Conference Realignment: UConn Slowly Backpedals, Pitino Thinks Connecticut Is Dumb
by Brian Favat on Sep 29, 2011 10:30 AM EDT
in Conference Expansion
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The Big East presidents are set to meet this Sunday to discuss the future of the conference. It looks like UConn president Susan Herbst found time on her calendar to show up for this one, as she goes about slowly unwinding all the bad press UConn has received in the past week from their public displays of affection towards the ACC.
"Herbst on Wednesday assured members of the school's board of trustees that UConn is still working with the Big East, and urged them to "ignore the gossip on the national scene."
"Big East presidents have been engaged in frequent communication by phone or in person," she said. "We're committed together to make the Big East work, to make it stronger in spite of the announcement that Syracuse and Pittsburgh will leave to go to the ACC."
Damage control! It's sounding like Herbst and the UConn leadership are finally seeing the writing on the wall that the ACC isn't going to needlessly expand to a 15th program without landing another program of significant (football) value, and will instead "fall back to the Big East." And that's nice.
Meanwhile, bloggin' Rick Pitino, fresh off taking shots at Boston College's ACC title count -- Pitino does realize our two most successful non-revenue sports, hockey and sailing, don't participate in the ACC, right? -- has set his ire on UConn. Connecticut = dumb.
"I almost went to Connecticut, it was Connecticut or UMass," the Louisville coach told SNY.tv during an exclusive interview Tuesday at Hudson Catholic High School. "I remember when they were struggling to win the Yankee Conference. In all of sports, the greatest building job I've seen in my life was done at Connecticut. The Big East has taken them from a Yankee Conference school" to where they are now.
"With that being said, how can you want to leave? Why would you want to leave? My biggest mistake I made in my life is when I left Camelot [Kentucky]" to lead the Boston Celtics in 1997. "They're leaving Camelot. It's the dumbest thing I've ever heard of."
[snip]
"Did you ever think that it ever crossed the mind of John Wooden to go into the Atlantic Coast Conference because they were bigger than the Pac-10 when he was winning 11 championships? Pitino asked. "Do you ever think it crossed his mind? No, when you're great winner, those things don't cross your mind.
"The only thing that crosses your mind is the ability to win a championship and carry on the great tradition you've built. And then you're going to tell me that Connecticut, which can win a BCS in football, is going to take the opportunity to try and win against Miami and those other people?"
[snip]
"They're either going to pay more money than the $5 million [exit fee] or they're staying [until 2014]," Pitino said. "That I can tell you."
He added: "It was a smart move for [Pittsburgh and Syracuse], in their minds. Syracuse and Pittsburgh's Presidents want something different. They're not taking into consideration all the alumni that Syracuse has in the area. Pitt can go if they want, but it makes no sense with Connecticut because of the unbelievable success that Connecticut has had.
"To me, with Connecticut, I think it's just a ridiculous move."
I've heard the Big East Conference called many things, but I do believe "Camelot" is a first. Let's hope for Pitino's sake that Louisville doesn't end up in a conference other than the Big East, like, say the Big 12, otherwise all these comments are going to make him look pretty foolish.
Lucky for Pitino, it looks like Kentucky may be exercising its right to veto the addition of Louisville as SEC #14. A veto ... that sounds a whole lot like a -- gasp! -- "block" on the part of UK. For shame.
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Thanks for the laugh
I’ve heard the Big East Conference called many things, but I do believe “Camelot” is a first.
GO BC!
Pitino's comments aren't stupid--you're misreading him.
Pitino isn’t saying that the Big East is Camelot for everyone, or for Louisville. It’s a dream situation for UConn. Before the Big East, UConn was competitive in the Yankee Conference, which put them about where Southern Illinois or Western Kentucky is today.
Since forming the Big EAst, UConn has become a power in basketball with three national titles, a bunch of Big East regular season and tournament titles. In football, they’ve shared a conference title twice and gone to a BCS bowl.
If Louisville goes Big 12, does Pitino have to eat those words? No. His Camelot was Kentucky. Louisville was a basketball power before they came to the Big East, won a few C-USA football titles before winning a Big East title. A Big 12 schedule will be tougher for the football team.
Disagree
If you read some of Pitino’s other blog entries, he very much thinks that the Big East is Louisville’s Camelot, touting Big East titles, etc. etc. Pitino has made it very publicly known he thinks the ’Ville should stay in the Big East.
I hope he has the U of L president on speed dial because with the way things look to be headed, Louisville could also be jumping ship.
Editor, BC Interruption
I've gotta disagree.
Thinking Louisville should stay in the Big East is not the same as the Big East being Camelot. He draws a distinction between UConn leaving the Big East (“…how can you want to leave? Why would you want to leave? My biggest mistake I made in my life…”) and Syracuse & Pitt. (“It was a smart move in their minds”)
If Louisville does bolt to the Big 12? RP: “I wish we were staying, but we’re going to a good strong conference and we’re going to make it stronger. They pay me to coach, not to be the AD.”
What surprises me more is that a Louisville coach can say openly that he wishes he had stayed at UK.
Sorry, but it’s no secret that Pitino wants to stay in the BIG EAST. There seems to also be an air of superiority among ‘Ville fans that seems to think they would turn down an SEC or ACC invite. Read some of Pitino’s other blog entries.
http://www.rickpitino.com/rpitino/articledetail.aspx?ArticleId=2523&Id=47
“I believe West Virginia, Cincinnati, South Florida and Louisville will stick together. But where? Which Big will that be? The Big 12, or as I hope, the BIG EAST?
Who lands and who moves first?
The Big 12 has to wait and see what Oklahoma does. The BIG EAST must move quickly and secure four football schools to enter ASAP and be ready for two more possible defections.
Central Florida? Is Baylor or Iowa State next? What about Kansas and Kansas State? Personally, I like Memphis being tossed into the mix. Great basketball tradition (much needed with Syracuse and Pitt leaving), but they must guarantee an upgrade of their football program, which is definitely possible.
Tom Jurich is arguably one of the top athletic directors in the business. He is also a great football administrator. The BIG EAST would be wise to let him head up the search, and I mean this week.
Our athletic department now has a 74 million dollar budget with maybe the best facilities in college athletics. Our football program will be led back into prominence with Charlie Strong at the helm.
This was a 72 hour decision by Syracuse and Pittsburgh. The next 72 hours will be crucial to the BIG EAST."
Think Pitino should worry more about zipping up his pants than conference realignment, because he’s ultimately not the one pulling the strings.
Editor, BC Interruption
A veto … that sounds a whole lot like a — gasp! — “block” on the part of UK. For shame.
Ridicule for blocking a threat to your market share is not only pervasive, it’s the only logical move from a business prospectice. To not block the addition of a local program (like USF, Kentucky, UF, Georgia, ‘Bama, etc. have been remored to be employing) would be skirting an AD and University President’s duty to their employer.
by Eagle in Brighton on Sep 29, 2011 11:08 AM EDT reply actions 2 recs
Agreed
+1 / RT / Like
Editor, BC Interruption
by Brian Favat on Sep 29, 2011 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions
UConn
“ignore the gossip on the national scene”
-Susan Herbst
UConn made UConn-to-the-ACC a story in the media, talking to any reporter that would listen that their intentions were to bolt the BE ASAP.
For UCan’t’s AD to deny that is hilariously hypocritical. I don’t fault her for the reversal, as strategically, Herbst doesn’t have any other option but to go back to the BE with hat in hand, but it speaks to how poorly Connecticut handled the past few weeks from a media perspective.
by Eagle in Brighton on Sep 29, 2011 11:18 AM EDT reply actions
This
Herbst was behind all the public leaking to reporters of UConn being so unhappy in the Big East. She didn’t even bother to show up to the Big East’s first meeting.
No coherent strategy. This is what happens when you cut a chicken’s head off.
Editor, BC Interruption
Greasy weasel
Hard to pin down a school with ambition but lacking principle, save one: UConn cares only about UConn (or ’what’s good for UConn is good for UConn’)
True, but ’what’s good for [School X] is good for [School X]’ … as Eagle in Brighton stated above, any AD or school president that isn’t looking out for its own best interests is doing his or her employer a disservice.
Having said that, UConn went about this entirely the wrong way.
Editor, BC Interruption
Not so.
Blatant me-first is a bad approach. A rising tide lifts all boats. An astute AD Looks for a solution that helps all, including his school. GDF working the politics to bring in PItt and ’Cuse is a great example of this.
Disagree
A rising tide lifts all boats approach by GDF would have included throwing UConn and Rutgers a lift raft instead of letting those programs twist in the wind.
It’s ALWAYS me-first, just a matter of how you go about it and handle your business. Something the UConn brass is not skilled in doing.
Editor, BC Interruption
The larger interest is the ACC. By enhancing ACC, GDF through shrewd politicking picked the right expansion schools. Which serves both BC and ACC interest. That’s my point Can you possibly continue to disagree?
Indeed, I can
" An astute AD Looks for a solution that helps all, including his school."
You must have meant the royal ALL …
Editor, BC Interruption
Big East football doomsday clock
“If the Big 12 decided to get back to 12 teams, the conference could add the Horned Frogs in the South Division and Louisville, West Virginia and Cincinnati in the North. One side effect would be a major wound to the Big East with the loss of four football members.”
http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/college/football/view.bg?articleid=1369693&srvc=rss
Editor, BC Interruption
"Win a BCS in football"
I’m not exactly sure what to make of UConn’s bowl beatdown in the Fiesta Bowl, but I’m pretty sure that cannot be considered “winning a BCS.”
Editor, BC Interruption
UConn needs to go...
I’d look at a package with Rutgers to the B1G to protect their football. ACC isn’t going to take them at 15 and 16 is too many teams than they can afford without ND as the 16th. So I’d try to get myself into the AAU and get into the B1G…
B1G isn't going to take them, either
If the B1G isn’t going to grab Missouri, there’s no way they are throwing a raft to Rutgers and UConn.
Editor, BC Interruption
Big East football
Can survive even without WVU, Louisville, Cincinnati and TCU. The conference won’t lose BCS access due to threat of litigation. So even worst case scenario, a conference that’s left with Rutgers, Connecticut and South Florida can reload with:
East Carolina
Central Florida
Villanova
Temple
Army
Navy
Air Force
Editor, BC Interruption
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