The Big East: A Conference of Desperation

I never gave much thought to conferences until Virginia Tech got stuck in the mess trying to move from the Big East to the ACC. I just went to the home games and watched whatever away games came on TV.  I was happy when they won, and sad when they lost. I didn't realize how much we gained by joining the ACC until we started playing in the conference and had much more interesting matchups.  In fact, it seemed to elevate VT's level of play, because the first year in the ACC was the year that the 10 wins per year streak began.

As the Big East evolved following the 2005 alignment, it became clear that the conference was viewed by many as a stepping stone towards a greater status.


Since the realignment of 2005, the Big East has had maybe two good seasons.  Since then, they've been handled like a hot potato in the BCS bowls, generally falling to whoever has the last pick.  The Big East team has either not been ranked, or given a low 20's ranking just to help appearances.

The Orange Bowl has to be concerned when they get the last pick in a year where the ACC has beated up on each other, and the conference champion barely cracks the top 20, because then they're looking at their "at-large" spot being filled by a Big East team that might not even be ranked.

And now, we're seeing three more schools leaving the Big East.  The biggest hit was West Virginia announcing their intent to leave, as they've been the face of the football part of the conference since the realignment.  Only Rutgers remains of the original Big East football schools.

Then, the Big East is trying to force the last bit of muscle is has by enforcing a 27 month exit notice.  While Pitt and Syracuse may appear content to stay and honor that for the moment, West Virginia is not happy. In fact, they're going to be making noise the entire time until they can be freed to go to the Big 12. I bet at some point in the next two years, even Pitt and Syracuse will be wondering why they're staying put.

And what does the Big East gain by forcing those schools to remain the full 27 months? Do they think they can really attract other schools based on who's currently a member, when everyone in the world knows that three of those schools won't be there in three years.

Yes, I realize that those schools agreed to the 27 month notice when the bylaws were created. But how is that going to benefit the conference or the school if the school is going to be complaining loudly for 27 months?  Cut your losses and move on, Big East.  You look like an impotent bully by even having that clause.  At least the Big 12 did it right by putting a big emphasis on TV money:  "Yes, you can leave the conference this summer, but we're keeping a large chunk of money.  Are you sure you want to leave so soon?"

I just find it laughable that the Big East expects to get up to 12 football schools.  If they do manage to get some weird football hotchpodge of schools, I think it would weaken NCAA football as a whole.   There are not enough schools of the proper caliber close to the Big East's current region that are not already aligned.  Therefore, the Big East is looking west, which would involve a lot of travelling for the teams, just for their conference schedule.  What's that division going to be called - the Big East West?  Will it complement the Big East East?

There's nothing the Big East can currently offer any schools, other than an automatic BCS berth which is in danger of being revoked.  There are few schools that can offer anything to the Big East other than another name on a list.  The schools that can offer something, like Notre Dame, don't want to be part of the Big East.  Meanwhile, the Big East is considering re-inviting Temple to the conference after kicking them out for poor performace a few years ago.


And yet, it looks like several schools, most notably Boise State, are falling for the AQ bait.  That's just a knee jerk reaction based on Boise feeling like they got left out of a quality bowl.  Well, maybe if you beefed up your schedule and didn't lose to the only good team in your conference, and travelled well, you'd be invited to the Sugar Bowl.  Seriously, Boise, if you want that AQ spot, ask the Big 12.  I'm sure they would be willing to take someone on right now if it meant a guaranteed 10th member for 2012, considering the WVU-Big East lawsuits.

As Tony said about the possibility of the C-USA/MW alliance generating a BCS spot, "A whole lot of mediocre does not equal good." The same applies to the Big East, in any form.