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If a cat has nine lives, perhaps the Big East has four.
As reported exclusively in The Post last week, the Big East announced yesterday it was extending six invitations to reconfigure a league nearly decimated by the stunning departures of Pittsburgh and Syracuse to the ACC, the understandable move by TCU to the Big 12 and the contentious exit of West Virginia to the Big 12.
After its regularly scheduled semi-annual meeting of presidents and athletic directors, Big East commissioner John Marinatto confirmed he has been given authorization to issue the invitations.
He would not name names, but multiple sources confirmed The Post’s report that Air Force, Navy and Boise State had been invited as football-only members. Central Florida, Houston and SMU were invited for all sports.
Boise State, Air Force, SMU and Houston are expected to accept on Friday, with the other two expected to follow shortly. The Big East is considering hosting a press conference in Manhattan to publicize the additions.
“Mike Tranghese re-invented the conference in 1990 by creating a football element in order to services its members at the time,’’ Marinatto said. “We re-invented it again in 2003 and created the biggest and most diverse conference in the country. And now because of all these circumstances, we’re re-inventing it a fourth time.’’
The league will have to add at least one more member to get to the desired 12 in football. As reported in yesterday’s Post, Temple and Memphis are candidates, but sources said the league will not rush on the last invite.
Sources told The Post the league also has considered Army and BYU, although both are considered long shots.
Army prefers the scheduling flexibility it enjoys as an independent, and BYU enjoys the financial rewards of being an independent.
The same sources said the league would adapt a two-division format in football in order to play a championship game.
The West Division of the Big East would be comprised of Air Force, Boise State, Cincinnati, Houston, Louisville and SMU.
The East Division would be made up of Connecticut, Central Florida, Navy, Rutgers and South Florida.
Louisville or Cincinnati could switch divisions depending on the 12th team. Temple or Army would be in the East while Memphis or BYU would be in the West.