The end of an era (Big East and AAC split)

[FenwayFriar]

You C7 folks can't let it go. The OBE broke up years ago...get over it already. Who cares where the football contingent went? The S'cuses are gone, long gone. that's old news.
They are not returning. Stop attempting to write revisionist history. Let the past stay in the past.

We have the current Big East now. The bickering over which iteration was/is the best is also old news. The OBE was what it was and this iteration is what it is. Let's all live in the present
with an eye towards our collective futures. We have a very promising future ahead of us. Let the past stay in the past. You folks keep nostalgically eyeing the rearview mirror and the Big 3 (Butler, Cr8n, & X) are gonna
dust your butts. Learn from history, don't keep reliving it. And stop playing Bayheim in the Garden.

Hey gtmo how about you stay in your lane out there somewhere in middle America. Without the original Big East, our current conference doesn't exist. Without that history, who would we be? Would we get any national respect? You want a history of the AAAAAAAACK? Just a random league with random teams with no connection? Respect the history of the league. You're part of it now, and you should be proud to be part of a league with such a rich history. Oh, and we're all still waiting for the Big 3 to show up at MSG in March. Any update?

[Hall2012]

gtmo, your schtick is getting old. The Big East exit from the basketball schools was about uniting the basketball-driven purists from the football dregs, not about religious identity (hence why, despite your saccharin narrative, Butler isn't Catholic). UConn is rejoining the league because they have renounced Satan and have committed to doing exactly what Big East schools do - commit resources to compete at the highest level in basketball above all else.

Fixed it for you

[DeltaV]

The thing that I love about all the reporting on UConn's move is that it being played as "UConn left the Big East for the AAC, and is now rejoining the Big East". Even ESPN seems to be glossing over the fact that it was actually us who left the football schools, and then paid for the name, history, and contract with MSG. The only place I see that seriously mentioned is the cry-fest over on the UConn football board.

If there is any final sign that we ARE the Big East, it is when ESPN passes up an opportunity to make us look bad while we poach a valuable basketball brand from them. We may technically and legally be a different conference (and the AAC may legally be the old Big East), but in the eyes of anyone who matters we are the Beast of the East.

[gtmoBlue]

DeltaV. We are 7, now 8 of the original founding members of the Big East. None of the remaining footballers in the AAC can claim that.
Factually, Technically,... and Legally - We are the Big East!

[GoldenWarrior11]

The thing that I love about all the reporting on UConn's move is that it being played as "UConn left the Big East for the AAC, and is now rejoining the Big East". Even ESPN seems to be glossing over the fact that it was actually us who left the football schools, and then paid for the name, history, and contract with MSG. The only place I see that seriously mentioned is the cry-fest over on the UConn football board.

If there is any final sign that we ARE the Big East, it is when ESPN passes up an opportunity to make us look bad while we poach a valuable basketball brand from them. We may technically and legally be a different conference (and the AAC may legally be the old Big East), but in the eyes of anyone who matters we are the Beast of the East.

While the divorce wasn't especially complicated (C7 withdrew from Big East, but purchased Big East name/brand from football schools), it is yet another instance proving why it was imperative that the C7 retain the name. The Big East was synonymous with big-time elite-level college basketball. Even with modified and reformed membership, that name means something to casual basketball fans (and which is why it was so important that the C7 chose to leave behind the call-ups like Houston, SMU, UCF, Tulane, ECU, etc.). Can you imagine if any of those schools played under the banner? Eek.

I wouldn't take too much into "UConn leaving the Big East for the AAC, only now to return". My guess is an overwhelming majority of sports reporters/commentators would also believe that the AAC was, in fact, the new league (which was not the case). Many casual basketball fans do not know that the Big East is actually a new legal entity (while recognizing 1979 as its founding date, along with the basketball records). With UConn's departure, I wouldn't be shocked if the AAC stopped referencing past Big East men's basketball championships as its own (since no current member did anything noteworthy in the Big East).

[Husky_U]

The AAC is now the conference of make-believe National Champions.

[GoldenWarrior11]

C-USAmerican is now the conference of make-believe National Champions.

FIFY.

[Bogg]

While the divorce wasn't especially complicated (C7 withdrew from Big East, but purchased Big East name/brand from football schools), it is yet another instance proving why it was imperative that the C7 retain the name. The Big East was synonymous with big-time elite-level college basketball. Even with modified and reformed membership, that name means something to casual basketball fans (and which is why it was so important that the C7 chose to leave behind the call-ups like Houston, SMU, UCF, Tulane, ECU, etc.). Can you imagine if any of those schools played under the banner? Eek.

Also, you know, post-divorce the C7 still retained a majority of the original Big East membership (I count Nova and Pitt among the originals, but the math works either way) while only UConn had any meaningful history in Big East basketball in the AAC. It's been a long, winding road to get here, but the long-term net effect has been that the Big East has lost three members and added five, which isn't that crazy.

[scoscox]

You C7 folks can't let it go. The OBE broke up years ago...get over it already. Who cares where the football contingent went? The S'cuses are gone, long gone. that's old news.
They are not returning. Stop attempting to write revisionist history. Let the past stay in the past.

We have the current Big East now. The bickering over which iteration was/is the best is also old news. The OBE was what it was and this iteration is what it is. Let's all live in the present
with an eye towards our collective futures. We have a very promising future ahead of us. Let the past stay in the past. You folks keep nostalgically eyeing the rearview mirror and the Big 3 (Butler, Cr8n, & X) are gonna
dust your butts. Learn from history, don't keep reliving it. And stop playing Bayheim in the Garden.

Hey gtmo how about you stay in your lane out there somewhere in middle America. Without the original Big East, our current conference doesn't exist. Without that history, who would we be? Would we get any national respect? You want a history of the AAAAAAAACK? Just a random league with random teams with no connection? Respect the history of the league. You're part of it now, and you should be proud to be part of a league with such a rich history. Oh, and we're all still waiting for the Big 3 to show up at MSG in March. Any update?

Hey easy now Fenway, I know neither of us have won but we’ve both been to the title game and Xavier is the only school in the league to have made atleast the semifinals every year. We’re also the only school not named nova to be the #1 seed

[Xudash]

You C7 folks can't let it go. The OBE broke up years ago...get over it already. Who cares where the football contingent went? The S'cuses are gone, long gone. that's old news.
They are not returning. Stop attempting to write revisionist history. Let the past stay in the past.

We have the current Big East now. The bickering over which iteration was/is the best is also old news. The OBE was what it was and this iteration is what it is. Let's all live in the present
with an eye towards our collective futures. We have a very promising future ahead of us. Let the past stay in the past. You folks keep nostalgically eyeing the rearview mirror and the Big 3 (Butler, Cr8n, & X) are gonna
dust your butts. Learn from history, don't keep reliving it. And stop playing Bayheim in the Garden.

Hey gtmo how about you stay in your lane out there somewhere in middle America. Without the original Big East, our current conference doesn't exist. Without that history, who would we be? Would we get any national respect? You want a history of the AAAAAAAACK? Just a random league with random teams with no connection? Respect the history of the league. You're part of it now, and you should be proud to be part of a league with such a rich history. Oh, and we're all still waiting for the Big 3 to show up at MSG in March. Any update?

Hey easy now Fenway, I know neither of us have won but we’ve both been to the title game and Xavier is the only school in the league to have made atleast the semifinals every year. We’re also the only school not named nova to be the #1 seed

Hey easy now Fenway, I know neither of us have won, but we’ve both been to the title game and Xavier is the only school in the league to have made at least the semi-finals every year. We’re also the only school not named Nova to be an NCAAT #1 seed, as well at win the regular season BE Championship. We've also tossed a reasonable number of NCAAT Units into the BE bank account.


What the hell. Why leave the other important stuff out.

Meanwhile, back at AAC headquarters in a double wide somewhere outside of Toothless, East Virginia:

@Brett_McMurphy
Mike Aresco says AAC “will move w/deliberate speed & probably will have pretty good idea of our direction by mid-July. We have several options: stay at 11, add an all-sport member or add a football and/or basketball member. We are strong in all sports & don’t need to do anything”

Did you guys know that the AAC is strong in all sports? Would that be as true as to say that they are all deeply committed to each other in that conference?