Memphis Tigers to join Big East Conference in 2013

For everyone sounding the death knell of the Big East Conference, you can put away your bells. The Memphis Tigers will be joining the Big East Conference in all sports in 2013. An official announcement is expected tomorrow at 1 pm, with a news conference in Memphis to follow. Memphis, who leaves the Conference USA conference, will be joining a host of other schools headed for the Big East in the upcoming years — Central Florida, Houston, SMU, Navy, San Diego State, and Boise State. Many believed that even with the addition of the other schools, the addition of Memphis was crucial for the Big East’s survival as a conference due to the losses of West Virginia (Big 12), Pittsburgh and Syracuse (ACC). With Big East approval guaranteed, Memphis still has yet another hurdle to climb; the Conference USA exit fee. Memphis will be forced to pay the conference’s $500,000 fee plus a share of their television rights revenue, putting their total exit fee at a little over $6....