In perhaps its first proactive move since all of the talk began about expansion by several conferences, the Big East has reportedly extended an invitation to Villanova to become a football playing member. The Wildcats have been in the Big East for many years, but currently play football in the FCS (formerly Division I-AA).
↵You might be wondering what the Big East gains by adding an FCS school. It will likely take several years before they turn into even a competitive team. The key doesn't lie so much in quality as it does in merely staying afloat. By adding Villanova, and perhaps others down the line, the conference may still be able to survive if it loses some of its members to other conferences.
↵Villanova turned down a request to join the conference as a football member back in 1997. But it won the FCS National Championship last season and may be more willing to make the plunge if it feels like it can build upon that success.
↵I go into this in a little more detail over at my blog, Cardiac Hill.
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