TCU, others being targeted for Big East Expansion

Looks like the talks of Texas Christian University (TCU) to the Big East aren’t going to die down anytime soon.

According to the Dallas Morning News, the higher-ups in TCU’s athletic department have had meetings with Big East officials.

"TCU and Big East officials have discussed the Horned Frogs joining the conference, according to several sources close to the situation.TCU has met with Big East officials within the past 30 days to discus the logistics of a move by TCU in either the 2011 or 2012 seasons, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.TCU Athletic director Chris Del Conte has been unavailable for comment while on business in New York and Philadelphia the past few days.Del Conte, TCU’s sports information department said, was in Philadelphia for meetings about Mountain West Conference television contracts with MWC commissioner Craig Thompson."

Source: [DMN]

As we all know, the Big East’s corporate offices are located in Providence, RI; but, all the big meetings take place in NYC.

Mitch Vingle of the Charleston Gazette has speculated that the Big East could invite teams such as East Carolina, Memphis, Central Florida, Army and Navy. He also mentions Temple, who was booted sometime ago, could be re-invited. ECU, Memphis, UCF, Army and Navy are the “usual suspects.” Vingle also mentions the University of Houston Cougars (yes, the same UH that housed Clyde “The Glide” Drexler and Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon). That would bring in the Dallas-Ft. Worth (TCU) and Houston TV markets, covering a good chunk of Eastern and Southern Texas. [Charleston Gazette]

At this point, Villanova becomes a “Plan B.” If a C-USA raid happens, along with TCU, then ‘Nova becomes an afterthought. As I mentioned w/TCU and Houston, that gets a couple of huge TV markets; UCF is located in Orlando… another Top 20 TV market. Bring in Memphis, although they bring nothing to the table in football (every conference needs a doormat, anyway… right Syracuse and Louisville?) With the Big East covering Tampa (USF) and Orlando in Florida; Dallas-Ft. Worth (TCU) and Houston in Texas; Pittsburgh; and NYC (Rutgers and Syracuse despite them in Upstate NY). TCU would be drawn mainly by the “Automatic Qualifier” to the BCS, should they run the table in the conference.

Meanwhile, it’s time to show the non-football schools the door. Yes, I’m talking to you Marquette, St. John’s, DePaul, Seton Hall… I’m sure Providence, Villanova and Georgetown will be grandfathered into the new conference due to them actually being GOOD for the conference (well, Providence not so much, simply because the BE Offices are located in Providence.)

And, before I forget: Notre Dame, either all in, or all out! Put up or shut up already!

Finally, back to reality; the Big East really needs to start cranking it up now that conference play starts for some teams this Saturday. Later today, based on these speculations, I am going to come up with the two divisions if the Big East brings in all of these teams.