Recently the University of Memphis hired former Big East Commissioner Mike Tranghese as a consultant.
Although there are reports circulating that this move was not directly made to get Memphis into the Big East; a move to a BCS conference is something that Memphis athletic director R.C. Johnson would kill for.
Johnson says the school’s first priority would be to join the SEC rather than the Big East. In an interview today Johnson said, “Quite honestly, the truth of the matter is the lifelong dream of Memphis is to get in the SEC. We’re surrounded by SEC country. When Arkansas got in Memphis thought they were going to get in.”
Johnson even went on to say, “I told him, ‘It’s simple. There are six BCS conferences. Get us in one.’”
Sounds like Memphis really wants to make this happen. And soon. Johnson even went as far to say that the Big 10 and even Pac 10 were legit options, “Our hope is that the Big 10 does something down the road, or the Pac-10, so that there’s a domino effect and then maybe can something where we can get in.” Specifically on the Pac-10, which doesn’t even have a team east of Arizona, “We’d go to the Pac-10 if they’d invite us. It’s that big of a deal.”
Personally, I am surprised at how well Memphis basketball has kept up their recruiting in the short time that Coach Cal has been gone. Moving to one of the top 6 conferences would be the easiest way to assure that Memphis basketball stays relevant. In addition it could mean taking the next step in football. It seems that AD Johnson fully understands that.
