Toledo to the Big East?

[BGSUfalcons]

I have to wonder if the Big East could be creating just a football conference, as their basketball league is already 16 strong, with 12 very good teams.

I would assume that they would not stop at Toledo and take their football membership to 12. This would almost guarantee a BCS bid for years to come, but it would reserve the all-so-important Conference Championship game that generates the national television exposure, corporate sponsorship and additional revenue.

Without the information that '87 is privy to, I would assume that the breakdown of the conference preference would go something like this:

"A preference": 1a) Notre Dame- nearly impossible for all member schools to give them the package they would have to have to accept. Full rights to NBC TV deal and keeping their own bowl money, in addition to a revenue "guarantee" every year. The ACC was prepared to offer it, but ND wasn't prepared to accept. 1aa) Penn State- geographically, it's the best fit. There are more than a few Big Ten "traditionalists" that aren't happy with Penn State being in the league and if the Big Ten has no plans to go to a twelfth team, why keep 11? PSU would give instant credibility to Big East football, particularly with a ND addition and bring back money feuds/rivalries with Pitt and West Virginia.

"B preference": Central Florida- gets the BE into the Florida mix along with South Florida and the very important recruiting ties. Also, Orlando is a booming TV market as well. Memphis, Toledo, Miami (OH) and Vanderbilt would provide attractive destinations for various reasons as well. Vandy wouldn't leave the SEC for a rebuilt BE without ND and/or Penn State though. Tulane would also be an attractive member, but they will not be able to make the financial commitment for sometime giving the tragedies of the past year.

"C preference": Marshall, Southern Mississippi, Akron, Northern Illinois, Bowling Green and Ohio University. Hear me out. At some point, in the next 5-10 years, I see the NCAA making each school make some sort of commitment financially to D-1 football. Currently there are 11 D-1 conferences and a handfull of independents. I can see the current BCS structure with 4 games (the 5th to be added after the 2006 season), to be used as playoff system with the 5th game being used as the "Plus-One" game once the four BCS games have been played. None of the "C" preferences really provide much in the terms of a TV market, save possibly Akron, but all are or could be competitive football programs. Instead of BG joining a loaded Big East, it would make more sense for BG to join a "Great America Conference" or whatever name you want to attach to it with the leftover members of the MAC, C-USA and possibly the MWC.

Just my thoughts on the matter.

I would be shocked if USF didn't fight with all of its might to keep Central Florida out of the Big East.

[BGSUfalcons]

I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss this, for reasons I'm not at liberty to divulge.

I'm not dismissing it. I find it interesting that he feels free to talk of such things knowing that kids talk.

[OptionQB]

Miami provides a strong Dayton TV market though, that's why the A-(67)10 has kept them around so long in basketball.

[Jacobs4Heisman]

The big question would be -- is it a football only move or does the whole enchilada go to the big east?

If it's the latter, The problem you need to think about, which is the same problem many brought up around here when some of our fans were getting a bit too big for their britches, is the fact that moving to the Big East does not just affect the football program. Moving to a conference that is so spread out geographically from Toledo is a huge undertaking. Now all sports teams have to be transported to USF and Connecticut a time or 2 a year. Major upgrades to the glass bowl would need to be done (seating capacity especially). I suspect most of Toledo's other sports would struggle mightily in the Big East (at least initially). This move would require a lot of capital investment, and Toledo is in a bit of a hole right now.

I'm not saying it won't happen. In fact, it makes a lot of sense on both sides from a Football perspective. I'm just saying there's a lot of things to consider. When the subject is brought up, in concurrence with the merger, it makes the scenario seem a lot more plausible.

The only think I can hope is if the MAC big boys decide to make a run for it, is that we're vacating as well. The worst case scenario for BG is to be left behind in the sun belt lite conference. That would set our athletic programs waaaaay back, and also hurt the university as a whole.

[JoeFalcon]

A bigger question is how much credability will Amstutz have with recruits in a couple years.

Exactly, and the answer will be zero. This is a smoke-and-mirrors fantasy.

He might as well tell them he is considering scaling back his coaching duties to train for the next triathalon.

[rocketfootball]

The big question would be -- is it a football only move or does the whole enchilada go to the big east?

If it's the latter, The problem you need to think about, which is the same problem many brought up around here when some of our fans were getting a bit too big for their britches, is the fact that moving to the Big East does not just affect the football program. Moving to a conference that is so spread out geographically from Toledo is a huge undertaking. Now all sports teams have to be transported to USF and Connecticut a time or 2 a year. Major upgrades to the glass bowl would need to be done (seating capacity especially). I suspect most of Toledo's other sports would struggle mightily in the Big East (at least initially). This move would require a lot of capital investment, and Toledo is in a bit of a hole right now.

I'm not saying it won't happen. In fact, it makes a lot of sense on both sides from a Football perspective. I'm just saying there's a lot of things to consider. When the subject is brought up, in concurrence with the merger, it makes the scenario seem a lot more plausible.

The only think I can hope is if the MAC big boys decide to make a run for it, is that we're vacating as well. The worst case scenario for BG is to be left behind in the sun belt lite conference. That would set our athletic programs waaaaay back, and also hurt the university as a whole.

If it would be moving lateral to somewhere like C-USA I agree, but going to a conference like the Big East that gets all that bowl revenue, TV revenue, and basketball tourney revenue will more than offset the travelling expenses. And for that capital investment, you have donors that will give money if it means a school is going to a BCS conference.

Of course me saying that doesn't mean I think UT is going to the Big East in the near future.

[orangeandbrown]

That analysis is exactly correct. There is a world of difference between the Big East and the CUSA.

[hammb]

If it would be moving lateral to somewhere like C-USA I agree, but going to a conference like the Big East that gets all that bowl revenue, TV revenue, and basketball tourney revenue will more than offset the travelling expenses. And for that capital investment, you have donors that will give money if it means a school is going to a BCS conference.

Of course me saying that doesn't mean I think UT is going to the Big East in the near future.

Pretty much what I was gonna say. Taking everything away I'm pretty sure the BCS Bowls alone are about $18 million to each team. The Big East is guaranteed one of those slots, so if its 12 teams that's probably a little over $1 million to each school after expenses, etc.

I think that'll put a pretty quick dent into those extra travel expenses. Then you factor in a better TV contract, more NCAA tourney revenue, etc, I think you'll see pretty quickly that those costs are fairly easily compensated for. Throw in the additional attendance you'll get with much better opponents coming in and I think it's a profitable move.

[Jacobs4Heisman]

The big question would be -- is it a football only move or does the whole enchilada go to the big east?

If it's the latter, The problem you need to think about, which is the same problem many brought up around here when some of our fans were getting a bit too big for their britches, is the fact that moving to the Big East does not just affect the football program. Moving to a conference that is so spread out geographically from Toledo is a huge undertaking. Now all sports teams have to be transported to USF and Connecticut a time or 2 a year. Major upgrades to the glass bowl would need to be done (seating capacity especially). I suspect most of Toledo's other sports would struggle mightily in the Big East (at least initially). This move would require a lot of capital investment, and Toledo is in a bit of a hole right now.

I'm not saying it won't happen. In fact, it makes a lot of sense on both sides from a Football perspective. I'm just saying there's a lot of things to consider. When the subject is brought up, in concurrence with the merger, it makes the scenario seem a lot more plausible.

The only think I can hope is if the MAC big boys decide to make a run for it, is that we're vacating as well. The worst case scenario for BG is to be left behind in the sun belt lite conference. That would set our athletic programs waaaaay back, and also hurt the university as a whole.

If it would be moving lateral to somewhere like C-USA I agree, but going to a conference like the Big East that gets all that bowl revenue, TV revenue, and basketball tourney revenue will more than offset the travelling expenses. And for that capital investment, you have donors that will give money if it means a school is going to a BCS conference.

Of course me saying that doesn't mean I think UT is going to the Big East in the near future.

Very true -- If you are given the opportunity to move up, you jump at it and then worry about the details. If somebody came into my office right now and said they'd triple my salary and prestige but I had to move across the country, I would start negotiating relocation compensation.

But there is a lot to think about considering we have no idea (except for the "in" people like '87) if there is anything behind this or if Amstutz is just recruiting a kid hard. Even if he had no solid leads that the Big East would be calling, it's still very possible that they may go there in a few years so he told the kid that.

[OSUFALCON]

Not sure what 87 alumni was told or heard but I can tell you that the Big East is looking to expand to 12. Toledo could be on that short list but here's the problem, the Big East will want a large chunk of $$ for joining. Toledo's AD O'Brien is a dreamer and has been dreaming of getting a new job as an AD at some other school. I know one UT trustee that has said as long as their is a MAC conference Toledo will be in it. The key will be if the MAC becomes a better conference (TV package, Bowl games). Then these silly rumors will go away. It would not surprise me if Marshall came back to the MAC sometime in the next 10 years after C-USA goes broke. The MAC could and would live on without Toledo.................

[1987alum]

Not sure what 87 alumni was told or heard but I can tell you that the Big East is looking to expand to 12. Toledo could be on that short list but here's the problem, the Big East will want a large chunk of $$ for joining. Toledo's AD O'Brien is a dreamer and has been dreaming of getting a new job as an AD at some other school. I know one UT trustee that has said as long as their is a MAC conference Toledo will be in it. The key will be if the MAC becomes a better conference (TV package, Bowl games). Then these silly rumors will go away. It would not surprise me if Marshall came back to the MAC sometime in the next 10 years after C-USA goes broke. The MAC could and would live on without Toledo.................

OSU: Lots of good information in that post, much of which I could verify.

[jacojdm]

OSU: Lots of good information in that post, much of which I could verify.

c'mon judith miller! spill it!

[ChicagoFalcon]

Can you say BG loses our football program sortov like the University of Tampa?!!! Not looking good for us. What's worse is that our endowment is more than Toledo and Ohio, but no where near Miami of Ohio. Close the doors Doyt! :{

[ChicagoFalcon]

Asumppump sounds like he's getting desperate according to this article. I can't see a coach making a statement like that unless their desperate. I don't see Toledo fitting well into the Big East! They can't beat anybody except for BG and every other team in the MAC.

DESPERATE CALL, since this recruit was thinkg about coming to BG>

[Rightupinthere]

Chicago, I doubt we lose our program. I doubt that highly.

Second, UT has been known to beat out of conference foes. Your memory may be a bit short but remember, they are VERY tough at home. Ask Pitt.