On Sunday, the New York Times posted a column on its website which featured sports writer Pete Thamel asking TCU athletic director Chris Del Conte what’s the possibility of the Horned Frogs becoming one of the two new members of the Big East conference.
“From my perspective, we have a long ways to go,” Del Conte responded on Saturday. “We’ve done zero work or analysis on the situation because nothing has happened to a point to have that conversation. All you have is massive whispers.”
Thamel offered his opinion on adding TCU, currently the No. 3 team in the BCS standings:
“TCU would certainly help, and the arrangement would be mutually beneficial, giving the Horned Frogs two things they lack now — the ability to automatically qualify for a BCS game by winning the league and better visibility. (The Mountain West’s television contracts have limited league’s exposure.)”
Thamel also mentioned that Central Florida and Villanova were viable options for the Big East.
“(Villanova) has an inside track on one of those two slots if it decides to move up to the Football Bowl Subdivision… Villanova won the Football Championship Subdivision national title last year. And since it is already a Big East member in other sports, and offers the Philadelphia market, it would be an easy choice.”
“Central Florida, in Orlando, makes more geographic sense than TCU, and it offers a top-20 television market.”
For the next several months there will be rumors and speculation about who is going to be the new additions.
Who do you think the Big East will add?