Just read this somewhat interesting piece about a pie in the sky idea of the Big East expanding their football league by raiding the ACC. If you remember, the ACC raided the Big East earlier this decade (Boston College, Miami and Virginia Tech) which left the two leagues as virtual enemies.
What the blog post says is that the Big East should go after Boston College and/or Maryland. We all know that all of ESPN's ideas are great ones ... right?
Again, this is all just made up in someone's mind and isn't happening. But I'm one of those cats who also tries to mix things up from out of nowhere so I respect what Brian Bennett (the blogger) is trying to say.
I don't see Maryland leaving the ACC. If this was a decade or so ago, I may have thought there was a sliver of a chance. They were whining about the Carolinas-centric view of the league. Since the expansion took place, Maryland gained two closer opponents in BC and Va Tech. Their basketball tradition in the ACC should keep them around.
Now, I can see BC leaving. The ACC really didn't want them anyway (they wanted Syracuse) and they stick out like a sore thumb. Oh, I enjoy the Eagles being part of the ACC as they bring an interesting dynamic to the league. But I couldn't blame them for wanting to leave a league where they have no geographic ties to for one that would include several nearby schools.
However, it doesn't make smart business sense. While the ACC football championship game hasn't taken off like the other conference's title tilts, it still is better than no championship game in the Big East. Unless the Big East expands to 12 teams (which would mean BC plus three other schools), there will not be a title game. Basketball wise, it should be nearly equal ... even though the ACC banks a bit better. And since it has a smaller hoops membership than the Big East, the pieces of the pie are a bit bigger.
The main point of this story is the fact that the Big East is at a bit of a crossroads. Rumors are that the Big Ten may look to steal Pittsburgh from the Big East ... leaving the league with just seven football members. It would be a great move for Pitt as the football prestige and coverage is much greater in the Big Ten as well as the fact that they fit a bit better there and would get a shot at a conference championship game.
I agree with your argument: But Sportz, the Big East just had the greatest hoops season in a long time and the football league has gotten a lot better. Yes, but it still would be enticing for Pitt to leave.
Where would that leave the Big East? Would they try to lure back Temple? How about luring Memphis? Maybe try to get Central Florida, Marshall, East Carolina or Florida Atlantic? And if that happens, what would the basketball side of things look like.
Still, the Big East must be proactive with this or else things could get messy.
What the blog post says is that the Big East should go after Boston College and/or Maryland. We all know that all of ESPN's ideas are great ones ... right?
Again, this is all just made up in someone's mind and isn't happening. But I'm one of those cats who also tries to mix things up from out of nowhere so I respect what Brian Bennett (the blogger) is trying to say.
I don't see Maryland leaving the ACC. If this was a decade or so ago, I may have thought there was a sliver of a chance. They were whining about the Carolinas-centric view of the league. Since the expansion took place, Maryland gained two closer opponents in BC and Va Tech. Their basketball tradition in the ACC should keep them around.
Now, I can see BC leaving. The ACC really didn't want them anyway (they wanted Syracuse) and they stick out like a sore thumb. Oh, I enjoy the Eagles being part of the ACC as they bring an interesting dynamic to the league. But I couldn't blame them for wanting to leave a league where they have no geographic ties to for one that would include several nearby schools.
However, it doesn't make smart business sense. While the ACC football championship game hasn't taken off like the other conference's title tilts, it still is better than no championship game in the Big East. Unless the Big East expands to 12 teams (which would mean BC plus three other schools), there will not be a title game. Basketball wise, it should be nearly equal ... even though the ACC banks a bit better. And since it has a smaller hoops membership than the Big East, the pieces of the pie are a bit bigger.
The main point of this story is the fact that the Big East is at a bit of a crossroads. Rumors are that the Big Ten may look to steal Pittsburgh from the Big East ... leaving the league with just seven football members. It would be a great move for Pitt as the football prestige and coverage is much greater in the Big Ten as well as the fact that they fit a bit better there and would get a shot at a conference championship game.
I agree with your argument: But Sportz, the Big East just had the greatest hoops season in a long time and the football league has gotten a lot better. Yes, but it still would be enticing for Pitt to leave.
Where would that leave the Big East? Would they try to lure back Temple? How about luring Memphis? Maybe try to get Central Florida, Marshall, East Carolina or Florida Atlantic? And if that happens, what would the basketball side of things look like.
Still, the Big East must be proactive with this or else things could get messy.
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