TCU to join Big East...

[Upton]

In a move designed to prop up a weak football conference, The Big East has convinced TCU to leave the Mountain West and join the league as an all sports member, sources told the Daily News early this morning. Commissioner John Marinatto and Associate Commisioner in charge of communications John Paquette both flew to Dallas yesterday for the official announcement at 1 p.m. today.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/college/2010/11/29/2010-11-29_texas_christian_universitys_horned_frogs_invited_into_the_big_east_source.html#ixzz16gVJej00

Whatever. From one weak football conference to another.

[JonLP24]

1. Amazing that they are willing to travel those distances

I expect they will be one of the longest distance traveled teams year-in-year-out. I heard the rumors but I figured no way.

[Upton]

2. Does seem rather odd..

a Texas school in the Big East. TCU gets what it wants though...a AQ conference. Thing is, the story says this move is for all sports, not just football. The travel distances are indeed going to be outrageous.

[TZ]

7. Yeah. This is really really odd

Its also going to be of no advantage to TCU's atheletes to have to travel these distances. Did they not ever notice that West Coast teams fare badly coming to the East generally? And aren't they TWO time zones behind the East? This is one of the most stupid moves I've ever heard. Frankly if I was an alumnus I would want whomever made this decision FIRED. IT benefits no one, really except the football reputation.

[KamaAina]

17. One time zone behind

Texas (save for El Paso and vicinity) is on Central Time; TCU is in Fort Worth.

[brendan120678]

19. Geography won't be really that big a deal, I don't think...

TCU is closer to some Big East schools than they are to other MWC schools:

Distances from Fort Worth to other MWC schools:
Albuquerque, NM - 626 mi.
Colorado Springs - 705 mi.
Laramie, WY - 918
Provo, UT - 1180 mi.
Las Vegas, NV - 1198 mi.
Salt Lake City, UT - 1223 mi.
San Diego - 1332 mi.

Compare that to some of the closer Big East schools:
Louisville, KY - 870 mi.
Chicago, IL - 960 mi.
Cincinnati, OH - 969 mi.
South Bend, IN - 1025 mi.
Milwaukee, WI - 1035 mi.
Tampa, FL - 1135 mi.
Morgantown, WV - 1239 mi.
Pittsburgh, PA - 1255 mi.

The other 8 BE schools are further than San Diego currently is. But the furthest that they will ever have to travel is 1760 mi. to Providence, RI

[JonLP24]

33. If they stayed in the MWC

They would also have to travel to Hawaii. Long commute for any team which is why they are very successful at home (Nevada lost there). However they also have to go on the road too. As Lee Corso said, "Hawaii doesn't win many games in the United States."

Good point though.

[LisaM]

23. What about the other sports?

This conference jumping cannot be good for their other teams, especially the women's teams.

And, isn't TCU some kind of strange, evangelical faith? Are they a good fit with the other Big East schools? Are they ideologically compatible?

[TZ]

26. Yeah I was thinking about the women's teams

That's alot of travel time and missed school for the true scholar atheletes.

[madinmaryland]

28. Hey Lisa. Quite a game last Saturday afternoon in Columbus!

:evilgrin:

[joeybee12]

3. You know, I saw your headline earlier, and thought it was a joke...

then I saw the articles...guess they figure they can win the Big East each year and always go to a BCS bowl...makes sense from that perspective.

[madinmaryland]

6. If I had not just seen it on the WaPo, I would have thought this was from the Onion.

[Demstud]

15. Big 12 makes the most sense geographically

But the Big 12 wants to stay with 10 teams and no championship game right now. The Big East gives them the opportunity to make serious money in the BCS though without having to go undefeated or compete with Boise St. I feel bad for Boise St. though. They look to upgrade by joining the Mountain West, but Utah, BYU, and TCU all bail before they even get started in that conference.

[joeybee12]

29. I feel bad for Boise also...they probably could beat half or more of the

teams who are getting BCS bids...teams, I might note that also have one loss.

[brendan120678]

4. So it'll be a 9-team football and 17-team basketball conference...

Seems like they may be adding another team to round it off a little.

[Upton]

8. The Big East has invited Villanova

to become it's tenth football member..

[TZ]

10. Well that really makes it better!

Aye Carumba. If they were looking to be less of a laughing stock adding another cream puff football program isn't the answer!

[JonLP24]

12. I'm actually interested in seeing how Villanova plays out

I don't expect them to be a NC contender or anything like that but they win national championships in the division of football they play in and could be a decent team in a few years. I think they will struggle in their early years though.

I'd also like to see Montana join Div-1. I heard rumors they are considering the WAC.

[madinmaryland]

5. That does seem odd. Does that mean ND will be moving their football

to the Big East, also??

[Upton]

9. Nope..

ND football likes their independent status. Villanova has been invited.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5553575

[KamaAina]

18. And break their commitment to the MAC?

:P

[madinmaryland]

20. That would be a match made in heaven!

:rofl:

[JonLP24]

21. You know that Zac Dysert(did I spell his name right?)

Will be playing in the MAC Championship against a tough Northern Illinois team that is undefeated in conference play?

I'm sure you do, but maybe you didn't. :)

[KamaAina]

22. In that case, ND may have to set its sights a bit lower

:P

[madinmaryland]

27. Yes, I saw that. I saw him one time on TV this year. ESPN3 or MASN2.

I don't personally know him, but I went to high school with his dad and uncles.

Miami really turned things around this year. They won only a game or two last year.

[MadBadger]

11. Fuck Geography

[El Supremo]

13. Ewwww!

I thought for sure they would go to the Big 12 and reunite with UT, TT, Baylor & A&M.

[JonLP24]

14. That does make better sense

They did lose 2 teams. Couldn't hurt to add TCU.

[TZ]

16. No see, that makes too much sense.

Can't have logic and rationality in college sports...:crazy:

[thatsrightimirish]

24. I had no idea the east was that big!

I guess we better get used to seeing TCU in the BCS every year.

[madinmaryland]

25. Heh! TCU will be getting their butts kicked by UConn, Cincinnati, and

South Florida every year (in football)!!

:rofl:

[FarLeftRage]

30. Big mistake...

they should have joined the pac-25 or whatever they call themselves these days...

[JonLP24]

32. Invites

I'm pretty sure the Pac-10 didn't offer one.

[Botany]

31. Nothing says Big East like Ft. Worth Texas