Memphis to Join the Big-East

More Big East expansion has taken place and it's an old partner out of Conference USA. University of Memphis will be joining a slew of others in the expansion process that is to take place in 2013. It was announced Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012 by Conference USA Commissioner Britton Banowsky that Memphis is on its way out come Fall of 2013. The news conference took place in the ‘River City.' U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) couldn't hold in his excitement when he heard about his alma mater, "I am thrilled that my hometown team and alma mater the University of Memphis is being invited to join the Big East!"

Invites were previously extended to Central Florida, Navy, Boise State, SMU, Houston, and San Diego State, with the departure of West Virginia to the Big 12, and Pittsburgh and Syracuse to the ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference). The plan along for the Big East was to eventually get a 12 team conference so that which the we could finally hold a Big East title game.

Now that the tigers are to be in the Big East, a rivalry between them and the Louisville Cardinals can now be restored, a rivalry that will be rekindled not only on the football field but on the hardwood and on the diamond. The University of Memphis will participate in all athletic competitions unlike some of the other invitees to join.

Ironically enough, the Tigers home field for football is the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, the same stadium where your Cincinnati Bearcats defeated the Vanderbilt Commodores 31-24.