masthead.jpg

switchconcepts.com, U3dpdGNo-a25, DIRECT rubiconproject.com, 14766, RESELLER pubmatic.com, 30666, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace appnexus.com, 1117, RESELLER thetradedesk.com, switchconcepts, RESELLER taboola.com, switchconceptopenrtb, RESELLER bidswitch.com, switchconcepts, RESELLER contextweb.com, 560031, RESELLER amazon-adsystem.com, 3160, RESELLER crimtan.com, switch, RESELLER quantcast.com, switchconcepts , RESELLER rhythmone.com, 1934627955, RESELLER ssphwy.com, switchconcepts, RESELLER emxdgt.com, 59, RESELLER appnexus.com, 1356, RESELLER sovrn.com, 96786, RESELLER, fafdf38b16bf6b2b indexexchange.com, 180008, RESELLER nativeads.com, 52853, RESELLER theagency.com, 1058, RESELLER google.com, pub-3515913239267445, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0
April 21, 2011

Like Looking At A Distorted Mirror

Filed under: Big East,Conference,General Stupidity — Chas @ 11:22 pm

So I’m at work this evening, and I decide to run through some messages and check the twitter feed for any news of interest. And what do I find but Villanova fans freaking out and blaming Pitt. Betrayal! Backstabbing! Such scum!

Over what you ask. Well, it seems that a Temple message board thread claimed that Pitt was trying to get Temple back in the Big East for football instead of Villanova. Not just for football, but as a full Big East member. Not UCF. Not Houston. Temple.

Let me repeat the salient part again, so it can fully sink in:

Temple message board.

Wow.

Look, I sort of get it for Villanova fans. You’re feeling like the world has shifted on you. It was a fait accompli that you were going to 1-A football in the Big East. A full member. All the studies were done. The fundraising was raring to go. That informal, open invitation would become the real thing. The only thing was this nagging news that Pitt was not happy with the plans. Still that wouldn’t really stop things.

And then it shifted. Suddenly it wasn’t just Pitt that didn’t like the plan. Other schools had more questions. Now things have changed and while the Big East was clearly clueless once more, you are the ones suffering for it

Now you are jumpy. Every scrap of news or rumor only fuels the paranoia. You are seeing enemies everywhere. West Virginia, Pitt, Rutgers, UMass going 1-A, and of course Temple still lurking about. It’s a conspiracy. They’re all out to get you. Trying to keep you down. They fear what you could become if you move to 1-A. Why, I bet the ACC would be interested.

I would make fun of Villanova fans a lot more for this under normal circumstanstances. I’m a little sympathetic, though, having seen so many Pitt fans lose their freaking minds last year with Big 11 expansion rumors. Remember those? The meeting with the players. Believing crap published by Bleacher Report. The insanity. The raging paranoia. How other programs trying to get in the Big 11 were the enemy.

So be nice to any Villanova fans right now. They’re having a rough time.




TrackBack URI |  

Look Villanova has been dragging their feet. So who cares if they get left out. Myself, i would rather see the Houston Cougars join the Big East as long as Coach Todd Graham agrees not to jump to Univ Of Houston when their is an opening.

Comment by RandyRandyTime 04.22.11 @ 1:23 am

Sadly, based on the Big Easts options Temple may not be a bad choice. I would prefer them over Villanova.

Comment by Coach Ditka 04.22.11 @ 8:15 am

Is this Pitt offering a 2011-2012 scholarship? If it does, given they did not hve any scholarships does this mean :

1. They believe Gibbs is gone
OR
2. They believe Birch will not academically qualify for 2011-2012
OR
3. Is this a 2012-13 scholarship?

link to nypost.com

Comment by kpcski 04.22.11 @ 9:07 am

I mean, you have to understand our plight.. We have wanted this for so long, have been loyal Big East members and thought this was a “go” only to have the rug pulled from under us. Sure there is plenty of blame to go around, but to say that concern about Villanova’s location in a prime recruiting ground isn’t a factor would be somewhat foolish.

Comment by Fact 04.22.11 @ 9:31 am

Sorry, recruiting is a very, very minor issue in this drama. This is about money, sustainability, and long-term interests. But mainly about money.

Comment by Chas 04.22.11 @ 9:39 am

kpcski: The Post article say Okoro is a junior so it would be a 2012 offer at the earliest. It also sounds like it’s just a verbal offer at this point.

Comment by TampaT 04.22.11 @ 9:59 am

Thank you TampaT … sounds like I should have read my own article better … THANKS

Comment by kpcski 04.22.11 @ 10:20 am

@kpcski also if any of the incoming recruits were to not qualify, it would be John Johnson

Comment by merlin 04.22.11 @ 10:38 am

And also, I’ve said this before on here and I’ll say it again: Temple at this point might be a better option than Nova. I think Villanova is scared they might not be the top dog in Philadelphia anymore, and Temple in the Big East would certainly help Temple with basketball recruiting, which would help TU catch up to Nova…which could put Villanova in the category of St. Joe’s (“remember when they were good?”). But the fact is, Temple already has a D-I football team (no it’s not GREAT, but at least they’re putting up 9-3 and 8-4 records in the MAC, and even beat UConn last year), and the basketball program has a lot of history and tradition, plus a good coach in Fran Dunphy and a few recent NCAA appearances.

Comment by merlin 04.22.11 @ 10:41 am

Temple has the stadium deal in place. They should be the favorite. Plus they still would get blocked on hoops so it’s a win for everybody.

But realistically, the football addition should be the biggest fish out there… Notre Dame. How is it that we can’t close that deal?

Comment by Dave G 04.22.11 @ 11:55 am

NOVA walked away from D1 football and has only themselves to blame…While I’m not cazy about the idea of Temple football in the BE, I do think the BE gave them a raw deal when we booted them. They were going to be playing in a brand new NFL Stadium and we should have given them the chance to see if that would help with their attendance problems. I assuming a BE schedule would draw better than their current schedule, but I don’t know if it would or would not have been enough to keep them. If it did help enough, then we could have given Temple a choice: Join as full member in all sports or move on (Sound familiar ND fans?).

Comment by HbgFrank 04.22.11 @ 12:49 pm

[Notre Dame. How is it that we can’t close that deal?]

Bascially because there is no deal to close. As long as Notre Dame Football can independently command media deals that put it financially ahead of most programs in the United States, it has no incentive to join a conference and share the revenue. Its all about the money and if Notre can spit in the eye of the Big Ten, it isn’t even going to listen to the Big East.

Comment by KeithS 04.22.11 @ 1:44 pm

If the Nova fans want to know the REAL reason that they got passed up for D1 football, I’m willing to spill the beans. Bad Karma created by Chris Lane and the NovaBlog, stemming from the Kelly’s fiasco.

Comment by KeithS 04.22.11 @ 2:14 pm

If Villanova accepted back in the fall they could have played in any stadium with over 15,000 seats. The Big East was desperate for a 9th member to balance the schedule. However, in December TCU joined the Big East, now the Big East does not need Villanova to balance a schedule, they can be more selective and demand more from the school. The fact that there was no communication between the Big East and Villanova leading into the meeting in April, and Villanova failing to have the agreement on expansion of PPL finished before a vote is poor on their part as well. Villanova dragged their feet on this issue and is not totally without fault here.

Comment by Twink 04.22.11 @ 3:06 pm

Temple has message boards?

Comment by maguro 04.22.11 @ 5:02 pm

Temple has a football program? (enough said about that)

Comment by Eric 04.23.11 @ 7:15 pm

Temple is a better choice all around. They have already upgraded their football program. They have had success as a basketball prgram over the years. The are a PA state supported institution like Pitt and Penn State, so they should have more resources. Also the Philadelphia area is a big area for basketball and football talent, Having another basketball program from Philly would not be a bad idea. As mentioned above, they have a stadium with a capasity over 15,000. Also Temple has a long tradition of playing Pitt, West Virginia, and Syracuse football. Oh, did I mention that they happen to be good fit geographically.

Comment by Justinian 04.23.11 @ 9:14 pm

Oh, one more thing………..screw the Villanova fans. The Big East needs to do what is best for the Big East Conference.

Comment by Justinian 04.23.11 @ 9:27 pm

As for the PA support, PA only provides about 4% of the budget, and the governor wants to gut that. Same at Pitt and PSU. Don’t include that in your calculations.

Comment by Pwmcdupitt 04.24.11 @ 8:27 pm

 
←   →

Powered by WordPress © PittBlather.com

Site Meter