Big East & UConn

I've flip-flopped on this so much I'm not even sure what my original opinion was on this. But I think I initially would have said said yes to UConn and Memphis if they parked football in the MAAC.

But now that Memphis seems to have a better chance to hook up with a major conference than UConn does, I'm OK with UConn rotting. A few more years in that conference and its sports programs outside of women's basketball will die and never recover.

I'll take any combo of Dayton, St. Louis, Davidson, Wichita State, VCU, Valpo, or WCC teams that don't mind long road trips over UConn.
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We've seen what happens when we bring football schools into the Big East
We shouldn't go down that road ever again
The Big East was created with basketball as it's featured sport
I am not advocating expansion, but if we do, it should only be with schools that "fit" our profile
All of the schools that you mentioned above would be viable candidates
Schools with D-1 (FBS) football teams need not apply ever again!!
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For it's part, Villanova, in part to save the old Big East, and mostly to further their own athletic prowess, was planning on upgrading their football program to big time status after winning the D2 champsionship a few years back. The new Big East has proven that they can compete in basketball on a national stage without having to placate football schools.
 
I've flip-flopped on this so much I'm not even sure what my original opinion was on this. But I think I initially would have said said yes to UConn and Memphis if they parked football in the MAAC.

But now that Memphis seems to have a better chance to hook up with a major conference than UConn does, I'm OK with UConn rotting. A few more years in that conference and its sports programs outside of women's basketball will die and never recover.

I'll take any combo of Dayton, St. Louis, Davidson, Wichita State, VCU, Valpo, or WCC teams that don't mind long road trips over UConn.
Click to expand...

We've seen what happens when we bring football schools into the Big East
We shouldn't go down that road ever again
The Big East was created with basketball as it's featured sport
I am not advocating expansion, but if we do, it should only be with schools that "fit" our profile
All of the schools that you mentioned above would be viable candidates
Schools with D-1 (FBS) football teams need not apply ever again!!
Click to expand...

For it's part, Villanova, in part to save the old Big East, and mostly to further their own athletic prowess, was planning on upgrading their football program to big time status after winning the D2 champsionship a few years back. The new Big East has proven that they can compete in basketball on a national stage without having to placate football schools.
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They have a nice FCS football program which is where they should stay.
 
If you take emotion out of the equation and think of adding U Conn as a business decision it makes sense.

UConn is a great Basketball school that has a very strong following. We need schools like that in the Big East. Makes the Tournament more festive. With the ACC bring their tournament to New York we need a strong schools with fans to make sure that MSG is happy with the Big East.

It is not like we are adding 4 or 5 Football schools.

I say YES to UConn in the Big East...
 
Just a wee bit of hypocrisy whenever this subject is discussed. If St. Johns had not ditched football years ago, we could very likely be in the ACC right now and no one here would give a damn about he new Big East.

As for Uconns football ambitions...so what. Even if they bolted in a decade or so, their presence in the new conference would have been a benefit during these crucial early years getting our footing. If/when they leave, St. Louis, Dayton, Umass or whoever else will still be there.
I would even be open to taking Memphis should they not get into the Big 12.
 
Just a wee bit of hypocrisy whenever this subject is discussed. If St. Johns had not ditched football years ago, we could very likely be in the ACC right now and no one here would give a damn about he new Big East.

As for Uconns football ambitions...so what. Even if they bolted in a decade or so, their presence in the new conference would have been a benefit during these crucial early years getting our footing. If/when they leave, St. Louis, Dayton, Umass or whoever else will still be there.
I would even be open to taking Memphis should they not get into the Big 12.
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Don't bogart that joint my friend, pass it over to me!
Don't bogart that joint my friend, pass it over to me!
All together now!
Don't bogart that joint my friend, pass it over to me!

When St. John's had a football team if we played Chaminade High School we very likely would have embarrassed the ACC? ;)
 
Just a wee bit of hypocrisy whenever this subject is discussed. If St. Johns had not ditched football years ago, we could very likely be in the ACC right now and no one here would give a damn about he new Big East.

As for Uconns football ambitions...so what. Even if they bolted in a decade or so, their presence in the new conference would have been a benefit during these crucial early years getting our footing. If/when they leave, St. Louis, Dayton, Umass or whoever else will still be there.
I would even be open to taking Memphis should they not get into the Big 12.
Click to expand...

Don't bogart that joint my friend, pass it over to me!
Don't bogart that joint my friend, pass it over to me!
All together now!
Don't bogart that joint my friend, pass it over to me!

When St. John's had a football team if we played Chaminade High School we very likely would have embarrassed the ACC? ;)
Click to expand...
What's the matter '72 don't you remember all of our football team's big victories over Florida St., Miami, Clemson and the like? :)
 
I think we had at least one make pro in the early 70s. QB I think, with white shoes.
 
If you take emotion out of the equation and think of adding U Conn as a business decision it makes sense.

UConn is a great Basketball school that has a very strong following. We need schools like that in the Big East. Makes the Tournament more festive. With the ACC bring their tournament to New York we need a strong schools with fans to make sure that MSG is happy with the Big East.

It is not like we are adding 4 or 5 Football schools.

I say YES to UConn in the Big East...
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The criteria for a new school should be : private school, no big football, geographic proximity, successful basketball program and ability to sell tickets for MSG games. Dayton would be my first choice.
 
I think we had at least one make pro in the early 70s. QB I think, with white shoes.
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For those programs not well endowed in the Northeast football is a losing proposition. Many colleges have ended participation. Unless you are a billion dollar Ivy or State school fleecing tax payers, most colleges cannot afford to field teams. Yes we had a football team once that played in front of 1,500 fans on a good day but when I was in the military in Texas the local high schools had stadiums seating over 10,000 and were sold out for every game. Heck, even when Villanova was good and sucking up to the ACC they were playing in a 12,000 seat stadium that was usually filled to HALF capacity. And going to the ACC doesn't mean success in the sport just more TV money. Uconn will never approach Florida State, Clemson, Miami and most other ACC schools but every conference is in need of a bottom dweller. For me no amount of money is worth seeing my team in last place perennially. If that happened with our basketball team we would eventually be playing in empty arenas.
 
No, no and no. I want nothing to do with the football schools. It will only end poorly, within a couple of years they will be flirting with all the football conferences, We have a nice similarly situated group of schools focused on basketball. Let's keep it that way.
 
Just a wee bit of hypocrisy whenever this subject is discussed. If St. Johns had not ditched football years ago, we could very likely be in the ACC right now and no one here would give a damn about he new Big East.

As for Uconns football ambitions...so what. Even if they bolted in a decade or so, their presence in the new conference would have been a benefit during these crucial early years getting our footing. If/when they leave, St. Louis, Dayton, Umass or whoever else will still be there.
I would even be open to taking Memphis should they not get into the Big 12.
Click to expand...

Don't bogart that joint my friend, pass it over to me!
Don't bogart that joint my friend, pass it over to me!
All together now!
Don't bogart that joint my friend, pass it over to me!

When St. John's had a football team if we played Chaminade High School we very likely would have embarrassed the ACC? ;)
Click to expand...
What's the matter '72 don't you remember all of our football team's big victories over Florida St., Miami, Clemson and the like? :)
Click to expand...

Really, ACC in football? Seriously??? We didn't have the facilities or funding for an FCS program let alone this area as a hole has no interest in College football. Hofstra who had facilities and generally a decent program who would make the playoffs occasionally and had guys who made the pros disbanded their program a few years back and they were in a much better situation to succeed. Fordham (who has a much richer tradition, bigger tradition, alumni and student support) and Stony Brook (State school) are the only two "local" FCS schools. NY State only has two FBS schools (Syracuse and Buffalo) while New Jersey has one (Rutgers)
 
I think we had at least one make pro in the early 70s. QB I think, with white shoes.
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We had a player during the strike year. I think he was a running back - Dennis Bligen ?
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Dennis Bligen (Class of 84) played four years in the NFL most of which was with the Jets (he spent part of 0ne season with the Bucaneers before returning to the Jets). He was a running back and played special teams and made the Jets as an undrafted Free Agent (St. John's football program was DIII at the time) several years prior to the Strike (he did play one game during the strike after the Jets had cut him and brought him back).
 
Per Rothstein

The two programs I've heard most associated with Big 12 expansion over the past five-to-seven days: Cincinnati and BYU.
 
BYU 100 percent belongs there, although in every comments section I've read there seems to be extreme Mormon hatred.

Little surprised at Cincy over Memphis, but Cincy has probably had more outstanding football seasons than Memphis has. But success at both schools is relative. Trying to go up against Oklahoma or Texas most years could get ugly.
 
BYU 100 percent belongs there, although in every comments section I've read there seems to be extreme Mormon hatred.

Little surprised at Cincy over Memphis, but Cincy has probably had more outstanding football seasons than Memphis has. But success at both schools is relative. Trying to go up against Oklahoma or Texas most years could get ugly.
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BYU makes sense however accommodations would need to be made with their other sports as BYU teams don't play on Sundays.

IMHO BYU and Houston make the most sense but in Houston's case the other Texas schools might be against adding them which would give them a higher recruiting profile in that football fertile and crazed State.
 
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