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Here in Syracuse, we've heard that Navy would have joined the Big East if Syracuse and Pitt would have stayed.
Also, the Big East is looking into getting Army, Air Force and Navy to join, with East Carolina and Central Florida as secondary possibilities. I've heard that Temple was thrown around too.
I'm surprised that schools like UMass(slated to join the MAC next year), Buffalo, Middle Tennessee State, Marshall, Miami of Ohio, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Troy(AL) and UAB.
Of the mid majors, Temple has substantially improved in the past decade and
ECU & UCF operate at a high level in terms of fan support and potential. Navy is a program with a national presence. The other programs you mentioned are not close to having the potential of those programs.
Further update... it's Thursday and the students are already camping out near the Mountainlair in order to assure themselves a prime location for GameDay on Saturday. ESPN is already setting up shop there.
Of the mid majors, Temple has substantially improved in the past decade and
ECU & UCF operate at a high level in terms of fan support and potential. Navy is a program with a national presence. The other programs you mentioned are not close to having the potential of those programs.
I know, eventhough Marshall has had some decent years, with a couple of good years thrown in. Middle Tennessee is in the Nashville market and has made it to a bowl game a couple of years ago. Troy has beaten Oklahoma State in recent years and has given some high level programs problems, including Arkansas this year. Army is just a traditional team addition and is close to the NYC market. UMass might bring in the Boston market and plays in the toughest D1AA league by far(CAA). They gave Michigan problems last year at the Big House. Buffalo would possibly offer the potential to use pro level facilities and have an Upstate NY presence. Miami of Ohio has great tradition and has had its share of good teams and players(Roethlisberger for example).
The use of academics to prevent a school from joining a conference does not pass the smell test to me.
Look at what we bring to the field of play or the court of play!
West Virginia would rank last in this ranking of the combined USNWR/federal research expenditures even in the SEC. I am not sure the SEC would consider academics in admitting a team, but WVU's ranking sure doesn't help them. The Big Ten would never consider West Virginia; they are the Ivy League of the public conferences.
In the Big East only USF has a worse academic ranking, but USF has a much higher research ranking. I don't see a chance the ACC would accept WVU either. The Big 12 has the worst avg. and WVU would be below any of them.
The big question to ask, what does the University of West Virginia have that one of these conferences could benefit from that would off set their poor academic ranking. That is what they are looking for.
West Virginia would rank last in this ranking of the combined USNWR/federal research expenditures even in the SEC. I am not sure the SEC would consider academics in admitting a team, but WVU's ranking sure doesn't help them. The Big Ten would never consider West Virginia; they are the Ivy League of the public conferences.
In the Big East only USF has a worse academic ranking, but USF has a much higher research ranking. I don't see a chance the ACC would accept WVU either. The Big 12 has the worst avg. and WVU would be below any of them.
The big question to ask, what does the University of West Virginia have that one of these conferences could benefit from that would off set their poor academic ranking. That is what they are looking for.
Depends on whose rankings you pay attention to. US News is a consumer driven ranking system that favors larger states for obvious reasons. Forbes ranks WVU higher than many ACC, SEC and even some Big 10 schools. In addition, our research is rapidly expanding... $174+ million this past year and growing, and we are hiring new professors to address the largely bogus notion promulgated by US News that more is necessarily better. By the way, new Big 10 member Nebraska has $132 million in annual research funding.
Perhaps a better indication is the number of prestigious scholarships earned by students at the respective institutions. In the ACC, only UVA, Duke, and Wake Forest have had more Rhodes Scholars than WVU's 25. Most fall well below that and some have never had any at all. Pitt has had only 6 in the entire history of their school. Boston College has had 4 I believe. We have had similar success in terms of Truman Scholarships. We also have had more of those than most Big 10 schools.
Published data also shows that graduates of WVU have higher starting salaries than many schools in the ACC and the Big 10, and higher mid career salaries as well (check payscale.com for information), and The University is a Top 30 recruiting destination for national recruiters for employment.
Here is some of the data:
Rhodes Scholars: WVU 25...Pitt 6
Truman Scholars: WVU 21...Pitt 11
WVU - 33 Goldwater Scholars
Sample Forbes Rankiings:
Williams College - #1
Vanderbilt 53
University of Florida 137
Texas A&M 178
University of Georgia 206
University of Mississippi 301
University of Arkansas 348
Auburn University 359
University of Alabama 369
Univ. of Missouri 386
Mississippi State 387
WVU 403
Oklahoma State Univ. 416
University of South Carolina 424
University of Kentucky 427
Louisiana State University 442
Univ. of Oklahoma 453
University of Tennessee 512
Last edited by CTMountaineer; 09-23-2011 at 10:16 PM..
I know, eventhough Marshall has had some decent years, with a couple of good years thrown in. Middle Tennessee is in the Nashville market and has made it to a bowl game a couple of years ago. Troy has beaten Oklahoma State in recent years and has given some high level programs problems, including Arkansas this year. Army is just a traditional team addition and is close to the NYC market. UMass might bring in the Boston market and plays in the toughest D1AA league by far(CAA). They gave Michigan problems last year at the Big House. Buffalo would possibly offer the potential to use pro level facilities and have an Upstate NY presence. Miami of Ohio has great tradition and has had its share of good teams and players(Roethlisberger for example).
You have to look at fan base and other such factors, as well as established football and basketball programs. It isn't that simple. Most of those other schools have minimal fan bases and virtually no television appeal. It has nothing to do with periods of success on the field. And, those schools lack the budgets to compete year in and year out at that level.
The big question to ask, what does the University of West Virginia have that one of these conferences could benefit from that would off set their poor academic ranking. That is what they are looking for.
West Virginia University would bring fans and money to spend in their hotels, restaurants, bars, and any place that sells food/beverage for the pre-game parties.
If this is about $$$$$ (and we all know it is), then invite someone who will bring you more $$$$$$.
It has NOTHING to do with academics. Have you ever seen the ACC or SEC Quiz Bowl championships? DUH!!
You have to look at fan base and other such factors, as well as established football and basketball programs. It isn't that simple. Most of those other schools have minimal fan bases and virtually no television appeal. It has nothing to do with periods of success on the field. And, those schools lack the budgets to compete year in and year out at that level.
Agreed. In the Big East, West Virginia has the largest fan base. They would be in the middle of the pack in the ACC. Be glad you aren't Wake Forest!
If this is about $$$$$ (and we all know it is), then invite someone who will bring you more $$$$$$.
It has NOTHING to do with academics. Have you ever seen the ACC or SEC Quiz Bowl championships? DUH!!
Some conferences are more selective then others like the Big Ten, but all know academics has a lot to do with adding teams. Over 99% of the student body does not play intercollegiate sports.
Having the largest fan base in the Big East will not help them get into another conference. They better hope the Big East can stay together.
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