Demise of the BE

[ATWizJr]

Did anyone see the article the other day by BB writer Dick Weiss in which he states that once BE commissioner Mike Tranghese retires he expects the BE to dissolve into two conferences, one for the football schools plus ND and one for the BB schools?  Hope he is merely speculating.

[romey]

Does that mean he doesn't consider ND a football school?

[ATWizJr]

given their current problems and their choking when they do make a bowl game, I could see where that was what he meant, but I think he meant, if memory serves, that he did not consider them a BB school per se.

[Chili]

its been noted by ESPN that the Big East TV deal is worth with the conference as one big group than two small groups. why would the schools give up TV money? that is fiscally crazy!

also, do you have a link to this article? i am searching the daily news site and cannot find it. thanks!

[ozmetal71]

He meant that ND is not a football member of the Big East, but since it is a football school with contractual obligations to play BE teams in football, that ND would then be lumped with the football members of the BE.

Thanks for the gratitutous crack against ND football, though.  Do you cheer for the Badgers in football?

[Avenue Commons]

He meant that ND is not a football member of the Big East, but since it is a football school with contractual obligations to play BE teams in football, that ND would then be lumped with the football members of the BE.

Thanks for the gratitutous crack against ND football, though.  Do you cheer for the Badgers in football?

I think he was making a joke.  Lighten up, Francis.

[Chili]

He meant that ND is not a football member of the Big East, but since it is a football school with contractual obligations to play BE teams in football, that ND would then be lumped with the football members of the BE.

Thanks for the gratitutous crack against ND football, though.  Do you cheer for the Badgers in football?

Dude, ND sucked last year. And I know sucky football too. I am a fan of the Arizona Wildcats for football. They are the only team in the Pac-10 and the Big-10 to never go to the Rose Bowl. Not one appearance. Now that is bad. And ND was worse than them last year.

[Marquette Gyros]

Here's the article:

http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/7825124/Is-Big-East-too-big-for-its-own-good

[ATWizJr]

oz, gratuitous?

If you mean was it given freely w/o charge, then yes, it was gratuitous.

If you mean was it given without apparent reason, cause or justification, then no, there is plenty of justification to criticize ND football, given the state of the football program. 

But, yes, it was a joke and you should lighten up.

[Pakuni]

Since when did cracks about Notre Dame football - gratuitous or otherwise - become verboten around here?
I say keep them coming.

Q: What does Notre Dame football and marijuana have in common?
A: They both get smoked in a bowl.

[Pardner]

Did anyone see the article the other day by BB writer Dick Weiss in which he states that once BE commissioner Mike Tranghese retires he expects the BE to dissolve into two conferences, one for the football schools plus ND and one for the BB schools?  Hope he is merely speculating.

Here is why that won't happen:  Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Washington DC, Newark and Boston/Prov.  TV Market $$$$$

Football:  Lousiville, Morgantown, South Bend, Cinc, Hartford, Tampa, NJ...even if GT and Vill upgraded their footbal programs and switched into the BE.  The basketball powers drive the football TV deal...especially with ND out on their own now.

[romey]

It was a good natured poke at ND football.  And yes, if you can believe this I cheer for UW and ND in football.  I grew up in Milwaukee when Badger football sucked (70's).  Senior year in HS made a weekend visit to ND to watch a football game when Joe Montana was QB, an exhibition hoops game, and a concert (too embarrassed to admit to the name of the band).  Enrolled in MU the next fall.  Since moved away (far away) in the middle of SEC football country so I sheer for ND and UW to spite all these SEC fans.

[MU NY]

Big East Hoops are too important in terms of large market television audiences.  It is one of the most compelling business aspects of the league.  The other relatively small markets have some pretty bigtime names and fan bases:

Market Rank         Market             School
         1                     NY         St. John's/Seton Hall/Rutgers
         3                     Chi              De Paul
         4                     Phil              Nova
         8                      DC              Gtown
         13                  Tampa           So. FLA
         21                   Pitt               Pitt
         27                   Hartford         UCONN
         31                   Milw              Marquette
         32                   Cincy             Cincy
         49                   Prov              Prov
         50                   L'ville             L'ville
         61                   Charles, WV    WVU
         80                   SYR               Syr
         89                   South Bend     ND