BillEsq wrote:billyjack wrote:Dave wrote:...The new Big East is really more of a default path of least resistance, made possible by Fox Sports' proactive positioning, than a grand plan by C7 ADs and presidents.
ESPN, our rival leagues, and their flying-monkey talking heads in football land all want everyone to think this.
I dunno i argued that the C7 had a plan from the get go till i was blue in my face... unfortunately the facts have not backed up my early opinions. I said before that i would be shocked if they C7 presidents would just simply jump into this, but unfortunately i have to admit that i am shocked. I could be wrong but this looks pretty much like it was haphazardly done.
Jack if you can prove to me that the C7 had this all planed out... I be happy as it would mean that both I and my oatmeal would have been right. Unfortunately i think we are both eating crow....
BillEsq-- I would agree with BostonFriar and Redmen9194 below...
The group of basketball schools expected football to break off after the 5 year period starting in 2005 (I think). The football schools had an option to break as a group of 8 (or 9 with TCU) without having to pay an exit fee. So at least since 2005, the "C-7" (which actually included Notre Dame as well at one point) were prepared as a group for a split. The idea was generally understood to be to invite Xavier and then probably one or more of Dayton, Saint Louis, and later when they broke on the scene, Butler. More generally as well was to ideally get back to a home-and-away with each school, like in the old days. Old school Big East fans always felt that this new setup would be valuable. Our goal was to keep the Garden, which we did. Our goal was to have a great TV lineup on a great sports network, which we have. Our goal was to invite 3 outstanding schools, which we have done.
As far as where we stand right now in June-- I don't see any problem. The C-7 invited three outstanding schools in March. From what we've heard, the 10 of us get along great and have been working together to put fall schedules together.
As far as supposed negatives-- none of which are a problem except in the mind of Mark Blaudschun Jersey Guy and dopes at ESPN:
1) no commissioner-- I'm not sure how important the position is, especially at this time. Mark Blaudschun and ESPN keep telling us that it's important. What pressing problem would a commissioner have to try to solve? I don't get it. The 10 schools have everything in place.
2) fall schedules-- soccer schedules are complete.
3) "being able to schedule games in NBA arenas"-- ??? --- I guess Mark Blaudschun and/or ESPN have decided to push this narrative. I don't get it. What's the problem? We've all been playing in NBA arenas for 30+ years. Why is this now a problem scheduling-wise? Seton Hall has played at the Meadowlands and now Newark for 30+ years. Their only fellow-tenant is the NJ Devils. Xavier, Creighton and Butler play in their own arenas.
Basically, ESPN and apparently ajerseyguy (and rival leagues like the ACC which are owned by ESPN) are throwing monkey poop at the wall and hoping something will stick, with the intent to undermine us. Here's an example:
4) the ACC will get Madison Square Garden for their tourney. People that live in the northeast who have followed the sport can see that MSG wanted to keep the Big East. This bogus debate went on for 6 months.
Here's an example of another talking point that made/makes no sense:
5) losing Pitt is a really bad blow to the Big East. Nobody in NYC cares about Pitt any more than they care about West Virginia... seriously, did West Virginia even get mentioned once during our BE Tourney in March?
Gotta go...