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Over and over I have looked at the articles. Over and over I have read the opinions, and over and over I keep coming up with the same conclusion.

What is the worst thing that could happen if Boise State was to join the Big East Conference?

Well, one thing I have heard a lot about from bloggers and fans is that the Broncos could find themselves in a conference that collapses shortly after joining.

So what about that? What if the Broncos were somehow duped into joining a conference that dissipated, what would they do?

I think the worst case scenario is that they would come back to the Mountain West. Don't think for a second that the MWC wouldn't take them back either. Boise State is a valuable football commodity to the Mountain West and, from what it looks like, the Big East recognizes that as well.

Right now, the Big East probably needs Boise State's numbers to assure themselves of an auto bid into the BCS. Don't think for a second that the Mountain West doesn't covet those numbers as well.

The only thing that would stop Boise State from going back to the Mountain West, if they were to leave for the Big East, would be if the majority of schools in the MWC didn't want them to come back. If that were to happen, I think that Boise State could probably partner with other independent schools and ESPN or other television partners to go independent.

Some say that BSU doesn't have the money to go that direction. I say you are right. However, if BSU was able to partner with other independents, acquire a television deal and develop a strong schedule, it might be a very good thing, and the money would be there.

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Okay, but what about this...Lets say BSU goes to the Big East and then that conference loses its automatic bid into a BCS game, what would the Broncos do then?

Well, they could do what I have mentioned above, or they could stay playing in a better conference than the watered down Mountain West.

Even in its current condition, the Big East is an improvement in the strength of schedule area. This would allow Boise State to actually be considered for a chance to play in the BCS championship game, or at the very least help to stop the "strength of schedule" criticism.

Look at this possible list of opponents on any given year:

Louisville, West Virginia, Cincinnati, Houston, SMU and Air Force. These are the schools that the Big East hopes to make up its western division according to one source. Add to that BYU and five games of Boise State's choosing, and you have a pretty compelling season.

Even if the Big East somehow loses the auto bid, it is still a step up in many ways.

Okay, okay, but what about this...What if BSU joins the Big East and Louisville and West Virginia leave, then is it a step up in competition?

Probably not, but it would be at least equal to what the Broncos have now, and again they could always go back to the MWC or pursue independence.

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What about the cost of travel?

The Big East TV money is more than enough to make up for the difference, and bring in a healthy amount to build facilities and stadium expansion. Not to mention that television money is probably going to go up if the Big East is successful in landing all the schools it has targeted.

What about the length of travel, won't it affect the team?

I thought it might too, but Coach Petersen says it wouldn't. He says one or two more hours on a plane is nothing.

Well, what about the fact that all the Big East Conference tie-ins for bowl games are on the east coast. Wouldn't that be hard for Bronco fans to travel to a bowl?

Yes, currently, but you can't tell me that if the Big East acquires SMU, Houston, Air Force and Boise State, that a bowl game tie-in wouldn't follow.

There are several bowls that would love to see any of these schools participate. The Armed Forces Bowl in Forth Worth would be a good one to target. It currently has tie-ins with Conference USA and BYU or the No.4 or 5 Mountain West team. The Meineke Car Care Bowl in Houston would be a possibility in at-large years. The Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl in San Francisco would be another.

Hmm...

So, any more questions?

...Probably