten will take either Notre Dame or Connecticut (to make 12).”

Count Texas A&M athletic director Bill Byrne, too, as a Big 12 believer — and one who couldn't resist a dig at any wishful thinking.

“As long as we're wishing, I wish all of our schools were located in Hawaii,” he said, chuckling.

More seriously, Byrne said of hypothesizing about the Big 12's future: “There are all types of combinations that people can get into. My preference is to keep the Big 12 intact. We have a really good conference, and I like it. If (the dominoes) start falling we'll take care of Texas A&M, but it's pointless to speculate on that right now, when there's been no movement.

“I can't say it often enough — we want to stay right where we are. And the ‘Bigger 10' would love to have Notre Dame.”

[CollegeSportsInfo]

Villanova and GTown are in tough spots. They've maintained a high level of basketball success while some of the other schools similar to them have suffered (SH, StJ, Prov, DePaul). Marquette has been successful as well.

Do VU and GT regret not making a push to FBS football like Uconn did? Maybe, but the money/drive wasn't their. Both schools do benefit now from being aligned with Syracuse, Uconn. But they could still survive even without them...it's just more of a risk.

Plenty of VU to FBs rumblings from VU fans, but nothing concrete. Certainly, if they could upgrade, they'd help their cause.

But really, the future still looks like the 7 non-FBS football schools will remain together with some new additions like Xavier and Dayton.

But if you're VU or GT, why both upgrade IF all the schools you'd want to be with (Syracuse, BC, Uconn, Rutgers) are all in different conferences than you?


The LONGSHOT scenario:
1) If the Big Ten expanded to 16 by going east, the ACC could look to protect their interest in the northeast region with expansion. The LONGSHOT scenario, and I mean a real longshot, would be if the ACC were to go a bold route and invite Army & Navy for football, and then Villanova & Georgetown for other sports. They'd further strengthen their hold of the Maryland/DC area by having Maryland, GT and Navy. Villanova would give them the Philly market for basketball and even Army could be a regional help for football. All 4 schools would fit into the academic mold of the ACC.

Then again, if you're the ACC and make a desperate move with few options (like if the B10 took 4 BE schools and only WVU was an option), you might as well just add WVU and Temple for all sports.

[CollegeSportsInfo]

Here's a very colorful, detailed PDF on how things may break down...

http://media.nj.com/ledgerarchives/other/colorBIG10.DT.pdf

This PDf is pretty brutal. It is just way to far out there and contains too many unrealistic possibilities.

[CollegeSportsInfo]

That's a lot different, however, than how conference realignment is being "marketed", i.e. $22 million dollar checks as far as the eye can see.

And that presumes that the existing TV contracts - with smaller conference sizes - can't be renegotiated to higher numbers, either.

You're right. Virtually every media analyst has projected that the revenue will grow each year going forward. It's a fairly straight-forward model based on subscribers. The cable industry was a pretty firm grasp over how the subscription model works in regards to revenue as it's not some magical and revolutionary industry that just came around this year...it's flourished for 30 years now.