Tigers' pursuit of Big East Conference cloaked in secrecy, intrigu

Harry · February 12, 2012

Thanks to a friend on the board who shared this link with me!

A near-decade of desires, a retiring man's legacy, the undeniable power of Memphis' most prestigious corporation -- all hung in the air in a private dining room at Folk's Folly restaurant the night of Jan. 30.

John Marinatto, the commissioner of the Big East Conference and a wide-faced Rhode Islander, sat in front of his steak. By implied request, the party was small. President Shirley Raines and athletic director R.C. Johnson represented the University of Memphis. The other half of the table was as influential a triumvirate as the local business community can offer: FedEx founder, chairman, president and CEO Fred Smith; FedEx executive vice president and CFO Alan Graf; and former Promus and First Tennessee Bank chairman Mike Rose.

Marinatto had spent much of the day in the passenger seat of Johnson's black Cadillac sedan, touring the town on a mild afternoon in a Memphis winter filled with them.

By now, Marinatto probably knew all he needed to know as it pertained to evaluating the University of Memphis' worthiness of an invitation to the Big East. Yet dinner provided the unmistakable opportunity to gauge the full measure of the marriage that was about to take place -- to look across a table and see one another's eyes and, by extension, their commitments.

To those in the room, it was clear: Marinatto's visit was the U of M's chance, perhaps its last opportunity to make a leap that could forever transform its athletic enterprise.

Eight days later, that transformation happened. In a unanimous vote of the league's presidents Tuesday, the University of Memphis was granted admission into the Big East beginning July 1, 2013. On Wednesday, Johnson and Raines strolled into a press conference at the Hardaway Hall of Fame to adoring applause.

It was the product of years of petitioning, but only a few weeks of advanced conversations. It was a moment delivered by a tiny circle of players, their orders to keep quiet at all costs. It was a most emotional celebration, powerful men greeting the news with tears.

This is how the deal was done.

Read More: http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/feb/12/tigers-big-east-intrigue-pursuit-cloaked-in/