Big East Conference may get tougher in coming years

[El-Moldo]

What is there to defend? You seem to be making fun of Villanova, when PSU annually plays a team that Villanova beat last year. And didn't Temple play in a bowl game????? What does that tell you about Villanova's potential. Right now Villanova gets only 63 scholarships, like every I-aa team does. Imagine what they can do with the 85 they would get if they become I-A. Uconn, South Florida, and Troy State were recently I-aa teams. Look what they are doing. Right now, Villanova's stadium has a capacity of 12,500. It'll be awhile before they are considered for moving to I-A. So you can work a different angle if you want to criticize pitt and the Big East.

[KirkHerbstreit]

Like i said they will fit right in with the Big East. No angle there. I think it's a perfect marriage. It should give you a clear view of where your conference stands in the grand scheme of things.

[El-Moldo]

You know, every time Kirk starts a topic, he either ends up having to defend PSU, or proves he doesn't know what he's talking about. Take this whole Villanova thing he brought up. Not only did Villanova beat Temple last year, but Jeff Sagarin has Villanova ranked 30th in his FINAL college football pool. Amazing, isn't it? Sagarin's poll ranks ALL 245 division I and I-aa teams in ONE poll. There are 119 division I-A teams and 126 I-aa teams. Villanova was the TOP ranked I-aa team in his poll. What's TRULY amazing is, is that Villanova was ranked HIGHER than 89 true division I-A teams. Villanova was also ranked HIGHER than 7 Big Ten teams. What do you guys think of that???

[KirkHerbstreit]

I have no idea what I'm talking about? You are something else. I'll tell you what Moldy. I hope Villanova joins the big East. I think this whole conversation is hilarious that you are defending Villanova as if they are going to be some perennial power. Like I said, it's a typical Big East addition. There's nothing to defend about PSU. You throwing PSU in the whole equation is typical of a Pitt fan. This conversation had nothing to do with Penn State. It had to do with an artile about the Big East adding Villanova.

[El-Moldo]

I don't have to defend Villanova becoming a power. Like I said, and another 22 scholarships to their team and you will have another Uconn or South Florida. They'll be better off than Indiana wallowing in the Big Ten year after year. Villanova's potential speaks for itself. And again, when PSU stops playing Temple, you can criticize Villanova. And what's with the "they will be a typical Big East addition"? You mean like Rutgers, which is coveted by the Big Ten? Heck, the Big Ten Network was even entertaining the thought of Syracuse jumping to the Big Ten. Just give Villanova some time if they are invited. Just what the Big East needs, MORE exposure on the east coast. And what about potential recruiting in New Jersey and Eastern Pa. Think it will hurt PSU in those areas? Sure it will. Now that I think of it, Villanova is looking better and better as a potential BE member.

[KirkHerbstreit]

Here is all you need to know about the Big East

1) Not one other Major conference would even consider Villanova without being laughed at.
2) Penn State has beaten Temple over their history by an average of around 35 points. Villanova beats Temple on a last second play and you are calling this an achievement. Like you said, add Villanova, give them some time, and they will become just another mediocre big east team.
3) The fact that you think Villanova joining the Big East will hurt Penn State's recruiting is hilarious. You really should try looking at football outside of the Pitt Panthers once.
4) I am still laughing about the Sagarin ratings you are obsessed with. Answer me one question. Do you honestly think that there are only 30 teams in the nation that would beat Villanova? You honestly feel only 30 teams are better than them? Laughable. That should tell you how whacked Sagarin in.

[Head Roadie]

Kirk Herb says "Not one other Major conference would even consider Villanova without being laughed at."

My question is...Was the Big East laughed at when U.Conn. moved up from 1-AA to I ??? I don't seem to recall it as being laughed but being called a 'creative' move by U.Conn and the conference, Isn't this the same exact scenario??

[WPIAL~Titan]

I laugh at PSU's schedule every year.

They could put one of those cardboard cutouts of JokePa at QB this year and win 8 games with that schedule.

[El-Moldo]

I'm sure this has happened to alot of us. You attend junior high and end up sitting next to some bland girl in your homeroom. Then one day 10 years later you run into her again. and WOW!!! Where did she come from? That's what has happened with UCONN in football over the last 10 years, coming out of nowhere to be a very good football team. And it most certainly can happen to Villanova. Kirk has to remember that that alot of high school seniors might LOVE to play for the wildcats once they get organized. Eastern Pa kids and those from New Jersey might relish a chance to stay home and play football. And remember, PSU might only have 18-24 kids to recruit in any given season, so it WILL affect PSU recruiting. And let's not forget the increased EXPOSURE for the Big East on the east coast, something the Big Ten Network REALLY wants but can't have. AND AGAIN, just because kirk doesn't agree with the Sagarin rankings doesn't mean they are wrong. Since the 1970's he has been doing rankings, so I'm sure he knows MORE that kirk.

[The Ancient Enemy]

Actually, it might affect Pitt's recruiting more than Penn State's. We've basically crapped the bed in the Lehigh Valley the past 5 years, and Pitt does a great job down there.

Guys, look... Villanova is not the answer. It might be part of the answer, but it's not the full answer. I would like to see Villanova move up b/c I like Villanova and they have high academics. They'll enforce admissions requirements. But what does Villanova bring? How many kids are seriously undergrads at Villanova? 700? There can't be very many. That school is very expensive. I'm not sure that Villanova should be anything more than a 3rd choice.

You guys know I am a huge Big Ten supporter, I will support EVERY Big Ten school b/c of the academics, but I am saying this objectively: The Big East is the dumbest conference in college football. You have an automatic BCS bid, the Mountain West is full-bore going after that bid, and the BE is sitting on their hands. Look, you HAVE a BCS bid. NOW is the time to add programs that want a BCS bid!!!!!!

Take a look at the eastern half of the United States. We know that academics are not as important in the BE than in the B10, so basically everyone is fair game for expansion. Where are there quality non-BCS universities that are in major markets, major recruiting markets, or have elevated their program to the point where BE membership is viable?

I'll tell you exactly who they need to target, and why.

1. SMU. This is a guaranteed BCS buster at some point. Its a super school and is in a massive, massive recruiting hotbed. TCU and UNT cannot sell a possible National Championship to Dallas-Ft Worth kids like the BE can.
2. Southern Miss. Expansion into the south is, in my opinion, mandatory. This is a great area and there are tons of kids in Alabama and Mississippi.
3. Tulane. City school with lots to offer. Great university. LA produces a ton of talent, but the only nearby BCS school is LSU.
4. UCF. Pretty solid program, insanely huge university. Florida hotbed w/ recruiting AND market base.

Stop this nonsense w/ "gosh darn" Memphis. Horrible school, that whole city is a hell hole. Then you have ECU? You can do better than ECU.

This is a great opportunity for the BE to present a BCS bid to these schools, but the BE is not interested in anything rational, regarding their football.