Central Florida Report ‘Premature’

Be skeptical.

Now we’re hearing that the Central Florida to the Big East report may have been premature. Quite a bit different from erroneous.

This according to a report from a UCF blog in the Orlando Sentinel, a publication that has been pretty credible on conference expansion issues

While technically not inaccurate — we all could win the lottery next week — the reports imply a UCF move to the Big East is a done deal. We’re not there yet.

As I reported extensively yesterday, UCF is in excellent shape for a potential move to the Big East. However, I have been told Big East officials haven’t committed to preemptive expansion yet to secure the conference’s future if it ends up getting raided by other leagues.

UCF may end up with a conditional invitation, meaning the Knights would be one of the top choices if and when the Big Ten or another league actually raids the Big East. It would mean no change in the short term for the Knights. The Big Ten could wait as much as 12 months to make its final decisions on expansion, potentially dipping into the Big East or another league that would refill its ranks from the Big East.

The situation remains fluid, and much could change in the next 24 hours.

The writer also notes that the conference call between Big East presidents and athletic directors was actually held Thursday [today]. Doubt there were any reporters there. Fans will have to wait for leaks from that meeting for any more clarity.

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A New York Post report described as “preposterous” the possible addition of two all-sports teams to a conference that already has 16 basketball teams. How is that any more ridiculous than a BCS football conference with only eight football teams?  Football is the future if there is one for the Big East.