Staff Editorial

Big East bid brings dawn of new era

Suddenly the future of UH Athletics looks more promising. At last, it appears the University will make a return to a celebrated athletic conference.

The Big East extended an offer to UH and five other schools Friday. And although officials have yet to comment on the situation, it seems a given that the offer will be accepted.

This means if UH wins its conference it will automatically qualify for a BCS bowl, or even the national championship game — a status much more difficult to attain in Conference USA, a non-automatic qualifying league.

There is a joke to be made about UH playing in a conference called the Big East, but given the recent conference realignment activity, one thing is clear: Tradition is secondary in today’s era of college sports.

Each institution needs to look out for its own best interests. When it became evident that UH would not be asked to join the Big 12, the next best option revealed itself in the form of a Big East invitation.

But there is still plenty of work to be done. It is imperative that a new football venue to replace Robertson Stadium get built in a timely fashion, followed by much-needed renovations to Hofheinz Pavilion.

UH will likely have to pay a hefty exit fee to leave C-USA, and an array of logistical challenges are guaranteed to happen. But the money earned from more nationally-televised games will offset those costs and give the University exposure like it has never had before.

The convenience of playing schools such as Rice, Tulane and UTEP will be missed. And regularly competing against Cincinnati, Rutgers and West Virginia will take some getting used to, but the move is definitely worth it.

However, this exciting news should not overshadow the 2011 season.

Do not lose sight of the Cougars’ remaining six football games. This season still has all the makings to be a special one; this news should only add to the buzz of this year and not belittle the University’s current success.

6 Comments

  • Big East is dead in less than two years and the Cougs, unfortunately, will be on the outside looking in…again. And this time, with no regional rivalries. I hope they turn down the invite.

  • All these gloom and doom people need to get a life ! The Big east is adding far better football teams than it's losing ! I mean no one should confuse Pitt and Syracuse with Texas and Oklahoma !!! Welcome Houston !!!!

  • A great move that hopefully does go through. The real benefit here is the basketball competition. We will truly see the Phi Slamma Jamma days relived.

    GO COOGS!!

  • A great move that hopefully does go through. The real benefit here is the basketball competition. We will truly see the Phi Slamma Jamma days relived.

    GO COOGS!!

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