Big East enters spotlight in conference expansion craziness

Posted Jun 11, 2010 by Scott Carter

Updated Jun 11, 2010 at 04:24 PM

You’ve got to admit, whether you’re a hardcore college football junkie or just a casual observer, this has been a fun week to keep up with all this conference craziness.

Today has been Fantastic Friday if you will.

I’m working on a story for tomorrow’s edition of The Tampa Tribune in regard to USF and the Big East.

In talking with Big East officials, I can tell you not to expect any sort of major announcements or comments from Commissioner John Marinatto today—at least not as of an hour ago.

Big East officials are obviously keeping a close watch on what’s happening, including the latest round of rumors that the league is interesting in adding Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State and Missouri should the Big 12 fold now that Nebraska has departed for the Big 10.

By the way, Dear Big 10: Now that you have officially 12 teams and possibly more by the time all this madness is over, can you please finally update the name of your conference.

OK, back to point. To keep you entertained here in our little corner of the blogosphere, here are a few of the more pertinent links from today’s craziness:

++ East Carolina athletic director Terry Holland has certainly been keeping a close eye on what’s going on. In fact, USF football coach Skip Holtz’s former boss wouldn’t mind facing Holtz’s new team on a regular basis as a Big East rival.

Click here to read a press release issued earlier today from Holland on conference expansion.

++ Sure, Colorado bolted for the Pac-10 and Nebraska is headed to the Big 10 and Boise State is going to the Mountain West, but Kansas State president Kirk Schultz isn’t quite ready to throw in the towel on the Big 12 despite those Big East rumors.

Click here for an interview with Schultz and what he has to say about the Big 12’s future.

++ I’m not too familiar with the Washington Examiner, but sports editor Jim Williams has created some buzz by contacting several Big East schools’ alumni groups.

This Williams’ article sparked most of today’s buzz about the Big East targeting Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State and Missouri should the Big 12 get wiped out.

++ ESPN.com Big East blogger Brian Bennett likes the idea of the Big East looking west for new members. He says the conference should act boldly.

Click here to read Bennett’s take and, as an added bonus, find out the distance from Columbia, Mo., to Morgantown, W.Va.

++ As a final thought, I can’t agree with Bennett more that the Big East needs to act boldly. My proposal may sound a little crazy, but so did Texas going to the Pac-10 a couple of weeks ago.

I say the Big East should create its own TV network, and try like heck to get Miami, Boston College and Virginia Tech back into the league. And then, the conference must somehow persuade Notre Dame to join the league in football.

Can you imagine the TV ratings for the Miami-Notre Dame game each season. Plus, the Irish already have a strong rivalry with Boston College.

What would this mean for USF and for the basketball-only schools? Good question. This would give the league 12 football teams and 19 basketball teams.

It would be easy to say goodbye to one of the basketball-only schools—DePaul comes to mind—or if you prefer a 20-team basketball conference, find another East coast-based basketball school to join the league.

It may sound far-fetched, but hey, it’s obvious everyone is sort of working on the fly when it comes to conference craziness.