In the past eight years, five universities have bolted the Big East for the green of the ACC. The smart money says the University of Connecticut is next, even if nemisis Boston College quietly tried to squash such a notion.

New UConn President Susan Herbst is off to a solid start. She's doing the meet-and-greets. She's making key personnel changes. She's championing UConn as a burgeoning research, health care and bioscience magnet. And she insists that academics and recruiting compliance will be a major focus of her top-flight athletic programs. Herbst even gave a six-figure donation to her new school.

Here is where Herbst needs to be very careful. UConn's 15th president has to make sure her words match her actions (and the truth) when it comes to UConn's commitment to the Big East.