Villanova Football To Join The Big East?

Villanova is a member of the Big East in every sport but one. Obviously that one sport is college football. Although with the Big East extending a formal invitation to the now perennial FCS title contender, that could all change for Villanova. From CSNPhilly.com.

Villanova says the Big East has informed the school it wants to add its football program to the conference.

The Wildcats compete in the Big East in all other varsity sports except football. Villanova won the FCS national championship last year and would move up to the Football Bowl Subdivision.

Villanova President Peter Donohue wrote a letter to Villanova alumni saying the university will evaluate the opportunity. There was no immediate comment from the Big East.

"This is a complicated issue with numerous, multi-dimensional factors that come into play, and it is important that we investigate scenarios related to making -- or not making -- such a move," Donohue wrote.

The Philadelphia Daily News reported Friday that the conference was interested in Villanova.

Donohue did not say when the program would make a decision, but it won't be until the board of trustees "conducts a careful and complete analysis" of all the factors. Among the decisions would include upgrading their football stadium or finding somewhere else to play.

For Villanova, this should hopefully be a no-brainer. For the Big East, this is clearly an act of desperation. It is no secret that the Big East is the laughing stock of the BCS football conferences and they want to do whatever they can to try and change things. Now Villanova football is unlikely to change that. All season long, they drew a mere 52,717 fans in attendance. That is not a per game basis, that is a season total at their home stadium. That being said, if you are Villanova, you could do wonders for your program by moving straight from the FCS to the BCS. Granted, they are not going to turn into a BCS national championship contender overnight, that is at least a good 10 years down the road from now, but if you are given the opportunity to jump from the FCS to the BCS, wouldn't you take it? Then again, unless Big East football can make a big move and grab a big name (*cough*cough*NotreDame*cough*cough), the odds that the Big East is a BCS conference in 10 years is probably sitting at quite slim right about now.

(For additional reading, please check out Dan Levy's article at Press Coverage)