Memphis Reported To Be In Serious Talks With Big East

[MeanGreen61]

Off the CUSA board.

Tigers, Big East Bound?

May 14, 2008 | 9:04 PM

Category: Sports

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Featured On: MyFoxMemphis Ever since the Memphis Tigers got left behind in the Great Bum Rush to leave Conference USA-- also known as the Big East expansion in 2003-- Tiger fans have had one singular goal. To follow their old rivals from Louisville, and Cincinnati to the greener pastures of the Big East.

And here's where it gets interesting.

Sources have confirmed to FOX13 Sports that University of Memphis officials have been in serious talks with the Big East about joining the conference.

How about them apples?

If and when it happens, the University of Memphis will the jackpot. Big time.

As a member of a BCS conference, the revenue sharing they would be entitled to, blows away anything they receive from Conference USA.

Consider this. In football alone, the Big East received over 18 million dollars to divide among it's 8 football members following the 2006-2007 season. Conference USA meanwhile had to split 18 million dollars with 4 other Conferences, comprised of 51 schools. The Tigers take of that, came to a mere 353 thousand dollars.

Talk about living in a different tax bracket.

So what do you think?

Obviously this would move would benefit the Tiger Football program more than any other. What would it mean though for Tiger hoops? John Calipari has proven that he can prosper as the Big Fish in a small pond (3 straight 30 plus win seasons), would he enjoy knocking heads in the rugged and tradition rich Big East Conference?

This brings up a whole lot of questions and avenues to explore, but to avoid turning this into the worlds longest blog entry, I'll end it now with this--Would you have any reservations about the Memphis Tigers joining the Big East, or is it a no-brainer to leave C-USA in the dust?

LINK - ARTICLE

http://community.myfoxmemphis.com/blogs/Ma..._Big_East_Bound

CUSA THREAD

http://ncaabbs.com/showthread.php?tid=298588

Edited May 15, 2008 by MeanGreen61

[NT80]

Great! I thought Memphis might be the next Big East target.

Now, about that possible CUSA opening.....

[CMJ]

I'll believe it when I see it.

[UNT_playmaker]

I think the Big East would be foolish not to, meaning they will pick up Memphis, my only hope is the sooner the better.

Now if our Athletic Dept can be better prepared to present our interest to be in CUSA, with SOLID plans to add baseball and plans for a REAL football stadium.

I hope CUSA would take Tulane into the CUSA-E and let us have their spot in CUSA-W

[greenminer]

I'll believe it when I see it.

My thoughts too.

Football, hello?

[greenminer]

a different perspective, but with a notable quote:

A few years ago after a raid by the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Big East's membership in the Bowl Championship Series country club was being questioned.

Now the eight-member Big East is snubbing its nose at teams that want to join its BCS party. Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese said outside of a few coaches wanting to add a ninth member, conference presidents and athletic directors are against expansion.

"Schools aren't talking to me and I'm not talking to anybody," Tranghese said. "People [from schools interested in joining]call me and I tell them I'm not talking because I'm not authorized. Plus our people have no interest. You get your board members, fans, it's incredible. I have told anybody and everybody it's not happening. Don't bother me."

[Green Mean]

Memphis has all the ingredients to join the Big East...they have history and rivalries with some of the schools already in there and not to mention they have a ton of backing with the city. Plus the Big East would be adding another basketball powerhouse and yes they are not huge in football but it wont take much to turn that thing around as well since they have the funds to do it. I think its just a matter of when they will join the Big East.

[DeepGreen]

Now if our Athletic Dept can be better prepared to present our interest to be in CUSA, with SOLID plans to add baseball and plans for a REAL football stadium.

I'm going to step on some toes with my comments, but so be it. We were not prepared when the last CUSA shakeup occurred. What makes you think we are in better shape now for such an invite? Sure, we have some new facilities for the non-revenue producing sports. They were sorely needed. We had no softball stadium, no soccer stadium, no tennis complex to speak of. All we have done is "catch up" to where we should have been years ago.

As for a new football stadium at Eagle Point, nothing that I can see has happened. The Radisson? Has anything been officially mentioned by UNT that the current, or new hotel will in some way relate to a new football stadium? All I've heard is guessing by a few on this board.

No, CUSA could have an opening and NT will still be standing around with their thumbs up their b*tts "talking" about stadiums, silent phases, and big donors. I'm not holding my breath.

Edited May 15, 2008 by DeepGreen

[SUMG]

I'm going to step on some toes with my comments, but so be it. We were not prepared when the last CUSA shakeup occurred. What makes you think we are in better shape now for such an invite? Sure, we have some new facilities for the non-revenue producing sports. They were sorely needed. We had no softball stadium, no soccer stadium, no tennis complex to speak of. All we have done is "catch up" to where we should have been years ago.

As for a new football stadium at Eagle Point, nothing that I can see has happened. The Radisson? Has anything been officially mentioned by UNT that the current, or new hotel will in some way relate to a new football stadium? All I've heard is guessing by a few on this board.

No, CUSA could have an opening and NT will still be standing around with their thumbs up their b*tts "talking" about stadiums, silent phases, and big donors. I'm not holding my breath.

I agree.

[NorthTexan95]

I agree.

I'm sorry ... did you say something? My eyes keep drifting to the left.

If CUSA replaces Memphis who would be their target?

[SUMG]

I'm sorry ... did you say something? My eyes keep drifting to the left.

If CUSA replaces Memphis who would be their target?

I'm guessing that the four best candidates would be: La. Tech, UNT, Troy and FAU. (in no particular order).

That's just my guess.

And I think we've got lots of work to do, if we want to be their #1 choice (provided there ends up being an opening).

Edited May 15, 2008 by SUMG

[Green Mean]

I'm guessing that the four best candidates would be: La. Tech, UNT, Troy and FAU. (in no particular order).

That's just my guess.

And I think we've got lots of work to do, if we want to be their #1 choice (provided there ends up being an opening).

Ideally yes I think La Tech, UNT and Troy would be on their list but lets not totally rule out MTSU. That may be far fetched but they are a pretty big school and they may want to stay in the same state as Tennessee. Adding NT would be adding another Texas school which I am not sure CUSA wants to go that route. All of us see the potential NT has but like the great Darrell Royal once said...."Potential is something you haven't done yet." So to think NT would be the leader in replacing Memphis I would probably think again.

[SCREAMING EAGLE-66]

---This could really get strange... This would cause the Big East to have 17 basketball playing teams in ONE CONFERENCE! .... way too many in my opinion and apparently in the eyes of some of the announcers during March Madness..... I doubt the basketball only teams are wanting this to happen. Could this be the beginning of the Big East East breaking up into two conferences (which I think will eventually happen) ..... those who play football and those who don't (8 of each of those teams, at present).

---This could start another chain of conference realignments. The football half of the big East would likely want 10 teams which would give them 9 conference games and 3 non-conf. games. If Memphis is one, who is second and from where, CUSA or the Belt.??? They would want one with a pretty good basketball history as well as football. Tulsa might make sense but it is so far from the others. In any case if it happens CUSA would change some and the Belt might lose and add some teams... I am sure Texas State is smiling a bit over this one, because some teams in the Belt may disappear to CUSA or somewhere and openings could occur.

Stay tuned on this one--- it could become very complicated.

Edited May 15, 2008 by SCREAMING EAGLE-66

[badgerwolf]

Ideally yes I think La Tech, UNT and Troy would be on their list but lets not totally rule out MTSU. That may be far fetched but they are a pretty big school and they may want to stay in the same state as Tennessee. Adding NT would be adding another Texas school which I am not sure CUSA wants to go that route. All of us see the potential NT has but like the great Darrell Royal once said...."Potential is something you haven't done yet." So to think NT would be the leader in replacing Memphis I would probably think again.

Discussion of who to add to CUSA should Memphis go to BE:

http://ncaabbs.com/showthread.php?tid=298617

[UNTflyer]

The football half of the big East would likely want 10 teams...

Twelve. Gotta have twelve to have that Big East Conference Championship in New York City.

[GrandGreen]

North Texas University would be an excellent choice for CUSA. It is in the geographical footprint, would be one of the largest schools in the conference with the best media market and has far more potential than any candidate. But, it will probably never happen. Not because NT does not have a great new football stadium or a baseball team, but because conference affiliation is a political and economic process with athletic competitiveness only a minor consideration.

NT has several strikes against it. SMU will most likely always be in opposition as demonstrated in the last addition to CUSA. Private schools may not want anymore state schools in Western CUSA and won't want to be broken up by adding another Western team and shifting Tulane to the Eastern Division. Addition of another Texas school will not be popular with most in CUSA. WKU, MTSU and ULL could all be preferences to NT by CUSA members. WKU and MTSU fix the Eastern Division geography.

I think NT's best chance for a regional conference would be based on economic influences with higher travel costs being the main factor. The Western divisions of CUSA and the Belt should be combined to form a conference with the Eastern divisions doing the same. One division would remain CUSA and one the Sun Belt, therefore preserving current NCAA positions. A conference of Tulsa, NT, SMU, Rice, Houston, ULL, ULM, ASU and Tulane makes too much sense to ever happen.

[Guest 97and03]

Discussion of who to add to CUSA should Memphis go to BE:

http://ncaabbs.com/showthread.php?tid=298617

It took long enough for someone to mention UNT...

[UNTLifer]

If the above is true, then why would they agree to this?

I think NT's best chance for a regional conference would be based on economic influences with higher travel costs being the main factor. The Western divisions of CUSA and the Belt should be combined to form a conference with the Eastern divisions doing the same. One division would remain CUSA and one the Sun Belt, therefore preserving current NCAA positions. A conference of Tulsa, NT, SMU, Rice, Houston, ULL, ULM, ASU and Tulane makes too much sense to ever happen.

I know you qualify your thought with the last sentence, but these thoughts contradict each other.

I think the Big East basketball schools will fight the addition of Memphis, as well as, their addition creating a 17 school conference in bball. If, and this is a big if, Memphis does go to the Big East, CUSA will not stand pat with only 11 schools. Banowsky loves the conference football championship game and 12 schools are required, so CUSA would look to add someone. I would hope NT would their top choice, but I see the greatest competition coming from WKU and MTSU. FAU is still too unstable, Troy is not academically strong and South Alabama is just starting up their football program. La Tech could be a consideration, but they are a financial mess and don't bring a large media market.

[Green Mean]

It took long enough for someone to mention UNT...

I was thinking the same way...theres not much love for NT in the eyes of CUSA people. I do agree that CUSA would be a better overall upgrade over the Belt.

[GrandGreen]

I know you qualify your thought with the last sentence, but these thoughts contradict each other.

I think the Big East basketball schools will fight the addition of Memphis, as well as, their addition creating a 17 school conference in bball. If, and this is a big if, Memphis does go to the Big East, CUSA will not stand pat with only 11 schools. Banowsky loves the conference football championship game and 12 schools are required, so CUSA would look to add someone. I would hope NT would their top choice, but I see the greatest competition coming from WKU and MTSU. FAU is still too unstable, Troy is not academically strong and South Alabama is just starting up their football program. La Tech could be a consideration, but they are a financial mess and don't bring a large media market.

I think chances are remote in the near future, that they would ever go for it. I don't think it is a contradiction to say that changes are slim but financial considerations could ultimately change the circumstances. Continued cost escalation could tip the balance in favor of more regional competition; but judging by Tulsa and SMU bellying up multi-million coaches salaries, some teams are not very sensitive to financial issues.

[Guest 97and03]

UNT...Uh No, they offer nothing, but idiotic fans with unrealistic and unrealized expectations, and we already have enough of those.

Ouch.

[greenminer]

Good God it's like some of you hit the reset button every week and say the same stadium/conference cliches over and over again, with fresh energy.

I have to admire some of that. How can you keep going?

A visitor might be inclined to initiate a "stadium" or "CUSA" search in this forum and find an encyclopedic amount of discussion going on, with about as much valid information to fill a paragraph. The rest would either be repetitive assumptions, or Plumm opinion (in bolded green and red, no less)

It is going to take some epic post by 1 of maybe 7 posters here - or a JayDub return - for me to be inspired to contribute to this thread again.

I have to admit, that last sentence is wishful thinking.

*edit

And if you think this stops upon entering CUSA, think a little harder. The green (envy) in all of us will only use it as a stepping stone to BCS arguments.

Edited May 15, 2008 by greenminer

[Arkstfan]

Wishful thinking.

The Big East has the most anemic television deal for football of the BCS 6. Adding the #47 market and a team that won't out-draw Tennessee, Arkansas or Ole Miss in a head-to-head tv match-up in that market won't help the TV deal.

The Big East gets a full share of BCS money. There is little incentive to split it 9 ways other than to smooth out scheduling. The Liberty is nice but let's be realistic, it takes 6/7 pick from the SEC except when the SEC gets two in the BCS then it falls to 7/8 with Nashville (the bowl they share the pick with) usually getting the higher team. It would probably be Big East #3 vs. SEC #8.

On the basketball side, the Big East has a great television deal but then they have teams in 3 of the 5 largest markets and 5 of the 10 largest. Adding Memphis isn't going to boost the TV so much that splitting money 17 ways will make great sense.

Memphis has strong basketball and made the championship. Well that's great but last year the Big East set the all-time record for NCAA Tournament revenue sharing dollars and blew that record up this year. All Memphis does is make it even harder to get one of the 7 or 8 bids that the Big East is going to get, without adding many dollars to the till.

If the Big East does anything and that is a huge if, they will add a football only member. What does that pool look like?

1. UCF. They don't care if they have a basketball home, they'll hook up with anyone to get in. They are drawing well and they are in a top 20 television market. Adding UCF means teams can play in Florida in football every season for recruiting and it can open the door to get in the Champs Sports bowl which happens to have the same basic payout as the Liberty.

2. East Carolina. Lousy TV market but they don't care where basketball lands.

3. FAU. Better TV market than UCF but fan support has a way to go, but opens up an entirely different area of Florida.

4. Memphis. If they join football only where does basketball land? They could go A-10 which may have an opening if St.Louis leaves or they could join St. Louis in going to the Valley.

5. Temple. Their president screwed 'em out of Big East membership because he wanted to drop football and didn't get his way. #4 TV market and basketball has a good home.

[Guest GrayEagleOne]

This has been rumored since Louisville and Cincinnati joined the BE and all of this smoke may very well result in fire. If it does, there are more ways to speculate how it will end than we have posters.

Will Memphis be the only one? Personally, I think so. Memphis is consistently highly-rated and the Big East would be foolish if they didn't invite them. They have 20,000+ attendance at basketball and 30 to 40 thousand for football. That's better than most of their (Big East) teams. They will furnish far more income than most of the members and should result in a larger share even if it has to be split one more way.

This also might be a catalyst for the breakup of the 16 team Big East. Notre Dame's other sports do not have the draw that their football does and they are unwilling to share football revenue. Of the other seven, four are has-beens...St. John's, Seton Hall, Providence, and DePaul contribute little to the Big East. Villanova has slipped to the middle of the pack. Only Georgetown and Marquette remain strong programs.

If this tolls the breakup of the Big East, then they really need Memphis. In the Big East, I'd look for their football attendance to jump to at least 40,000. And, if the automatic qualifying conferences put pressure on the BE then they could add Army, Navy, and probably UCF for football only and have average attendance far in excess of the next highest non-BCS/mid-major conference.

If that, or something similar happens, then I hope that CUSA and the Sun Belt will split into two nine (or more) team conferences. One problem could be that there are a couple of teams that neither conference might want. What would happen to them? What might happen to Louisiana Tech?

If there is no split then I see little chance that we are the replacement for Memphis. All of the eastern teams would vote against us because they don't want the core of the conference shifting further west. Southern Miss might be the lone exception. That's still four votes and I believe that's enough to do us in. SMU would even be off of the hook in that scenario. There would already be enough votes to keep us out.

[NT80]

If there is no split then I see little chance that we are the replacement for Memphis. All of the eastern teams would vote against us because they don't want the core of the conference shifting further west. Southern Miss might be the lone exception. That's still four votes and I believe that's enough to do us in. SMU would even be off of the hook in that scenario. There would already be enough votes to keep us out.

Travel expenses, media exposure, and a positive area for recruiting will become larger factors in who gets an expansion slot. UNT is in an easy area to get to by plane or bus, Top 10 media market, and hot recruiting area. However, it also all depends on the start of a new football stadium...or forget any chance to move up! OR, we could just forget the new stadium, stay in Fouts, and offer the $60 million as a bribe to CUSA members?

Edited May 16, 2008 by NT80