Report: Big East Pressuring Boise State To Join In 2012, Air Force Still An Expansion Possibility
by Mengus22 on Feb 2, 2012 12:37 PM EST
in Big East Expansion
Email
Print
Jon Wilner, a writer with the San Jose Mercury News who has been heavily engaged with conference realignment issues as they relate to western schools, reported this morning that the Big East is pressuring Boise State to join the Big East for the 2012 season. You can see the tweet of his report here. According to Wilner, the Big East wanted Boise State to go ahead and join in 2012 to offset the possible loss of West Virginia for the 2012 season.
The possibility of Boise State joining in 2012 raises a number of questions. Would the Big East be willing to pay for whatever Boise State has to pay to get out of the Mountain West Conference on such short notice. Also, would the Big East simply give Boise State the schedule that West Virginia would have played in 2012? If so, Boise State would travel to Louisville, Pittsburgh, and Connecticut while hosting Rutgers, Syracuse, South Florida, and Cinicnnati. If the Big East does not do that, would it reshuffle the entire schedule or perhaps stick it to Pittsburgh and Syracuse and make them make the road trip to Boise State next year?
Finally, Wilner also mentioned that the Big East might end up with Air Force as its 12th member after all. Brett McMurphy with CBS has previously mentioned in print and in appearances on radio that he felt the addition of Navy would likely change things for Air Force and make it reconsider its decision not to join the Big East. Adding Air Force as the 12th football member would be a nice geographical addition to the conference's new western division and reduce travel for new member Boise State, San Diego State, Houston, and SMU. Air Force's addition would likely be easier to work out than Navy because Air Force is in a conference and does not have numerous individual game contracts to work out of in order to join.
Stay tuned to Big East Coast Bias and our Big East Expansion section for more news on the subject.
18 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
hmm...
Big East is in some trouble. They would have seven teams meaning another non-conference game would need to be added meaning FCS opponents. I believe an exemption to be a league with under eight teams, it would be similar to what the WAC is doing until they get back to eight teams.
Not sure if Boise State would accept, but if the Big East were to pay their exit fee which is at least $5 million for giving less than a years notice, then Boise would consider the jump. However, Boise State would also need to work out a deal with the WAC to send their sports over a year earlier since the MWC won’t allow a non-football team in their league.
Boise State has a pretty good schedule already set up this year;
Michigan State, BYU, Southern Miss, and Miami (OH) non conference
Fresno State, Wyoming, Nevada, @Hawaii, Colorado State, New Mexico, San Diego State, and UNLV
and with the game @ Hawaii, Boise State can set up another game and I believe they are actively trying to set up a big time non conf game. A neutral site game against Arkansas in Dallas was the rumor, but has seem to fallen thru. Big East would have to foot the whole bill to consider this, in my humble opinion that doesnt mean anything.
My favortie memories of college is being up in the student section, taking off my left shoe, and holding it up in the air whenever #89 made a catch.
by warriorsscore110 on Feb 2, 2012 1:27 PM EST up reply actions
Maybe that is why
Boise State has not announced a 13th game yet. We have all thought they would schedule a 7th home game, even if it was an FCS school because of the Hawaii trip, but if no Hawaii trip, no 13th game.
I would be all over this if the BE would take care of the exit penalty to the MWC. Damages from the loss of WVU are likely going to be much more than the MWC exit, I would imagine, and if they could minimize the loss of TV contract, seems like a win/win.
Boise....... State!!!!!!!!!
That last part is the key
A bunch of gears will click into place once the WVU settlement is done. As long as their buyout covers Boise’s buyout, it’s a no-brainer to get them as soon as possible.
Which would screw the Aztecs a little bit in the process, but it's a lame duck year regardless
That sound you hear is Jim Sterk sending email blasts offering to jump immediately.
Wouldn't it make more sense for one of the CUSA schools to join a year early?
Otherwise you’ve got a wonky 15-team basketball conference. Also, do not want to play @Boise this year, and it’s pretty much certain that Syracuse and Pitt would.
I think it easier
To take Boise State because Conf. USA has a on year waiting period before it can exit. Maybe I am wrong but I think the Mnt West exit is easier.
With that being said I thought Air Force would come around after Navy agreed to join the conference.
by Vinnie Giordano on Feb 2, 2012 5:05 PM EST up reply actions
The MWC has no waiting agreement
other than the fee is higher if you don’t wait a year. Not sure on C-USA, it might actually be similar to the MWC. If BSU waits until 2013 they only forfeit the media revenue from the 2012 season, which is $1.9 mil max. If they go in 2012 they pay a $5 mil exit fee. While that is chump change to a BCS School, that is a sizeable chunk of money to a non-AQ like BSU. Hence this would only be feasible from a financial standpoint if the BE paid the early exit fee or waived the buy in fee.
Con USA
Has a one year waiting period and a $7 million dollar buyout. That was instituted after USF, Louisville, and Cinci bolted. So really I think everything stays put.
by Vinnie Giordano on Feb 4, 2012 8:01 PM EST up reply actions
What happened to the Memphis rumor?
West Virginia fans hate everybody. They remember every snub and joke and bit of snark. And they never forgive, and they never, ever forget. In other words, they're a lot like West Virginians in general.
They took a look at the football program
and got cold feet.
by Jesterrace on Feb 2, 2012 5:02 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Hell
Let WVU pay the 20-some million dollar exit fee, use that money to help Boise State into the conference, give BSU WVU’s conference schedule. Everyone would be happy. (Well, except to the teams travelling to Boise, I guess.)
"that place laid the foundation for who I am. A lot of outsiders make fun of it and say negative things about West Virginia. Fuck them" - Jerry West
by MountaineerAirman on Feb 3, 2012 6:32 AM EST reply actions
that would be simpler
but somehow I’m sure that if Boise joins a year early, both Syracuse and Pitt will be going to Boise, not just one of us.
Sounds like an easy way to solve the Big XII and Big East scheduling problems
Guess we’ll see what happens in the continuing saga of conference realignment.
We're bound by a bond not completely understood by those outside, try as we might to explain it to them.
The Biggest problem
I see is the nightmare this would be for BSU’s other sports. Keep in mind that they are in another conference and would have to make the jump a year early as well (I can’t see the MWC keeping around their non-football sports for another season) and that could present some serious scheduling problems at this late date and football would definitely suffer some non-conference hiccups as well. That said if it gets BSU out of their game with Miami Ohio, while keeping Michigan State, BYU and Southern Miss, I am all in favor of it.
I don't see
the WAC accepting non-football BSU sports as being a problem. Karl Benson actively lobbied for them to come back in other sports when the rumors of the Big East move started months ago. It’s a simple switch to a conference they already know and vice versa.
"Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man." -The Dude
"If you're always worried that something could blow up on you, you're not going to push the envelope and not going to try new things. Some of the stuff does blow up on us, but the tradeoff is the problems we're creating for defenses when it works." -Chris Petersen
by BroncoInDuckLand on Feb 3, 2012 3:40 PM EST up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
