Other Sports BYU stops talks, will not join Big East

Mr. Laz · 11-22-2011, 10:33 PM

Updated: November 22, 2011, 10:30 PM ET
Report: BYU won't join Big East

Brigham Young won't be part of the Big East's westward expansion.

Negotiations between the rebuilding conference and BYU have broken off, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The person spoke Tuesday on condition of anonymity because the conference and school have not been making their talks public.

"BYU to the Big East is dead. It's not going to happen," the person said.

BYU athletic department spokesman Brett Pyne said in an email that school officials declined a request for comment.

The Big East was trying to add BYU as part of its plan to expand westward and become a 12-team football league.

At issue are television rights. The person says BYU wanted to retain the rights to its home football games and the league could not agree to that.

No other school in a major conference has such a deal.

BYU, based in Provo, Utah, left the Mountain West Conference after last season, entered the West Coast Conference for all other sports besides football and struck an eight-year-deal with ESPN.

The Big 12 had courted BYU earlier this year when it was looking to replace Texas A&M and later Missouri, but working out a television agreement prevented a deal.

The Big East ultimately ran into the same problem as it tried to persuade the school to become a football-only member.

Big East Commissioner John Marinatto had been talking to BYU about joining the league for weeks. But the school's desire to retain the TV rights to its home games did not come up until late in the discussions, the person said.

Negotiations between the league and school ended in the last 48 hours, the person said.

The fruitless negotiations with BYU have held up the Big East's expansion plans. The league for weeks has been courting Boise State, Air Force and Navy as football-only members, and Conference USA schools SMU, Houston and Central Florida to join in all sports.

Boise State and Air Force play in the MWC. Navy is a football independent.

The move west for the Big East was prompted by the announced departures of Syracuse and Pittsburgh to the Atlantic Coast Conference in September.

Then West Virginia announced late last month that it was ditching the Big East for the Big 12, leaving the Big East with five long-term football members and opening another spot. Adding BYU then became a priority.

Now that BYU is off the table, the Big East will move on to other schools.

Temple, which plays in the Mid-American Conference and was once in the Big East, has been trying to get back in. East Carolina, another C-USA school, publicly announced it had applied for membership last month, and C-USA rival Memphis has also been pushed by some in the Big East for its excellent basketball program, most notably Louisville coach Rick Pitino.

But Boise State, which is nearly 1,900 miles away from the closest current Big East member -- Louisville -- would prefer the Big East bulk up its new western division.

Provo is 382 miles from Boise, Idaho.

CBSSports.com reported Tuesday that San Diego State of the Mountain West is the Big East's next western target.

The Big East has been trying to convince potential members that joining will lead to more television revenue, greater television exposure and access to an automatic BCS bid.

The Big East is one of six conferences with automatic qualifying status in the Bowl Championship Series through the 2013 season. But beyond that, there is no guarantee the conference will have an automatic BCS bid.

Even if the Big East can complete its expansion plans and bring in seven new schools, the new-look league might not debut until 2013. There are stumbling blocks that could prevent most of the potential new members from joining next year.

Marinatto has been adamant about making Syracuse, Pittsburgh and West Virginia honor the Big East's 27-month notification period, which would keep those schools in the league until 2014.

West Virginia has sued the Big East in its effort to join the Big 12 by next football season. The Big East filed its own lawsuit to force West Virginia to stay.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/...cording-report
Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

Reerun_KC · 11-22-2011, 10:34 PM

Big 12 Awaits...

RustShack · 11-22-2011, 10:37 PM

Probably because they know a team or two from the BigEast is still heading to the Big12. And/Or they are just "negotiating" trying to get the Big12 to start talks back up with them.

**Bane** · 11-22-2011, 10:43 PM

**Renegade** · 11-22-2011, 11:14 PM

Since the BCS is such a joke, just get rid of all conferences and let the teams play who they want or can put on their schedule.

**Buck** · 11-22-2011, 11:22 PM

Yeah, so the Big East is going to span from San Diego to Connecticut (if SDSU takes an offer).

That's nuts.

KChiefs1 · 11-22-2011, 11:52 PM

Can't wait to see the reaction when the first Big 12 team travels to Morgantown.

**Gonzo** · 11-23-2011, 12:28 AM

Oh those crazy Mormons and their Thetan levels. Always starting shit.
Posted via Mobile Device

chiefs1111 · 11-23-2011, 03:23 AM

To the shrimp boat

11-22-2011, 10:33 PM
Mr. Laz Don't Tease Me Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: KS Casino cash: $11047037	BYU stops talks, will not join Big East Updated: November 22, 2011, 10:30 PM ET Report: BYU won't join Big East Brigham Young won't be part of the Big East's westward expansion. Negotiations between the rebuilding conference and BYU have broken off, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The person spoke Tuesday on condition of anonymity because the conference and school have not been making their talks public. "BYU to the Big East is dead. It's not going to happen," the person said. BYU athletic department spokesman Brett Pyne said in an email that school officials declined a request for comment. The Big East was trying to add BYU as part of its plan to expand westward and become a 12-team football league. At issue are television rights. The person says BYU wanted to retain the rights to its home football games and the league could not agree to that. No other school in a major conference has such a deal. BYU, based in Provo, Utah, left the Mountain West Conference after last season, entered the West Coast Conference for all other sports besides football and struck an eight-year-deal with ESPN. The Big 12 had courted BYU earlier this year when it was looking to replace Texas A&M and later Missouri, but working out a television agreement prevented a deal. The Big East ultimately ran into the same problem as it tried to persuade the school to become a football-only member. Big East Commissioner John Marinatto had been talking to BYU about joining the league for weeks. But the school's desire to retain the TV rights to its home games did not come up until late in the discussions, the person said. Negotiations between the league and school ended in the last 48 hours, the person said. The fruitless negotiations with BYU have held up the Big East's expansion plans. The league for weeks has been courting Boise State, Air Force and Navy as football-only members, and Conference USA schools SMU, Houston and Central Florida to join in all sports. Boise State and Air Force play in the MWC. Navy is a football independent. The move west for the Big East was prompted by the announced departures of Syracuse and Pittsburgh to the Atlantic Coast Conference in September. Then West Virginia announced late last month that it was ditching the Big East for the Big 12, leaving the Big East with five long-term football members and opening another spot. Adding BYU then became a priority. Now that BYU is off the table, the Big East will move on to other schools. Temple, which plays in the Mid-American Conference and was once in the Big East, has been trying to get back in. East Carolina, another C-USA school, publicly announced it had applied for membership last month, and C-USA rival Memphis has also been pushed by some in the Big East for its excellent basketball program, most notably Louisville coach Rick Pitino. But Boise State, which is nearly 1,900 miles away from the closest current Big East member -- Louisville -- would prefer the Big East bulk up its new western division. Provo is 382 miles from Boise, Idaho. CBSSports.com reported Tuesday that San Diego State of the Mountain West is the Big East's next western target. The Big East has been trying to convince potential members that joining will lead to more television revenue, greater television exposure and access to an automatic BCS bid. The Big East is one of six conferences with automatic qualifying status in the Bowl Championship Series through the 2013 season. But beyond that, there is no guarantee the conference will have an automatic BCS bid. Even if the Big East can complete its expansion plans and bring in seven new schools, the new-look league might not debut until 2013. There are stumbling blocks that could prevent most of the potential new members from joining next year. Marinatto has been adamant about making Syracuse, Pittsburgh and West Virginia honor the Big East's 27-month notification period, which would keep those schools in the league until 2014. West Virginia has sued the Big East in its effort to join the Big 12 by next football season. The Big East filed its own lawsuit to force West Virginia to stay. http://espn.go.com/college-football/...cording-report Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press
Posts: 95,626

11-22-2011, 10:34 PM	#2
Reerun_KC Rock Chalk Jayhawks! KU!!! Join Date: Aug 2005 Casino cash: $8301160	Big 12 Awaits...
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11-22-2011, 10:37 PM	#3
RustShack **** That Noise Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Jack Trice Casino cash: $4686954	Probably because they know a team or two from the BigEast is still heading to the Big12. And/Or they are just "negotiating" trying to get the Big12 to start talks back up with them. __________________
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11-22-2011, 10:43 PM	#4
Bane C.H.I.E.F.S Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: **** your face Casino cash: $10005055	Lol
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11-22-2011, 11:14 PM	#5
Renegade Just Lurking Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Ozark Mountain Country Casino cash: $1757904	Since the BCS is such a joke, just get rid of all conferences and let the teams play who they want or can put on their schedule.
Posts: 2,007

11-22-2011, 11:22 PM	#6
Buck Take a Chill Pill Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Carolina Casino cash: $8319900	Yeah, so the Big East is going to span from San Diego to Connecticut (if SDSU takes an offer). That's nuts.
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11-22-2011, 11:52 PM	#7
KChiefs1 I’m a Mahomo! Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Mid-Missouri Casino cash: $6771021	Can't wait to see the reaction when the first Big 12 team travels to Morgantown. __________________
Posts: 54,038

11-23-2011, 12:28 AM	#8
Gonzo Stuff & Things Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: The Yukon Casino cash: $10126924	Oh those crazy Mormons and their Thetan levels. Always starting shit. Posted via Mobile Device
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11-23-2011, 03:23 AM	#9
chiefs1111 In Search of a Life Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Parts Unknown Casino cash: $1533166	To the shrimp boat
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