Commissioner "Val"

[adoraz11]

NJRedman: I don't get the "commish" reference or whether it's supposed to be condescending. I also haven't seen bad comments about her, but then again I usually don't read topics about her either.

You're right in that tv interviews don't mean much, but you still haven't answered what you like or don't like about her. Just criticizing what others say.

[robinreed]

Let's cut her some slack. Only a year ago we had only a TV contract and a fairly large debt. No office, no staff, no website etc. Given the amount of time elapsed I believe Val has done a better than decent job. The one criticism that I agree with is that of TV and radio interviews. This is one of the few free ways a commish can get free advertising time for a conference and she should do much more of it. The P5 and even some of the G5 leaders do this regularly and Val needs to step it up.

[ohiohsbball]

1. Presidents decide on whether they will expand or not.

2. Gonzaga is not now nor have they ever been a realistic option. The 5 eastern schools (and probably some of the midwestern schools) don't want to send all their sports to the west coast. You can't be a BBall only member.

3. SLU and Dayton are more realistic choices going forward.

Seriously, so many posters have no idea what they are talking about, yet want to act like they do. It's ALMOST funny, almost.[/quote]


I agree with you. No one knows what is going on behind closed doors, but what has Val done? The TV contract has already been inked before she came on (I think) and all is quiet on the front of having OOC with other major conferences.

As far as expansion, I agree with you. I don't want to turn this into another expansion thread, but Gonzaga is not coming; period. Not happening! I'm not sure how the BE schools want to send baseball, softball, and volleyball to Gonzaga. Good luck with that. VCU is not an option; too big of a school and a large public school that has nothing in common with other BE schools. Yes, ideally they have a great basketball program and I would take them in a heartbeat, but what else fits in with the league? Please don't say VCU is a geographical fit because Gonzaga is being thrown around.

As far as Dayton and saint Louis go, I preditcted on another thread that within three years both schools will be in the BE, and I still believe that. What I don't understand was when all of the Dayton bashing was going on, many posters (especially Xavier) said Dayton was too far West and instead we need Richmond. I'm no geography major, but if Dayton is too far West, than isn't Gonzaga too far West?!?

[flyerlax06]

NJRedman: I don't get the "commish" reference or whether it's supposed to be condescending. I also haven't seen bad comments about her, but then again I usually don't read topics about her either.

You're right in that tv interviews don't mean much, but you still haven't answered what you like or don't like about her. Just criticizing what others say.

The reference of "Commiss" is that the "miss" part is referring to her being a woman, seemingly for now apparent reason. I think that's what NJ is referring to.

[Wizard of Westroads]

Good interview with the Omaha paper's radio guys:

http://sports.omaha.com/2014/05/01/vide ... 2OCSKIvBww

[robinreed]

Agree it was a good interview. She needs to do more of this. I was disappointed that the radio interviewers did not ask her about the NLRB ruling in the Northwestern University situation. That may prove one of the most important things that have ever happened for private schools such as the BE members. However it was not her job to bring this subject up if the interviewers did not ask.

I especially agree that expansion is not called for now and her resignation to the P5 take over of college sports is very realistic and pragmatic. There is not much we can do about it so complaining is not productive. Good job Val.

[Bill Marsh]

1. Presidents decide on whether they will expand or not.

2. Gonzaga is not now nor have they ever been a realistic option. The 5 eastern schools (and probably some of the midwestern schools) don't want to send all their sports to the west coast. You can't be a BBall only member.

3. SLU and Dayton are more realistic choices going forward.

Seriously, so many posters have no idea what they are talking about, yet want to act like they do. It's ALMOST funny, almost.


I agree with you. No one knows what is going on behind closed doors, but what has Val done? The TV contract has already been inked before she came on (I think) and all is quiet on the front of having OOC with other major conferences.

As far as expansion, I agree with you. I don't want to turn this into another expansion thread, but Gonzaga is not coming; period. Not happening! I'm not sure how the BE schools want to send baseball, softball, and volleyball to Gonzaga. Good luck with that. VCU is not an option; too big of a school and a large public school that has nothing in common with other BE schools. Yes, ideally they have a great basketball program and I would take them in a heartbeat, but what else fits in with the league? Please don't say VCU is a geographical fit because Gonzaga is being thrown around.

As far as Dayton and saint Louis go, I preditcted on another thread that within three years both schools will be in the BE, and I still believe that. What I don't understand was when all of the Dayton bashing was going on, many posters (especially Xavier) said Dayton was too far West and instead we need Richmond. I'm no geography major, but if Dayton is too far West, than isn't Gonzaga too far West?!?

At some point, the presidents are going to have to get realistic about what it's going to take to make this league a success.

Gonzaga is a perfect institutional fit and a home run for league visibility and credibility. But some presidents don't want their Olympic sports to take one long road trip a year? Seriously? In actuality they wouldn't even be taking one trip a year in the sports you mention. But even if they did, what's the big deal? The true problem would be for Gonzaga, whose teams would have to travel long distances all the time. But the Gonzaga AD is already on record as saying that Gonzaga is all in. Only a president trying to prove he's an idiot would turn down this gift.

VCU is a perfect geographic fit. But that's not good enough either? Just amazing! Once again, instant upgrade in credibility and visibility. But the Big East can't tolerate even one public school. Sure, let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

Instead, turn to 2 mediocre programs in the Midwest? Both St Louis and Dayton bring some positives, but neither are anywhere close to Gonzaga and VCU. They scream mid major. They would be great adds if the conference wants to go to 14, but not as #11 and #12. Not when Gonzaga and VCU are ready, willing, and able.

It's this kind of thinking that will kill the goose that laid the golden egg. The commissioner will earn her paycheck when/if she can lead the membership to the decisions they need to make for their own good.

[muskienick]

1. Presidents decide on whether they will expand or not.

2. Gonzaga is not now nor have they ever been a realistic option. The 5 eastern schools (and probably some of the midwestern schools) don't want to send all their sports to the west coast. You can't be a BBall only member.

3. SLU and Dayton are more realistic choices going forward.

Seriously, so many posters have no idea what they are talking about, yet want to act like they do. It's ALMOST funny, almost.


I agree with you. No one knows what is going on behind closed doors, but what has Val done? The TV contract has already been inked before she came on (I think) and all is quiet on the front of having OOC with other major conferences.

As far as expansion, I agree with you. I don't want to turn this into another expansion thread, but Gonzaga is not coming; period. Not happening! I'm not sure how the BE schools want to send baseball, softball, and volleyball to Gonzaga. Good luck with that. VCU is not an option; too big of a school and a large public school that has nothing in common with other BE schools. Yes, ideally they have a great basketball program and I would take them in a heartbeat, but what else fits in with the league? Please don't say VCU is a geographical fit because Gonzaga is being thrown around.

As far as Dayton and saint Louis go, I preditcted on another thread that within three years both schools will be in the BE, and I still believe that. What I don't understand was when all of the Dayton bashing was going on, many posters (especially Xavier) said Dayton was too far West and instead we need Richmond. I'm no geography major, but if Dayton is too far West, than isn't Gonzaga too far West?!?

At some point, the presidents are going to have to get realistic about what it's going to take to make this league a success.

Gonzaga is a perfect institutional fit and a home run for league visibility and credibility. But some presidents don't want their Olympic sports to take one long road trip a year? Seriously? In actuality they wouldn't even be taking one trip a year in the sports you mention. But even if they did, what's the big deal? The true problem would be for Gonzaga, whose teams would have to travel long distances all the time. But the Gonzaga AD is already on record as saying that Gonzaga is all in. Only a president trying to prove he's an idiot would turn down this gift.

VCU is a perfect geographic fit. But that's not good enough either? Just amazing! Once again, instant upgrade in credibility and visibility. But the Big East can't tolerate even one public school. Sure, let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

Instead, turn to 2 mediocre programs in the Midwest? Both St Louis and Dayton bring some positives, but neither are anywhere close to Gonzaga and VCU. They scream mid major. They would be great adds if the conference wants to go to 14, but not as #11 and #12. Not when Gonzaga and VCU are ready, willing, and able.

It's this kind of thinking that will kill the goose that laid the golden egg. The commissioner will earn her paycheck when/if she can lead the membership to the decisions they need to make for their own good.

Bill,

There's a lot more sense in your post than that espoused by those stuck on the "Private" nature of the Big East as a requisite for membership. At least those dissing the idea of Gonzaga as a Big East Member have geography as a valid argument. But even that could be mitigated if their addition (along with VCU) would prompt FOX to sweeten the pot for the TV deal! By doing so, FOX would draw a bigger College BB audience to the airwaves and the Members' Presidents would have less of a reason to fear the monetary implications to that form of expansion.

[NJRedman]

1. Presidents decide on whether they will expand or not.

2. Gonzaga is not now nor have they ever been a realistic option. The 5 eastern schools (and probably some of the midwestern schools) don't want to send all their sports to the west coast. You can't be a BBall only member.

3. SLU and Dayton are more realistic choices going forward.

Seriously, so many posters have no idea what they are talking about, yet want to act like they do. It's ALMOST funny, almost.


I agree with you. No one knows what is going on behind closed doors, but what has Val done? The TV contract has already been inked before she came on (I think) and all is quiet on the front of having OOC with other major conferences.

As far as expansion, I agree with you. I don't want to turn this into another expansion thread, but Gonzaga is not coming; period. Not happening! I'm not sure how the BE schools want to send baseball, softball, and volleyball to Gonzaga. Good luck with that. VCU is not an option; too big of a school and a large public school that has nothing in common with other BE schools. Yes, ideally they have a great basketball program and I would take them in a heartbeat, but what else fits in with the league? Please don't say VCU is a geographical fit because Gonzaga is being thrown around.

As far as Dayton and saint Louis go, I preditcted on another thread that within three years both schools will be in the BE, and I still believe that. What I don't understand was when all of the Dayton bashing was going on, many posters (especially Xavier) said Dayton was too far West and instead we need Richmond. I'm no geography major, but if Dayton is too far West, than isn't Gonzaga too far West?!?

At some point, the presidents are going to have to get realistic about what it's going to take to make this league a success.

Gonzaga is a perfect institutional fit and a home run for league visibility and credibility. But some presidents don't want their Olympic sports to take one long road trip a year? Seriously? In actuality they wouldn't even be taking one trip a year in the sports you mention. But even if they did, what's the big deal? The true problem would be for Gonzaga, whose teams would have to travel long distances all the time. But the Gonzaga AD is already on record as saying that Gonzaga is all in. Only a president trying to prove he's an idiot would turn down this gift.

VCU is a perfect geographic fit. But that's not good enough either? Just amazing! Once again, instant upgrade in credibility and visibility. But the Big East can't tolerate even one public school. Sure, let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

Instead, turn to 2 mediocre programs in the Midwest? Both St Louis and Dayton bring some positives, but neither are anywhere close to Gonzaga and VCU. They scream mid major. They would be great adds if the conference wants to go to 14, but not as #11 and #12. Not when Gonzaga and VCU are ready, willing, and able.

It's this kind of thinking that will kill the goose that laid the golden egg. The commissioner will earn her paycheck when/if she can lead the membership to the decisions they need to make for their own good.

Are you kidding? You leave out a very important part. If we add Gonzaga and they tank, which is a real possibility, then we are stuck with a west coast albatross around our necks. Then throw in the travel for our olympic sports, the real possibility they will bring little to no fans to MSG and also the fact that no other conference stretches as far as we would by choice. The Sun Belt stretches pretty far but that is out of pure survival. We are NOT that desperate. Fox would rather we add a TV market like St. Louis over Spokane. Then throw in the fact that SLU has won a tougher conference the last two years.

The downside for Gonzaga is huge compared to any of the other candidates. Thats a fact.

[TheHall]

At some point, the presidents are going to have to get realistic about what it's going to take to make this league a success.

Gonzaga is a perfect institutional fit and a home run for league visibility and credibility. But some presidents don't want their Olympic sports to take one long road trip a year? Seriously? In actuality they wouldn't even be taking one trip a year in the sports you mention. But even if they did, what's the big deal? The true problem would be for Gonzaga, whose teams would have to travel long distances all the time. But the Gonzaga AD is already on record as saying that Gonzaga is all in. Only a president trying to prove he's an idiot would turn down this gift.

VCU is a perfect geographic fit. But that's not good enough either? Just amazing! Once again, instant upgrade in credibility and visibility. But the Big East can't tolerate even one public school. Sure, let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

Instead, turn to 2 mediocre programs in the Midwest? Both St Louis and Dayton bring some positives, but neither are anywhere close to Gonzaga and VCU. They scream mid major. They would be great adds if the conference wants to go to 14, but not as #11 and #12. Not when Gonzaga and VCU are ready, willing, and able.

It's this kind of thinking that will kill the goose that laid the golden egg. The commissioner will earn her paycheck when/if she can lead the membership to the decisions they need to make for their own good.

Are you kidding? You leave out a very important part. If we add Gonzaga and they tank, which is a real possibility, then we are stuck with a west coast albatross around our necks. Then throw in the travel for our olympic sports, the real possibility they will bring little to no fans to MSG and also the fact that no other conference stretches as far as we would by choice. The Sun Belt stretches pretty far but that is out of pure survival. We are NOT that desperate. Fox would rather we add a TV market like St. Louis over Spokane. Then throw in the fact that SLU has won a tougher conference the last two years.

The downside for Gonzaga is huge compared to any of the other candidates. Thats a fact.

Not sure what makes that a fact. When the C7 announced the split Gonzaga's name was the biggest one out there for invitation by far. The travel distance was the only real issue not the location (Spokane). Even with that many BE fans still held out hope early that they would be part of the initial expansion. I don't get the what if they tank thing either. They've done as much or more over the past 15 years to build their brand as any program out there...UNC, UK, Duke, etc are not not walking through that door.

I think Gonzaga joining the BE would be a bigger story than any other non-major conference addition out there, VCU with Shake would likely be a huge story for the BE too. Any program the league adds will have some warts. But as Bill put it, travel distance is overrated & most of the other schools being discussed scream mid-major. The league needs for 11 & 12 to be viewed as impressive gets, not just mid-major consolidation efforts. That's what the oBE was basically doing for fball. I do think schools like SLU & Dayton can overcome that label with time & success but they are mid-majors through & through right now.

Btw the way I wouldn't poke fun at the state of Washington. Spokane is much more a hot spot right now than queens...just saying.