Big East Interim Commisioner Interview

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

http://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/index.ssf/2012/05/big_east_interim_commissioner.html

Big East interim commissioner Joe Bailey lays out timetable for permanent replacement
Published: Wednesday, May 09, 2012, 2:36 PM     Updated: Wednesday, May 09, 2012, 3:30 PM
By Mike Vorkunov/The Star-Ledger The Star-Ledger

Interim Big East Commissioner Joe Bailey held a conference call this afternoon. He said that he'd like to hold a few more of these Q&A's for the sake of transparency. Before highlighting some of the best talking points, a quick rundown on his résumé that he outlined during the call.

Bailey's first job in football was as a scout for the Dallas Cowboys. He is on a leadership and ethics think tank at the Duke Business School. During his time with the Miami Dolphins he hosted a two-hour call-in radio show for five years, so he says he's had his feet to the fire before.

Now on to his comments about the conference:

Bailey has no interest in turning this job into a permanent one.
"No with an exclamation point. One of the reasons isn't that I wouldn't be interested in either the content or the work or the people you'd be working with...I am too senior... My role is this transition role and transformational role preparing this particular position for another person and part of that is helping that person transfer into that role."

Bailey says that the timetable for the new commissioner is roughly 3-4 months. A search has begun "begun from the standpoint that there has been a search committee that has been formed." It will then invite executive search committees to make proposals before whittling them down to three or four before selecting one. Then it would go upon finding a new commissioner. Bailey did add the caveat that August is a tough time to "get meetings"

He will only have a cursory role in TV deal negotiations, set to start this fall.
"I anticipate that I would not have a role in the negotiations themselves. I'll probably be informed of how they go. The executive committee has a decision that they'll retain a consultant."

Bailey on the effect of the new ACC TV deal, which gives $17 million per school annually until 2027.
"I think the reality of it is that the media rights are increasing and where it ends up. I don't think anyone really knows for sure. "

Bailey says there is no split between the football and basketball schools.
"The reality of the situation is that there has been no indication from anyone that I've talked to and again I haven't talked to everybody...that there's even close to any idea of this kind of split."

Bailey says that the level of commitment hasn't changed from Boise State or San Diego State.
"My sense is that unless you hear differently, I think that there's full commitment from their standpoint. There's an expectation market and there's a reality market and the reality is those schools have indicated to the executive committee and other members that they have a big belief that the Big East is a really good partner for them."

On how long Pittsburgh and Syracuse will stay in the conference:
"I wish I could see around corners but I can't. Really, I would not want to in any way speculate what's going to happen to those schools in either way."

Bailey can't speak to the question of further expansion.
"Expansion rests with the membership. I don't think that I've been here long enough to really reflect the feeling of the membership. Maybe later on I'll have a better sense of it. Expansion hasn't crossed my wavelength."

On where the Big East stands in its national influence:
"It will not lose its influence in those decisions. We've got a meeting coming up in a couple of weeks and a lot of those tings will be discussed then. There's no question that the Big East will be an integral part of whatever is going forward...Unless I'm mistaken everybody's got a vote and the BE vote is like any other member's vote. It's the same. You've got to be at the table. The Big East is at the table."

If Boise State has asked for their non-football sports to find a home in the Big East:
"Not to my knowledge but believe me I've been here what two days, three days, so I'm not fully up to speed yet."

Mike Vorkunov: mvorkunov@starledger.com; twitter.com/Mike_Vorkunov