The University of Memphis is reportedly in the final stages of landing an agreement to join the Big East Conference as an all-sports member in 2013, according to Bret McMurphy, who has been the most accurate source on conference realignment thus far.
McMurphy is same CBS Sports analyst who said “the Univeristy of Louisville is a slam dunk” if and when the Big 12 decides to go beyond 10 teams. If a decision comes this year, U of L likely wouldn’t leave the Big East until 2014.
Why the Big East would choose Memphis over East Carolina would be a mystery were it not for the size of the TV markets. The other question of whether Memphis fans even watch their team on TV will never be seriously considered.
ECU averaged more than 50,000 fans per home football game last season, compared to an average of 20,000 for Memphis games. Hello?
At any rate, the U of L-Memphis football rivalry would officially be on again, at least for one more season. That’s not a bad thing, nor is it anything to celebrate. Memphis is a good rivalry, a team we love to hate. But choosing UM over East Carolina is wrong.
More evidence of college presidents and conferences bowing to the wishes of TV network/cable executives. For now, they hold the upper hand in collegiate athletics.
The powers running the Big East can’t see the forest for the trees. The TV market for East Carolina IS North Carolina from the mountains (where East Carolina even has dental facilities for low income people) to the coast including Charlotte, Greensboro, Raleigh, Wilmington as well as the entire Norfolk area. Wake UP Big East!
You guys are whining yet your president pushed heavily for Memphis. That is a fact. And I wouldn’t assume that you will be going to the Big 12. The fact that Louisville (along with Cincinnati and Central Florida) pushed so hard for Memphis speaks volumes. Just because you don’t like it doesn’t mean Louisville’s administration doesn’t like it. This is to beef up the Big East TV contract. Stop whining and open your eyes.
Oh! An insider that kept their mouth shut. Says that UCF a new member and has not played a game in the Big East has the pull to demand who can come into the conference! LOL!
Wouldn’t it have been easier for the remaining Big East teams to just join C-USA. After all Louisville has done to advance its athletic program it is right back to where it started. This was purely a basketball move. Memphis football has never and will never be relevant on any level. SMU and Memphis on the schedule each year. Great.
Well ECU made its move when two schools broke ties with the Big East follow next with W.Va. leaving. As a fan of ECU I ‘m not upset with this new Big Least as Louisville may be jumping to the big 10 soon. I see the New Big East as a remake of C-USA. and C-USA is what most Pirate fans whated to leave. As I watch the Big East ask big city schools with NO FANBASE to join I can only wonder WHo will be watching those games at home if nobody comes the the games? Big markets will not equal big time sports if you have no fan base. So ECU will keep looking ’til some conference will take us for who we are and not the size of imaginary interest that others hope for.
Could not agree more. Being in a big TV market is only valuable if you are relavent in that market. SMU is in a big TV market but is behind the Cowboys, Rangers, Mavs, UT and A & M, TCU, any college game in Cowboys stadium and Texas High School football in importance. Houston has the same problem.
The Big East is crazy. Memphis is one of the worst football programs in the country and in C-USA. They cannot draw flies to their home football games. Expansion is about football and ECU was the clear choice. 50k+ attend ECU football games. How big does their stadium become in the Big East? 65k-70k easy. E SMU and Houston? SMU is terrible in basketball and not great in football. San Diego St.??? This whole thing is unbelievable. The Big East is a complete joke making decisions like this. No wonder teams are running to get out of this league.
Could it be they were invited for basketball to replace UofL which the BE feels strongly will be going to the Big XII?
Just an FYI–Memphis averaged 20K this past season. Name another non-BCS school who averages that many while only winning 5 games in 3 years.
Good point, John.
There is no mystery to why Memphis finally got a bid. First, they hired Mike Tranghese to be a consultant and we know how that works. Second, it’s a basketball deal plain and simple, to shore up the losses from the Cuse and Pitt. It can’t be football, not the worst time in major college football with one of the worst facilities.
If I may correct you it is Memphis STATE. Always was, always is, always will be. The Tiger doesn’t change its stripes.
My guess is that Memphis is sliding into that Western Division spot that Louisville was going to be forced to take. Louisville will be moving on and the eastern #6 will be ECU or Temple. That is my theory any way. Very strange for Memphis to suddenly come out of the woodwork in the last 48 hours.