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Big East renovation plans emerge
By The Associated Press
NEW YORK — The Big East plans to invite four Conference USA teams to join
the league in 2005, keeping the conference intact after defections of its
two biggest football programs threatened to split it in two.
Cincinnati, DePaul, Louisville and Marquette will be invited in November, a
source close to the expansion plans told The Associated Press on condition
of anonymity Wednesday.
The additions of Cincinnati and Louisville would give the Big East the eight
football teams it needs to keep its NCAA certification in 2005. Marquette
and DePaul will join for basketball and other sports.
"We're being talked about," Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich said.
"Is anything finalized? Absolutely not. If we do have the opportunity, it is
something to look forward to. We have the utmost respect for the Big East
and think it is a great fit."
After Miami and Virginia Tech defected for the ACC in June, the Big East
schools considered splitting into two conferences -- one that plays football
and one that doesn't.
The next big question for the Big East is whether it will keep its automatic
spot in the Bowl Championship Series. The BCS contract expires after the
2005 season and negotiations on a new deal will begin soon.
The Big East wanted to clear up its expansion plans before those talks begin
so other conferences, bowls and television executives would know what teams
would be involved.
Along with the expansion, the Big East is expected to increase the exit fees
for schools so the conference isn't as threatened by expansion again.
Conference USA will have to regroup after losing two more football schools.
Army is also planning to depart, which would leave the conference with eight
teams.
"We have had numerous healthy discussions over the last 10 days about the
future of our conference and have been developing contingency plans,"
Conference USA commissioner Britton Banowsky said in a statement. "There are
a wide variety of options that are being discussed and nothing has been
decided.
"I am confident, however, that, as these events unfold, we will reach
consensus on a plan that positions the conference very well in the future."
Boston College, Connecticut, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Syracuse and West Virginia
will be the other football-playing Big East schools. UConn joins the
conference for football next season, which is also Temple's last in the
league.
"They have a lot of prestigious universities," Jurich said. "From a
geography standpoint, it makes a lot of sense. Certainly from an exposure
standpoint it means a lot. The Big East is one of the most successful
conferences in the country without a doubt."
There has been no decision on how the conference will be aligned for
basketball. Georgetown, Notre Dame, Providence, St. John's, Seton Hall and
Villanova are the Big East basketball schools. The Irish are an independent
in football.
02.23.07 10:47 AM
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