Editing Big East Conference (1979–2013) (section)

===Continued instability===
{{Main|2010–13 Big East Conference realignment}}
{{See also|2010–2014 NCAA conference realignment}}
In 2010, [[Texas Christian University]] accepted an invitation to join the conference as an all-sports member beginning in the 2012–13 academic year.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bet.com/article/ig1b1q/ap-source-tcu-going-to-big-east-conference|title=AP source: TCU going to Big East Conference|agency=Associated Press|publisher=BET.com|date=November 29, 2010|access-date=September 20, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150105052322/http://www.bet.com/news/sports/tcubigeastconference.html|archive-date=January 5, 2015}}</ref> Big East schools compete in Division I. Most of the football-playing schools play in Division I FBS, while Georgetown and Villanova have Division I FCS (formerly I-AA) football programs. Georgetown football competes in the [[Patriot League]]. Villanova has competed in the [[Colonial Athletic Association]] football conference since 1988, dating back to its time as a completely separate conference known as the [[Yankee Conference]], which merged with the [[Atlantic 10 Conference]] in 1997, then in 2007 the CAA took over management of the A-10 football conference (which happened after [[Northeastern University]] joined the CAA in 2005, giving them the six football-playing members needed to start sponsoring football, which was eventually dropped by Northeastern after 2009). In September 2010, in the wake of a [[2010–13 NCAA conference realignment|Division I realignment]] that affected a number of conferences around the country, the Big East asked Villanova to consider becoming a football member. The school once considered the offer, which required the school to substantially expand its football budget, as well as expand [[Villanova Stadium|its stadium]] to meet FBS requirements or find another suitable venue in the [[Delaware Valley|Philadelphia area]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=5553575 |title=Villanova considering Big East invitation |publisher=ESPN  |date=September 10, 2010 |access-date=September 11, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100913010809/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5553575| archive-date= September 13, 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref> Villanova presented a plan to the Big East football members on April 10, 2011, which included the use of [[PPL Park]] as a football stadium, but the league declined to schedule a vote to offer membership on the objections of Pittsburgh, West Virginia and Rutgers to the plan. On September 17, 2011, Syracuse, a charter member of the conference, and Pittsburgh announced that they would be leaving the Big East for the [[Atlantic Coast Conference]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/18/sports/big-east-exit-is-said-to-begin-for-syracuse-and-pittsburgh.html | date=September 17, 2011 | work=The New York Times | first=Pete | last=Thamel |author-link=Pete Thamel | title=If Syracuse and Pitt Move On, Things Could Get Interesting | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110923234312/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/18/sports/big-east-exit-is-said-to-begin-for-syracuse-and-pittsburgh.html?_r=1 | archive-date=September 23, 2011 | df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-basketball/story/2011-09-19/pittsburgh-syracuse-big-east-move-to-acc-conference-realignment-john-swofford |title=Report: Big East will hold Syracuse, Pittsburgh to 27-month notice |work=[[Sporting News]] |date=September 20, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20110921083846/http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-basketball/story/2011-09-19/pittsburgh-syracuse-big-east-move-to-acc-conference-realignment-john-swofford |archive-date=September 21, 2011  }}</ref> Both schools originally intended to fulfill their commitment to the 27-month waiting period.  TCU also reversed its decision and accepted an invitation from the [[Big 12 Conference]] to move there.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/dallas/ncf/story/_/id/7085749/big-12-vote-unanimous-allow-tcu-horned-frogs-2012-13|title=TCU joins Big 12 for 2012–13|publisher=ESPN|date=October 10, 2011|access-date=October 10, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012010708/http://espn.go.com/dallas/ncf/story/_/id/7085749/big-12-vote-unanimous-allow-tcu-horned-frogs-2012-13|archive-date=October 12, 2011}}</ref><ref name="TCUBig12">{{cite news|url=http://gofrogs.cstv.com/genrel/101011aad.html|title=TCU Accepts Invitation To Join Big 12 Conference|publisher=[[TCU Horned Frogs|TCU Athletic Department]]|date=October 10, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012192118/http://gofrogs.cstv.com/genrel/101011aad.html|archive-date=October 12, 2011|access-date=October 11, 2011}}</ref>

On October 28, 2011, it was announced by the Big 12 Conference that West Virginia accepted its invitation to join, with membership beginning in 2012. This timeline was challenged by the Big East, and countersuits were launched by the school and conference.  Eventually, a settlement was reached with allowed West Virginia's departure for 2012 in exchange for sizable compensation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.big12sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=106181&SPID=13139&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=205379627&DB_OEM_ID=10410 |title=2012 Football Schedule Announced – Big 12 Conference |publisher=Big12sports.com |date=May 14, 2012 |access-date=July 19, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503001614/http://www.big12sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=106181&SPID=13139&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=10410&ATCLID=205379627 |archive-date=May 3, 2012  }}</ref> Syracuse and Pittsburgh then used the acquiescence of the Big East to West Virginia's departure to challenge the validity of their own commitment, and the Big East agreed to a settlement with both schools in July 2012 to allow their departure for the 2013 academic year.<ref name=SyracuseDeparture>{{cite web |url=http://www.bigeast.org/News/tabid/435/Article/235666/BIG-EAST,-Syracuse-University-Reach-Agreement-on-Syracuse-Departure-From-the-BIG-EAST.aspx |title=BIG EAST, Syracuse University Reach Agreement on Syracuse Departure From the BIG EAST |publisher=The BIG EAST Conference |access-date=July 17, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716174448/http://www.bigeast.org/News/tabid/435/Article/235666/BIG-EAST,-Syracuse-University-Reach-Agreement-on-Syracuse-Departure-From-the-BIG-EAST.aspx |archive-date=July 16, 2012  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bigeast.org/News/tabid/435/Article/235709/BIG-EAST-Conference,-University-of-Pittsburgh-Reach-Agreement-on-Pittsburgh-Departure-From-The-BIG-EAST.aspx |title=BIG EAST Conference, University of Pittsburgh Reach Agreement on Pittsburgh Departure From The BIG EAST > The BIG EAST Conference > News |access-date=July 18, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523081820/http://www.bigeast.org/News/tabid/435/Article/235709/BIG-EAST-Conference,-University-of-Pittsburgh-Reach-Agreement-on-Pittsburgh-Departure-From-The-BIG-EAST.aspx |archive-date=May 23, 2013  }}</ref>

In December, after the 2011 football regular season was completed announcements were made that [[Boise State University]] and [[San Diego State University]], both of the [[Mountain West Conference]], would join the Big East in football only; and that Conference USA members [[University of Central Florida]], [[Southern Methodist University]], and the [[University of Houston]] would join in all sports for the 2013 academic year.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/football/ncaa/12/06/big-east-expansion.ap/index.html?sct=hp_t2_a4&eref=sihp | work=CNN | title=Source: Big East set to add Boise State, four others in 2013 | date=December 6, 2011 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120116014442/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/football/ncaa/12/06/big-east-expansion.ap/index.html?sct=hp_t2_a4&eref=sihp | archive-date=January 16, 2012 | df=mdy-all }}</ref>

On January 24, 2012, the [[United States Naval Academy|Navy Midshipmen]] accepted an invitation to join the Big East for football only starting in 2015.

On February 9, 2012, the Big East invited the [[University of Memphis]] to join as a full member in all sports to begin play in 2013.

On March 7, 2012, it was announced that [[Temple Owls football|Temple University]] would return to the conference for football in the 2012 season, filling the void left by West Virginia. Temple would join for all sports in 2013. [[Temple Owls men's basketball|Temple basketball]] would move over from the [[Atlantic 10 Conference]], where they have been a perennial powerhouse.

On August 29, 2012, Loyola and the [[Patriot League]] announced that all Loyola athletic teams, including the school's Big East team in women's lacrosse, would join that conference on July 1, 2013.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.patriotleague.org/genrel/082912aaa.html |title=Loyola University Maryland accepts invitation to join Patriot League starting with 2013–14 season |publisher=Patriot League |date=August 29, 2012 |access-date=August 30, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830114515/http://www.patriotleague.org/genrel/082912aaa.html |archive-date=August 30, 2012  }}</ref>

On September 12, 2012, Notre Dame announced it would follow Pittsburgh and Syracuse to the ACC, joining that league in all sports except football. Notre Dame and the Big East reached agreement on March 13, 2013; the exit took place July 1, 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/9042949/notre-dame-big-east-agree-irish-exit-2-years-early-join-acc |title=Notre Dame/Big East agree on Irish exit |work=ESPN.com |date=March 12, 2013 |access-date=March 13, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130312211826/http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/9042949/notre-dame-big-east-agree-irish-exit-2-years-early-join-acc |archive-date=March 12, 2013  }}</ref>

On November 20, 2012, Rutgers announced it would be leaving the Big East to join the [[Big Ten Conference]] as a full member, effective with the start of the 2014–15 academic year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://msn.foxsports.com/collegefootball/story/rutgers-announces-move-to-big-ten-112012 |title=Rutgers announces move to Big Ten – College Football News &#124; FOX Sports on MSN |publisher=Msn.foxsports.com |date=November 20, 2012 |access-date=January 20, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121125050/http://msn.foxsports.com/collegefootball/story/rutgers-announces-move-to-big-ten-112012 |archive-date=January 21, 2013  }}</ref>  Rutgers' announcement came one day after the [[University of Maryland]] departed the ACC to join the Big Ten.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/chicago/story/_/id/8651934/maryland-terrapins-join-big-ten-rutgers-scarlet-knights-join-well-sources-say |title=Maryland Terrapins to join Big Ten; Rutgers Scarlet Knights to join as well, sources say – ESPN Chicago |publisher=Espn.go.com |date=November 20, 2012 |access-date=January 20, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130102210026/http://espn.go.com/chicago/story/_/id/8651934/maryland-terrapins-join-big-ten-rutgers-scarlet-knights-join-well-sources-say |archive-date=January 2, 2013  }}</ref>  One week later, on November 27, [[Tulane University]] accepted the Big East's invitation to join as an all-sports member. [[East Carolina University]]'s football program also joined the Big East in 2014; both schools were previously with Conference USA.<ref name=NOLA-2012-11-27>{{cite news|last=Roach|first=John|title=Tulane agrees to join the Big East, starting in July 2014.|url=http://www.nola.com/tulane/index.ssf/2012/11/tulane_agrees_to_join_the_big.html|access-date=November 27, 2012|newspaper=New Orleans Times-Picayune|date=November 27, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727185419/http://www.nola.com/tulane/index.ssf/2012/11/tulane_agrees_to_join_the_big.html|archive-date=July 27, 2013}}</ref><ref name=NOLA-2012-11-27b>{{cite news|title=Big East grabs ECU football.|url=http://www.reflector.com/sports/ecu/big-east-grabs-ecu-football-1435445|access-date=November 27, 2012|newspaper=The Daily Reflector|location=Greenville, North Carolina|date=November 27, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121130004539/http://www.reflector.com/sports/ecu/big-east-grabs-ecu-football-1435445|archive-date=November 30, 2012}}</ref>  The following day the ACC voted to invite Louisville to join in 2014, making them the seventh school since 2004 to leave the Big East in favor of the ACC.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/8685541/acc-votes-add-louisville-cardinals-source-says|title=Source: ACC adds Louisville|last=McMurphy|first=Brett|date=November 28, 2012|access-date=November 28, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121128143050/http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/8685541/acc-votes-add-louisville-cardinals-source-says|archive-date=November 28, 2012}}</ref> On March 27, 2013, East Carolina's future membership in the renamed conference was officially upgraded to all-sports membership.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.bigeast.org/News/tabid/435/Article/243382/East-Carolina-Joins-Soon-To-Be-Renamed-BIG-EAST-in-All-Sports-for-2014-15-Academic-Year.aspx |title=East Carolina Joins Soon-To-Be-Renamed BIG EAST in All Sports for 2014–15 Academic Year |publisher=Big East Conference |date=March 27, 2013 |access-date=March 27, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510154608/http://www.bigeast.org/News/tabid/435/Article/243382/East-Carolina-Joins-Soon-To-Be-Renamed-BIG-EAST-in-All-Sports-for-2014-15-Academic-Year.aspx |archive-date=May 10, 2013  }}</ref>