Marinatto Talks Tough

[Dr. Blackheart]

PeteThamelNYT Pete Thamel

Just filed a Big East story. One news nugget: Big East will hold Pitt and Syracuse to their exit contract, meaning a June 2014 exit.
Marinatto is confident in the future and said, "We may even hold the opening round of our basketball tournament in Greensboro."

[Brewtown Andy]

Ugh.

[GGGG]

Negotiating tactic.  They don't want a couple of lame duck programs around....and the lame ducks don't want to hang around here either....force them to increase their buy out.

But the Greensboro comment was lame.

[Litehouse]

I wonder if the Big East could kick them out immediately?  Basically make them lame ducks this year with no place to play?  Doubt it would happen, but fun to think about.

[TallTitan34]

I like that idea!  I'm guessing they can't but I like it!

[Dr. Blackheart]

Thamel's article posted...sounds like the BE is waiting on the B12...found this most intriguing...coming from Swarbrick as it sounds like ND stays (as of this hour).

The Big East's two most critical advantages will be its basketball tournament and its Bowl Championship Series bid. The basketball tournament gives the league significant presence in New York and enough television programming to dominate ESPN for a week in March

Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick of Notre Dame, which is a Big East member in basketball and many other sports, said those core assets should be enough to hold the league together.

"Obviously, when you lose some members, you have some work to do," he said. "When you start asking yourself, what are the core assets, the Big East is in pretty good shape."

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/20/sports/ncaafootball/commissioner-says-big-east-wont-be-undermined-by-defections.html?ref=petethamel

[avid1010]

I wonder if the Big East could kick them out immediately?  Basically make them lame ducks this year with no place to play?  Doubt it would happen, but fun to think about.

I was thinking the same thing...there has to be many creative ways to stick it to them over a 2.5 year period. 

Essentially the ACC has made it their goal to squash the BEAST, and is having a successful go at it.  I seriously doubt Cuse or Pitt. football will make a comeback in the near future, and I'm hoping this is enough to send Jamie Dixon packing and Boehiem to retirement in the near future as those programs could quickly shoot to the bottom of their league for basketball and football for years to come.

[TallTitan34]

It would be a shame if Pitt and Cuse got some difficult schedules next season.  No games against DePaul, Providence, or South Florida!

[muwarrior69]

Come on guys, you can't take this out on the coaches or the players. They had no say in all of this.

[TallTitan34]

They picked the school!

I agree with you though they aren't the ones to blame.

[avid1010]

Come on guys, you can't take this out on the coaches or the players. They had no say in all of this.

You take it out on the institution.  Especially the one that urged the BEAST to turn down a billion dollar TV contract and latter went behind the conferences back and bailed.  If you think the BEAST owes anything to Cuse and Pitt right now you can forget it.  Those two schools certainly didn't give a warm wave goodbye the last time BEAST teams left for the ACC.

I have no problems in saying that I think the BEAST should do whatever it can to weaken Cuse and Pitt over the next 2.5 years.  The goal of the ACC has been to crush the BEAST, and at this point, I see no reason to take the high road.  I think it's very likely Pitt. and Cuse will start and remain at the bottom of the ACC for football, and with the comments from Dixon and Boehiem, I'm hoping they jump ship/retire soon so we can watch their basketball programs struggle as well.  The NY market, that isn't Cuse, can dry up even further, and the ACC will have the worst football super-conference. 

[lab_warrior]

But the Greensboro comment was lame.

+1  Yeah, quote landed with a THUD.  Take it easy, there JarJar.

+1  for the idea to stick it to Pitt and 'Cuse any way possible.  Time to open up some a can of some medieval, Capt. Ahab-style revenge.  (uh, well, maybe more Count of Monte Cristo-style)

[Tribby]

+1  Yeah, quote landed with a THUD.  Take it easy, there JarJar.

+1  for the idea to stick it to Pitt and 'Cuse any way possible.  Time to open up some a can of some medieval, Capt. Ahab-style revenge.  (uh, well, maybe more Count of Monte Cristo-style)

I understand the sentiment, but if I've learned anything from playing poker, it's that when you take on a personal vendetta against another player, it ultimately becomes a weakness that will end up costing you. I'm all for sticking it to Pitt and Cuse, but insofar as it clearly benefits MU and the Big East. Screwing them just for the satisfaction of screwing them may feel good, but it's poor strategy in the big picture. It won't change the fact that they're leaving, so let's make sure that whatever course we take addresses that reality.

[ringout]

Come on guys, you can't take this out on the coaches or the players. They had no say in all of this.

PUHLLEEEEEZE!   They may not deserve it personally, but they are part of the institution.  F'em

[ecompt]

Give both of them Saturday night games at Marquette, then afternoon games the next day at Gtown.

[TallTitan34]

I wonder how hostile the crowds will get in the BET this year.

[TallTitan34]

Can we turn this into a "Fun Ways The Big East Can Punish Pitt/Cuse" thread?

[bilsu]

You take it out on the institution.  Especially the one that urged the BEAST to turn down a billion dollar TV contract and latter went behind the conferences back and bailed.  If you think the BEAST owes anything to Cuse and Pitt right now you can forget it.  Those two schools certainly didn't give a warm wave goodbye the last time BEAST teams left for the ACC.

I have no problems in saying that I think the BEAST should do whatever it can to weaken Cuse and Pitt over the next 2.5 years.  The goal of the ACC has been to crush the BEAST, and at this point, I see no reason to take the high road.  I think it's very likely Pitt. and Cuse will start and remain at the bottom of the ACC for football, and with the comments from Dixon and Boehiem, I'm hoping they jump ship/retire soon so we can watch their basketball programs struggle as well.  The NY market, that isn't Cuse, can dry up even further, and the ACC will have the worst football super-conference. 

Not if your Christian.

[bilsu]

I wonder if the Big East could kick them out immediately?  Basically make them lame ducks this year with no place to play?  Doubt it would happen, but fun to think about.

I would think there would be no buyout money then. You need to stick to contract. There may also be a buyout the other way, if the Big East would kick someone out.

[lab_warrior]

I wonder how hostile the crowds will get in the BET this year.

My guess:  slightly more hostile than usual.  Crowds in our conference are pretty brutal; I know because I'm usually in them.  I would have a few colorful things to say to Pitt and 'Cuse fans regardless of whether they're leaving the BE to double down on their piss-awful football teams.

[TallTitan34]

My favorite Syracuse moment was was Eric Devendorf hurt himself in a game at the Bradley Center and the crowd cheered his injury and chanted "He Beats Women".

This was the only time I've found it acceptable to cheer an injury to a plyer.

[Pakuni]

Not if your Christian.

WWJD?
The good Lord, no doubt, is paying close attention to the current round of conference realignment. Sadly, like most of the country, Jesus is a football fan first.

[TallTitan34]

Sadly, like most of the country, Jesus is a football fan first.