I am sitting here watching my ESPN 30 for 30, Requiem for the Big East.

When my school, UCF, first got into the Big East in the Fall of 2011, I was so thrilled because I was a basketball fan. I thought UCF can finally be on Big Games on TV and could have a chance of hosting Georgetown or Syracuse

But we all know what happened afterward, Syracuse left, Pittsburgh left, then Louisville left, the Catholic 7 parted ways with Big East also.

Then it was the new birth of American Athletic Conference.

Big East Basketball was on top of its world. Today is the opening day of College Basketball, so I am posting here to ask one question: What if the Big East didn't die?

The greatest College tradition at Madison Square Garden at the end of the season.

Great rivalries and great matchups.

What is your memory of the Big East? Could Big East still remain the best College Basketball Conference if those schools didn't leave?

(11-09-2021 05:25 PM)Knightrogen Wrote:  I am sitting here watching my ESPN 30 for 30, Requiem for the Big East.

When my school, UCF, first got into the Big East in the Fall of 2011, I was so thrilled because I was a basketball fan. I thought UCF can finally be on Big Games on TV and could have a chance of hosting Georgetown or Syracuse

But we all know what happened afterward, Syracuse left, Pittsburgh left, then Louisville left, the Catholic 7 parted ways with Big East also.

Then it was the new birth of American Athletic Conference.

Big East Basketball was on top of its world. Today is the opening day of College Basketball, so I am posting here to ask one question: What if the Big East didn't die?

The greatest College tradition at Madison Square Garden at the end of the season.

Great rivalries and great matchups.

What is your memory of the Big East? Could Big East still remain the best College Basketball Conference if those schools didn't leave?

Absolutely!!

Big East for me is 1991-2004. Miami Hurricanes winning football national championships as the Big East flagship.

Miami leaving the Big East for the ACC is the best thing that happened to UCF and usf. We both would eventually join the conference while Miami has sunk into middle of the pack ACC team with 0 ACC Conference Titles.

UCF has been to just as many NY6 games as Miami has from 2004-2020.
2004 Miami Peach
2005 Miami Peach
2013 UCF Fiesta
2017 Miami Orange
2017 UCF Peach
2018 UCF Fiesta

A little bit of insight into the demise of the BIG EAST... The biggest reason I despise Hybrid Conferences.

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm...story.html

Watching this opening day at MSG just makes me jealous, if the Big East didn't fall apart, that could be us.

Football killed the Big East and Capitalism killed the Big East, the best College Basketball conference in the NATION

Now American is even falling apart just makes me upset.

Good luck rivalries, good luck last second come back, good luck the future.

What goes around comes around!

One most likely unknown abut BIG EAST leadership is that the first 3 commissioners (Dave Gavitt, Mike Tranghese, John Marinatto) were all former AD from Providence College, only Joseph Bailey (Interim 2012) and Michael Aresco 2012–Present were not.

Dave Gavitt (Introduced football to the BIG EAST)
Mike Tranghese (Attempted a merger of BIG EAST and ACC)
John Marinatto (Asleep at the wheel andBIG EAST killed football)

By a single vote, the Big East athletic directors turned down Penn State's membership request.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2001...t-football

You're omitting the elephant in the room ESPN. ESPN went all in on the ACC. It became their flagship property. ESPN offered what amounted to $13m/school contract. Add to that an upstart NBC Sports Network and the Big East thought there'd be competition for it's rights. NBC balked. Then came the giant split. Posts are correct. UCF is head and shoulders above Miami. People forget that when the Big East accepted them (Miami), they were on probation. We'll see what happens with the NB12. I'm sure ESPN is not happy with them. Only time will tell. By the way MSG/Big East Tournament is the best. What an atmosphere.

(11-10-2021 11:06 AM)WhalerFan Wrote:  You're omitting the elephant in the room ESPN. ESPN went all in on the ACC. It became their flagship property. ESPN offered what amounted to $13m/school contract. Add to that an upstart NBC Sports Network and the Big East thought there'd be competition for it's rights. NBC balked. Then came the giant split. Posts are correct. UCF is head and shoulders above Miami. People forget that when the Big East accepted them (Miami), they were on probation. We'll see what happens with the NB12. I'm sure ESPN is not happy with them. Only time will tell. By the way MSG/Big East Tournament is the best. What an atmosphere.

It always was and most likely always will be! for still being pat of it.

(11-10-2021 11:13 AM)GoOwls111 Wrote:  

(11-10-2021 11:06 AM)WhalerFan Wrote:  You're omitting the elephant in the room ESPN. ESPN went all in on the ACC. It became their flagship property. ESPN offered what amounted to $13m/school contract. Add to that an upstart NBC Sports Network and the Big East thought there'd be competition for it's rights. NBC balked. Then came the giant split. Posts are correct. UCF is head and shoulders above Miami. People forget that when the Big East accepted them (Miami), they were on probation. We'll see what happens with the NB12. I'm sure ESPN is not happy with them. Only time will tell. By the way MSG/Big East Tournament is the best. What an atmosphere.

It always was and most likely always will be! for still being pat of it.

I always wonder if the nBE stayed together. Great basketball, with solid to good football. Large media markets in the east. It was the perfect conference for UC with 3 close rivals.

Curious if they could have secured at least ACC money with UCF and a few other choice additions like UCF.

The only thing that would have saved that conference was Nova making their mind up quickly and moving up. If they had, we would have had 10 teams, including TCU and Nova. Then the TV deal would have been signed and I doubt anyone walks away.

Nova stalling helped others make their moves and by the time we added UCF, the catholic 7 were already in conversations to leave... Pitt and Cuse had already done their "et tu, Brute" routine and Notre Dame was sending out feelers to the ACC.

Literally two months made the difference. With all that said, long term, it was never going to work. The Catholic 7 were always a pain in the butt and blocked anything that the football schools wanted.

Everyone new that 12 teams would have been ideal and maximized the tv deal. They wouldnt let us go past 9 without one of their own moving up. Even TCU caused some issues. At one point we vetted Houston but that was a no go with TCU. Whole thing was a mess.

(11-10-2021 11:35 AM)bearcat29 Wrote:  

(11-10-2021 11:13 AM)GoOwls111 Wrote:  

(11-10-2021 11:06 AM)WhalerFan Wrote:  You're omitting the elephant in the room ESPN. ESPN went all in on the ACC. It became their flagship property. ESPN offered what amounted to $13m/school contract. Add to that an upstart NBC Sports Network and the Big East thought there'd be competition for it's rights. NBC balked. Then came the giant split. Posts are correct. UCF is head and shoulders above Miami. People forget that when the Big East accepted them (Miami), they were on probation. We'll see what happens with the NB12. I'm sure ESPN is not happy with them. Only time will tell. By the way MSG/Big East Tournament is the best. What an atmosphere.

It always was and most likely always will be! for still being pat of it.

I always wonder if the nBE stayed together. Great basketball, with solid to good football. Large media markets in the east. It was the perfect conference for UC with 3 close rivals.

Curious if they could have secured at least ACC money with UCF and a few other choice additions like UCF.

If you haven't... you should read this article...

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2001...t-football

(11-10-2021 11:35 AM)bearcat29 Wrote:  

(11-10-2021 11:13 AM)GoOwls111 Wrote:  

(11-10-2021 11:06 AM)WhalerFan Wrote:  You're omitting the elephant in the room ESPN. ESPN went all in on the ACC. It became their flagship property. ESPN offered what amounted to $13m/school contract. Add to that an upstart NBC Sports Network and the Big East thought there'd be competition for it's rights. NBC balked. Then came the giant split. Posts are correct. UCF is head and shoulders above Miami. People forget that when the Big East accepted them (Miami), they were on probation. We'll see what happens with the NB12. I'm sure ESPN is not happy with them. Only time will tell. By the way MSG/Big East Tournament is the best. What an atmosphere.

It always was and most likely always will be! for still being pat of it.

I always wonder if the nBE stayed together. Great basketball, with solid to good football. Large media markets in the east. It was the perfect conference for UC with 3 close rivals.

Curious if they could have secured at least ACC money with UCF and a few other choice additions like UCF.

The Big East was Amazing for Cincinnati. I'm not sure it was great for anyone else, at the end.

I wish the Big East would've locked down Penn State and been proactive with expansion instead of reactionary.

What could have been a football conference of:

North
Boston College
UConn
Rutgers
Penn State
Syracuse
Temple

South
Pitt
WVU
Cincinnati
Louisville
Virginia Tech
Miami

(11-10-2021 05:16 PM)polkhigh Wrote:  I wish the Big East would've locked down Penn State and been proactive with expansion instead of reactionary.

What could have been a football conference of:

North
Boston College
UConn
Rutgers
Penn State
Syracuse
Temple

South
Pitt
WVU
Cincinnati
Louisville
Virginia Tech
Miami

Damn that would have been a great conference.

(11-09-2021 05:25 PM)Knightrogen Wrote:  I am sitting here watching my ESPN 30 for 30, Requiem for the Big East.

When my school, UCF, first got into the Big East in the Fall of 2011, I was so thrilled because I was a basketball fan. I thought UCF can finally be on Big Games on TV and could have a chance of hosting Georgetown or Syracuse

But we all know what happened afterward, Syracuse left, Pittsburgh left, then Louisville left, the Catholic 7 parted ways with Big East also.

Then it was the new birth of American Athletic Conference.

Big East Basketball was on top of its world. Today is the opening day of College Basketball, so I am posting here to ask one question: What if the Big East didn't die?

The greatest College tradition at Madison Square Garden at the end of the season.

Great rivalries and great matchups.

What is your memory of the Big East? Could Big East still remain the best College Basketball Conference if those schools didn't leave?

ESPN made the big east in the 80s. Then they destroyed it when football became the priority at ESPN.

(11-10-2021 05:16 PM)polkhigh Wrote:  I wish the Big East would've locked down Penn State and been proactive with expansion instead of reactionary.

What could have been a football conference of:

North
Boston College
UConn
Rutgers
Penn State
Syracuse
Temple

South
Pitt
WVU
Cincinnati
Louisville
Virginia Tech
Miami

Notre Dame would most likely have been affiliated with this arrangement but not as a full member.

Shame the Big East fell apart. I always liked its last iteration; it felt like a bunch of scrappy brands punching above their weight in football (winning a surprising amount of OOC games against the other BCS conferences) and a ridiculously deep basketball conference. Would have been great if we could have joined it. The New Big 12 feels like it'll be the spiritual successor:

WVU, Cincinnati, Pitt, Louisville, Rutgers, UCONN, USF, Syracuse (+ basketball schools)

vs

WVU, Cincinnati, Oklahoma St, Texas Tech, TCU, Iowa State, Baylor, Kansas, Kansas St, Houston, BYU, UCF

(11-11-2021 03:47 AM)NothingButKnight Wrote:  Shame the Big East fell apart. I always liked its last iteration; it felt like a bunch of scrappy brands punching above their weight in football (winning a surprising amount of OOC games against the other BCS conferences) and a ridiculously deep basketball conference. Would have been great if we could have joined it. The New Big 12 feels like it'll be the spiritual successor:

WVU, Cincinnati, Pitt, Louisville, Rutgers, UCONN, USF, Syracuse (+ basketball schools)

vs

WVU, Cincinnati, Oklahoma St, Texas Tech, TCU, Iowa State, Baylor, Kansas, Kansas St, Houston, BYU, UCF

The new B12 reminds me a lot of the late stage Big East. I'm really looking forward to it. I'm also happy Oklahoma is out. It creates a power vacuum for someone or someones to step into.

(11-10-2021 05:16 PM)polkhigh Wrote:  I wish the Big East would've locked down Penn State and been proactive with expansion instead of reactionary.

What could have been a football conference of:

North
Boston College
UConn
Rutgers
Penn State
Syracuse
Temple

South
Pitt
WVU
Cincinnati
Louisville
Virginia Tech
Miami

I think the part that almost no one focuses on, the teams that left are no better for it. I 100% understand that it was a perfect situation for Cincinnati, and I am probably biased. If I just look at that list of teams though, I think their glory days all in the Big East. It's a shame. That's no exclusive to the Big East either. Nebraska to the B1G comes to mind too. They make more TV money though, so that's cool I guess.

(11-11-2021 05:50 AM)Z-Fly Wrote:  

(11-10-2021 05:16 PM)polkhigh Wrote:  I wish the Big East would've locked down Penn State and been proactive with expansion instead of reactionary.

What could have been a football conference of:

North
Boston College
UConn
Rutgers
Penn State
Syracuse
Temple

South
Pitt
WVU
Cincinnati
Louisville
Virginia Tech
Miami

I think the part that almost no one focuses on, the teams that left are no better for it. I 100% understand that it was a perfect situation for Cincinnati, and I am probably biased. If I just look at that list of teams though, I think their glory days all in the Big East. It's a shame. That's no exclusive to the Big East either. Nebraska to the B1G comes to mind too. They make more TV money though, so that's cool I guess.

They all had their chances. They are better off because they draw fans to the gate when big name teams come to their stadium (well, minus Miami, but that a completely different story), they get more media money, and overall financially do better. That all an administration can ask for.

As far as competitively on the field....... they have all had their chances. If Miami, Pitt, Nebraska goes to the end of the year with 1 loss, they are deep in the playoff conversation. If they go with 2 losses, good chance they are in a NY6 game. If they go with 3 losses, still have a decent shot at an NY6 or at worst a high profile non NY6 bowl. These are luxuries they cannot experience in the G5.

The problem is that they joined conferences that had that one team that owns the place. Pit and Miami really had a chance this year with Clemson being down..... but they pooped the bed. That's on them.