Katz: Big East wants to keep the name

[Pakuni]

Looks like the C7 will either have to ante up or come up with their own name.

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/8889597/big-east-wants-add-12th-school-keep-name

[NavinRJohnson]

I thought the C7 kind of has the upper hand where the name is concerned. Wouldn't the remaining "BigEast" schools be the ones that need to ante up?

[Pakuni]

I thought the C7 kind of has the upper hand where the name is concerned. Wouldn't the remaining "BigEast" schools be the ones that need to ante up?

No. If the C7 leaves they don't get to take the name with them.

[4everwarriors]

Everything is in play and negotiable in this poker game.

[Aughnanure]

Uh oh. Now it gets interesting.

[Tugg Speedman]

The piece says ...

He says he believes the conference realignment picture may be settling down. He also said he hopes deals can be worked out to keep traditional conference rivalry games intact even after the so-called "Catholic Seven" schools leave the Big East to form their own basketball league.

WVU is now in the B12, Syracuse, Pitt, Lousiville and ND are going to the ACC, Rutgers to the B1G and the C7 is forming its own conference.

All that leaves only Cincy, Uconn and USF left from the original 16 BE teams of last year.   So, what rivalries between these three schools and the C7 is he talking about?

For instance the Georgetown/Syracuse rivalry is now an issue between the C7 and ACC.  The BE will not part of these schools when they both make the jump.

[Norm]

After the C7 leave, will there be any original Big East teams left?

[GGGG]

After the C7 leave, will there be any original Big East teams left?

UConn.

And 4ever is right.  It's all up for negotiation.  And frankly the C7 might not think it is worth it.

[AirPunches]

Mike Aresco is pathetic and just doesn't get it. He will fail at keeping the name just like he failed at keeping the conference together. Does he realize that the two most important members will most likely be gone before they ever play a game in the rebranded big east? I hope the B7 doesn't fall for this money grab/power play from that desperate conference.

[RubyWiscy]

This is all part of the divorce process, posturing and all. Don't be nervous. The old BE might need to be carefull, though as if they push the price too high they may end up screwing themselves out of some revenue.

[chapman]

The piece says ...

He says he believes the conference realignment picture may be settling down. He also said he hopes deals can be worked out to keep traditional conference rivalry games intact even after the so-called "Catholic Seven" schools leave the Big East to form their own basketball league.

WVU is now in the B12, Syracuse, Pitt, Lousiville and ND are going to the ACC, Rutgers to the B1G and the C7 is forming its own conference.

All that leaves only Cincy, Uconn and USF left from the original 16 BE teams of last year.   So, what rivalries between these three schools and the C7 is he talking about?

For instance the Georgetown/Syracuse rivalry is now an issue between the C7 and ACC.  The BE will not part of these schools when they both make the jump.

Rolled my eyes at that one as well.  So he wants us to play Cincinnati and Georgetown and Providence to play UConn?  That's about all that can be found as far as rivalry, assuming those two can't get out.  Not like there's any value in Aresco wasting time to make sure those games make it on the schedule.

[bkooncy]

Mike Aresco is pathetic and just doesn't get it. He will fail at keeping the name just like he failed at keeping the conference together. Does he realize that the two most important members will most likely be gone before they ever play a game in the rebranded big east? I hope the B7 doesn't fall for this money grab/power play from that desperate conference.

Is anyone suprised that Aresco has not been fired yet?  What has he done that has been positive for the Big East?

[Lennys Tap]

SMU, Houston, Tulane, etc. will surely fight tooth and nail for the Big East name that's such an integral part of their tradition. LOL.

[Tugg Speedman]

SMU, Houston, Tulane, etc. will surely fight tooth and nail for the Big East name that's such an integral part of their tradition. LOL.

Actually isn't the fact that they are jumping to the "Big East" a factor in their decision (in addition to more money).  If the name does not matter to them, why don't they ban together to bring the CUSA name with them?

[ChicosBailBonds]

Mike Aresco is pathetic and just doesn't get it. He will fail at keeping the name just like he failed at keeping the conference together. Does he realize that the two most important members will most likely be gone before they ever play a game in the rebranded big east? I hope the B7 doesn't fall for this money grab/power play from that desperate conference.

You have no idea what you are talking about...Aresco didn't make the conference fall apart nor could he have done anything to keep it together.  Listen to the words of our own university President, our own AD, Georgetown's AD and president, etc, etc. 

[T-Bone]

Hypothetical...
Could the C7, as members of the BE, vote to change the name to "Pagan Conference" before the new entrants come on board yet after the current teams leave?  

As trivial and stupid as that question is, the better questions are: What power does the C7 have?  Do they have a majority vote, or is a larger percentage required for making significant changes to the conference itself?  Is there a magic time before new teams come in and old team leave where they could dissolve and otherwise be bastards about the whole thing?

[ChicosBailBonds]

Is anyone suprised that Aresco has not been fired yet?  What has he done that has been positive for the Big East?

Why don't you wait to see what TV deal they get, that's why he was fired.  I'd also like to know what it is that he was supposed to do....5 days on the job, Notre Dame leaves...a few weeks after that, two additional schools leave and were going to leave even if Ghandi was the commissioner.  Once ND left, that was the last domino and got the Big Ten to ramp up quicker than anticipated.

You want someone to blame, then blame the conference for turning down a lucrative contract two years ago when they had it in front of them.  Partially because of the University of Pittsburgh's direction not to move forward on it.

[muwarrior69]

It's ESPN! They can talk adnauseum about Kentucky being a bubble team and not give Creighton or Butler the time of day. They killed the Big East as we know it and now they want UConn to keep the name. I hope we go with Fox who will promote the new league.

[GGGG]

You have no idea what you are talking about...Aresco didn't make the conference fall apart nor could he have done anything to keep it together.  Listen to the words of our own university President, our own AD, Georgetown's AD and president, etc, etc. 

Actually Chicos, a lot of people have reported that his lack of communication with regards to the Tulane addition was the final nail in the coffin.  Aresco isn't a fool, but some of what he has done while on the job, especially in the communication area, has been a problem.

Part of this is because he has little experience in a commissioners chair, but still...he is not without blame here.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Actually isn't the fact that they are jumping to the "Big East" a factor in their decision (in addition to more money).  If the name does not matter to them, why don't they ban together to bring the CUSA name with them?

Because they are leaving CUSA and don't get to take it with them.  Just as the C7 is leaving the Big East and they don't get to take it with them (without a negotiation).

[ChicosBailBonds]

Actually Chicos, a lot of people have reported that his lack of communication with regards to the Tulane addition was the final nail in the coffin.  Aresco isn't a fool, but some of what he has done while on the job, especially in the communication area, has been a problem.

Part of this is because he has little experience in a commissioners chair, but still...he is not without blame here.

I never said he is without blame.  The Tulane thing has come up, no question.  I think if you talk to some people behind the scenes, this has been in the works at various levels for some time....casually and more than casually. 

[Pakuni]

Actually Chicos, a lot of people have reported that his lack of communication with regards to the Tulane addition was the final nail in the coffin.  Aresco isn't a fool, but some of what he has done while on the job, especially in the communication area, has been a problem.

Part of this is because he has little experience in a commissioners chair, but still...he is not without blame here.

You're correct, but the reality is Aresco has been called upon to do something which wasn't intended of him and which is ill-equipped to do (i.e. try to save/rebuild a conference).
He was hired to get the BE the best TV deal he could, at a time when the league's presidents - foolishly, in hindsight - believed a significant TV package could keep teams in place and prevent further poaching. Aresco deserves some criticism, for sure, but so do the league presidents for hiring him as commissioner.

[GGGG]

In the end, there really isn't much anyone could have done...Aresco, the conference presidents, etc.

The BE was on the low end of the totem pole, and when others wanted your schools, you don't have much choice.

[Tums Festival]

The quote from Aresco that struck me as funny was, "The Big East wants to keep its name as it rebrands." It seems a little contradictory. Why not re-brand by coming up with a new name for your conference? The Big East name means more as a basketball brand than a football brand.

[🏀]

It's ESPN! They can talk adnauseum about Kentucky being a bubble team and not give Creighton or Butler the time of day. They killed the Big East as we know it and now they want UConn to keep the name. I hope we go with Fox who will promote the new league.

Creighton and Butler have been getting a lot of exposure this year.