Xavier AD says expanding to 12 schools within 5 years

[yorost]

Thx for the link...great interview. But I'm not buying that list unless expansion happens next year, otherwise why wait...because you're still looking.

The list wasn't four teams for four additions. They could be waiting for many reasons, one of which could simply be wanting more time to evaluate.

I think the push to 12 was set long ago, the money makes sense. But more time to evaluate isn't how realignment has been working. Conferences & schools have only waited because they weren't sure about the numbers being big enough. He said five years...five years is forever in the realignment era. Butler wouldn't have been on the BE first expansion list 5 years ago and maybe not for 11 or 12 either. I think the longer they wait, more teams are going to get on that list that's all.

I don't know why they stopped at 10, but any team that pops up in the next few years is going to have the same question marks or worse than the four listed. At this point, the biggest question, in my opinion, is who is setup best long term. That's not so easy to answer without programs already established for some time. Another year or two of SLU and VCU making the NCAA's could seal the deal for them. A newcomer has to succeed, already have some reasonable history, have suitable facilities, and show it isn't a fluke. Not many programs out there where that is realistically possible, we're not picking Duke's off the board or anything. I won't rule out a dark horse, Detroit or Duquense coming on strong, and in a hurry, might have an argument, but I suspect this is more about waiting to see if certain programs falter or not.

[Xudash]

Listen to that interview again, and a little more carefully this time.

Greg didn't provide those schools as a definitive list; he rattled off those schools and stated that he did so because those have been the schools most often conjectured about.

He also was very careful to point out that the presidents will decide the issue, if and when the issue is ultimately decided.

Unless something dramatic happens from here, with respect to further football realignment, my guess is that we'll run with 10 schools for at least 3 years, because the add-on candidates are not strong enough in the eyes of the presidents.

Personally, I would have no problem bringing SLU in now. If they had to come in with a mate, I would pick Richmond -- I assume this puppy will remain strictly private school only. That's my vantage point as a fan of a school that shared a conference with those schools and therefore has familiarity with them. However, my vantage point isn't shared with some Fox executive who resides in LA. Overall, the existing uncertainly over numbers 11 and 12 will push the decision down the road, assuming the existing group of 10 come out of the gate well, beginning this fall.

[dmac80]

5 years is an eternity in the current state of flux with the football craziness. I could see them waiting to see if any bigger prizes shake loose from further destabilization and conference re-alignment. None of the 4 excites me that much, sorry if I offend.

[muskieman]

I think the league will expand when they feel it is in their best interest. The number 10 today or 12 in a couple years may be necessary and while the schools mentioned might not excite some they may be a positive to the league at that time. I am sure Marquette would like SLU while GT might like Richmond. The league is most likely not looking to add public schools but hey in a few years things might be different. Let's hope what we have now make a splash and the Big East today is just as successful as the past.

[TheHall]

The list wasn't four teams for four additions. They could be waiting for many reasons, one of which could simply be wanting more time to evaluate.

I think the push to 12 was set long ago, the money makes sense. But more time to evaluate isn't how realignment has been working. Conferences & schools have only waited because they weren't sure about the numbers being big enough. He said five years...five years is forever in the realignment era. Butler wouldn't have been on the BE first expansion list 5 years ago and maybe not for 11 or 12 either. I think the longer they wait, more teams are going to get on that list that's all.

I don't know why they stopped at 10, but any team that pops up in the next few years is going to have the same question marks or worse than the four listed. At this point, the biggest question, in my opinion, is who is setup best long term. That's not so easy to answer without programs already established for some time. Another year or two of SLU and VCU making the NCAA's could seal the deal for them. A newcomer has to succeed, already have some reasonable history, have suitable facilities, and show it isn't a fluke. Not many programs out there where that is realistically possible, we're not picking Duke's off the board or anything. I won't rule out a dark horse, Detroit or Duquense coming on strong, and in a hurry, might have an argument, but I suspect this is more about waiting to see if certain programs falter or not.

I should have mentioned that I'm thinking along the lines of dmac80, what if Fox Sports investment in the BE exceeds expectations over te next few years, does the American or the MVC become poachable.

[Bluejay]

I think the push to 12 was set long ago, the money makes sense. But more time to evaluate isn't how realignment has been working. Conferences & schools have only waited because they weren't sure about the numbers being big enough. He said five years...five years is forever in the realignment era. Butler wouldn't have been on the BE first expansion list 5 years ago and maybe not for 11 or 12 either. I think the longer they wait, more teams are going to get on that list that's all.

I don't know why they stopped at 10, but any team that pops up in the next few years is going to have the same question marks or worse than the four listed. At this point, the biggest question, in my opinion, is who is setup best long term. That's not so easy to answer without programs already established for some time. Another year or two of SLU and VCU making the NCAA's could seal the deal for them. A newcomer has to succeed, already have some reasonable history, have suitable facilities, and show it isn't a fluke. Not many programs out there where that is realistically possible, we're not picking Duke's off the board or anything. I won't rule out a dark horse, Detroit or Duquense coming on strong, and in a hurry, might have an argument, but I suspect this is more about waiting to see if certain programs falter or not.

I should have mentioned that I'm thinking along the lines of dmac80, what if Fox Sports investment in the BE exceeds expectations over te next few years, does the American or the MVC become poachable.

Well, the MVC is already poachable. That is where Creighton came from.... and I'm pretty sure Wichita St would jump in a second if we wanted them (and we do not want them!)

Don't forget, the issue isn't so much poachability; its football. For nonfootball playing schools, I think we could select about any one of them we wanted and they'd jump right now.

[TheHall]

I should have mentioned that I'm thinking along the lines of dmac80, what if Fox Sports investment in the BE exceeds expectations over te next few years, does the American or the MVC become poachable.

Well, the MVC is already poachable. That is where Creighton came from.... and I'm pretty sure Wichita St would jump in a second if we wanted them (and we do not want them!)

Don't forget, the issue isn't so much poachability; its football. For nonfootball playing schools, I think we could select about any one of them we wanted and they'd jump right now.

Hahaha...my bad I meant the Mountain West (SDSU)...But I do think there are fb schools out there that didn't get what they wanted out of realignment that are thinking of new models that may create opportunities for the BE to consider. Who's to say the hybrid model is dead or can't work. It's a different landscape now. And what about Gonzaga.

[ElDonBDon]

Thanks for the video. Even though his comments echoed things that we were already pretty certain about, it's nice to hear them from the mouth of an AD. I am really hoping for an ACC implosion (idealistic I know) and that one day we will land Wake Forest, who will eventually move their football to FCS.

If it's the case that the presidents are 100% in control of which schools to add, I find it very hard to believe VCU is a serious contender for BE membership.

[marquette]

Hahaha...my bad I meant the Mountain West (SDSU)...But I do think there are fb schools out there that didn't get what they wanted out of realignment that are thinking of new models that may create opportunities for the BE to consider. Who's to say the hybrid model is dead or can't work. It's a different landscape now. And what about Gonzaga.

I would much rather have Gonzaga than anybody in the MWC. That said, I think we are as far West as we should go.

[Friarfan2]

I am fine with St. Louis. The problem is that there are no attractive candidates for number 12. VCU is good, but once Shaka leaves, what do they become? Their institutional profile is also so different from the mold of the big east schools. Richmond is nothing in basketball, and nobody screams MID-MAJOR more than Dayton.