Coming Sunday: Will TU eventually join Big East?
BY BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Saturday, January 19, 2013
During the last 20 days — after returning from Memphis, Tenn., where they watched the Golden Hurricane football team defeat Iowa State in the Liberty Bowl — University of Tulsa officials resumed their survey of the Conference USA condition, their dialogue with representatives of other schools and leagues and their conversations with significant donors who occupy positions within TU’s inner circle.
As of today, this is TU’s status:
The university’s switch from Conference USA membership to Big East Conference membership seems to have graduated from a possibility to a likelihood.
Furthermore, the Mountain West Conference scenario still has a pulse. If that league decides to expand beyond 12 schools, Tulsa is believed to believe on the Mountain West radar.
However, by the time Mountain West officials make that determination, TU might already have committed to a Big East switch.
And if there is a place for Tulsa in the Big East, it is because of what occurred last week. San Diego State, which had accepted a Big East membership invitation, is staying in the Mountain West. Six current Conference USA schools — SMU, Houston, Tulane, Memphis, East Carolina and Central Florida — are moving to the Big East.
Sources told the Tulsa World that TU could get an invitation by the end of the month, and that membership likely would take effect with the start of the 2014 football season.
Read more in Sunday's Tulsa World.
Associated Images:
University of Tulsa players celebrate following their win in the Liberty Bowl. TU could get invites from both the Big East and the Mountain West Conference. TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World
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