Villanova's Vote Delayed

It looks like the anticipation of Villanova's Board of Trustees vote to move their football team to the FBS level is going to continue to kill us for a bit longer than expected. Apparently the board was prepared to vote, but officials from the Big East conference expressed their concern for Nova's stadium arrangements. As it is, the Wildcats play in PPL Park, home of the MLS's Philadelphia Union. The stadium seats 18,500, with room for expansion to 30,000. The average attendance for football games currently reaches around 5,000 to 7,000, while the Big East's average attendance last year (which turned out to be a bad year too) was 45,028.

Now I'm not the first to have thought of this, but you've got to think Pitt is behind this. Just as USF students, and probably executives, were opposed to Central Florida moving to a BCS conference, Pitt's formerly backyard FCS team now has potential to draw some recruits and attendance away from them. This letter was released from Villanova president Fr. Peter Donohue in response to delaying the vote:

Even if Nova does end up making the jump, they won't be able to play a full FBS schedule until 2014. That said, it has to say something for Villanova's continued loyalty to the conference for thirty years that they are here to stay, and deserve to be rewarded with the kind of revenue and national attention they have earned. Mostly, though, what I'm trying to say is: Anyone but UCF.

It is important to me that you are the first to know the status of our potential transition to the Big East Conference as a football member. At this point in time, no formal action will be taken on this matter at the April 12, 2011, meeting of the Villanova Board of Trustees as we had planned and previously communicated.

We very recently learned that the Big East Conference needs more time to complete its due diligence regarding Villanova’s potential football membership. Without a clear and formal invitation from the Big East, we cannot proceed. We are now working with the Big East to provide whatever additional information and details we can. It is our hope that in the near future we will proceed with the Board of Trustees vote as planned.

I am sure that some of you may be disappointed by this delay. But please know that whatever the outcome of this situation, we greatly value the positive relationship we have enjoyed with the Big East for over 30 years and look forward to the continuation of this partnership.

I certainly will share new information with you as soon as it becomes available. In the meantime, I ask for your patience and your continued support.

Even if Nova does end up making the jump, they won't be able to play a full FBS schedule until 2014. That said, it has to say something for Villanova's continued loyalty to the conference for thirty years that they are here to stay, and deserve to be rewarded with the kind of revenue and national attention they have earned. There may be other teams in the back of Big East officials' minds, like possibly East Carolina (provides a geographical bridge between WVU and USF, pretty good recruiting, and great location), Southern Miss (geographical bridge between USF and TCU, and provides great recruiting ground), or Houston (provides a natural in-state rival for TCU, fantastic recruiting, excellent market, and good location). Not to mention that all of these schools have great fan bases and all have rivalry ties to current Big East teams (Holtz left ECU for USF, Southern Miss has had a long rivalry with Louisville from their C-USA days, and Houston is an in-state team to newcomer TCU). Mostly, though, what I'm trying to say is: Anyone but UCF.