If 2013 is the plan....

[Peter]

and the schools joining can't let the conferences know until after the basketball season, how will this impact the fall sports season? July 1 is the date everyone uses so if XU can't inform the A-10 until mid-March, aren't schedules for soccer and volleyball already printed with XU as an A-10 member? How quickly can everything be altered? Seems like 2013 is a reach to me.

[UDGutter2]

Butler and VCU joined the A-10 in May of 2012.

[marq]

When are the 2013 fall sports schedules released? Is there a penalty to a school if they leave after July 1?

[xman]

When are the 2013 fall sports schedules released? Is there a penalty to a school if they leave after July 1?

They might already be formulated but I don't think we typically see them until near the end of the school year. I am sure Xavier is already planning to not be in the A10 come fall.

[QueRico]

From most accounts, 2013 is a verrry long shot. There are just far too many details to be worked out in that short a time frame.
Think of the scheduling nightmares for all of the schools & conferences w/ soccer starting in August & no TV contract in place. 2014 seems to be the year.

I, like many, got all excited when Boise & SDSU bailed on the football conference - hoping that it would crumble & we could move on w/ the BE name & all of the other goodies...sign a contract w/ Fox Sports, finalize membership, etc. Unfortunately things are in the hands of the lawyers so let's hope the C7 has made the right choices for representation & will continue to do so.

[admin]

While I'd love to see it, I think 2013 is a long shot. It probably only happens if the Big East media deal still isn't done and Fox or whoever decides to up the ante to get the league going this year for their TV package.

[xu5595]

I think 2013 is actually going to be the more likely outcome. The biggest holdup right now is when the Catholic 7 can legally leave. Once that is determined, everything else should fall in place rather quickly.

[ArmyVet]

I think 2013 is actually going to be the more likely outcome. The biggest holdup right now is when the Catholic 7 can legally leave. Once that is determined, everything else should fall in place rather quickly.

2013 is ideal, but we are talking about sporting events that will occur in roughly six months. It seems pretty ambitious considering all of the legal issues unresolved.

[yorost]

For all the pain in rushing it, there are two big motivating factors. First, if Fox really wants them they're going to want them immediately upon launching their network. There's a lot of money, apparently, on that table, it can get things done. Secondly, does anyone in the current Big East, Aresco included, want to stretch things out anymore? With a few teams leaving and a few coming in, these delaying tactics made a lot of sense. The Big East isn't a transitional project anymore, it's a new conference, too. I don't see how keeping outgoing teams in helps them any longer, they need a tv deal and they need to know who their conference is. All these outgoing teams are in the way now, I would think the Big East needs to get them out and get everyone else is as soon as possible. The sooner they can establish an identity and move on the better, they have to find some stability. They might let the BE7 go this year, even encourage it. Though, that doesn't mean they won't try to milk them for some money. If the logistics can happen, I don't think many parties involved with the BE7 are going to get involved. The A10 and MVC are probably the only ones that might want to delay any longer, but the money talked about should be good here.

[Bluejay]

I think 2013 will be the start date and I think the teams that are going to be included already have a pretty good idea.

I think there is a perfectly good strategic reason for sitting on news. When the Horizon and CAA found out they were losing Butler and VCU, they decided to not let those teams play in the postseason tourneys. I know the A10 isn't doing the same thing with Temple and Charlotte, but maybe there is fear that the A10 and MVC might be motivated to do it this time... After all, the A10 would be losing a whole lot more than Temple this time.

I've heard that the MVC has no exit fee, so Creighton could bail with little to no notice. The A10 schools might have a harder time jumping immediately if there is truly a one million dollar fee. If the BE 7 TV deal doesn't help them out, I wouldn't be totally surprised to see maybe two A10 teams jumping immediately, with two others joining the following year to avoid the fee. I don't know which teams would be which (the decision would be an economic one), but it wouldn't completely surprise me.