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June 1, 2012

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).





How will this affect the Pitt lawsuit against the Big East? More damages tacked on?

Right now this Pitt-Big East thing isn’t looking good for Big East I know that much.

Comment by Lou Gagliardi 06.01.12 @ 3:10 pm

I just hope hope that nothing happens concerning the football team if you get my drift.

Comment by Frank 06.01.12 @ 3:43 pm

The Big East refs will screw Pitt in every possible way this year both on the field and on the court. Rest assured.

Comment by TX Panther 06.01.12 @ 3:52 pm

Sure, this bolsters Pitt’s claims in the lawsuit. When I first heard this, I thought it was another screw job. But given this info, I agree with Chas that this smacks more of extreme incompetence. I’ll be glad when we have the BE in the rear view mirror.

Comment by velvil 06.01.12 @ 4:08 pm

i want us out of the big east if we have to pay than pay and be done with this shit. this better be the last year you are right call the sec they need a game we need a game so we go to A&M do it. and fuck the big east.

Comment by Frankcan 06.01.12 @ 4:23 pm

The BE leadership couldn’t organize a one car funeral. Give me a break . . . . “didn’t get help from BE”. BE can’t help itself from becoming a national punchline.
Wonder how much the SEC is looking forward to matchups with Navy, Central Fla et al the following year.

Comment by Taxing Matters 06.01.12 @ 4:40 pm

how does cuse get a game ?

Comment by Snala The Panther 06.01.12 @ 4:48 pm

Regardless of Pitt’s lame duck status, the BE owes it’s members (including Pitt) a fiduciary duty. There are multiple examples of a breach of this duty.

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.

Comment by SFPitt 06.01.12 @ 5:21 pm

Syracuse is now saying they cannot play in the game because they are over-committed already on scheduling. This just keeps getting better if true!

Louisville is already out and Connecticut is over-committed. OOOPS on BE Brass…..again!

Comment by dhuffdaddy 06.01.12 @ 7:31 pm

Ahem…the Pedophiles from State College have a banner for their line of clothing…complete with a number of an attorney sewn into the sleeves.

Comment by SFPitt 06.01.12 @ 9:32 pm

Once more..

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.

Comment by Neil 06.02.12 @ 3:44 am

@dhuffdaddy, I think it is true, Syracuse AD quoted in paper as having already told BE it is over-committed, cannot participate.

Comment by Dan 06.02.12 @ 9:40 am

Why would the Big East want to promote Pitt? I wouldn’t have expected anything else. They will show case the teams, they want to show case. Also with the Panthers finishing poorly last year, they have a good excuse as well. It seems to me that they are also sending a message to UConn and Louisville as well for what they perceive as disloyalty.

Comment by Justinian 06.02.12 @ 9:48 am

Hey justi stay off the board dweeb… The big least idiots strike again Yes Bigger Damages Hail To Pitt

Comment by 63Team 06.02.12 @ 1:50 pm

Hey if true… Cuse is sticking with Pitt, as it should be. BigLeast screws PITT, Cuse screws BigLeast in hoops. Hopefully PITT & Cuse both screw BigLeast in football and say cya chumps !

Comment by Emel 06.02.12 @ 7:02 pm

It would be nice for Pitt’s parting shot, for the Panthers to win the conference.

Comment by Justinian 06.02.12 @ 8:49 pm

So, the Big East power’s that be get a parting shot at Pitt by snubbing them in the BE vs. SEC “tournament”, big deal. I hope Pitt has a super 2012/2013 season in Big East basketball and win’s the title playing Syracuse in the title game at MSG. What a fitting finish that would be for Pitt and Syracuse. HTP!

Comment by MariettaMike 06.03.12 @ 8:12 am

Pitt is going to rue the day they didn’t move to the leave the Big East this year. By the time they get to the ACC, it will be minus two key players and that safe haven is going to look like Big East v2.

Comment by A-Wild 06.03.12 @ 8:58 am

While the Big East obviously has been poorly managed over the past decade, we all should remember that the member schools are every bit as guilty as the management, especially for allowing a 3rd straight Providence man to take the reigns. We also should remember how we felt about Miami, Va Tech and especially BC back in 03.

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.

Comment by wbb 06.03.12 @ 9:07 am

wbb, Good comments. The Pitt basketball program with good coaching and the exposure that the Big East provided, grew tremendously. The Big East made a major mistake early on, by refusing to include Penn State. That exclusion hindered the conference when they added football. They never really listened to the concerns of their football schools. Then they just got stuck in the past and ceased to proactive. The begining of the end started after the first ACC raid. They were a wonderfull basketball conference. Well, that ship has sailed, so now let’s move on to bigger and better things. Hail to Pitt!

Comment by Justinian 06.03.12 @ 10:11 am

not sre that shipped has sailed even with losing Pitt and Cuse. UConn, Georgetown, Villanova, Lousiville and Marquette still forms the base of a pretty good conference … (the 2nd best in most years.)

Comment by wbb 06.03.12 @ 12:31 pm

Chas, Reed, wbb, others, who ever. I mentioned this on a previous post, but, it was just about at the end of it’s cycle and “hits” were just about done.

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.

Comment by Dan 06.03.12 @ 2:36 pm

I would hope Swofford is on this right now. Trying to get the votes.

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!

Comment by Dan 06.03.12 @ 2:42 pm

Dan, this is going to happen. Make bank on it. The Big 12 is in “offcial” denial mode to protect its interests legally. They have taken a page from the SEC and are following it to a “T”. FSU and Clemson in the Big 12 in 13. If Pederson has any balls and smarts, he is calling the Big 12 right now to be number 13…or 14…or 15…..or 16.

Comment by A-Wild 06.03.12 @ 8:13 pm

@A-Wild. Yes, it does seem eerily similar. I’m hoping that the calming down is real.

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…….

Comment by Dan 06.03.12 @ 9:20 pm

Pederson had his chance last summer … you may remember that it was Pitt, ahead of both WVU and BYU, as the the school that the B12 had pegged.

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.

Comment by wbb 06.04.12 @ 7:31 am

I don’t want to be in the Big 12 and am glad that Pederson turned them away. No need to panic now. The ACC has shown itself to be pro-active in the past. This ain’t the Big East. Even if appearances are that the ACC is at some kind of disadvantage right now (which I am not entirely convinced of), you can bet they aren’t going to just sit around and let other conferences control their fate.

Comment by JCE 06.04.12 @ 9:32 am

Made the mistake of reading Cook’s column in PG today. Every time I read that guys stuff, I have the urge to send him a tampon and some Midol and tell him to lie down for a bit…

Comment by waldo 06.04.12 @ 10:00 am

wbb, I think the Big East will continue to be good in basketball. I for one will miss Pitt playing Big East basketball. The question is the long term viability of Big East in football.

Comment by Justinian 06.04.12 @ 10:17 am

agree with everything you wrote

Comment by wbb 06.04.12 @ 10:24 am

Ron Cook is a Nitwit. Someone should revoke his privilege to write such drivel.

Comment by TX Panther 06.04.12 @ 11:23 am

There is a cancer in the Big 12 and that cancer is named Texas. As long as they have their attitude of “You need us, we don’t need you” with the rest of their conference mates, it is only a matter of time before the seeds of discontent are back for that league.

Comment by HbgFrank 06.04.12 @ 12:51 pm

No way would I like to see Pitt in Big 12. Likely the death knell for Dixon at Pitt and also a terrible fit geographically and recruiting wise for the BB program.
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?

Comment by Taxing Matters 06.04.12 @ 7:00 pm

[…] also lacks a good RPI position. I said it when it happened, and I repeat. Coach Jamie Dixon screwed up by believing Pitt was going to take part in the SEC-Big East Challenge. Especially when you […]


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