NY Post: Big East Invites to Boise, Temple "Imminent"

[TexasTerror]

Per Boise State beat writer - Boise State would not miss any more class time than it already does since it charters anyway. This would be a football-only invite evidently for both schools...


Desperate times call for desperate measures, which is why the Big East has begun the process of inviting schools to bolster its depleted football conference with the goal to get to 12 teams.

In order to try to maintain its automatic BCS berth -- the league's No. 1 priority, said two sources -- the Big East is poised to invite two programs that were barely on their radar at the start of the year -- Boise State and Temple, The Post has learned.

The bottom line is the league, which must get to a minimum of eight members as per NCAA guidelines, must have a membership that appeals to TV and bowl power makers.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/college/basketball/sorry_big_east_U22xibwuFceRSIp0ZONh5O#ixzz1aVXGBDC V

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Temple has been getting teased for a couple years now.

I'm not sure why the Big 12 wouldn't make a run at Boise State. I think they would be a good fit.

[TexasTerror]

I don't think the Big 12, Big East or any of these conferences want Boise State for an all sports member...

Sending teams to Boise for things other than football is a pain in the tail... and Boise - outside of football - has really nothing else going for it. The Big 12 particularly is very strong in their other sports (though this takes a hit with Texas A&M's departure since they were good in many women/Olympic sports) and adding Boise State only detracts from that.

[bluehenbillk]

It's completely amazing to me that Temple & the Big East would do a re-do, especially after the inamicable divorce they had in the 90's. I guess since the power players on both sides are gone from that era that it's possible for this to happen.

Personally, I'd be pretty excited to see TU play Big East Basketball - I may even get a ticket plan, even w/o the Cuse & Pitt.

[TheDancinMonarch]

Boise is not even in eastern Idaho. How much would it cost to send your swimming and diving team to Boise for a meet in February? This is just foolishness!

[superman7515]

Boise is not even in eastern Idaho. How much would it cost to send your swimming and diving team to Boise for a meet in February? This is just foolishness!

Boise State is being invited for football only so it wouldn't affect Boise swimming.

[Cocky]

Boise is not even in eastern Idaho. How much would it cost to send your swimming and diving team to Boise for a meet in February? This is just foolishness!

I bet the water would be cold.

[Strommer10]

Boise to the Big East? & I thought TCU to the BE was insane... xsmhx

Please make all this stop! xbangx

[dgtw]

Jacksonville, Alabama, is not in the Ohio Valley.

[TexasTerror]

And we wait...


NEW YORK -- The Big East is considering adding Boise State football to help bolster the conference's chances of retaining its BCS automatic bid, though both sides still need to be persuaded that it's the right move.

A college football official, who spoke Thursday to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the Big East's plans, says some Big East presidents are resisting adding Boise State and the school itself has reservations about joining a conference in flux.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/7097384/report-big-east-boise-state-broncos-need-persuading

[dgtw]

So the Big East is talking to Boise, but neither side sounds like they really want each other. Kind of like when you get set up on a bad blind date (she hates you too), but you sit there and talk anyway.

[MR. CHICKEN]

WHEN AH DID DUH BLIND THIN'..........IFIN' SHE DIDN'T...DROP DUH LEFT ONE/RIGHT ONE.......TALK STOPPED......LIKE...BANER/BIDEN.....NOW DUH BIG BIRD....CAIN'T SEE....WHIFF UH HUMMEL...AH'D..BE UH...TRUE BLIND DATE....TA-DAY.........AWK!

[TexasTerror]

Almost there... if I had my best guess, if the first four agree - the league will bring in Houston + SMU together. Seems Villanova is ticked off about Temple being a possibility while having Houston, SMU together at least creates travel partners out of two major airports in Texas while not leaving one of them out on an island.


Once the exit fee is increased, which would send a message of commitment and solidarity, the league will invite Air Force, Navy and Boise State, followed by Central Florida, possibly as soon as this weekend.

The last two spots, as the league seeks to get to 12 FBS members, is up for grabs among three programs -- Houston, SMU and Temple.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/college/basketball/big_east_to_invite_six_VYHt8ArQpLKGN5Cz8tZSlM#ixzz 1alExpvEG

[GannonFan]

From the nova perspective, though, having Temple in the league may be a blessing in disguise, at least for the football angle. nova football is never going to have the Linc as a home field, so right now, they could never get the big gate teams (Notre Dame, Penn St, etc) to play nova at a home field for nova. However, if they let Temple in, part of the arrangement could be getting to take one of Temple's dates at the Linc - either every year or something like every other year. They could trade a PPL date for Temple's Linc date, and they could then bring in a team that would get them significant gate money. The Eagles are never going to allow more games at the Linc, so nova's only shot is to have Temple share one of those game dates with them. And they really need that since you can't get a big gate team into your own park unless you play somewhere big enough and the Linc is the only place in Philly where those teams would play (sorry, ND is not playing in Franklin Field or even Citizens Bank).

[TexasTerror]

CBS sources along with earlier report...


Once divided on whether to invite Boise State, the Big East is now united on extending an invitation to the Broncos, along with Air Force, Navy and UCF, college football industry sources told CBSSports.com.

Boise State, Air Force and UCF have indicated they are receptive to joining the Big East. Navy is prepared to also commit once a higher exit fee has been established, sources said. The official invitations to UCF, Boise State, Air Force and Navy could be extended as early as next week.

http://brett-mcmurphy.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/29532522/32716356

[alvinkayak6]

temple will not get invited says speculation on part of villanova peeps

[BlueHen86]

temple will not get invited says speculation on part of villanova peeps

That's just dumb. Football drives the bus, the football schools should decide who they want, even if it means spliting the conference.

[dgtw]

Villanova is not a Big East football member. So why od they even get a vote in who to invite?

Local news is reporting the Mountain West and C-USA are merging.

[TexasTerror]

Update from Pete Thamel of NY Times... all on Twitter within the last 30 minutes - http://twitter.com/#!/PeteThamelNYT

Just landed. A lot has changed. Most important is that that possibility of a Boise-Big East marriage has increased greatly.

The agreed upon 12-team model preferred by Big East is now: Boise, Air Force, Houston, SMU, Navy and UCF.

Big East will have a conference call on Monday to increase exit fees to $10 million from $5 million. No invites expected that day.

[TexasTerror]

Early next week for the dominoes to begin falling?


After a long and extensive conference call this afternoon, the Big East came up with a plan to to extend invitations to Air Force, Boise State and Navy in football only and Central Florida, Houston and SMU as full members according to Big East sources.

The Big East's interest in Boise State was first reported in the Globe and Newark Star Ledger on Sunday.

Also approved was a plan to increase the exit fees from its current limit of $5 million to ten million.

But according to a Big East source, "nothing will happen this weekend'' because of a Big East by-law which requires a 72 hour period after any decision to allow the schools to digest the information which has been voted upon.'

http://www.boston.com/sports/colleges/extras/colleges_blog/2011/10/big_east_votes.html

[TexasTerror]

The alignment...


East: Rutgers, Connecticut, West Virginia, Central Florida, South Florida and Navy.

West: Boise State, Air Force, Houston, SMU, Louisville and Cincinnati.

http://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/index.ssf/2011/10/big_east_preparing_to_add_bois.html

[TexasTerror]

Andy Katz chimes in...


NEW YORK -- If all goes according to plan, the Big East will end up replacing outgoing Pittsburgh, Syracuse and TCU with full-time members Houston, Southern Methodist and Central Florida, while adding Air Force and Boise State in football only.

According to a source with direct knowledge of Friday's Big East conference call, the conference has sent conditional invitations to Houston and SMU for all sports and Air Force and Boise State for football only. The Big East informed the four schools that if all four agree to join the Big East then the remaining schools would agree to an increase in the exit fee from $5 million to show a commitment. However, the six remaining football playing schools won't commit to raising the fee unless all four commit to joining the Big East in football with Houston and SMU joining in all sports.

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/7101780/source-big-east-sends-invites-five-schools-hike-exit-fee

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Temple should completely cut ties with Villanova from here on out. I truly hate them. They've done nothing to enhance college athletics in Philadelphia!

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Good article on how this might hurt the Big 5.

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/colleges/20111014_Big_East_moves_may_hurt_Big_Five.html

[BlueHen86]

Temple should completely cut ties with Villanova from here on out. I truly hate them. They've done nothing to enhance college athletics in Philadelphia!

I agree. They are the school that is most responsible for the downfall of the Big 5 basketball series. If the Big East were smart they would boot Villanova and replace them with Temple.

[GannonFan]

Temple should completely cut ties with Villanova from here on out. I truly hate them. They've done nothing to enhance college athletics in Philadelphia!

Agree with that - nova has done their part to undermine college athletics in Philly, and this would appear to be a continuation of that.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Any Katz is reporting Air Force and Boise State have already declined the BE invite....lol

[BlueHen86]

Any Katz is reporting Air Force and Boise State have already declined the BE invite....lol

The Big East may have to invite Temple after all, they better hope Temple says yes. They better hope Central Florida says yes as well, otherwise you might see teams leaving the Big East and going to the C-USA/MWC superconference. xlolx

If the Big East can't raid C-USA they are screwed. The Big East would be like the island of misfit toys.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

The Big East may have to invite Temple after all, they better hope Temple says yes. They better hope Central Florida says yes as well, otherwise you might see teams leaving the Big East and going to the C-USA/MWC superconference. xlolx

If the Big East can't raid C-USA they are screwed. The Big East would be like the island of misfit toys.

Honestly, I just want Temple hoops to be safe. I know it doesn't drive the bus but at least schools can compete without sacrificing their morals.

I'd like to see Temple, Buffalo and Umass try to make something happen.

[JSUBison]

Maybe the Big East can go after some of the eastern CIS teams. xlolx

What's next, all the FBS teams form one conference? Notre Dame maintains indy status of course.

What a bunch of baboons they all are.

[BlueHen86]

Honestly, I just want Temple hoops to be safe. I know it doesn't drive the bus but at least schools can compete without sacrificing their morals.

I'd like to see Temple, Buffalo and Umass try to make something happen.

If feel the same way about UConn. The Big East should invite Temple and UMass for all sports. At this point I'd be happy adding those two along with Buffalo, East Carolina, Memphis and Central Florida. It would give the Big East the same footprint as the ACC. I wouldn't mind seeing Houston and SMU join, but I'm guessing that they won't.

[BlueHen86]

Maybe the Big East can go after some of the eastern CIS teams. xlolx

What's next, all the FBS teams form one conference? Notre Dame maintains indy status of course.

What a bunch of baboons they all are.

The Big East is dysfunctional, and it may result in the death of the conference. The football schools need to call the shots and the basketball schools need to stay out of the way. The Big East needs Temple more than Temple needs the Big East, Villanova needs to STFU.

[dgtw]

The Big East is an example of a failed business model. Like the 8 track, an idea that time and technology has passed it by. Formed as an alliance of football independents and a group of non football playing schools, it was fine in the age when being a football independent was viable for schools not named Notre Dame or run by the Department of Defense.

Once they decided to sponsor football, it was the beginning of the end for them. Taking in Miami was their first mistake. Miami was never going to be happy playing in a league that far removed from everyone else. They left for the ACC after several years in the Big East and took two others with them. Who knows if Va. Tech and BC go to the ACC if Miami isn't there for them to tag along with.

With all the non football members, it made the league too bloated with the football members added in. Now they want to bring in football only members? So they'll have three distinct groups....football only, all sports and non football. Can they all work together with each group having its own agenda? I suppose you could say they have four groups if you count Notre Dame separate from the other non football members.

Any group is going to work better if everyone is singing from the same page in the hymnal. The football playing members would be better off if they simply resigned from the Big East and formed their own league. Of course, they'd have to hope the other BCS leagues let them have the Big East's BCS spot.

[TexasTerror]

Boise plans to take its time... probably the right move. Got to see what happens with Missouri/Big 12 and if the Big East loses more members. No reason to cast your other sports off to the WAC or Big Sky if you are not 100% sure that football is going to have a concrete situation...


“The one thing I can tell you about all these conversations I’ve had this week is that Boise State is the team of the hour, the team of the day, the team of the week. We are the ones that people are really interested in when it comes to how these conferences are going to align and that’s really exciting,” Kustra said on KBOI before the game, one of many interviews he did Saturday.

My, how times have changed. This is an athletic department, remember, that tried for nearly a decade to secure an invitation to the Mountain West before it finally came in June of 2010.

So the Broncos have some power — and, perhaps more importantly, some time.

Time to decide if the rebuilding Big East — which reportedly plans to extend football-only invitations to Boise State, Air Force and Navy and all-sport invites to Central Florida, Houston and SMU as soon as Monday — makes sense as the Broncos’ new conference home. Time to see if the current Big East members are willing to raise their exit fee. Time to let the conference realignment shuffle play out and see what other members the Big East will lose.

Read more: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2011/10/16/1841379/boise-state-plans-to-take-its.html#ixzz1axUMn6Ml

[TexasTerror]

And latest from NY Post... makes sense. Expansion is not what the league wants on basketball media day, but there'll be plenty of questions as we've seen each time these basketball coaches are put on TV (see ESPN's coverage of Midnight Madness)...


When the Big East Conference holds its men's basketball media day at the New York Athletic Club on Wednesday, don't expect commissioner John Marinatto to talk much about expansion.

A source told The Post the league has not extended any official invitations and won't until the league's new exit fees are voted on, possibly as soon as tomorrow.

The league does not want talk of expansion to overshadow the basketball players and coaches, so no invitations will be extended before Wednesday, the source made clear. Basketball is what the Big East was built on, though the rich blood of football money is what will keep it thriving.

The source also said The Post's Saturday report that the league was confident it would land Boise State and Air Force from the Mountain West and Central Florida, SMU and Houston from Conference USA was on target. Those two conferences announced a mega-football alliance on Friday.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/college/basketball/holding_the_invites_JM6MEgeeViyKx4KO0LTMSO#ixzz1ax ZRvVr9

[TexasTerror]

Should know something about something tomorrow... likely the status of the fee.


The Big East conference invited media members to join Commissioner John Marinatto on a conference call Tuesday afternoon, the league announced on Monday. The release from the conference office stated the purpose of the call would be to discuss current information on Big East realignment. The call suggests Marinatto has an update regarding their efforts to replace Syracuse and Pittsburgh while pursuing a 12-team model for football.

http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/24156338/32790714

[dgtw]

I heard part of the press conference hosted by the Big East commisioner on the radio this morning. Here are some of the key points that were brought up.

Exit fee is doubled to $10,000,000

They have a list of teams they are targeting for expansion, though nobody was mentioned by name, at least when I was listening

New exit fee kicks in as soon as one new member is added from their list

Pitt and Syracuse will be held to the 27 month rule even if they get up to the 12 football members

They will still have their AQ into the BCS until 2013

He also went out of his way to kiss Notre Dame's butt to say how great they were in helping with the expansion process

[TexasTerror]

Boise State & the Big West...


Interim Boise State athletic director Curt Apsey called Big West Conference commissioner Dennis Farrell on Wednesday to gauge interest in taking the Broncos' other sports if they join the Big East in football, a source with direct knowledge of the conversation told ESPN.com.

On the call, Apsey said the Broncos could be in a predicament in looking for a new home for all of its non-football teams, according to the source. The New York Times reported Boise State was one of a handful of schools that met with Big East officials Sunday to discuss joining the league in football only.

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/7153316/boise-state-bronocs-discussing-move-big-west-conference-non-football-teams

[appfan2008]

the saga continues...

[TexasTerror]

Movement today... seeking 'accepts' now...


"Our Presidents voted unanimously to extend invitations to specific institutions, including both football-only and all-sport members to join the BIG EAST Conference. I will be speaking to representatives of those schools shortly and look forward to announcing with them their acceptance into the BIG EAST. The addition of these members will extend our reach, bring us to exciting new markets, strengthen our status within the BCS, and lay the foundation for possible further expansion, all while maintaining the high quality and standards our Conference is known for.

"In light of the lawsuit filed by West Virginia yesterday, the Presidents also discussed and confirmed our continuing commitment to enforce the Conference's 27-month notification period for schools choosing to leave. The Conference believes these claims to be wholly without merit and will explore all its legal options to protect its interests and to ensure that West Virginia lives up to its obligations."

http://www.courant.com/sports/uconn-football/hc-john-marinatto-big-east-statement,0,462638.story

[TexasTerror]

Schools are working together... makes sense. Shows a united front and doesn't have fans freaking out for days, weeks to see who else joins!


Nationally ranked Boise State and Houston along with SMU and UCF could be added as Big East members by Friday, college football industry sources told CBSSports.com.

On Tuesday in Philadelphia, the Big East’s presidents and chancellors authorized league commissioner John Marinatto to issue invitations to those schools – along with Navy and Air Force – sources said.

However, Boise State, Houston, SMU and UCF prefer to be announced as league members together and must wait until Boise State’s board meeting on Thursday. There have been no “official invitations” extended to the schools, but Marinatto has been in constant contact and spoke to representatives of all six schools after Tuesday’s meeting.

http://brett-mcmurphy.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/29532522/33074577

[dgtw]

So by holding Pitt, Syracuse and West Virginia to the 27 months, they'll have at least one and maybe two seasons of a 15 team football league and a 19 team basketball league.

[seantaylor]

Boise is the truth. Should be in the faux national championship game this year, but will be denied by the NCAA gestapo.

[bluehenbillk]

Has something changed with Boise? I got the feeling they weren't giving an answer anytime soon....

[TexasTerror]

Boise Board approves... lone no vote came from Moscow, Idaho rep (wonder what institution is there? :) )...


The State Board of Education voted Thursday afternoon to give Boise State President Bob Kustra the authority to the final decision "to accept an invitation to the Big East as a football only member and to another conference for the University's remaining intercollegiate sports."

The board voted 7-1 to give Kustra the authority. The no vote came from Bill Goesling, a board member from Moscow.
[
http://voices.idahostatesman.com/2011/11/03/bmurphy/kustra_address_state_board_education_phone_todays_ meeting

[TexasTerror]

San Diego State talking to Boise State? Possible back-up plan if Air Force bails OR is this an effort by Boise State to not only get a 'Western' squad, but also find a partner to get all sports inclusion in another league?


San Diego State has been in contact with Boise State about a possible joint move from the Mountain West to the Big East Conference, according to a San Diego State official.

“I don’t have anything new to report,” SDSU Athletic Director Jim Sterk said Saturday.

Sterk emphasized that the situation remains preliminary, fluid and undecided. No offer has been made by the Big East to SDSU, he said.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/nov/05/sdsu-talked-boise-about-big-east/

[putter]

This has become so dumb. Boise and SDSU in the "Big East". College football is out of control

[TexasTerror]

Update... trying to find an all sports home...


The Boise State football program’s expected move to the Big East Conference has stalled while the Broncos try to find a home for their other sports programs, President Bob Kustra said.

“Every day something changes,” he said. “We’re still trying to work it out and where we really are is trying to work out the other sports. That’s where we are. It’s not easy. … Believe me, I would have loved to have done this a month ago.

“I personally think that this would be a good thing for us to do, yeah, but I can’t say I’m sure it’s going to happen because there’s just these obstacles to getting there and trying to find a conference that wants us and is right for us. Those are the things we haven’t figured out yet.”

He hopes to finalize the Big East deal in the next couple weeks. He expects San Diego State to join Boise State as a Western partner. He also hasn’t ruled out Air Force, which has indicated it might not make a decision until January, he said.

Read more: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2011/12/02/1901320/schools-after-petersen-big-east.html#ixzz1fONpg3tA

[TexasTerror]

And the finish line nears?? From Brett McMurphy...


BREAKING: Sources tell @CBSSports Big East will add Boise, San Diego St, Houston, UCF, SMU Wednesday. Will join league in 2013

http://twitter.com/#!/McMurphyCBS/status/144104546350800897

[TexasTerror]

Official release...


PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The BIG EAST Conference formally announced the addition of five prestigious universities to its ranks today, bringing its football membership to 10 and securing a strong core group of FBS schools as it expands into two divisions and works toward its goal of staging an annual conference football championship game.

The University of Central Florida, University of Houston and Southern Methodist University have accepted full membership into the BIG EAST while Boise State University and San Diego State University will compete as members in the sport of football. The BIG EAST Conference Board of Directors, by a unanimous vote of its Presidents, extended the invitations for membership. UCF, Houston and SMU will begin competing in all BIG EAST-sponsored sports in the 2013-14 academic year, while Boise State and San Diego State will start competing in football in the 2013 season.

“Over the last 32 years, the BIG EAST Conference has constantly evolved along with the landscape of college athletics,” said BIG EAST Commissioner John Marinatto. “The inclusion of these five great Universities, which bring a unique blend of premier academics, top markets, strong athletics brands and outstanding competitive quality, marks the beginning of a new chapter in that evolution. We are proud to welcome these schools to the BIG EAST family.

http://www.bigeast.org/News/tabid/435/Article/229956/BIG-EAST-CONFERENCE-GOES-WEST,--ANNOUNCES-THE-ADDITION-OF-FIVE-UNIVERSITIES.aspx

[Cleets]

I was told by people in Boise that Boise State was not academically eligible to join the PAC-10
They did not meet the PAC-10 academic standards
So how the hell could they join the Big East..?

Please explain