Big East Conference Expansion Ideas and Discussion

[stever20]

Everyone thought that the A10 would be not much this year- after losing Butler, Xavier, Charlotte, and Temple. Instead, they had maybe their best year ever. If the 6 teams keep on keeping on- if we take 2, that's still going to leave 4 solid teams. A10 would be weaker, but not to a point where they couldn't be a threat. Almost think we should have taken 2 more from them this year starting with 12, If SLU and say VCU weren't there, the other 4 teams would not have been viewed anywhere near as strong this year.

[adoraz11]

Everyone thought that the A10 would be not much this year- after losing Butler, Xavier, Charlotte, and Temple. Instead, they had maybe their best year ever. If the 6 teams keep on keeping on- if we take 2, that's still going to leave 4 solid teams. A10 would be weaker, but not to a point where they couldn't be a threat. Almost think we should have taken 2 more from them this year starting with 12, If SLU and say VCU weren't there, the other 4 teams would not have been viewed anywhere near as strong this year.

I agree looking back we should have had 12 this year and a 6 bid conference. Would have really helped our image.

[Xudash]

Everyone thought that the A10 would be not much this year- after losing Butler, Xavier, Charlotte, and Temple. Instead, they had maybe their best year ever. If the 6 teams keep on keeping on- if we take 2, that's still going to leave 4 solid teams. A10 would be weaker, but not to a point where they couldn't be a threat. Almost think we should have taken 2 more from them this year starting with 12, If SLU and say VCU weren't there, the other 4 teams would not have been viewed anywhere near as strong this year.

I agree looking back we should have had 12 this year and a 6 bid conference. Would have really helped our image.

Hindsight is easy. I'm not being critical of your post or stever's post, but think about what the C7 Presidents were evaluating when they first broke away.

Fast forward to now. I can't say I follow the A10 now, though I still respect it and appreciate it for what it did for X, but wasn't this year particularly good for the A10 because they had some senior laden teams? I presume VCU will be good again. I understand that UD has a nucleus coming back, and assume their recruiting has gotten a little better. But which other program will contribute next season? SLU loses its senior base. UMASS loses a lot.

The A10 isn't going away, but I sense that 6 bids was an anomaly.

[stever20]

VCU, Dayton, St Joe's and GW all return a lot and should get back. VCU may have their best team yet.

UMass loses a few guys but still has a lot coming back...

SLU big question mark of course.

Richmond and La Salle all return a lot from decent teams. Both could make runs next year. Rhode Island loses 1 senior.

A10 may not get 6, but they should get 4-5 pretty easily..

[Bostonspider]

Maybe it was all about money? Now you add two schools, charge them hefty initiation fees, as well as taking a few years to ramp up to full tv earnings disbursement. As long as Fox is bumping up the dollars for the added content, each of the existing 10 schools makes a nice bit more... If all 5 came in this past year, you can't do that as they would all be "charter" members of the New Big East.

[stever20]

Maybe it was all about money? Now you add two schools, charge them hefty initiation fees, as well as taking a few years to ramp up to full tv earnings disbursement. As long as Fox is bumping up the dollars for the added content, each of the existing 10 schools makes a nice bit more... If all 5 came in this past year, you can't do that as they would all be "charter" members of the New Big East.

The thing that I'm starting to wonder is did the C7 focus so much on money that it's allowed them to make bad decisions. FS1 vs ESPN- long term it's a gamble. If they didn't go to 12 at first just solely to get more money from 11 and 12- that's a huge gamble and could wind up being a big mistake. Money is not the end all be all.

[Xudash]

Maybe it was all about money? Now you add two schools, charge them hefty initiation fees, as well as taking a few years to ramp up to full tv earnings disbursement. As long as Fox is bumping up the dollars for the added content, each of the existing 10 schools makes a nice bit more... If all 5 came in this past year, you can't do that as they would all be "charter" members of the New Big East.

If and when expansion occurs, it probably involves a max of 2 teams, as I believe it's still widely understood that Fox will "true-up" the original ten in the event the Presidents decide to expand to 12; the 10 would maintain their existing payouts were two more teams brought in.

Good point though about initiation fees. That will be part of the picture, but it will be worth it to the two new schools if and when they're boarded.

The Presidents simply couldn't get to 12 up front. And now everyone is watching as Fox develops its new sports property. This is going to be interesting, to say the least.

[DeltaV]

Maybe it was all about money? Now you add two schools, charge them hefty initiation fees, as well as taking a few years to ramp up to full tv earnings disbursement. As long as Fox is bumping up the dollars for the added content, each of the existing 10 schools makes a nice bit more... If all 5 came in this past year, you can't do that as they would all be "charter" members of the New Big East.

Do any other conferences charge initiation fees? Seems kinda prickish to me...not only does the team lose their prior conferences NCAA shares, they may be paying an exit fee...then charging them more to join?

[Xudash]

Maybe it was all about money? Now you add two schools, charge them hefty initiation fees, as well as taking a few years to ramp up to full tv earnings disbursement. As long as Fox is bumping up the dollars for the added content, each of the existing 10 schools makes a nice bit more... If all 5 came in this past year, you can't do that as they would all be "charter" members of the New Big East.

Do any other conferences charge initiation fees? Seems kinda prickish to me...not only does the team lose their prior conferences NCAA shares, they may be paying an exit fee...then charging them more to join?

Yes, at least X had to pay its way into the A10. If not an above board initiation fee, perhaps a ramp-up to their payout shares.

[BillikensWin]

Maybe it was all about money? Now you add two schools, charge them hefty initiation fees, as well as taking a few years to ramp up to full tv earnings disbursement. As long as Fox is bumping up the dollars for the added content, each of the existing 10 schools makes a nice bit more... If all 5 came in this past year, you can't do that as they would all be "charter" members of the New Big East.

Do any other conferences charge initiation fees? Seems kinda prickish to me...not only does the team lose their prior conferences NCAA shares, they may be paying an exit fee...then charging them more to join?

Yes. X had to pay its way into the A10.

I'm fairly certain it's a common practice.

It is almost universal.