Non-football schools splitting from Big East

[AeroCat]

This has been rumored for some time, and we all knew the ramifications of such a move, especially since the other teams left the conference.

My question is: if this has been a real threat, why would a coach like Tommy Tuberville want to jump ship at TT to coach Cincinnati? The wishful part of me believes that our administration honestly does have some information that hasn't been divulged, or even leaked to the public yet.

[oldcat48]

If we really want to be honest, the greatest leadership in the world can't make up for the fact that we have CUSA-level revenues as an athletic department.

I mean, we all sat around and talked about how great Greg Williams and Mike Thomas were, but it's fairly clear that they didn't see this coming to the degree that Tom Jurich did at Louisville.

They both completely saw this coming. They were stymied repeatedly by the BOT because they couldn't move forward with expansion. I think it was the board that didn't see (or refused to see) this coming. Jurich has for over a decade had a board and a president that "got" what needed to be done and why it was good for the school to have great athletics. If Ono has convinced the board now, it's because the board is watching the destruction of the Big East and seeing they were wrong. The question will be if it's too late now.

[London 'Cat]

Game. Over.

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/colle...Tg8twF80US3G6H

MAC, here we come. What a devastating blow to Bearcat athletics.

[BearcatSeminole]

Another message on BIG10 Expansion from @theDudeofWV:

http://forums.eersauthority.com/inde....msg679#msg679

While the Big East Split looks bad right now, a lot of dominoes are falling and we'll have a clearer picture by February...

This probably won't be good for recruiting either...

[bearcatn8]

Game. Over.

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/colle...Tg8twF80US3G6H

[Rational Cat]

I'm actually reading this laughing about UConn; they have to wonder what the **** happened to them. Bad blood between they and the ACC with the first split is what caused this for them.

At least we're in familiar territory, back where we started again, unfortunately.

I'd like to see both UC and UConn in the ACC.

[Banter]

This is exactly what I think happens.

Best case scenario if this holds true, is to join up with every "mid major" Conf USA, MAC, Big East, and Mountain West. Have a 4 team playoff for a championship before the 4 team playoff, and hope the team that wins the "mid-major" playoff would be undefeated and highly ranked, and then it could possibly get a bid.

[mjv780]

I'm sure a lot of you feel optimism about where UC will end up... I don't. I think the reason is, UC doesn't hold any power in all this - we are at the mercy of everyone else. If a conference doesn't want to invite UC, they don't have to. If the basketball only schools decide to dissolve the Big East, UC is left homeless. However, in that scenario, I have to wonder where all the money that has been paid into the conference (through exit fees, etc) goes? IF UC, Uconn, and USF are the last ones standing, holding the rope so to speak (too soon after BJ?), do they get what's in the coffers? If so, that could be a nice payday.

[CincyEngGrad02]

If that's the case they should create a super conference of Mid Majors with C-USA

This is exactly what I think happens.

[cincycpaw]

Another thought, if we end up with 4 super conferences that control their own post-season, why wouldn't the NCAA start a full on playoff system with the remaining schools?

[cincycpaw]

If they split and UC doesn't get into the ACC or BIg 12, I would think UC would be better served splitting football into a conference of it's own and finding a home for basketball in the new league with the old big east basketball school. Not sure of the logistics, but similar to what Boise and San Diego State have done to join the big east.

[Banter]

If I were an independent observer who cares about NCAA hoops, I would applaud this move because it's about time the basketball first / only schools to take a stand.

Only problem with this, is that they hold all the power to dissolve the conference...then what happens to us.

[London 'Cat]

If we really want to be honest, the greatest leadership in the world can't make up for the fact that we have CUSA-level revenues as an athletic department.

I mean, we all sat around and talked about how great Greg Williams and Mike Thomas were, but it's fairly clear that they didn't see this coming to the degree that Tom Jurich did at Louisville.

C-USA level? That may be generous. I'd argue it's more like MAC level. And your point is well taken - UC is not going anywhere unless and until its revenue stream increases substantially.

All we ever heard from Williams was how committed to the BEast UC was. Obviously, with the benefit of hindsight, that was a huge error in judgment. The revenue issue has been a problem for years, at least since joining the BEast, but never seems to be the focus of the university's leaders to identify, formulate and implement a plan to address.

[Bearcat_Fan]

Wish I shared your optimism. The ACC will be the odd man out when we go to four super-conferences in the near future. I'm not really that excited about the ACC.

All I want for xmas is an invite to the Big 12

[bobestes]

If I were an independent observer who cares about NCAA hoops, I would applaud this move because it's about time the basketball first / only schools to take a stand. If this move goes forward, I could easily see the Big East basketball league picking up the likes of VCU, Butler, and Eggs-avier from the A-10. And on paper, that would be a very strong basketball league.

As a UC fan and a realist, this move will kill the Big East. UC and UConn have made no secret of the fact that they want out and will do everything in their power to make this a reality. Fortunately, UC is in great hands with President Ono and AD Whitcock so I think UC will end up in a good place when all is said and done.

If we really want to be honest, the greatest leadership in the world can't make up for the fact that we have CUSA-level revenues as an athletic department.

I mean, we all sat around and talked about how great Greg Williams and Mike Thomas were, but it's fairly clear that they didn't see this coming to the degree that Tom Jurich did at Louisville.