Good interview by Coach Schnellenberger, he's a class act. Interesting comments at the end about moving into The Big East and to win a national championship:
http://www.thestn.us/

Welcome to the forum TidePhin!

Your handle, does it represent Alabama and the Miami Dolphins?

I have to agree with Coach and I hope this is their approach to this expansion/realignment talk. I too agree we would be a great fit!

If we are invited to join say, the Big East, they would have viewers from ALL of S. Florida. As millions of people living here are from the northeast and the eastern seabord, who would at the least be tuning in to watch the other Big East teams vs. the Owls and each other!

I know many other schools are more established and even better qualified on the field of play, but the media market they can draw from is VERY lacking (East Carolina, Marshall, even Troy and MTSU for that matter)in being of much interest to networks committing to multi-milion dollar annual contracts per school!

Think, precident has been set, South Florida was nothing in sports even in their brief time in CUSA, they were invited to the Big East for their media market only (Tampa/St. Pete). They were and are not even a remote fit geographically to the rest of the conference which is very bad for travel costs, so why were they invited and not say Memphis.

Interesting thought is'nt it!

I say if the Big East survives AND expands to remain competitive (ie.. a superconference of 14 to 16 teams with an AQ bid), it is a VERY GOOD CHANCE that FAU will be invited!

Got get'em Coach and Mr. Angelos!

Rick said

Welcome to the forum TidePhin!

Your handle, does it represent Alabama and the Miami Dolphins?

Yes! I am a fan of both… I will tell you one thing, FAU has a great coach to get thing started. The new stadium is almost built and if Coach Schnell can get in The Big East, South FLA is the best recruiting base. FAU has great potential in about 10 years. I really think this will be a much better program than the South Florida Bulls

Quick question?  When do these mega-conferences come into play?  This season? Two years? Three years?

The said

Quick question?  When do these mega-conferences come into play?  This season? Two years? Three years?

Yeah I'm also confused how a realignment would affect bowl agreements, since the expiration date for those is different for each one. I assume what would happen is that if there is a major alignment shift - meaning on the order of eliminating entire conferences - then all bowl agreements will immediately go back on the table for renegotiations.

we arent a big east school point blank.  I think we are only looking at the football aspect which isnt currently up to Big East standards but what about are 2000 seat gym I cant see the Big east being a fan of that at this point FIU has done more to be a big East school think about it…they have a stadium we dont, last check they had higher academic standards, more professional athletes, bigger donors, Miami>>>Boca, etc. All we can say is that we are better athletically but its a moot point if they moved to the big east they would become better in that area.  the same argument can be made for UCF they are Big East ready we simply are not.

You really think FAU would let a basketball arena hold them out of the Big East?  No way.  If that was the deciding factor we would build a comparable basketball arena in 18 months.  I think a new facility is already in the plans as part of the 3rd phase of this whole innovation village thing anyway.

walty12 said

You really think FAU would let a basketball arena hold them out of the Big East?  No way.  If that was the deciding factor we would build a comparable basketball arena in 18 months.  I think a new facility is already in the plans as part of the 3rd phase of this whole innovation village thing anyway.

Well I said we are not a Big East school yet and you said we could have a basketball arena in 18 months which is my point We are not a Big East school right now that does not mean we will never be one it means we have a long way to go before we could put ourselves in a position where the Big East will consider FAU.  Conference realignment is still a while away imo its in its infancy right now

owlmart said

walty12 said

You really think FAU would let a basketball arena hold them out of the Big East?  No way.  If that was the deciding factor we would build a comparable basketball arena in 18 months.  I think a new facility is already in the plans as part of the 3rd phase of this whole innovation village thing anyway.

Well I said we are not a Big East school yet and you said we could have a basketball arena in 18 months which is my point We are not a Big East school right now that does not mean we will never be one it means we have a long way to go before we could put ourselves in a position where the Big East will consider FAU.  Conference realignment is still a while away imo its in its infancy right now

My only point is that FAU would grow up quickly if it were in the Big East or a conference of similar stature.  If we had the guaranteed revenue that those conferences provide our facilities would upgraded in a quick hurry and our attendance would go up dramatically playing the likes of West Virginia, Syracuse, etc.

I mean saying "FAU wont get in because the facilities arent currently nice enough" is the equivolent of my boss not giving me a promotion because my house and car aren't nice enough….to which I say give me the promotion so I can afford the house and the car.