Expansion Talks, What Does It Mean For USF?

We wanted to take some extra time to look at expansion talks through the eyes of the USF Bulls and what all the talk means to the program. The talk is that the Big Ten is going to come in and take away several teams from the Big East to expand their so-called "great league" and leave the Big East searching for new members, much like it was after Va Tech, Boston College, and Miami left only 4 years ago. So what does this mean to the Bulls? We can't seem to win in this league and if the talks continue there might not be a league anymore.

As of right now, the Big East and the Big Ten aren't saying much, there have been a few rumors but no major steps taken by either party but USF must be ready for anything because eventually it will happen, the Big Ten will make their moves and most likely after this upcoming season. The Big Ten wants Rutgers and Pittsburgh, or Notre Dame, no one is sure at this point. If the Big East lost those teams it would have to replace them quickly, which means they would look at Conference USA for new members, maybe ECU and UCF (that would be interesting). USF has been mentioned as a potential Big Ten member, it would open the Big Ten to the Florida region for both TV revenues as well as recruiting for the other large programs. This is not going to happen. The travel arrangements all of the programs would have to make would but nightmares, USF does not want to play in the cold and the Big Ten teams would not be so happy to travel that far for a game against a team that has a history of falling apart. Our fan base is growing, but it doesn't have the tradition of the other programs or following as say Michigan has (we leave if it rains, Michigan stays through snow storms and Rich-Rod offensive plays).

So USF won't be joining a new conference, we don't have the wealth, facilities or the history that the other long established programs have (we are trying though). USF must watch the Big East and what moves they make, USF could end up the loser in this whole shift that will happen down the road, the Big East could loose its luster and possibly its BCS bid and this could crush their chances at the big time that we are hoping for while being in this conference. At this time, only the powers in the Big Ten and Big East know our future, which they would share though...