NCAA Conference Musical Chairs

[SmoothPancakes]

I'm not sure how I feel about this, now that it appears to be a done deal. I love Navy being an independent, and while the games against Air Force, Army, and Notre Dame will remain permanent on the schedule from here until forever, some great match-ups and newer rivalries (such as Navy-SMU) are going to be affected.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/...15-source-says

Source: Navy to join Big East in 2015

Navy is expected to announce soon that it will join the Big East Conference for football in 2015, a source said Monday.

Navy, one of three service academies in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, presently plays as an independent.

Navy athletic director Chet Gladchuk has previously said that scheduling and bowl and television contracts would make the transition from independent status to a conference more complicated than expected.

The Big East, hit by the departures of Pittsburgh and Syracuse to the ACC and TCU and West Virginia to the Big 12, will add Boise State and San Diego State for football and SMU, UCF and Houston for all sports, starting in 2013.

Big East commissioner John Marinatto would like to get the conference to 12 football-playing schools, which would allow it to play a conference championship game.

When West Virginia departs and the new members begin play, the conference will have 11 members playing football.

West Virginia has sued the Big East in order to be able to join the Big 12 for the 2012 season. The Big East has countersued West Virginia in an attempt to force the school to abide by the conference bylaw requiring schools to wait 27 months before leaving.

A judge in Rhode Island has ordered the Big East and West Virginia into non-binding mediation in an attempt to resolve their lawsuits against each other.

The Big East has seven members that don't play Division I FBS football: St. John's, Seton Hall, Villanova, Georgetown, DePaul, Marquette and Providence. Notre Dame is a football independent but plays other sports (except ice hockey) in the Big East.

[JeffHCross]

Getting closer to the annihilation of the lower conferences ...

[morsdraconis]

Getting closer to the annihilation of the lower conferences ...

It's only a matter of time. They really need to stop screwin' around and just make 8 Super Conferences and have auto bids from all of them into the BCS Conference Playoff format (even do two extra bids based on rankings or some shit if they want so that they can have the #1 and #2 teams in the rankings have bye weeks). All of this all crap is just silly.

[DariusLock]

I say put some of the smaller conferences together.... Sun Belt/C-USA ... MAC/WAC etc.

[SmoothPancakes]

And it's official.

For: Immediate Release
Sent: January 24, 2012
Contacts: Cmdr. William Marks, Naval Academy Public Affairs (410) 293-1521

Scott Strasemeier, Associate AD for Sports Information (410) 293-8775

Naval Academy To Join The BIG EAST For Football In 2015

ANNAPOLIS, Md.—Naval Academy Superintendent Vice Admiral Michael Miller, USN announced Tuesday in conjunction with BIG EAST Commissioner John Marinatto that the Naval Academy has accepted a formal invitation from the BIG EAST to become a football-only member of the conference starting with the 2015 season.

The Naval Academy and the BIG EAST have agreed to a three-year phase-in period during which a scheduling partnership will be created and leading to a full schedule of eight games in 2015. During that period, Navy will continue its current partnership with CBS and post-season bowls. In anticipation of full football membership, Navy will be included in all future television, marketing, promotion, and bowl negotiations by the BIG EAST Conference effective immediately.

Naval Academy To Join The BIG EAST For Football In 2015

The Naval Academy will continue to annually compete against Army and Air Force for the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy and its rivalry with Notre Dame will continue as the longest, continuous intersectional matchup in FBS football.

Jan. 24, 2012

Naval Academy Superintendent Vice Admiral Michael Miller, USN announced Tuesday in conjunction with BIG EAST Commissioner John Marinatto that the Naval Academy has accepted a formal invitation from the BIG EAST to become a football-only member of the conference starting with the 2015 season.

The Naval Academy and the BIG EAST have agreed to a three-year phase-in period during which a scheduling partnership will be created and leading to a full schedule of eight games in 2015. During that period, Navy will continue its current partnership with CBS and post-season bowls. In anticipation of full football membership, Navy will be included in all future television, marketing, promotion, and bowl negotiations by the BIG EAST Conference effective immediately.

"The Naval Academy is pleased to accept the invitation for our football team to join the BIG EAST conference," said Miller. "After careful consideration, we believe this affiliation to be in the best interests of the Naval Academy, our athletic programs and the Brigade of Midshipmen. While our independent status has served Navy Football well to date, BIG EAST conference affiliation will help ensure our future scholar-athletes and athletic programs remain competitive at the highest levels for the foreseeable future."

"When people look back, they will mark this as a truly historic day for the BIG EAST Conference," said Commissioner John Marinatto. "America's first national football conference is adding a program with true national appeal. Navy's decision to make the BIG EAST its first football conference home after over 100 years of independence demonstrates the value of our new expansion model and the long-term viability of our football product. The BIG EAST is truly proud to be associated with one of the most prestigious academic institutions in the country and one of the most storied programs in college football."

The Naval Academy has established itself as one of the nation's elite institutions in both academic and athletic prowess. Navy has annually ranked near the top of both the NCAA's APR and Graduation Success Rate for student-athletes. This past year, Navy's Graduation Success Rate of 96% places the Academy in the top four of all FBS institutions.

On the gridiron the Midshipmen have compiled a record of 75-40 (.652) over the last nine seasons with the 75 wins ranking as the 20th most in the country (and third most among current or future Big East Schools ranking behind Boise State and West Virginia) over that period. The Mids have gone to a bowl game in eight of the last nine years and their 18 wins over schools from a BCS conference are the most of any non-BCS school over that same nine-year period.

"The BIG EAST will provide an expanded stage for the American public to see our nation's future leaders," said Naval Academy Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk. "Expanded media opportunities and coverage by the BIG EAST will elevate the national visibility of Navy football to the highest levels. This new affiliation will brand Navy football as a member of a BCS conference whose competitive aspirations include the opportunity to compete for a championship. The BIG EAST plays a prominent role in the NCAA governance structure and affiliation will ensure that the Naval Academy solidifies its position as an important contributor to leadership decisions on a national level. The future direction of Division I athletics and the vision for collegiate football will include insights and input brought to the table by the Naval Academy administration."

Joining the BIG EAST will not require any degree of government/taxpayer money. Membership, rather, will enhance opportunities for revenue generation in support of the physical mission and the Brigade to a significant degree. New opportunities for revenues will significantly exceed what Navy can generate as an Independent in football. The business model that correlates with joining the BIG EAST illustrates an unparalleled opportunity to stabilize the financial condition of both the Naval Academy Athletic Association and the Academy's support for the physical mission at large. This includes 32 varsity sports, 14 club programs, intramurals, physical education, and mission related facilities.

Television exposure and opportunities for marketing/promotion will be greatly enhanced through BIG EAST membership. The BIG EAST television footprint represents 30% of the nation's households.

"This is an exciting time to be a part of the Navy football program," said Navy head football coach Ken Niumatalolo. "There is no doubt the BIG EAST will be a challenging league for us to compete in every year, but the young men that come to Navy want to compete against the best and I believe this will open up some recruiting doors that we've been unable to open in the past."

The Naval Academy will continue to annually compete against Army and Air Force for the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy and its rivalry with Notre Dame will continue as the longest, continuous intersectional matchup in FBS football.

"It is important to the U.S. Naval Academy, as a premier source for producing the next generation of Naval and Marine Corps officers, that Navy football remains relevant as well as highly visible on the national stage," said Miller. "This has proven to be the case over the last decade and it will perpetuate itself with this new affiliation."

http://www.navysports.com/sports/m-f...012412aaa.html

[JeffHCross]

So, Air Force, Army and Notre Dame will continue. I hope, for Navy's sake, that the Big East never goes to a 9 game schedule.

[morsdraconis]

So, Air Force, Army and Notre Dame will continue. I hope, for Navy's sake, that the Big East never goes to a 9 game schedule.

Nah. They'll stay at 8 games since they'll have divisions now. It'll be really easy for them to keep Air Force and Navy playing since they could be cross conference protected rivals and always play one another. So, then, Navy would have two open slots every year for their other various games scheduled.

[NatureBoy]

More on BIG 12 EXPANSION.

Honus “The Dude” Sneed offers his opine on possible Big 12 expansion including his belief that Clemson and FSU are ready to jump as well as why ND isn’t so far fetched after all.

"We always keep our television partners close to us. ... TV -- ESPN -- is the one who told us what to do." – Gene DeFilippo

Boston College Athletic Director Gene DeFilippo recanted his statement but the cat was out of the bag. ESPN, angry the Big East had decided to take their television rights deal to the open market, directed the ACC to poach Syracuse and Pittsburgh from the conference and set off a chain of events they knew would reduce the market value of the Big East – both in football and basketball.

And they were right. TCU was the first to rethink their membership in the Big East and hitched their wagon to the Big 12.

West Virginia, the marquee football program in the Big East, was the next to move and again it was the Big 12 who reached out to snag the Mountaineers.

Four marquee teams (Pitt, Syracuse, WVU and TCU) gone within a span of a few months; another handful of teams (Louisville, Rutgers, UCONN and South Florida) desperately seeking any port from the storm and a conference tittering on the brink of collapse.

If you accept the fact that ESPN played a role in the dismantling of the Big East then it won’t be hard for you to accept that NBC/Comcast may play a role in the construction of the new Big 12 – one that just may well include Norte Dame.

Anonymous sources in Morgantown tell me the Big 12 will expand again soon and that both Clemson and Florida State are actively engaged in talks to leave the ACC and join the Mountaineers in a new Big 12 East division.

The reason? Money. Well money and the fault-line that divides ACC schools that value football more than basketball and the hoops lords on Tobacco Road that control the conference.

More than likely the Big 12 will travel down the same road as the Big East with one exception. They will be united and wait out the exclusive TV deal rights window with Fox and ESPN and see what NBC/Comcast is willing to pay.

And it’s the involvement of NBC/Comcast that may land Norte Dame in the Big 12. Don’t laugh too hard -- if we’ve learned anything from the ACC raid on the Big East it’s that TV suites pull the strings. NBC is desperate for sports programming, especially college football, and is reportedly willing to apply pressure on the Irish to play along.

As for the Irish it maybe a good deal. The lure of a strong football conference with Texas, Oklahoma, Florida State, West Virginia and Oklahoma State combined with the scheduling difficulties of an independent may make the Irish more willing to hear what the Big 12 has to say.

And if not there are other teams out there, with--dare I say--better football programs, who are willing to jump.

In the ACC Maryland, Georgia Tech and Boston College are willing to talk and in the Big East everyone left in the CUSA clone would make the move in a New York minute.

http://www.eerinsider.com/2012-artic...expansion.html

[JeffHCross]

It'll be really easy for them to keep Air Force and Navy playing since they could be cross conference protected rivals and always play one another.

Air Force isn't Big East.

both Clemson and Florida State are actively engaged in talks to leave the ACC and join the Mountaineers in a new Big 12 East division.

Fuck me, this is even more ridiculous.

[SmoothPancakes]

Air Force isn't Big East.

Fuck me, this is even more ridiculous.

But there has been rumors of Air Force possibly joining sometime. If the Big East was able to get Navy to join, who has been an independent since forever, then they can talk Air Force into it, over time. I think this also spells the eventual death of the FBS Independents. Now that Navy has made the jump, I can see Army eventually following. BYU is probably also going to go back to a conference at some point, either returning to the Mountain West, or end up in Big 12, Big East or C-USA. And yes, even Notre Dame is going to eventually be forced to make the jump.

And agreed. All this time, I have considered the ACC, Big Ten, Pac-12 and SEC to be safe and not have any worries whatsoever. Clemson and Florida State both considering jumping, not only jumping from the ACC, but jumping to the Big 12, is just making my head spin now. As you said, this is getting just ridiculous as time goes on with these potential moves.

[JeffHCross]

But there has been rumors of Air Force possibly joining sometime.

Yeah, but even with Navy joining I just don't see it happening. That's a hell of a commute on an academy budget. Even if both Army and Navy go, I don't see Air Force joining the Big East, even to play with their "brothers".

[SmoothPancakes]

Yeah, but even with Navy joining I just don't see it happening. That's a hell of a commute on an academy budget. Even if both Army and Navy go, I don't see Air Force joining the Big East, even to play with their "brothers".

Oh I agree. It'll take a hell of a lot by the Big East to talk Air Force into eventually joining, but over time, they could possibly do it. The fact they managed to get Navy to join (which was the closest thing to a permanent Independent team, besides Notre Dame), I think they could eventually find a way to talk Air Force into joining as well, even with the hell of a commute that Air Force would have. Plus, if they do like they did with Navy, and have it just be football only while all other Air Force sports remain in the Mountain West or elsewhere, it wouldn't be as bad on the budget.

[morsdraconis]

Damn, for some reason, I was thinking Air Force was joining... Oh well. I don't care. The Big East is the least of my worries now.

[JBHuskers]

Rumor has it that Memphis and the Big East are close to reaching a deal.

[morsdraconis]

Jesus Big East. Desperate much?

[JeffHCross]

Worst team in college football to the Big Least! Whoo-hoooooo!

Boise State for Big Least champs! Whoo-hoooo!

Though, realistically, the fact that they're bringing them in for all sports means that the football team is not the focus. (Which was probably obvious)

[morsdraconis]

Though, realistically, the fact that they're bringing them in for all sports means that the football team is not the focus. (Which was probably obvious)

That's the whole reason why WVU wants to get the fuck out. The Big East basketball only schools has the football schools by the balls because all the dumb ass commish cares about is catering to the shitty basketball schools who aren't even making the most money for the league, yet the football schools that are making the money for the school are getting fucked.

If (and it's a HUGE if because everything I've heard from non-media sources is it's all a bullshit waiting game and WVU WILL be in the Big 12) WVU doesn't get the fucked out of the Big East after this season, it's going to be an utter atrocity...

[JeffHCross]

All I really meant is that they're not adding Memphis because of their atrocious football team.

[JBHuskers]

McMurphy: Big East, West Virginia nearing $20 million settlement - http://bit.ly/WVUBigEast

[jaymo76]

Did anything ever come of that CUSA-MWC merger talks?