It's official: Big East Commissioner speaks

[Harry]

The basketball institutions have notified us that they plan to withdraw from the BIG EAST Conference. The membership recognizes their contributions over the long distinguished history of the BIG EAST. The 13 members of the Conference are confident and united regarding our collective future. We have a strong Conference with respected national universities, and are working together to forge the future. We have a variety of options, and are looking forward with great partnership, collegiality and optimism.

read more: http://www.bigeast.org/News/tabid/435/Article/240210/Statement-From-Commissioner-Mike-Aresco.aspx

[Harry]

As an aside --- does the Big East name truly carry anymore value to the football schools specifically? The way he words this it is as if the football schools are keeping that name. I think with all of the beatings that name has taken in the media and the loss of all the schools make it seem unlikely they would carry on that name unless it was just to cash in on their BCS money next year and of course exit fees. For the football schools to use that name going forward would be an absolute farce.

[DeepGreen]

Makes it sound like the name stays with the football schools. I disagree with you though. I think if the FB schools keep the Big East name, or brand, they will do fine. The Big East name will still mean something to the uninformed fans who do not analyze this stuff like we do.

[MeanGreenGlory]

Hmm, I thought the Basketball schools needed to keep the name so that they could also keep the NCAA autobid?? Surely they aren't forming a brand new conference - wouldn't they lose out on a bunch of money if they did that?

[NorthTexan95]

According to Andy Katz, the 7 basketball schools will leave the conference and form a new new conference. This conference will have an automatic bye to the bball tourney and the Big East will retain it's auto bid. So it sounds like the NCAA is once again changing the rules to accomdate a new league. This probably means that the Big East football schools will stay together and poach a few teams from other leagues. It shouldn't be happening but the NCAA is a joke.

[MeanGreenGlory]

According to Andy Katz, the 7 basketball schools will leave the conference and form a new new conference. This conference will have an automatic bye to the bball tourney and the Big East will retain it's auto bid. So it sounds like the NCAA is once again changing the rules to accomdate a new league. This probably means that the Big East football schools will stay together and poach a few teams from other leagues. It shouldn't be happening but the NCAA is a joke.

Agree that NCAA needs to set better rules and follow them more accurately and ethically.

Boise is one of the main schools holding BEAST football together right now...but the TV contract isn't going to be anywhere close to what they were promised. There's still a good chance that they pull out along with SJSU and further decrease the value of the conference.

If that happens though, I imagine SMU, Houston, and other "old CUSA" schools will still scratch and claw to stay together as the BEAST conference. There's no way they're willing to deflate their egos a little bit and re-join a geographically relevant conference that would be better for their programs in the long haul.

[DeepGreen]

If the NCAA give the "new league for Catholic schools" an automatic bye into the tourney, then why don't the Western CUSA teams form their own conference? NCAA has set a precedent with the auto bye for the new league. A court battle for sure. But, a new league with UNT, La Tech, Tulsa, UTEP, Rice, UAB, USM, UTSA(I detest including them), and whoever else we want to add.