Establishing Big East Stability

by since1670 on May 15, 2025 9:19 AM EDT

If the Big East is ever going to have any stability, discipline must be invoked.

There are several Big East schools wanting to join B1G, Big 12, ACC, or SEC. Some have announced their desires.

Some schools are making manipulative moves such as reestablishing old rivalries or creating new ones with programs in other conferences. When this is done simply for out-of-conference games, no one can complain. When it obviously in hope of creating working relationships for future moves, that is an entirely different story.

If an increased number of schools actually happens, the commissioner may have more control.

I once worked for a retired military man. If an employee entered his office with an issue he did not think was in the best interest of the organization, he would simply say "I accept your resignation".

Perhaps, the new commissioner could do something similar. As example, if a school publicly states an interest in joining another conference, that is detrimental to the other schools in the conference. It could diminish media contracts, bowl agreements, stature of the remaining schools, etc. In that situation, the commissioner should simply say "We accept your withdrawal from the conference. We will make sure your name will not appear on the schedule next season".

That would work for the benefit of every school except those that think they are better than others, when they clearly are not. Such a school is acting to the detriment of the conference and its members. The school establishes itself as undesirable.

All such a policy asks is for schools to be a little discreet in their public statements and activities. Other than that "don't let the door hit your sorry ass on the way out.

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But ...

is the Big East in a position where it can just cut a team loose because it honestly expesses interest in moving to another conference? If so, we’d be without UConn, Rutgers and Louisville at least … and arguably Cincinnati.

The best way to keep teams is to improve the product on the field. Unfortunately, the Big East is in the unfortunate situation of being the lowest rung on the BCS ladder (especially since the ACC swiped Cuse and Pitt). The BE is not going to lure any teams from above them on the ladder, and its teams will continue to be prey for those conferences above them until the realignment push settles down … or the BE moves up higher on that ladder.

No?

Thanks for the post!

by 29sonski on May 15, 2025 7:46 PM EDT reply actions

Agreeing here

What does the Big East have to gain from threatening schools? Best case, they stop talking. Worst case, they leave, causing others to just pack up without warning. And if you’re one of the institutions rumored in expansion conversations, shouldn’t you be forthright and release your own statement, instead of letting message boards and the media shape the story? From a PR standpoint, it makes good business sense that they do speak up.

Your former employer had the benefit of leverage. The Big East has none, so it cannot enjoy the same luxuries.

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by JohnCassillo on May 16, 2025 5:58 PM EDT up reply actions

I was happy with Jurich coming public with our intentions to leave.

Even though everyone pretty much knew it already. I look at conferences as a business agreement, all of the schools join in the interest of what’s good for their school. But once they’re in what’s good for the schools, becomes what’s good for the conference.

I don’t blame WV, Cuse, and Pitt for leaving. It’s a business decision and you have to do what’s most profitable. I do have a problem with the way WV left the conference. The 2 year agreement was in place for a reason. It allowed Pitt and Cuse to shop for a better conference without making the BE look weak, and then it allowed the BE to stabilize itself.

WVU left after football schedules were already made. They basically took a shit in the BE’s lap and spit in their former business partners’ face. Their lawsuit was silly, because WV had the same voice in the conference that all of their partners (the other schools) had and it was simply a leverage tool. They didn’t hurt the Big East, they didn’t hurt Marinatto, they hurt the other football schools that were their partners. That’s low in my opinion.

I hope Louisville goes to the Big 12 (actually ACC, but that’s a long shot), but I’d expect us to oblige by the two year rule. Like Jurich has said the Big East has been a good home for us, I don’t think honesty and respect is too much to ask for in return!

by Cards86 on May 16, 2025 7:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes but...

The teams that have left the conference have not done a single thing in their new conferences. I can’t see Pitt or Cuse) having a better time in the ACC. I mean, I hope they do, Pitt mostly, as if they run in or close to running it in thier first year, it would go a little ways to proving the BE was underrated. Heck, on that note, I hope WV does well too.

All the BE has to do is start winning every the last few BCS bowls and get to the semis on a regular basis in route to the NC. Win out and the issue will be mute.

by matthew.randall1 on May 15, 2025 8:09 PM EDT reply actions