Many times I and others read on here what was either obvious confusion, cluelessness, or just blatant denial about why the Big East, it's founders, it's long time fans and even the basic college hoops fans were disgusted by what the Big East had become and even more so what it was further being morphed into. I finally watched ESPN's 30 for 30 "Requiem for the Big East" and for the masses that fell into the above categories that just didn't get it, feel free to watch that and take a nice trip down memory lane.

It should then be of no surprise where the disgust came at all levels. One of the best 30 for 30s ive seen too.

(03-23-2014 09:18 PM)MU ATO Wrote:  Many times I and others read on here what was either obvious confusion, cluelessness, or just blatant denial about why the Big East, it's founders, it's long time fans and even the basic college hoops fans were disgusted by what the Big East had become and even more so what it was further being morphed into. I finally watched ESPN's 30 for 30 "Requiem for the Big East" and for the masses that fell into the above categories that just didn't get it, feel free to watch that and take a nice trip down memory lane.

It should then be of no surprise where the disgust came at all levels. One of the best 30 for 30s ive seen too.

The hoops schools were not blameless in it either. They REJECTED PENN STATE (!!!!) from entry into the conference.

There are a lot of "what if's" you can ask when looking back at how conference realignment went down. This is probably one of the biggest ones, though. If the basketball teams had accepted both Penn State and Pitt, that conference may have become a money-maker in football and ultimately on the level of the ACC (or better). Though the demise came much later, the rejection of Penn State sealed the conference's fate.

Of course, maybe Penn State bolts for the B1G anyway. Who knows? Part of me thinks this whole mess was inevitable. One thing is for sure here: The Big East basketball schools either lacked foresight or just did not care about what college football was becoming. They paid for it, too.

I think the ultimate thesis of the documentary (which was incredible) is that the league was impossible to sustain once college football became a gigantic money maker that it is. There were two groups with completely different interests that were pulling the conference in opposite directions.

Those hoops schools suffer from a very insular view of the world, in which nothing west of Pittsburgh or south of Baltimore exists. They severely overestimate the extent to which the nation as a whole cares about teams like the Providence Friars, and they underestimate the potential at places like ECU. Schools like ECU aspired to the BE instead of the ACC strictly because the BE seemed more accessible, i.e. crappier than the ACC.

(03-24-2014 10:51 AM)AndreWhere Wrote:  Those hoops schools suffer from a very insular view of the world, in which nothing west of Pittsburgh or south of Baltimore exists. They severely overestimate the extent to which the nation as a whole cares about teams like the Providence Friars, and they underestimate the potential at places like ECU. Schools like ECU aspired to the BE instead of the ACC strictly because the BE seemed more accessible, i.e. crappier than the ACC.

Fox apparently made the same mistake and is now paying for it. The BE made its name by playing good basketball when virtually no other basketball was being televised. There is good televised college basketball all over the place these days. The BE is a good league, but its not what it used to be, and even if it was, Im not sure the rest of America cares that much anymore. The rest of America has college basketball from their own regions to watch now.

(03-24-2014 11:13 AM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(03-24-2014 10:51 AM)AndreWhere Wrote:  Those hoops schools suffer from a very insular view of the world, in which nothing west of Pittsburgh or south of Baltimore exists. They severely overestimate the extent to which the nation as a whole cares about teams like the Providence Friars, and they underestimate the potential at places like ECU. Schools like ECU aspired to the BE instead of the ACC strictly because the BE seemed more accessible, i.e. crappier than the ACC.

Fox apparently made the same mistake and is now paying for it. The BE made its name by playing good basketball when virtually no other basketball was being televised. There is good televised college basketball all over the place these days. The BE is a good league, but its not what it used to be, and even if it was, Im not sure the rest of America cares that much anymore. The rest of America has college basketball from their own regions to watch now.

The only time people care about the likes of Creighton or Butler is in March, like with all the other basketball-only schools.

(03-24-2014 11:13 AM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(03-24-2014 10:51 AM)AndreWhere Wrote:  Those hoops schools suffer from a very insular view of the world, in which nothing west of Pittsburgh or south of Baltimore exists. They severely overestimate the extent to which the nation as a whole cares about teams like the Providence Friars, and they underestimate the potential at places like ECU. Schools like ECU aspired to the BE instead of the ACC strictly because the BE seemed more accessible, i.e. crappier than the ACC.

Fox apparently made the same mistake and is now paying for it. The BE made its name by playing good basketball when virtually no other basketball was being televised. There is good college basketball all over the place these days. The BE is a good league, but its not what it used to be, and even if it was, Im not sure the rest of America cares anymore. The rest of America has college basketball from their own regions to watch now.

And college basketball is no longer what it was. A lot of that attention goes to the NBA now.

You'd have thought that all those Northeasterners would understand diversification, hedging your bets, etc.; guess not.

(03-24-2014 11:23 AM)PGPirate Wrote:  

(03-24-2014 11:13 AM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(03-24-2014 10:51 AM)AndreWhere Wrote:  Those hoops schools suffer from a very insular view of the world, in which nothing west of Pittsburgh or south of Baltimore exists. They severely overestimate the extent to which the nation as a whole cares about teams like the Providence Friars, and they underestimate the potential at places like ECU. Schools like ECU aspired to the BE instead of the ACC strictly because the BE seemed more accessible, i.e. crappier than the ACC.

Fox apparently made the same mistake and is now paying for it. The BE made its name by playing good basketball when virtually no other basketball was being televised. There is good televised college basketball all over the place these days. The BE is a good league, but its not what it used to be, and even if it was, Im not sure the rest of America cares that much anymore. The rest of America has college basketball from their own regions to watch now.

The only time people care about the likes of Creighton or Butler is in March, like with all the other basketball-only schools.

I haven't seen the 30 for 30 presentation so I'll withhold comments on the program, overall demise of the BE, etc until I see the presentation; but I fit into the description that you've given regarding when/how I care about olympic sports only programs. I'm not saying that's the opinion/view of other sports fans, but it is mine. My personal opinion is that olympic only sports schools are athletic pretenders and not full-fledged athletic programs.

(03-23-2014 09:18 PM)MU ATO Wrote:  Many times I and others read on here what was either obvious confusion, cluelessness, or just blatant denial about why the Big East, it's founders, it's long time fans and even the basic college hoops fans were disgusted by what the Big East had become and even more so what it was further being morphed into. I finally watched ESPN's 30 for 30 "Requiem for the Big East" and for the masses that fell into the above categories that just didn't get it, feel free to watch that and take a nice trip down memory lane.

It should then be of no surprise where the disgust came at all levels. One of the best 30 for 30s ive seen too.

That episode pretty much shat on WVU. Thought you may have like that.