Posted on 05/18/2003 9:33:36 AM PDT by putupon
It's nothing but leftovers for Big East
Published May 18, 2003
PONTE VEDRA BEACH -- The Big East Conference meetings opened here Saturday at a plush oceanside resort called the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club.
Next year,.........will be held at a Red Roof Inn ......... will say: "Welcome Big East/Karaoke Contest Every Friday Nite!"
...............conference commissioner Mike Tranghese's near-death ensemble Saturday was blue hair, Bermuda shorts and a Piccadilly meal card.
The Atlantic Coast Conference adjourned its league meetings in nearby Amelia Island just a couple of days ago. Fine wine. Catered meals. Banquet trays full of scrumptious hors d'oeuvres. But by the time the ACC left town, all that remained on the tray for the Big East was some leftover onion dip, a couple of pickle slices and Rutgers and Temple.
The Big East has suddenly turned into the Little East, despite what you heard coming from conference administrators Saturday. Everybody knows this is a done deal. Everybody knows the ACC announced Friday that it extended invitations to Miami, Boston College and Syracuse. And everybody knows they're going to accept. Miami AD Paul Dee even said earlier this week that the process "is like a marriage proposal. You don't ask unless you know the answer."
....................................................................... "It wasn't a lie; it was just a terminological inexactitude."
Dee's semantic smokescreen was only the second most uproarious comment made here Saturday. The other came from Virginia Tech AD Jim Weaver, who stumped loudly for the preservation of the Big East and called for Miami to have some "institutional integrity." Of course, a few days ago it was Virginia Tech that lobbied hard for an ACC invitation and would have bolted faster than Michael Vick.
Weaver and his Big East cronies are obviously in full survival mode. And, so, they are here this week to do anything and say anything to keep UM from leaving.
.............................................................................................................. Temple and Rutgers will receive buy-one, get-one-free Whopper certificates from Burger King. Miami will get their shares of the BCS money.
Other enticements...................:
Virginia Tech agreed to give up half of its fan base to UM so the Hurricanes might finally experience a sellout in the Orange Bowl.
Connecticut agreed to give UM Jim Calhoun and its women's basketball team.
West Virginia made the ultimate sacrifice when it agreed to start wearing shoes on all future road trips to Miami.
I'm not saying the Big East will give Miami anything it wants, but let me put it this way: UM Coach Larry Coker walked into the meeting room Saturday as a bald man, he walked out with hair bigger than Mel Kiper Jr.
seriousness,............................................................................................................. he said
But it doesn't matter ....................................................................................................................it's better for the athletic department's bottom line to join the ACC.
As a football move, this is brainless. As a financial move, it's a no-brainer.
As Big East coaches and administrators.............................................................................................tee-time at the swanky Tournament Players Club.
Enjoy it, fellas.
Next year,......................................................................................................................................................................................
Mike Bianchi's column is scheduled to appear on Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Friday. He can be reached at mbianchi@orlandosentinel.com.
(Excerpt) Read more at orlandosentinel.com ...
A French owned hotel, figures.
Virginia Tech AD Jim Weaver, who stumped loudly for the preservation of the Big East and called for Miami to have some "institutional integrity." Of course, a few days ago it was Virginia Tech that lobbied hard for an ACC invitation and would have bolted faster than Michael Vick.
what a HOOt!!! But I respect Jim (Dream) Weaver, keeping such a sense of humour while the chips are down.
You feel that bad? All it will take is PSU and/or ND to say they will go BE to hold them together. Are you willing to go that far to feel better?
Besides, UVa just broke ground on a brand new arena and will have an opening for a HOOps coach after next season, Boeheim would be a great candidate.
Rumours also have it that Beemer is first on the short list for near future openings at GT and Clemson.
*grin* Not exactly...
Geographically, it probably makes more sense for them to plunder the A-10 or one of the midsize eastern conferences (MAAC, Patriot League, etc.) I'm not sure the ConfUSA schools would have a great incentive to move into the Big East.
Meanwhile the college football players, who generated the funds to pay for the fat cat's party, were sweating, grunting and soaking their broken and bruised bodies waiting for tomorrow's battle, while hoping the fat cats don't penalize them for some grevious misdeed - like getting a free Big Mac or Happy meal.
Dream on. Boeheim will never leave Syracuse.
Penn State will never jump from the BigTen. The prestige and money far outweigh anything the Big East can offer.
Bianchi, you're a subhack writer, but you're an first class asshole.
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