ESPN says 2014 for C7 league

[Hoya]

The Big East is hoping to resolve its divorce with the seven departing Catholic-based basketball schools within the next few weeks -- in time for a summer 2014 departure -- according to a source who had detailed knowledge of Friday's conference call with the Big East.

The source said there seems to be a consensus the seven will leave and form their own league for fall 2014, exactly what the seven want as well, according to a number of sources from the departing seven.

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story ... ource-says

[SixTwentySix]

lol at "divorce" and "Catholic" in the same sentence.

[Bluejay]

That would seem to be inline with Notre Dame's recent statements that they will play in the BE through 2014 instead of leaving after this year.

[butlerguy03]

It makes sense to give everyone enough time to figure out what they're doing. Let the dust settle a little before making any quick movements. Let UConn, Temple & Cincy figure out where they're going and then the nBE can decide on 10 vs 12 and which schools are invited.

I think the nBE Presidents are doing the right thing by holding back and not making headlines. You never know when a school will become available in this storm.

[XU85]

It makes sense to give everyone enough time to figure out what they're doing. Let the dust settle a little before making any quick movements. Let UConn, Temple & Cincy figure out where they're going and then the nBE can decide on 10 vs 12 and which schools are invited.

I think the nBE Presidents are doing the right thing by holding back and not making headlines. You never know when a school will become available in this storm.

I agree. Plus, I don't know about Creighton, but it would save departing A-10 members $1 Milliion in exit fees. I believe exit fee is $2 mill. with less than one year notice, otherwise it is $ 1 mill.

[Jet915]

It makes sense to give everyone enough time to figure out what they're doing. Let the dust settle a little before making any quick movements. Let UConn, Temple & Cincy figure out where they're going and then the nBE can decide on 10 vs 12 and which schools are invited.

I think the nBE Presidents are doing the right thing by holding back and not making headlines. You never know when a school will become available in this storm.

I agree. Plus, I don't know about Creighton, but it would save departing A-10 members $1 Milliion in exit fees. I believe exit fee is $2 mill. with less than one year notice, otherwise it is $ 1 mill.

Creighton has no exit fee to leave the MVC.

[QueRico]

ND, L'ville & RU will all be leaving @ that time, so it is probably the best for all parties involved.
Football schedules are made pretty far in advance so it's also in the Remainder's interest to get things settled as well.

[yorost]

It makes sense to give everyone enough time to figure out what they're doing. Let the dust settle a little before making any quick movements. Let UConn, Temple & Cincy figure out where they're going and then the nBE can decide on 10 vs 12 and which schools are invited.

I think the nBE Presidents are doing the right thing by holding back and not making headlines. You never know when a school will become available in this storm.

I agree. Plus, I don't know about Creighton, but it would save departing A-10 members $1 Milliion in exit fees. I believe exit fee is $2 mill. with less than one year notice, otherwise it is $ 1 mill.

Well, saving a million in exit fees may not matter. As long as the new conference nets them at least $1 million more than they get in the A10, that fee isn't going to hurt them for leaving immediately.

Also from the article...

The Fox and NBC deals are part of the reasoning why the Catholic 7 is still holding out hope it could leave in the fall of 2013. To do so, though, it would need other schools to buy their way out of the A-10 and possibly the Missouri Valley if Creighton is invited.

[xu95]

The A10s exit fees are 1 million and 500k.

[Bluejay]

Well, saving a million in exit fees may not matter. As long as the new conference nets them at least $1 million more than they get in the A10, that fee isn't going to hurt them for leaving immediately.

I would agree. One thing to keep in mind however is that if the early reports of the BE 7 taking more $ the first few years is still a thing, getting a reprieve from the extra $500K in exit fees would be very welcome by the A10 schools. Likewise, the A-1o school's ability to avoid $500K in exit fees would help the BE 7 justify why they need more money up front, whereas the joining schools may not have the same level of immediate needs.

Even though we now have several accounts stating that the league will not start until 2014, I am still not totally convinced that 2013 is off the table. Why? because Fox is debuting its second new sports channel this fall and is going to want content. If they push hard enough, I suspect the BE 7 will have no choice. If that happens, I think it may help Creighton's chances for two reasons: (a) the lack of any exit fee could mean that Creighton wouldn't need immediate "readiness" funds from the BE 7, whereas A10 schools might need some help just to cover the $1M exit fee; and (b) Because the MVC plays an 18 game conference schedule (as opposed to a 16 game conference schedule in the A10), it means Creighton could jump easily to a 10 team new conference without having to buyout or cancel any noncon games it may already have scheduled. In other words, Creighton can be the most flexible of all of the expansion candidates.

It wouldn't completely surprise me to see a 10 team conference start play in 2013, with two more teams added, creating a 12 team conference, for 2014.