As much as I love the Big East, it's slowly but surely losing its status as a major football conference.
Every other conference has its traditional powers—the Big Ten has Ohio State and Michigan; the Pac 10 has USC and UCLA; the Big 12 has Oklahoma, Texas, and Nebraska; the SEC has Alabama and Tennessee; the ACC has Miami, Boston College, Florida State, and Virginia Tech.
The Big East has one such powerhouse—Pittsburgh, who hasn't been very impressive since the 1980s.
The Panthers have five national championships and a slew of legendary players to their credit. They've put together some of the finest teams in history through great coaching and recruiting—and just plain hard-nosed football.
In the last two decades, though, that Pittsburgh tradition has mostly disappeared—much like the lost traditions of Baylor and Army.
- B/R Ticket Guide
Losing Miami, Boston College, and Virginia Tech didn't necessarily hurt the Big East in the short term, but it contributed to the conference's gradual decline. West Virginia and Louisville are the premier teams in the league right now—and they've both lost head coaches in the past two years.
Bobby Petrino jetted out of Louisville last season to coach the Atlanta Falcons for all of 13 games. He's now the head coach at Arkansas
Rich Rodriguez, meanwhile, seemed set to stick with his alma mater at WVU despite fielding offers from big-name programs. Then he up and left for Michigan. Sure, it's a dream job—but what happened to loyalty?
If Rodriguez had been a former position coach or coordinator at Michigan, the decision would be more understandable. As it stands, why leave your roots when you're so close to perennial-power status?
It's sad to say, but historical tradition seems to be the driving force in modern college football.
Notre Dame just completed one of the worst seasons in the history of the program—yet its recruiting class for next year will be top-notch. Not because of Charlie Weis, or last year's BCS bowl appearance—but rather because the Irish won some national titles in the the 1940s, or something.
Notre Dame, Nebraska, Alabama, UCLA—these are all schools whose football programs aren't exactly in the best shape these days. And still all of them will always be a step ahead of the Louisville's and West Virginia's of the world.
I guess it's true what they say—you can't escape your history.
Gregory Salyer is the author of Red Reign, an in-depth Louisville Cardinal blog.
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11 months ago
dude - the big east has been a pathetic conference since it went to 8 teams. you're just starting to notice this?
this guy already laid it out a few weeks ago:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/4439-College_Football-Get_Serious_The_Big_East_Is_NOT_a_Major_Conference-041207
11 months ago
for the poster above: you are pathetic since the day you were born.
11 months ago
the big east has always had 8 teams.
what i don't get in the article is that boston college that had its best season ever this year, and virginia tech that was no better than east carolina prior to 1995 is considered traditional powerhouses?
they say that miami and fsu being down, but syracuse who had more success than both va tech and bc in its history is left off.
i don't get that.
now wvu is listed as one of the top 5 coaching jobs according to cbs.sportine.com now?
this guy needs to do a little homework.
south florida is slowly becoming the second best team in florida because it is in the big east, just as va tech came to where it is because of the big east.
11 months ago
last year the big east was 5-0 in bowl games, and the best out of conference winning percentage.
11 months ago
hey anonymous - they were 5-0 in bowl games because they play SHIT teams from SHIT conferences. put the #3 SEC team against the #6 ACC team and see what happens - or put the SEC up against Conference USA and see what happens - now go back to shutting the fuck up, like you were before.
11 months ago
anonymous (3rd poster) - my bad, i should've said since the big east went to *its current* 8 teams it has been pathetic - which it has.
now go back to eating bowls of your own shit and sodomizing stray cats, since that's what you're best at doing.
11 months ago
you can't be serious again.
i made points as an observer looking in at the big east and you have nothing to say except personal attacks.
you forget your medicines today? what, you don't take any, well i think that is something you should remidy immediately, i have a dr i can recomend for you if you like.
11 months ago
none of your questions addressed me, so why the hell would i answer them? who gives a shit about your questions, anyway? the big east is atrocious, period.
go back to sucking off other dudes.
11 months ago
South Florida is going to, in my opinion, become much like Miami was in the Big East. Their carving themselves quite a niche in the Sunshine state and bringing home some top grade talent. They will just continue to get better.
Rutgers is a program on the rise, and Greg Schiano seems intent on staying there.
West Virginia is going to be just fine. It's still a quality program.
The Big East isn't the best BCS confrence in the land, but it's not a joke either. In fact, it might be better than the ACC, I don't know yet. In any event, the Big East isn't pathetic, but it will never be an SEC type confrence. Once people accept that and place expectations accordingly, things will look brighter.
Additionaly, don't be surprised if this league doesn't raid Confrence USA shortly to bring it's number of teams up to 12. Central Florida, Marshall, East Carolina and perhaps a Southern Miss or Memphis could join the Big East and really aid to the credibility of this confrence.
from 11 months ago
Ben,
The unfortunate thing is that the Big East really can't add much out of conference right now. Adding four more schools would bring the number of basketball teams to 20 and unfortunately, with the exception of Memphis, none of those schools would really help the basketball side of the conference, which is what the Big East is known for, being a basketball conference. Also, a big reason for adding teams is adding new viewing markets to bring in the money, Memphis would be a great addition and one they should have made when they expanded back in 05 but unfortunately, as long as we have 16 basketball teams (who nearly all of them have great basketball tradition) then we're not going to be adding any more any time soon.
11 months ago
ben, you're making me laugh out loud over here. south florida will be like miami in terms of having a bunch of fuckin' thugs on their team since they bring in so many academic non-qualifiers that can't get admitted to other schools....but that's where the similarities will end. sure maybe they'll win a big east title, but that'll only be because the big east is a COMPLETE SHIT conference right now. south florida snuck up on auburn this year and earned a very quality win. they beat a pretty good west virginia team, too. but let's be real, west virginia barely deserves a top 25 ranking. south florida also managed to lose three consecutive games to SHITTY unproven teams, so let's not get ahead of ourselves.
rutgers was on the rise last year, now they're back to being rutgers. like west virginia, they fooled a ton of people into thinking they were big-time by beating up on shitty competition before getting shit on by a mediocre cincinnati team in last season's finale. now they're back off the national radar where they belong.
west virginia is the best program in the big east - which right now, is similar to winning first place in an ugly contest. this conference EATS SHIT.
LOL to central florida, east carolina, and marshall INCREASING the conference's credibility. what a load of fuckin' shit. take that statement back right now, fucker. they'll finally get kicked out of the BCS if they do that shit.
11 months ago
Rutgers is back to being Rutgers? Really, you mean they lost 8 plus games this year? Really? Wow, where was I? I could swore they won a few more, suppose I was wrong.
South Florida, in the short time they've even been a football program at all, has accomplished a great deal, there is NO reason to think they can't continue the upswing, especially since FSU and Miami are losing their luster and ability to snatch up all the in-state talent (and even if they do, there is plenty left over). UF owns the state right now, but USF has a chance to become the second most prominent program in the state. The Bulls this year were better than both Florida State and Miami. Hell, you could probably argue that UCF was too.
Yeah, adding those schools would increase credibility, something you lack, seeing that you feel the need to call me a "fucker" simply because you disagree with my statement. UCF is a good team, led by a good coach, in a good location, who with BCS ties could be an even better program. Likewise for East Carolina. Marshall can have success, and Southern Miss has had quite a bit over the years, and the addition of being BCS affiliated would only help them.
Now on the more reasonable response to my post. You make an excellent point about the number of basketball teams being 20, I totaly didn't think about that. Perhaps there might be a bigger reshuffling than we think could happen, because in the end, football is the driving sport in college athletics. Perhaps they give Notre Dame an ultimatum, join us in football or lose your membership in other sports. I don't know.
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