Pitt, Syracuse to ACC
September 19th 2011 16:28
What do I think of this move?
Well, an opinion writer this morning blasted the move of Big East-founding Syracuse, and Big East-heavyweight Pittsburgh, saying that it was done out of greed. That loyalty was trumped by the basest of motives. Others, here in Pittsburgh and elsewhere, are not only questioning the timing, but wondering what happens next, given the instability in the Big 12. It also seems, given the rumors floating in the media, that the Big East as a football conference is on the verge of complete death. UConn is said to be lobbying the ACC hard to join, and now there is some talk that WVU may also follow suit, although WVU is also talking to the SEC.
Truthfully? The Big East has always been a basketball conference. I think that's why Virginia Tech, Boston College and Miami jumped to the ACC several years ago. Tech, BC and Miami wanted high profile competition, and it gave the ACC a way to join Florida State and Miami in the same conference, something everyone had wanted. When people think Big East they think basketball. It's that simple. When you have schools like Villanova and Georgetown, who compete only in basketball in the upper echelon of competition, it becomes two completely separate conferences. I think that there are several other top Big East basketball schools that have nothing in football. That *was* unique in major conferences. I think that's why the Big East will die quickly.
The other problem in the Big East is that frankly there is a huge gap between the Haves and Have Nots. For several of the past years, it's been Pitt and WVU predicted to top the conference. Sure, South Florida, Cincinnati and Louisville have all had good years, but longevity means something too. Cincinnati was a flash in the pan - for years they were a mid-major, got a good coach who took them up the ladder and then bolted for green pastures. Cincy will settle back to what they were - fodder. The same is true of Rutgers, Louisville and I don't even know who else is in the conference anymore. Do I really care? Bottom line: no. I don't. I know that there are some schools in the Big East that are powerful and worthy of being in a top conference. I know that there are several who are not. Since culling the weak isn't possible, the strong have to move on.
Syracuse, Pitt, WVU and UConn are the heart of that conference now. Rutgers, South Florida, Louisville and Cincinnati have been looking up for a long time. And frankly, they are lower profile schools. They are hitched to brighter stars. The loss of those stars will hurt. That's why WVU and UConn are looking to bolt, too. They are brighter stars, but not so bright that they can lead the conference by themselves. They're not Texas.
In the end, I like the move. It aids Pittsburgh and Syracuse while keeping them from getting dragged down by the Big Least conference. It's all well and good that both teams were sitting in conference premier positions. But when your conference is in danger of being compared (truthfully) to the MAC, you have to make a decision. You have to get out. Expect UConn to join the ACC as well, and the gutting of the Big Least will be complete. The last question would be to consider where the Mountaineers land. Once that is decided upon, my guess is that the Big East folds. I'll be a little sorry since I'm used to the Big East around here, but not all that sorry. And I'm already looking forward to seeing Pitt and Syracuse take on the likes of UNC and Duke in basketball...
Well, an opinion writer this morning blasted the move of Big East-founding Syracuse, and Big East-heavyweight Pittsburgh, saying that it was done out of greed. That loyalty was trumped by the basest of motives. Others, here in Pittsburgh and elsewhere, are not only questioning the timing, but wondering what happens next, given the instability in the Big 12. It also seems, given the rumors floating in the media, that the Big East as a football conference is on the verge of complete death. UConn is said to be lobbying the ACC hard to join, and now there is some talk that WVU may also follow suit, although WVU is also talking to the SEC.
Truthfully? The Big East has always been a basketball conference. I think that's why Virginia Tech, Boston College and Miami jumped to the ACC several years ago. Tech, BC and Miami wanted high profile competition, and it gave the ACC a way to join Florida State and Miami in the same conference, something everyone had wanted. When people think Big East they think basketball. It's that simple. When you have schools like Villanova and Georgetown, who compete only in basketball in the upper echelon of competition, it becomes two completely separate conferences. I think that there are several other top Big East basketball schools that have nothing in football. That *was* unique in major conferences. I think that's why the Big East will die quickly.
The other problem in the Big East is that frankly there is a huge gap between the Haves and Have Nots. For several of the past years, it's been Pitt and WVU predicted to top the conference. Sure, South Florida, Cincinnati and Louisville have all had good years, but longevity means something too. Cincinnati was a flash in the pan - for years they were a mid-major, got a good coach who took them up the ladder and then bolted for green pastures. Cincy will settle back to what they were - fodder. The same is true of Rutgers, Louisville and I don't even know who else is in the conference anymore. Do I really care? Bottom line: no. I don't. I know that there are some schools in the Big East that are powerful and worthy of being in a top conference. I know that there are several who are not. Since culling the weak isn't possible, the strong have to move on.
Syracuse, Pitt, WVU and UConn are the heart of that conference now. Rutgers, South Florida, Louisville and Cincinnati have been looking up for a long time. And frankly, they are lower profile schools. They are hitched to brighter stars. The loss of those stars will hurt. That's why WVU and UConn are looking to bolt, too. They are brighter stars, but not so bright that they can lead the conference by themselves. They're not Texas.
In the end, I like the move. It aids Pittsburgh and Syracuse while keeping them from getting dragged down by the Big Least conference. It's all well and good that both teams were sitting in conference premier positions. But when your conference is in danger of being compared (truthfully) to the MAC, you have to make a decision. You have to get out. Expect UConn to join the ACC as well, and the gutting of the Big Least will be complete. The last question would be to consider where the Mountaineers land. Once that is decided upon, my guess is that the Big East folds. I'll be a little sorry since I'm used to the Big East around here, but not all that sorry. And I'm already looking forward to seeing Pitt and Syracuse take on the likes of UNC and Duke in basketball...
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