Big East as 2 Separate Leagues?

[Aughnanure]

Points for out-of-the-box thinking.

"According to the Star-Ledger's Tom Luicci:

In addition, the Big East's long-term goal is to create two separate leagues under one umbrella, with the 12 football schools having a separate commissioner from the eight basketball schools.
The sides would offer a united front during all future TV negotiations."

http://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/index.ssf/2011/10/big_east_continues_to_explore.html
http://vuhoops.com/2011/10/13/big-east-email-leaked/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+VUhoops+%28VUhoops.com+Villanova+Basketball+News%2C+Blog%2C+%26+Information%29

[UticaBusBarn]

Lots and lots of speculation ... however, to date, there has been no action on the part of the Big East "leadership." If they do not do something pro-active, and do it quickly, the Big East will continue to be subject to (TV?) market whims and will likely follow the fate of Eastern Airlines - gone and almost forgotten.

[GGGG]

What do you want BE "leadership" do do that is "pro-active?"  Seriously, what can they do?  They are at the whims of institutions (WVU, UL, UConn, etc.) that want out.  Therefore they can't increase buy-outs, can't get new fball members because bball members don't want to water down their product if those schools eventually leave...

I love the people who shout "DO SOMETHING!!!" without realizing that the BE's fate isn't under the control of the commissioner or the front-office.  Not much they can do right now.

Oh and Eastern Airlines sucked.  The world of flight is better without them.

[chapman]

^^ Agree.  What do people want them to do proactively?  Invite pipe-dream schools that will laugh at an invitation to an unstable league that gets them far less money?  Invite a bunch of mid-majors to get to 12 football teams to pretend it will placate any of the current membership enough to refuse an invitation to the ACC/SEC/Big 12?  There isn't any missed opportunity at this point by playing the waiting game; any of the current plans being discussed will still be available if we sit on them for the time being.

[reinko]

What do you want BE "leadership" do do that is "pro-active?"  Seriously, what can they do?  They are at the whims of institutions (WVU, UL, UConn, etc.) that want out.  Therefore they can't increase buy-outs, can't get new fball members because bball members don't want to water down their product if those schools eventually leave...

I love the people who shout "DO SOMETHING!!!" without realizing that the BE's fate isn't under the control of the commissioner or the front-office.  Not much they can do right now.

Oh and Eastern Airlines sucked.  The world of flight is better without them.

FIX IT

[GOO]

It looks like he league/commish has been proactive... what has to be done he has been trying to do since before TCU changed its mind:  Get a long term commitment from the football schools by upping the exit fee and probably some TV $ penalty if you leave early.... sounds like a 15 year commitment has been floated.

So, 4 or 5 football schools have no interest in making a commitment where $ counts they only want to commit with words... without this $ commitment the basketball schools won't agree to expand (good) and other schools won't commit to the BE.  

UConn's president is saying commit to the league and wants the basketball schools to commit to football expansion, while UConn tries to get out of the league and won't commit to the league... dealing with crazy lying Presidents of Universities will throw a wrench in any deal and make it difficult to conclude anything.

Short of holding a gun to UConn's Presidents head and forcing an agreement, what do you propose the league/commish do?  The reality is that until/unless the football schools agree to a real commitment backed by long term contracts and $, he can do little.

I hope the football schools agree to the long term commitment backed by $.  If not, the basketball schools need to say no to expansion as they are... great to hear.  The idea of a "basketball conference" where basketball is King, for hard nosed urban basketball who are 100% focused on basketball 365 days a year, can be sold as a recruitng tool and marketed.    

[GOO]

People who say get it done.  Or put everyone in a room and no one comes out until we have an agreement... must have little real world experience in business.  Things don't work that way.  you need rational people and you need people that want to make an agreement that they see as beneficial to themselves. 

[NersEllenson]

What do you want BE "leadership" do do that is "pro-active?"  Seriously, what can they do?  They are at the whims of institutions (WVU, UL, UConn, etc.) that want out.  Therefore they can't increase buy-outs, can't get new fball members because bball members don't want to water down their product if those schools eventually leave...

I love the people who shout "DO SOMETHING!!!" without realizing that the BE's fate isn't under the control of the commissioner or the front-office.  Not much they can do right now.

Oh and Eastern Airlines sucked.  The world of flight is better without them.

Well said - the whole cry for the most over-used word in America - "proactive" is ridiculous.  You can't be proactive when you have no leverage and are at the whims of WVU, UL, UCONN, etc.  I've pointed out here that adding a football program of TCU's caliber didn't stop Pitt and Cuse from leaving - are we really to think adding the service academies, UCF and East Carolina are going to secure the whole future of the Big East football schools??

[reinko]

Well said - the whole cry for the most over-used word in America - "proactive" is ridiculous.  You can't be proactive when you have no leverage and are at the whims of WVU, UL, UCONN, etc.  I've pointed out here that adding a football program of TCU's caliber didn't stop Pitt and Cuse from leaving - are we really to think adding the service academies, UCF and East Carolina are going to secure the whole future of the Big East football schools??

Kinda similar to the argument, just go out and recruit bigs.  GET THEM!

[UticaBusBarn]

What do you want BE "leadership" do do that is "pro-active?"  Seriously, what can they do?  They are at the whims of institutions (WVU, UL, UConn, etc.) that want out.  Therefore they can't increase buy-outs, can't get new fball members because bball members don't want to water down their product if those schools eventually leave...

I love the people who shout "DO SOMETHING!!!" without realizing that the BE's fate isn't under the control of the commissioner or the front-office.  Not much they can do right now.

Oh and Eastern Airlines sucked.  The world of flight is better without them.

[UticaBusBarn]

Well, the Big East "leadership" could start by making an offer, or two ... you know, show some movement. By the way, Eastern Airlines was OK. Have you flown recently?

[GGGG]

An offer to whom?  The schools have to agree on whom to invite, and if you *read* the articles posted here, the fball schools and the bball schools can't agree on whom to invite.  You can't blame the "leadership" for the paralysis caused by the members.

[brewcity77]

Right now, the basketball schos hold the cards because of their 8-6 voting edge. In the past, we have always been at the whims of the football schools. Now they are at our whim. That's a potent position that we shouldn't give up. Basketball should only allow expansion if they are able to at the least retain 50% of the vote. No way do you go to 12 football schools and not only allow them what they want but give them all the power at the same time. 

[Abode4life]

Agree with most of the points said.  The only real 'Power' the commish has right now is his ability to facilitate discussions.  He can't do anything without approval from the presidents.  All he can do is try and push the issues/conversations in getting the schools that are hesitant to reaffirm their commitment to do so.