Mountain West members Air Force and Boise State haven’t received invitations to join the Big East, yet. However, John Marinatto, commissioner of the expansion-hungry Big East, said on a national teleconference Tuesday there is unanimous support to double the projected six-school membership.
“We cannot publically identify any institution,” Marinatto said. “I will say we’re happy with the quality of the schools that have expressed interest.”
Air Force athletic director Hans Mueh, Boise State president Robert Kustra and MWC commissioner Craig Thompson have acknowledged discussions among those schools and the Big East. Navy and Conference USA members Central Florida, Houston and SMU are among other candidates.
The teleconference was generated in part to confirm reports that the exit fee has been doubled from $5 million to $10 million. It will be effective if even one new institution joins.
A year ago, the Western Athletic Conference had a similar proposal strengthening the exit fee in an attempt to lure BYU back. The deal collapsed and three more teams left for the Mountain West.
Marinatto could not give any timeline for invitations, acceptances or announcements.
“Stay tuned. We’re working diligently,” he said. “We do not want to rush ourselves to meet anyone’s deadlines.”
Renewed talk of Big East expansion was prompted by the Atlantic Coast Conference’s raid on Syracuse and Pittsburgh. The Big East then set its sights on the Mountain West and C-USA.
Marinatto said the difference between the ACC and Big East territorial moves is the Big East is pursuing expansion in an open manner and didn’t want anyone to feel “blindsided or bushwhacked.”
The commissioner also said last week’s announcement of a MWC and Conference USA merger had no impact on Big East expansion.
With departures of Pitt and Syracuse, and TCU never making it to the league, there have been reports Louisville and West Virginia could be the next defections from the Big East. The commissioner said there have been no conversations of disbanding the league.
While he couldn’t guarantee retaining BCS status past 2013, that is obviously the goal.
Natalie Meisler: 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com
