Mind numbing UCF/USF drivel, et al

[DELdaBull]

Wow. Not one shred of fact or concrete evidence in the whole article  :

[Lurky]

Honestly we are waiting on Nova to make their decision before UCF will even be considered.  There is no blocking going on right now because UCF is not even an option unless Nova declines and then the BE will evaluate the C-USA programs and the debate will begin on who should be given that offer.  They are dead set on making us out to be the bad guy but WVU has a bone to pick with them too from them screwing them over by bailing on a game not that long ago as well.  Not to mention that Houston brings everything they do and a bigger TV market.  UCF is not a no brainer even among CUSA schools anyone that is trying to present that they are i just stirring the pot or a blind homer.  Some will use the "right institution" quote by the commish to insinuate that UCF is that school but if they were they would have already been extended that invitation as we know any of the C-USA schools would jump at the opportunity to become a BE member.  More than likely that comment is directed at the pipe dream that is Notre Dame or possibly some of the unhappy big 12 schools.  As much as some hate to hear it UCF is not an option at this moment and will not become one until Nova declines, which i don't see them doing based on their recent land acquisitions.... 

Actually, Marinatto confirmed yesterday that they weren't waiting on Nova's decision.

http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/38615/marinatto-were-not-waiting-for-villanova

[South_Florida_Flip]

Why doesn't the USF president just go on the record one way or the other? Why the mystery? That is my only concern/question?

From the press release on November 2, 2010 (last line bolded for relevance to Bianchi article):

BIG EAST Approves Process To Evaluate Terms and Conditions For Expansion

PHILADELPHIA -- The BIG EAST Conference submitted the results of its extensive self-analysis and evaluation of the college athletics environment today at its annual Conference Board of Directors meeting.  Based on those results, the BIG EAST presidents agreed that the interests of each of the conference’s 16 member institutions would be served by increasing the number of Bowl Subdivision football-playing members to 10.  They unanimously approved the process to evaluate the terms and conditions for potential expansion candidates.  

"Today, our Board of Directors affirmed a set of key strategic initiatives, including expansion, designed to enhance membership stability and maximize our value," stated Commissioner John Marinatto.

Marinatto said the conference will refrain from commenting further on the expansion process.

So President Genshaft is doing exactly what she is supposed to.

I love how Bianchi throws out how we play the Wofford's and Stony Brook's, but failed to mention that UCF had many of their future schedules completed when we still had open dates. The bottom line is that you're free to schedule whoever you want in OOC games.

I'd really love to see what Bianchi would say if he took the geographic angle of why teams should play and put that to test by saying both USF and UCF should be playing home and home series with UF.

[South_Florida_Flip]

Honestly we are waiting on Nova to make their decision before UCF will even be considered.  There is no blocking going on right now because UCF is not even an option unless Nova declines and then the BE will evaluate the C-USA programs and the debate will begin on who should be given that offer.  They are dead set on making us out to be the bad guy but WVU has a bone to pick with them too from them screwing them over by bailing on a game not that long ago as well.  Not to mention that Houston brings everything they do and a bigger TV market.  UCF is not a no brainer even among CUSA schools anyone that is trying to present that they are i just stirring the pot or a blind homer.  Some will use the "right institution" quote by the commish to insinuate that UCF is that school but if they were they would have already been extended that invitation as we know any of the C-USA schools would jump at the opportunity to become a BE member.  More than likely that comment is directed at the pipe dream that is Notre Dame or possibly some of the unhappy big 12 schools.  As much as some hate to hear it UCF is not an option at this moment and will not become one until Nova declines, which i don't see them doing based on their recent land acquisitions.... 

Actually, Marinatto confirmed yesterday that they weren't waiting on Nova's decision.

http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/38615/marinatto-were-not-waiting-for-villanova

Good fluff piece there. I'm not sure how believable that is since the league would have reacted 2 months ago when 'nova said they needed more time.

[macphisto]

Why doesn't the USF president just go on the record one way or the other? Why the mystery? That is my only concern/question?

Why should USF go on the record and add fuel to the fire?  I can also guarantee you that FSU and UF are probably also against UCF joining a BCS conference.  While FSU did improve this year, UF has a lot of question marks and the Florida schools seem diminished at the moment.  That's also why trying to get the state legislature to do anything just won't happen.  There are a lot of UF, FSU, and Miami grads up there who will not feel any sympathy for UCF.  Besides, the most they can do is force USF to vote "yes" if it comes to that.  They cannot make the Big East take UCF because it stretches beyond their dominion.  And UCF did burn the bridge with West Virginia by cancelling a game with them.  Charlie Strong wants to recruit Florida and currently has a leg up on UCF due to Louisville's BE affiliation, so Louisville has no incentive.  And I'd bet Rutgers feels the same way too.  They recruited Florida even before USF joined up.  So that's three schools WITHOUT USF that could vote "no" and it would sink the bid.

My guess is USF likely favors adding Houston if Villanova doesn't come on board because we have ties there (Renu Khator, the president there, was once a provost at USF) and it would add a huge market to the Big East.  Houston > Orlando and adding a Texas team might make TCU happy due to in-state rivalry.

I have a feeling that the Big East will be swayed by the argument for Houston down the road.  They are in a bigger market and that will mean more revenue when the TV deal is up.  They give the whole conference further inroads into Texas and also into Louisiana.  They are going to be building a new stadium and getting new facilities.

I think UCF only because a viable alternative IF the BE decides to split and go to 12 football teams with Villanova moving up.  But I'd bet we'd look at dissatisfied Big XII teams first.  Imagine adding Kansas on the basketball side while holding onto Villanova if the conference breaks up?  UConn, Pitt, Nova, Syracuse, Kansas, West Virginia, Cincinnati, and Lousiville would all be in the conference.

UCF is trying to put as much pressure on as they can, but USF may not be their only problem.  The Big East offered Villanova first because they have a great FCS program and I think Marinatto and company know the football teams may want to split and they want to take Villanova basketball with them.

[Triple B]

Why doesn't the USF president just go on the record one way or the other? Why the mystery? That is my only concern/question?

Because it's a non-issue ... Why give any more attention to the knuckleheads?

If multiple media outlets demand/seek out answers, why not just go on the record one time instead of the shroud of silence? That lends itself to more questions, right?

That's a very liberal use of the term "media outlets" ...

[UCFChad]

Avoiding questions lends itself to more questions.  That is all I am saying.

[Triple B]

Wow. Not one shred of fact or concrete evidence in the whole article  :

With that byline, did you really expect any?

[Lurky]

Honestly we are waiting on Nova to make their decision before UCF will even be considered.  There is no blocking going on right now because UCF is not even an option unless Nova declines and then the BE will evaluate the C-USA programs and the debate will begin on who should be given that offer.  They are dead set on making us out to be the bad guy but WVU has a bone to pick with them too from them screwing them over by bailing on a game not that long ago as well.  Not to mention that Houston brings everything they do and a bigger TV market.  UCF is not a no brainer even among CUSA schools anyone that is trying to present that they are i just stirring the pot or a blind homer.  Some will use the "right institution" quote by the commish to insinuate that UCF is that school but if they were they would have already been extended that invitation as we know any of the C-USA schools would jump at the opportunity to become a BE member.  More than likely that comment is directed at the pipe dream that is Notre Dame or possibly some of the unhappy big 12 schools.  As much as some hate to hear it UCF is not an option at this moment and will not become one until Nova declines, which i don't see them doing based on their recent land acquisitions.... 

Actually, Marinatto confirmed yesterday that they weren't waiting on Nova's decision.

http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/38615/marinatto-were-not-waiting-for-villanova

Good fluff piece there. I'm not sure how believable that is since the league would have reacted 2 months ago when 'nova said they needed more time.

Fluff piece?

"We're not waiting for Villanova," Marinatto said. "It's their institutional decision to make, and they have a process set up to make it. They've got to determine what's in their best interest, and we've got to determine what's in our best interest."

I know reading comprehension is tough for you bulls, but at least put some effort into it.

[Triple B]

Avoiding questions lends itself to more questions.  That is all I am saying.

Right, Chad, she comes out and denies everything and it just goes away ....  :