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November 29, 2010

Hello, TCU

Filed under: Big East,Conference,Money — Chas @ 9:41 am

Okay. I’m willing to believe this story.

Texas Christian University has accepted an invitation to become an all-sports member to the Big East Conference, industry sources told FanHouse.

The Horned Frogs will join the league beginning on July 1, 2012 and begin play in the Big East in the 2012-13 school year.

The addition of the Horned Frogs will immediately bolster the football league. It also would increase the basketball membership to 17 teams.

Nothing else at this point. No announcement is forthcoming — yet. Brett McMurphy, though, has been a solid writer and one that really likes to line up his facts. Plus, it fits with everything that has been building to this point.

Final call, Villanova.

UPDATE: TCU has announced a 2pm press conference.





They are a very good program and I have watched them for a few years develop into a consistent winner!

So when Pitt plays TCU in Fort Worth I’m expecting plenty of Pitt fans to come down here and tail gate with me?

Anyone in?

Comment by Lou Holtz's false teeth! 11.29.10 @ 9:49 am

Add UCF and we have a semi-decent conference if Pitt, Syracuse and USF show substantial improvement. (Pitt with a real coach//no W).
Let’s hope that the Texas millionaires do not dangle mega bucks in front of Jamie Dixon offering him a chance to return to TCU his alma mater.

Comment by isnore 11.29.10 @ 9:50 am

sweet… this is good for the Big East. I still say dump Depaul in hoops but I know it won’t happen

Comment by Mike 11.29.10 @ 10:16 am

announcement expected at 1pm today I believe.
This makes even more of a case to fire Wannstedt, if not we fall even further in the league.

Comment by Henry Hynoceros 11.29.10 @ 10:31 am

I’m in. I live in Mansfield and have managed several TCU grads throughout the years. I will enjoy rubbing it in their faces when we win. But, Nordy needs to fire his friend first before any chance of bragging can begin.

Comment by TX Panther 11.29.10 @ 10:33 am

We need to add a clause into JDs contract that says if he leaves, the school must also hire wanny as their head football coach. That should keep everyone far far away.

Comment by Coach Ditka 11.29.10 @ 10:33 am

TX Panther, I live in Frisco and work with a few TCU grads, I have to tell you they are really looking forward to joining the big east. Actually we are going out to lunch to discuss further.

Comment by Lou Holtz's false teeth! 11.29.10 @ 10:45 am

Wanny must go now… Time to get a fresh start. I’m convinced an entirely new regime with an entirely new system could squeak out a third place finish next year in the BE.

Comment by Pauly P 11.29.10 @ 10:50 am

wow! smart move big east! (cant believe i typed that)

now if only they didnt dampen it by inviting that little catholic school on the main line with no money, facilities, tv ratings, or fan support

no nova… add SMU or UCF!

Comment by DeVanzo 11.29.10 @ 10:53 am

From Yardbarker, “but realistically, Sunseri is a home town kid who doesn’t have the tools to take this team to the next level.”

WOW, that is an understatement huh!

Comment by Vito the God Father of Soul 11.29.10 @ 10:54 am

That linked article mentions ALL of TCU’s data (results)from the last several years would count for the BigEast BCS’s data. That is great, since other than the Hoopies, all other BigEast data is pretty much non-existent or negative. This will certainly guarantee the BigEast remains one of the 6 AQ conferences.

Comment by carolinapanther 11.29.10 @ 10:57 am

I see the TCU addition as interesting in recruiting. TCU will not be battling their BE rivals to recruit players…… but rather the other Texas schools………. and yet they might enhance their basketball by telling recruits how they’ll play in the tough BE conference. Other words…… I like the addition…

Comment by mtoolmn 11.29.10 @ 11:01 am

I just googled ‘TCU joing the BigEast’ and several news outlets are now reporting it. Including Fox Sports, AP, MSN and several others. News conference maybe today at 1PM…

This is really smart by the BigEast to do this now, since across the country, everyone is upset that a 3 loss or 4 loss BigEast team is going to get a BCS Bowl, while some 1 loss teams like Mich. State, Boise, Stanford and others are playing in non-BCS bowls.

FINALLY THE BIGEAST IS DOING SOMETHING SMART FOR FOOTBALL. NOW ADD HOUSTON & SMU, TO GIVE US A REAL PRESENCE IN TEXAS.

Comment by carolinapanther 11.29.10 @ 11:02 am

Funny how things worked out, especially of course for Ohio State. They don’t have the misfortune of playing TCU ( a lose, lose situation), that falls to Wisconsin. If Wisconsin wins, people will say well it’s only TCU…..BUT, if they lose, it’s big news, losing to a Non-AQ.

And of course Ohio State avoids all of that ( the embarrassment of losing to a non-AQ) and to boot gets a SEC team to play in the Sugar Bowl(which is a win-win situation). Plus they’re running game will stack up good against Arkansas much like Alabama’s did.

Good news for the BigEast though, during the Rose Bowl game the announcers would be mentioning thruout the game, that TCU is joining the BigEast in the 2012 season. TCU just got a whole bunch more fans in the Northeast hoping they trounce the Big 10 team.

Comment by carolinapanther 11.29.10 @ 11:18 am

Keeps the balance. A football school and a religious institution.

Comment by Chris 11.29.10 @ 11:43 am

Impact on BB of TCU joining BE, from ESPN

The Big East has an 18-game regular-season basketball schedule that calls for three repeat games under television contracts with ESPN and CBS through 2012-13. The contract is based on a 16-team membership. CBS and ESPN each get a choice of one of those repeat games.

A source told ESPN.com’s Andy Katz that in a 17-team league, each program would play every other team (16 games) and then play two repeat games (instead of three like now). That means a lower-level repeat game for a favorite like Pittsburgh would go away. CBS and ESPN requested Pitt and Villanova play twice and each received a game. The Big East then kept the rivalry of Pitt-West Virginia for another repeat game. Pitt’s third repeat game is against South Florida. Under a 17-team, 18-game schedule, this game would go away.

Comment by TMGPanther 11.29.10 @ 11:47 am

Wow. Thinking outside the box. Great move IMO for the BE. Better to finally be proactive then get poached, though that easily could happen.

Comment by Greg 11.29.10 @ 11:51 am

I am pleasantly surprised that this is for all sports. I really thought the Big East was going to force the issue of adding a football only school, which I think would have been a repetition of the mistakes back in the ’90s.

And Lou Holtz, I am definitely up for tailgating at TCU. Having lived in Austin for 9 years, I would love to make it a bi-annual trip!

Comment by Pantherman13 11.29.10 @ 12:08 pm

In response to an above comment – THe BE doesn’t need to add Houston if they establish a presence with TCU. Houston adds little – not even its TV market as the team is not significant to its own market. It would be nice to have another VIABLE team from that region to “balance” out the conference though.

The only small time team I think worth considering is Central FL – they have one of the largest student populations and are in Orlando, a decent size and fast growing market without much in other sports to distract them. There are a lot of resources in that university and it has potential – outside of USF balking, it’s a decent non marqee get

Comment by JoeP 11.29.10 @ 12:34 pm

I’m thinking if they stop (no more additions) with TCU, they’ll be set when Notre Dame ultimately drops out of the Big East and joins the Big 10.

Comment by jeb 11.29.10 @ 12:45 pm

LouHoltz’s false teeth:
I’m there.

Comment by TonyinHouston 11.29.10 @ 12:48 pm

The BE is positioning itself for the split…when that happens, Nova, UCF, and Houston will be brought in to form the 12 team “Big East All Sports Conference (BEASC). This confernce we continue to schedule sports other than football against members of the remaining Big East Conference.

Comment by HbgFrank 11.29.10 @ 12:51 pm

JoeP
Have to disagree with you. Houston is a great university and the fans are loyal. Major upgrades planned in facilities and a very proud basketball tradition. (OK, I’m a little biased UH stadium is a 15-minute bike ride from home). Great on campus stadium atmosphere at games (like we used to have). But I like Central Florida too.

Comment by TonyinHouston 11.29.10 @ 12:52 pm

I wouldn’t mind Houston. TCU needs a traveling bud. Plus, Pitt might be able to get some talent out of there. The talent sure isn’t found in WPA anymore.

Comment by TX Panther 11.29.10 @ 12:58 pm

I’d say add Houston UCF and NOVA. That way you get a 12 team conference with the football title game at the team with the best record. While this wouldn’t be the strongest BCS conference it would be a stable BCS conference that would never lose the automatic bid.

Comment by XBlackMagicX 11.29.10 @ 1:02 pm

Tony,

I have absolutely nothing against Houston and in fact wish that they were a more viable option, but I just don’t see them bringing enough to the table. If it turns out that they get an invite at some point, I hope it works out.

Comment by JoeP 11.29.10 @ 1:10 pm

Adding Houston makes sense for travel purposes also– kind of like the Pac-10 has done, basketball teams heading out to play TCU on a Saturday can stay and play Houston on Monday (or something along those lines).

Comment by jason 11.29.10 @ 1:12 pm

Tony hits a point that demonstrates why UH makes so much sense. I think by coming to the BE their bball tradition would re-flourish very quickly. Their football probably won’t hit TCU levels but they could be dominate again in basketball easily. And yes, they have a surprisingly loyal fan base.

TCU, unlike the other big time TX programs, have classy fans/alums. I really like this move. To echo what others are saying TCU people are ecstatic this happened. I may be the only one that cares about this, but with our upgrades in baseball and having TCU around, we may be able to actually have a shot at making a regional in the CWS one day.

Once I finish law school, I’ll be moving to Houston to practice. Good to see so many TX Panthers and I will be at all Pitt games in DFW.

Comment by Greg in New Orleans 11.29.10 @ 1:18 pm

Great add for the league, this simply means Pitt drops a spot in the standings every year (at least as long as DW is here).

Comment by Pitt it IS 11.29.10 @ 1:40 pm

I can finally take my son to Pitt games now so he can watch my boorish tailgate behavior and learn from a pro. TCU can tailgate with the best of programs and the game day atmosphere there is pretty good. Pitt fans will be impressed although the stadium is nothing special. And, yes their fans are very civil unlike the treatment received from a Hoopie. This could develop into a good rivalry for Pitt and TCU alike.

Comment by TX Panther 11.29.10 @ 1:43 pm

Great news on Sheard being selected All-American! Aside from the quitting on the blocked punt, he has been a (lone) bright spot this season.

Comment by Pitt it IS 11.29.10 @ 1:46 pm

Their stadium is starting to go a renovation project that will “make the college football equivalent of Camden Yards” according to the TCU web site. Also bigeast.org and TCUs site have announcement web stream links up.

Comment by Brian 11.29.10 @ 1:55 pm

Adding TCU is much needed. The BE needs to be proactive and taking risks (geographical, etc.) comes with the territory. I wish the BE could boot Depaul or Marquette or Seton Hall but I don’t think it will happen. Please do not add Nova for football!! This would be such a lame move for a wide variety of reasons (most of them myself and others have already stated). Let’s work on UCF, Houston, SMU, maybe even East Carolina. Just not Temple 2.0 (aka Nova).

Comment by JAM 05 Pitt 11.29.10 @ 2:08 pm

Thought it was interesting that Jamie Dixon was basically the one the BE turned to in order to guage interest from his alma mater, TCU..

link to sports.espn.go.com

Comment by Corey 11.29.10 @ 2:22 pm

I attend two or three UH home games a year and know some of the Cougar fans. They really really want to join the Big East. You almost have to live in Texas to know how disliked UT/Austin is. I don’t think Penn State is as bad. In basketball UT has this state locked up for recruiting. TCU is going to find it much easier to get good hoops talent. UH would do the same and more. I don’t think it’s going to happen. Doubtful that Central Florida is going to get an invite. But it would be nice.

Comment by TonyinHouston 11.29.10 @ 3:51 pm

it actually makes sense to add Houston since it is such a long trip jst to play a volleyball gane or wrestling match … although I suppose they could stop off in Louisville or Chicago on the way to or from

Comment by wbb 11.29.10 @ 7:32 pm

Adding the University of Houston makes a lot of sense. Houston is a huge metropolitan area, one of the biggest in the country. Even if most people there aren’t UH alums, it still makes sense. UH has committed to a huge capital improvement program and they are in the process of raising hundreds of millions of dollars to implement the program.

UCF? Maybe. Villanova? If they decide to find a way to make it work, then great, welcome them in football.

Comment by Penguins Fan 12.02.10 @ 5:42 pm

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