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Villanova decision on FBS not due until spring

Villanova's decision on whether it will move up to the FBS level for football will not be made until April, as many had speculated.

Villanova could move up to the FBS level of college football. (AP Photo/Andrew Rogers)
Villanova could move up to the FBS level of college football. (AP Photo/Andrew Rogers)Read more

Villanova's decision on whether it will move up to the FBS level for football will not be made until April, as many had speculated.

Father Peter Donahue, the univerity's president, sent an e-mail to the alumni on Wednesday that updated the process. He also outlined the timetable and feasibility issues.

The correspondence was the third he has issued since an invitation to join the Big East became public knowledge in early September. The Wildcats have been a member of that conference for all other sports for three decades.

The football program, which competes in the Colonial Athletic Association, has played at the FCS level since 1985. The Big East is one of six conferences with an automatic invitation to a BCS bowl game. It just announced the addition of Texas Christian, beginning with the 2012 season. It intends to bring in a 10th team as well.

Father Donahue said in the e-mail that the Big East is "aware of the process we are undertaking, along with our time frame."

Sources familiar with the situation said Big East commissioner John Marinatto will make a visit to the campus, probably soon, to discuss the possible move.

The school's next Board of Trustees meeting is scheduled for February. Two months after that, the group will convene again to finally vote on what the future holds. *