Why Tulane's Big East acceptance matters more than many think

[Harry]

Major college sports returned to Tulane University on Tuesday. It's been nearly 40 years since the school foolishly departed the SEC for the independent ranks. Since the halcyon days of the 1950s and 1960s, the Green Wave has operated largely in the shadows of major college sports, an alternate universe from the sport's elite hierarchy.

At best, Tulane was a "used-to-be." But for anyone under the age of 50, it was for all intents and purposes a "never was."

That's why membership in the Big East Conference is landmark news. It's the most significant transaction for the school's athletic program since that fateful day in 1966 when the school left the SEC. It's the athletic equivalent of Jim Clark and David Filo donating $30 million apiece to the school's endowment in 2004.

Sure, I know what you're thinking. The Big East isn't what it used to be. This is not Patrick Ewing's Big East that Tulane will be joining in 2014. Or even Kemba Walker's Big East, for that matter.

West Virginia has bolted, and Pittsburgh, Syracuse and Rutgers are right behind them. Before all is said and done, Cincinnati, Connecticut and/or Louisville could also wind up elsewhere.

But whatever iteration of the Big East survives will be decidedly better than where Tulane was or might have been. Standing still was not an option. Conference realignment is in full swing.

Schools are playing musical chairs with conferences from coast to coast. Tulane threatened to be left without a seat at the BCS table and undoubtedly would have been if not for a bold, unprecedented commitment to athletics in the past three years.

By committing more than $125 million to new athletic facilities, programs and staff, the school accelerated the recovery process and opened the eyes of its peers. No longer could anyone question Tulane's commitment to athletics. No longer would the school's academic and athletic support staffs be at war with each other.

"If you're building and you're performing and you're showing commitment, eventually good things will come of it," said a beaming Tulane president Scott Cowen.

Cowen understands the shifting landscape of college sports better than most. As a member of the BCS presidential oversight committee, he's spearheaded the sport's postseason bowl system and more than anyone, he knows how important this move is for the brand of Tulane athletics.

Sure, the future Big East membership and its on-field product might be closer to C-USA than anything in the Big Ten or Big 12. But in terms of perception and prestige, the Big East is light years apart.

And in college athletics today, perception rules.

Read more: http://www.nola.com/sports/index.ssf/2012/11/big_east_membership_is_big-tim.html

[emmitt01]

"Schools are playing musical chairs with conferences from coast to coast. Tulane threatened to be left without a seat at the BCS table and undoubtedly would have been if not for a bold, unprecedented commitment to athletics in the past three years."

They still have no more a seat at the BCS table than they would have in CUSA. This is either ignorance or spin (or both).

[Harry]

"Schools are playing musical chairs with conferences from coast to coast. Tulane threatened to be left without a seat at the BCS table and undoubtedly would have been if not for a bold, unprecedented commitment to athletics in the past three years."

They still have no more a seat at the BCS table than they would have in CUSA. This is either ignorance or spin (or both).

Exactly - it's funny actually that schools like Tulane and ECU are celebrating over the Corpse of the Big East they once revered. Houston and SMU were wavering and Tulane was a way to calm them down. The hammer has yet to drop in terms of what Boise and SDSU decides to do. The big lie is that the Big East gets the exact same BCS (or whatever it is called now) bowl opportunities as does CUSA, MWC, MAC, Belt etc... that's a killer. UConn, Louisville and Cincy are ALL trying to get out of the Big East and at least one if not all three will. IF that happens Boise and SDSU have no reason to leave the MWC and ditto Houston and SMU. The other thing is that the Big East basketball schools may just say enough is enough and break off on their own. A lot can happen. I think if you are a North Texas fan you just have to wait and see how it all plays out. But in the end, despite all the Big East claims and boasting regarding TV contracts - which also seem to be stalling on them- we will be in a conference that has the same BCS bowl opportunity as they do.