In a quick response to the breaking news of the Mountain West and Conference-USA merger, the Big East announced today their plans to expand to Paris (not Texas), Berlin and Moscow (not Idaho).  When questioned by reporters about the viability of the expanded conference, a spokesman for the newly renamed Big World Conference was upbeat, despite the fact that there were no schools currently playing American style football in any of the named cities.  We'll work that out later, he replied.

When questioned about the difficulties of travel for the student-athletes, he laughed and said:  Just when has this been about the students and/or the athletes?  This is all about expanded TV markets, you fool!

In other news, the ACC has renamed itself the AC&PC&FOSC (the Atlantic Coast and Pacific Coast and Flyover States Conference) in anticipation of expansion to 32 teams.  The Big XII is sitting pretty as it holds the rights to the name Big XXXII.