Now TCU is out - but who is on the way in?

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

John Rooke, GoLocalProv Sports Editor

As expected Monday, TCU's short shelf life in the Big East Conference expired.

Without ever having played a game in the Big East, after accepting an invitation in 2010 to join the league next year, the Horned Frogs instead accepted an invitation to join the Big 12 beginning next summer. “Although never having competed as a member of the Big East conference, we are disappointed with the news that TCU is joining the Big 12," Big East commissioner John Marinatto said in a statement Monday. "As noted earlier (Monday), our presidents met via teleconference this morning to focus on the future and have authorized us to engage in formal expansion discussions with additional institutions. We anticipate taking action in the near future.”

TCU had decided to leave the Mountain West almost a year ago for the Big East, with the promise of an automatic entry into a Bowl Championship Series league. But after Texas A&M departed the Big 12 for the Southeastern Conference, the opportunity to stay closer to home and compete on a regular basis with former Southwest Conference rivals Texas, Texas Tech and Baylor was too much to pass up. “While this is indeed an incredible day for the Horned Frog Nation, we need to recognize the Mountain West and Big East," said TCU athletic director Chris DelConte. "The Mountain West has been a great home to TCU, enabling our athletics program to grow and be in position to receive and accept an invitation to join the Big 12. We are also appreciative of the Big East for providing an opportunity for TCU. We have great respect for the leadership of the Big East and all its members.

“The Big 12 is a perfect fit for TCU. With our historical ties to Baylor, Texas and Texas Tech, as well as the close proximity to the other league members, we couldn’t be more excited to have the Big 12 as our new home."

Where does this now leave the Big East? After the departure of founding member Syracuse, along with Pittsburgh last month for the ACC, the league is now down to six football-playing members. With TCU's departure for the Big 12 imminent, earlier Monday the league announced it would seek to expand to 12 football members - which means the Big East could expand to as many as 18 or 20 members overall. 14 schools are currently in the conference for basketball and other sports - which includes the six football schools (West Virginia, UConn, Rutgers, South Florida, Cincinnati, Louisville) as well. The other eight (Providence, St. John's, Georgetown, Villanova, Seton Hall, Notre Dame, DePaul and Marquette) are forced to watch, and wait.

Speculation over the past week has centered on the inclusion of the nations' military service academies as football-only members, as Air Force, Navy and possibly Army have expressed interest in joining the Big East to varying degrees. Additionally, Temple (a former football-only member kicked out in 2004) and Central Florida could be in line for all-sports membership, while East Carolina has long coveted a spot in the conference and recently made a formal application for such. Rounding out the recent rumors, SMU and Houston have also been mentioned prominently for potential membership, as have Memphis and Tulane.

The biggest bombshell could still be on its' way, however.

The Boise State Broncos, BCS-busters and fan favorites as the "nation's underdog," have also been thrown into the mix for a possible football-only membership - provided the school can find another conference home for its' other sports programs. The same would also hold true for any football-only enrollee, but for Boise State, the possibility of playing in a league which still currently holds an automatic BCS bid to the big-time, big money bowl games might be too good to pass up. Forget geographical boundaries - conference realignment is all about football, and the potential financial windfall that could follow in future television contracts. Boise State would be an absolute attraction for the Big East - odd as it may seem - and bring the football league instant recognition and renewed credibility after the recent defections.

“While we are certainly flattered to be mentioned in connection with other conferences, and we hold those leagues in high regard, our current focus is on continuing to build the outstanding athletic programs that have helped make Boise State a popular and compelling national brand," Boise State President Bob Kustra said Monday night. “The landscape of college athletics is exceptionally fluid, and we are continuing to monitor the situation.”

As are we all. Stay tuned.