In the chaotic power struggle of conference realignment, one action needs to take place: East Carolina University’s move to the Big East Conference.
For now, it appears that East Carolina will not receive an invitation to join the conference, even as a football-only school. But ECU should not give up on the pursuit to join a power conference, which could allow for growth as an athletic and academic institution.
The state’s elected officials deserve praise for coming together in support of this move, which would not only benefit ECU but also add a third power conference team to the UNC system. Those officials, Gov. Bev Perdue, Sen. Richard Burr and Sen. Kay Hagan, must be steadfast in their support and not stop with their letter to the presidents of the Big East.
The Big East has arguably been hurt the most by recent moves in college athletics. It has already lost four schools to other conference expansions. In order to compensate these losses, the conference has extended invitations to six schools, three of which are being invited as football-only schools.
With a strong football program, devoted fan base and steadily improving academic credentials, ECU could prove a valuable addition to the Big East — at least as a football-only member — if one or more schools decline their invitations. An invitation for ECU would give the Big East a foothold in a new market, North Carolina, much like Pittsburgh and Syracuse did for the ACC in their home states.
The Big East must realize ECU’s potential. By eventually extending ECU an invitation, the university and conference can grow together.
