ESPN: Big East football faces uncertain future

[Harry]

The push-and-pull power struggle that has gripped the Big East is no more.

You are now looking at a football league, for better or worse.

Or worse.

As much as the Big East tried to forge its football identity, it never quite could given the dichotomy unique to this league, the only one among the major conferences that had to serve split interests. Now, it must find one and fast to keep is disjointed members united and committed for more than just a handful of months.

The big question, of course, remains: Is that even possible?

Because the same dark cloud hangs over what is left of this league the way it did when Pitt and Syracuse left. When TCU and West Virginia left. When Rutgers and Louisville left. Seven departing basketball schools do not change what will continue to vex Mike Aresco and the rest of its members.

No matter who is left, or what television deal is reached, or who else is invited in, the Big East cannot do a thing to keep a school from leaving for a better conference. Note the statement from Cincinnati athletic director Whit Babcock, whose school desperately tried to get into the ACC last month -- even asking Ohio State coach Urban Meyer to try and put in a good word.

Babcock never once mentioned the Big East. Do you know what UC is committed to? "Competing at the highest level," the statement says. Cincinnati is not the only remaining school that has a wayward eye, either. UConn made overtures to the ACC both last year and this year, believing it was the next school in once Maryland left for the Big Ten. Instead, Louisville got the life raft out.

Read more: http://espn.go.com/blog/bigeast/post/_/id/40668/big-east-football-faces-uncertain-future