The Daily Gopher is doing Q&As with potential Big Something expansion candidates. Today was Pitt’s turn with me providing the answers. As has become almost common, from a fan and competition standpoint we are well liked. It’s just that thing that this is all about that is the problem.
In the pecking order Pitt sits behind Rutgers but ahead of Syracuse and UConn. Notre Dame, Texas and Nebraska would be ahead of the Panthers as well. And then their resume is very similar to Missouri’s. At 14, I think it is doubtful but at 16 I think they are right in the mix. Personally I think they’d be a great addition when seeing this from all angles.
But as we all know, this is all about the money for both sides. Then again, if this wasn’t about the money why would we really want Pitt out of the Big East.
Here is a scenario that should play out for PITT and its historic East Coast brethren
Scenario 1
Time to lose the anchor weighing down the Big Dogs. Everyone knows that Football is King and if you aren’t playing D-1 Football then you must go. Adios Seton Hall, Marquette, G-town, Providence, St Johns, Depaul, and Nova.
Regroup with
PITT
WVU
Syracuse
UCONN
(The newest nembers are on their own once again.
UC,UofL,USF. Tell Rutger to test the BIG Ten market but that is their choice. The Domers must now go it alone for good)
ACC currently sits at 12 with BC, Maryland, Vtech,UVA,UNC, NCSt, WF, Clemson, Gtech, FSU, Miami, Duke. Add the four former Big East schools and you have the magical 16 along with a true Northeast TV market that BC was unable to deliver. Use the former Big East members (BC, Vtech, and Miami) as the middle man for sending out feelers. You know BC is getting lonely in the ACC so they are willing to help in any manner possible. The four former Big East members bring rich football (Pitt, WVU) and terrific Basketball (Pitt, WVU, SU, Uconn). Even coach K would stiffen up for these additions. Basketball would rule the roost and football would finally get a true footing in the major media. Let’s face it, Wake and Duke are killing the credibility of ACC football. You need more star power. Every week would be a different National Rivalvry in football.
PITT-WVU
FSU-Miami
Vtech-UVA
Syracuse-BC
BC-Uconn
WVU-Maryland
Gtech-Clemson
Pitt-Vtech
Scenario number 2
Go BIG. Real BIG.
Shed basketball playing schools and keep all football (except for Rutgers- can’t stomach the gloating going on in Jersey about the BIG Something interest)
New BIG East
PITT
WVU
SU
UConn
UC
UofL
USF
Add Navy and Army
Go to the ACC, Mountain West (BYU, Utah, SD St, TCU, Wyoming, UNLV,Colorado St. USAF), and form a confederation which will collaborate on its own TV network stretching from east to west. Form a championship playoff series of 6 teams. Top two ranked teams get first week bye. Go toe to toe with the BIG Something and SEC. Only real chance is to combine forces (economy of scale baby).
Time for the football playing schools in BE (minus Rutgers and the domers) to get to work.
One big thing you forgot to mention as a plus for Pitt is our excellent wrestling program. Wrestling is big sport in the Big Ten and ours would be more than competitive.
How the hell does he figure that? Pitt could put their tradition up against anybody.
If you surf the web and look at other news venues in other schools areas these discussions are front page news.
I agree, except hold off on full merger – that way there are two BCS bids.
Reach an cable alliance with the ACC, which will enable us to keep our b-ball rivalries (which also gets something the Big10 won’t have – the New York market, plus it gets us into Milwaukee and Chicago). The BE’s bias towards being a b-ball conference before being a football conf actually helps us here.
With that alliance, agree to an even greater number of non-con games between the BE and ACC in both b-ball and football, to double dip on the tv money.
Plus, by not forcing ND out of the BE conference, we can continute the recent trend of ND playing BE teams in football, thus dipping into the ND football pie (when BE teams go to South Bend) as well as getting the occaisional big home game when ND visits a BE team.
The only reason why there is not as much coverage here as there are in a few other places is that Pgh is a pro market … and Big Ben and the Penguins have dominated the sports news the past month … and of course, Ben even being the big story on a national level.
