I actually try to be fair to the Big East. Really, I do.
Earlier after Pitt got left out of the SEC/Big East Challenge, I went on record saying that Pitt really shouldn’t have been counting on the game for a couple reasons. The most obvious being the fact that Pitt is leaving the Big East for the ACC coupled with the lawsuit recently filed. It’s not like the Big East is (or even should) be going out of their way to help Pitt.
The other reason being that if Pitt was counting on the SEC game to be a marquee game that was foolish as well. The way the Challenge works, any SEC team that had a home game last year, would go on the road this year. That meant the opponents could have been (in order of desirability): Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi St., South Carolina or Tennessee.
Kentucky was never going to happen. No way the Big East would let the biggest name go to the departing Pitt and have that be talked about during the game. Tennessee has been Pitt’s opponent in this the last two years. Safe to say they would be out.
That means — at best — Pitt could have gotten a 50-50 shot at a good (Alabama) to potentially good (Georgia) opponent or crapped out.
So, really what was Pitt hoping to get?
Maybe they thought Missouri or Texas A&M would be sent their way? Well, when the pairings were announced, those two didn’t get included. My assumption at first was that the ESPN deal with the Big East and SEC only had 12 games and there was no adjustment made for that.
Or maybe not:
Seriously?
So, this could have been completely avoided? Could have added a couple other good games and only had to have one Big East team miss out? Your almost certainly, preseason pick to be #1 in the conference — Louisville — could have been included. But the Big East just didn’t bother?
Would have been a good thing for Louisville or UConn. Granted, they were apparently given advanced notice by the Big East — unlike Pitt.
Louisville was told by the Big East “long ago” that the Cardinals wouldn’t participate, according to a university administrator. Connecticut was told the same thing and thus agreed to play in the Jimmy V Classic in New York. Louisville hosted Vanderbilt last season while UConn hosted Arkansas.
Gavitt said there were a lot of reasons for leaving Pitt out this season, and none had to do with the lawsuit the Panthers filed against the conference to leave by 2013 instead of the 27-month requirement that would keep the two schools as members until 2014.
Pitt they hung out to wait until the very end.
Hey, SEC. Call Pitt. I think we have an opening for a home-and-home with Missouri (or even Texas A&M).
Wonder how much the SEC is looking forward to matchups with Navy, Central Fla et al the following year.
I expect Pitt to get out with zero pay out. The BE made it’s call and forced Pitt to stay in; that means a duty of the highest order. God those people in Providence are stupid.
Louisville is already out and Connecticut is over-committed. OOOPS on BE Brass…..again!
I can fly jet planes and launch ballistic missiles and experimental aircraft TOMORROW AND WITHOUT EXPERIENCE better than any BE front-office decision maker.
This was a competitive league, with marquee match-ups, once upon a time. Really, the conference was lost as such in 2003. And I am, yes, talking FB.
Moreover, just remember that it provided the vehicle for Pitt to build a darn good BB program. I can remember Coach Beamer’s reluctance to leave his fellow FB coaches behind 9 years ago, as well as his acknowledgment that it if weren’t for the BE, Va Tech would have never been able to become the FB program it is now. I bet Jamie will feel much of the same.
Maybe you didn’t see it, maybe you did and you’re just tired of my posts!! LOL (maybe you’re not laughing)
Anyhow, to all. Why won’t the ACC seriously up the exit fee again.
I did some research, and I believe it got raised to 20M last Sept. They wanted to go to 25 or 35M, but FSU bargained them down.
Guess who did the bargaining?? That Haggard guy that was just in the news two weeks ago.
They need %75 of the vote. At least 9 of 12 to pass. Pitt and Cuse no votes.
So, with things seeming to settle down a bit, and it looks like FSU and Clemson won’t be going anywhere for a few years. (yes, anything anytime can happen), but, it looks like the Big 12 isn’t going to poach for a couple years.
If that is the case, I say again, at the meetings in September, why don’t they raise it to 35M, 40M, 50M????????
I think this is a pretty huge deal. With all of the instability, make people put their cards on the table.
At least have a vote on it.
I would think that Duke, UNC, UVA, Wake Forest, G.Tech, Maryland, Miami, BC would be yes’s.
That’s 8
Two no’s FSU and Clemson, that’s 2
And if Va Tech and NC State have a pipe dream about the SEC, that’s all it is in my mind.
Virginia isn’t letting Va Tech go
UNC controls NC St., literally
So give them the “you’re not going anywhere” talk, and get them to vote.
I think you could get the yes’ if you knew it would help keep FSU and Clemson in the conference.
And if they really do want to go, have the Big 12 or SEC pay 40M someday and have a pay day for the rest of the league.
I hope Swofford is on this!
Looking back, it is following the same path of Missouri and Texas A&M.
Slive acted and spoke like he didn’t know what everyone was talking about.
Almost identical. Someone makes a comment, fan base gets rabid to get out, everyone says there is nothing there or we’re not doing anything at this time, then, wham…….
I’m not necessarily saying that it was unwise for Pitt to join the ACC; in fact, it’s a much better fit geographically and academically, and for all of its athletic teams (except maybe FB) and especially for basketball where Jamie should be able to recruit better for the ACC than the B12.
Also for the Olympic sports, but not sure that makes any difference.
Why go an be second fiddle to Texas who controls everything in the B12?
Right now this Pitt-Big East thing isn’t looking good for Big East I know that much.