Like other unhealthy Americans, the Big East struggles with portion controlThe Axeman has been all over the Big East expansion rumors that have been floated out in the past few days. The usual suspects, ECU and Memphis, have reappeared on some fans message boards. To the obese Big East I say this....packing on additional weight is not the answer. In fact, it's time to drop some pounds.
The bloated state of the Big East goes back to the ACC raid in the Spring of '03. Thanks to used car salesman John Swofford, Syracuse got stuck in the 16 team superconference for basketball. For Cuse fans out there, Kevin McNamara's Basketball Warfare is a must read on the whole post-ACC fiasco.
Let's face it, the 16 team basketball conference is doing nothing for Syracuse basketball, exhibit A your honor: the snub of 2007. "Basketball only" schools bring what to the table? The basketball scheduling oddities really leave fans guessing who will be coming into the Dome on any given year.
Like it or not, football and the BCS are driving the changes in conference landscapes. Penn State got the ball rolling back in the early '90's with their dash into the Big10. At the time I was furious with JoePa for the move. I felt he had abandoned Eastern college football. The truth being, the Eastern schools long abandoned JoePa by not getting an all-sports Eastern confernce done. Jake Crouthamel's Big East retrospective from 2000 provides some nice insight into the Big East's flirtation with Penn State.
I think it's time for the football playing schools to say goodbye. Legally, nothing can happen for a few years. If a split were to happen, it's likely the "basketball only" schools would get the Big East name and MSG Tournament in the divorce proceedings.
Unfortunately, I really believe it's time to say goodbye. The football playing schools will eventually have to find another member and leave for an all-sports conference. Rivalries with Georgetown and Villanova can be maintained through non-conference scheduling. Seton Hall, St. John's and Providence? Well...until we meet again.
A quick browse of some message boards discovered the following scenarios in the hearts of some fans:
Bring Penn State Into the Big East: Chance 0%. The call was made to them after the ACC fiasco. The JoePa calvarly will not be riding in to save the day.
Adding Memphis or ECU: Chance 25%. Unfortunately I see Mikey T acutally considering this. The football scheduling needs to be balanced. Don't ask me how scheduling a 17 team conference for basketball would work.
Adding Navy for Football Only: Chance 5%. See above for the football scheduling needs.
Telling Notre Dame to join in all sports or get lost: Chance 0%. Notre Dame is a basketball only school. There are 7 other basketball only schools. They will not vote one of their own out of the conference. Mikey T has some infatuation with the Fighting Irish.
Adding Buffalo: Chance 1%. I really hope not; I don't want to be the 2nd best Big East football team in New York.
Syracuse jumps to the Big10: Chance 20%. Probably a bit high, but I went with Greg Robinson winning percentage at Syracuse (7-28). Of course the chances of us actually getting invited into the Big 10 are probably closer to 0%. Besides, Rutgers fans are already planning what it's going to be like for them in the Big10.
The Football Schools Split When The Current Contract Expires: Chance 80%. I think this is going to happen. We're still years away.
Telling Notre Dame to join in all sports or get lost: Chance 0%. Notre Dame is a basketball only school. There are 7 other basketball only schools. They will not vote one of their own out of the conference. Mikey T has some infatuation with the Fighting Irish.
Adding Buffalo: Chance 1%. I really hope not; I don't want to be the 2nd best Big East football team in New York.
Syracuse jumps to the Big10: Chance 20%. Probably a bit high, but I went with Greg Robinson winning percentage at Syracuse (7-28). Of course the chances of us actually getting invited into the Big 10 are probably closer to 0%. Besides, Rutgers fans are already planning what it's going to be like for them in the Big10.
The Football Schools Split When The Current Contract Expires: Chance 80%. I think this is going to happen. We're still years away.
Stay tuned gang.
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