There has been a stir among TCU fans recently about whether or not TCU should join the Big East Conference if it were indeed invited. Kirk Herbstreit was on with Galloway and Company on 103.3 ESPN Radio, and when he was asked about the TCU to the Big East rumor, he said “why would TCU take a step down?” It might be a step down as far as football competition goes, but it would be a step up in every other aspect. If the Big East were to extend an invite to TCU, the Frogs would have to take it. Here are the reasons why.
- We will start with the biggest reason and that is the fact that the Big East is a BCS automatic qualifying conference. TCU and the Mountain West have been fighting for BCS status for the MWC, so why would you not join a conference that already has what you have been fighting for? On top of that, there is no guarantee that the Mountain West Conference will ever gain automatic qualifier status.
- If TCU joined the Big East it would make a lot more money. Obviously with the Big East being a BCS conference, they have BCS money. The Big East TV deal is also better than what TCU currently has, so that would increase as well.
- The east coast exposure that TCU would get would be priceless.
- The travel is not any worse. It is actually better if you consider the fact that you would be flying east instead of west. The mileage is a little further for the Big East, but not enough to be a considerable factor.
- TCU would have an easier path to a BCS game in the Big East than the Mountain West. Currently in the Mountain West Conference, TCU has to go undefeated to even be considered for a BCS game and they could still be left out. In the Big East, you could lose one, maybe two games a year and still make a BCS bowl game. You could also argue that the football talent in the Mountain West is better than the Big East, so why not take the path of less resistance? Especially if that path has a guaranteed BCS bowl game attached to it.
- Speaking of bowl games, the Big East bowl tie-ins are WAY better than what the Mountain West currently has to offer. If TCU has a down year where they lose 3 or 4 games, there are still viable bowl options with good payouts. The Big East’s second best bowl option is the Champs Sports Bowl which pays out $2.3 million, while the best bowl option for the Mountain West is the Las Vegas Bowl which only pays out $750,000.
- The Frogs would be joining a very good basketball conference. TCU would get slaughtered, but maybe after seeing the team get steam rolled every game, TCU would make a greater commitment to the men’s basketball team.
I know people are saying the Big East is unstable, but how stable is the Mountain West Conference really? It could fall apart just as quickly. I mean look at what happened to the WAC. That conference is now scrambling to keep it together. I would rather ride it out in the Big East and see what happens rather than just sitting and waiting for something to happen in the Mountain West. If the 16 team super conference theory actually becomes a reality, I would much rather be sitting in a conference that is already affiliated with the BCS than still be on the outside looking in. That BCS perception/bias is huge to overcome.
The fact that there is no guarantee that the Mountain West will become a BCS conference is the main factor pushing me to this decision. Losing Utah and BYU was a huge blow to the MWC chances of getting a BCS bid. Yes, I like the additions of Boise State, Fresno State and Nevada, but I don’t think the conference will meet the BCS criteria with those teams.
I know people would like to just sit and wait to see what happens but what other options does TCU have? The Big XII doesn’t want TCU, the Pac-10 doesn’t want TCU, the SEC is unlikely, and so what are you left with? If the Big East does implode, what is the worse that happens? TCU ends up back where we are now, on the outside looking in. Who is to say that if the ACC raided the Big East, they wouldn’t want to take TCU along with teams like West Virginia and Pittsburgh?
If gaining access to a BCS conference was all about the play on the field, I wouldn’t be worried about this. TCU would be in perfect position right now, but it’s not. It’s about TV markets and how much money you can make for the conference. That is what makes me nervous. I just think that if you have the opportunity to join a BCS conference, you have to jump at that chance.
