An Orlando TV station report that Memphis and Central Florida could both receive Big East invitations "as soon as next week" has been refuted by the league, associate commissioner John Paquette told CBSSports.com on Thursday.
"We are officially denying the Orlando station's report," Paquette said.
The station described the invitations as "highly likely" to happen.
The station's sources were characterized as "multiple college football sources."
Meantime, the Orlando Sentinel described the Orlando station's report as "premature" but added that Big East officials will privately discuss expansion during a Thursday teleconference. This all comes five days after CBSSports.com reported that Memphis could receive an invitation to join the Big East "soon." That report came while other media reports detailed the Pac-10's plan to expand to 16 schools and eliminate the Big 12, which would've likely created a slew of movement throughout the rest of the nation. On Monday, however, Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe convinced the 10 remaining Big 12 members to commit to his league. That led to the Pac-10 only inviting Utah and, almost certainly, halting expansion at 12 members, which most believe will prevent the Big Ten from raiding the Big East in an attempt to reach 16 members and by extension prevent the Big East from having to recover.
Utah is expected to accept an invitation to join the Pac-10 on Thursday afternoon.
The Big East currently features eight football-playing members and 16 schools that compete in men's basketball. The additions of Memphis and Central Florida would give the Big East 10 football-playing members and 18 schools to compete in men's basketball -- plus two notable television markets, the nation's third-largest university (UCF), and another nationally relevant basketball program (Memphis).
Seems like a win-win situation for everyone..
"We are officially denying the Orlando station's report," Paquette said.
The station described the invitations as "highly likely" to happen.
The station's sources were characterized as "multiple college football sources."
Meantime, the Orlando Sentinel described the Orlando station's report as "premature" but added that Big East officials will privately discuss expansion during a Thursday teleconference. This all comes five days after CBSSports.com reported that Memphis could receive an invitation to join the Big East "soon." That report came while other media reports detailed the Pac-10's plan to expand to 16 schools and eliminate the Big 12, which would've likely created a slew of movement throughout the rest of the nation. On Monday, however, Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe convinced the 10 remaining Big 12 members to commit to his league. That led to the Pac-10 only inviting Utah and, almost certainly, halting expansion at 12 members, which most believe will prevent the Big Ten from raiding the Big East in an attempt to reach 16 members and by extension prevent the Big East from having to recover.
Utah is expected to accept an invitation to join the Pac-10 on Thursday afternoon.
The Big East currently features eight football-playing members and 16 schools that compete in men's basketball. The additions of Memphis and Central Florida would give the Big East 10 football-playing members and 18 schools to compete in men's basketball -- plus two notable television markets, the nation's third-largest university (UCF), and another nationally relevant basketball program (Memphis).
Seems like a win-win situation for everyone..
