Even More Expansion
Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2003 11:21 amBig East meets to discuss life after Miami, Va. Tech
By Steve Wieberg, USA TODAY
The Big East Conference stepped up realignment discussions Tuesday as presidents and athletic directors from eight member schools weighed a future without Miami (Fla.) and Virginia Tech.
What shape it will take remained uncertain.
"No decisions on our future structure were reached," Commissioner Mike Tranghese said after some five hours of meetings in Newark, N.J. Representatives of the Big East's Division I-A, I-AA and non-football schools came together for the first time since Miami and Virginia Tech opted in June to head to the Atlantic Coast Conference after the coming school year.
The Big East schools left behind must first decide whether to remain together or split into two leagues, one that plays major-college football and one that doesn't.
Either option would require the addition of two or three football-playing members, with speculation falling on Louisville, Central Florida and South Florida. They would fill out an eight-or nine-team football conference with Boston College, Connecticut, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Syracuse and West Virginia.
If the five basketball-first schools — Georgetown, Providence, St. John's, Seton Hall and Villanova — break off, they're expected to pursue such schools as Marquette, DePaul and Xavier as new partners.
Taking part in the discussions, which Tranghese termed "exploratory," were the presidents of Boston College, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Georgetown, St. John's and Villanova, plus ADs from Rutgers, Syracuse, Georgetown and Seton Hall.
Tranghese has said he expects a decision on holding together or splitting company within a few months. "Our presidents and athletic directors will continue to communicate regularly," he said, though no full conference meetings are scheduled.
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By Steve Wieberg, USA TODAY
The Big East Conference stepped up realignment discussions Tuesday as presidents and athletic directors from eight member schools weighed a future without Miami (Fla.) and Virginia Tech.
What shape it will take remained uncertain.
"No decisions on our future structure were reached," Commissioner Mike Tranghese said after some five hours of meetings in Newark, N.J. Representatives of the Big East's Division I-A, I-AA and non-football schools came together for the first time since Miami and Virginia Tech opted in June to head to the Atlantic Coast Conference after the coming school year.
The Big East schools left behind must first decide whether to remain together or split into two leagues, one that plays major-college football and one that doesn't.
Either option would require the addition of two or three football-playing members, with speculation falling on Louisville, Central Florida and South Florida. They would fill out an eight-or nine-team football conference with Boston College, Connecticut, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Syracuse and West Virginia.
If the five basketball-first schools — Georgetown, Providence, St. John's, Seton Hall and Villanova — break off, they're expected to pursue such schools as Marquette, DePaul and Xavier as new partners.
Taking part in the discussions, which Tranghese termed "exploratory," were the presidents of Boston College, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Georgetown, St. John's and Villanova, plus ADs from Rutgers, Syracuse, Georgetown and Seton Hall.
Tranghese has said he expects a decision on holding together or splitting company within a few months. "Our presidents and athletic directors will continue to communicate regularly," he said, though no full conference meetings are scheduled.
Find this article at:
<A HREF="http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/2003-08-05-big-east-meeting_x.htm" TARGET=_blank>http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/2003-08-05-big-east-meeting_x.htm</A>