The Big East is expected to extend invitations to as many as six schools over the course of the next week. For real this time. We think. No, seriously, we mean it!
On Tuesday the Big East presidents and athletic directors from all members not named West Virginia, Syracuse or Pittsburgh (and TCU for what it’s worth) gathered in Philadelphia for their annual fall meetings. For the most part this was business as usual, but there were some key items on the not-so-secret agenda with the ideas of expansion and realignment continuing to be a major story in the Big East, perhaps more so than other conferences. The Associated Press is reporting that the schools to receive invitations, when the time is right, will be Boise State, Navy, and Air Force for football-only membership, and Houston, Central Florida and SMU for all-sports membership. Commissioner John Marinatto did not release the names of the institutions that will receive the first wave of invites but seemed confident that within the next week the Big East would have some new members to formally announce (he did not say whether or not separate announcements and invites would be made or if this would all come together at the same time in one lump some.)
By now, what you have read is absolutely nothing new. We have been sitting and waiting for the Big East to take a formal approach to this for a while, and there has been plenty of speculation about which schools will be invited. We also know that there has been a struggle in the City of Brotherly Love between Villanova and Temple, which appears to be leaving out one of the more desirable overall athletic programs from the Big East with the Owls (compared to some of the other candidates).
So the question is whether or not the Big East is making the right decisions with the expected expansion candidates. Boise State, though it makes no geographical sense and just seems too far out of place for a Big East conference, makes perfect sense as far as football is concerned. The Big East would gain one of the top programs in the country that always seems to spark debates and discussion when it comes to the BCS. Boise State, on the other hand, should be cautious with their decision-making when the invitation comes. Marinatto said no invites will go out unless they know for sure they will be accepted. This is why I think Boise State’s invite may be the last, because for the Broncos how much sense does it make to join a league that is losing three of their top football programs? If the Big East is able to hold on to their BCS automatic bid (which would be helped with the addition of Boise State), then perhaps this is a no-brainer. Boise State, as TCU was expected to do, would likely come in to the league and dominate from day one and have an excellent chance of reaching the BCS without having to leave it up to the voters and computer polls and exemptions to the BCS rules.
The Big East would also gain some decent television markets between Central Florida and SMU, but that would be the only true advantage for the Big East. Both of those programs play in the shadows of larger schools in their own state, such as Florida, Florida State, and Texas. And aside from mediocre at best football programs, what do they bring to the conference in all other sports? Are Providence, Seton Hall and DePaul really on board with making trips to these schools in basketball and other non-football sports?
As far as football is concerned, I think Boise State, Air Force and Navy are quality additions. They bring a high-caliber football team and two service academies that will also spark some national interest with their national followings. Plus, the Big East would take a role in the annual Army-Navy game, which should never be ruined, even by conference affiliations. Army was once thought to be a candidate for the conference but they seem to have shied away from the idea of conference play after participation in Conference USA did not go so well. I think adding Central Florida, SMU and Houston are rather wish-washy and clearly just being used to fill holes in the conference more than anything else.
Even though it seems the Big East is finding answers, I still have many questions moving forward. To me, this latest wave of expansion just does not seem right. There is just something unsettling about what the Big East has become. I know it is not the same conference it was ten years ago, and I think that’s a shame.
Follow Kevin McGuire on Twitter @KevinOnCFB.
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