Big East Football 2012: John Marinatto Resignation Comes with Terrible Timing

Brett McMurphy at CBS has reported that John Marinatto tendered his resignation as Big East Commissioner on Monday. The news could not come at a worse possible time for the league.

A decision on the postseason of college football hangs in the balance, as does a new television contract for the expanded Big East conference. There is also the tenuous situation with Boise State in wake of a probable postseason shift. 

All in all, this is not the best climate for the weakest of the BCS conferences. 

For the non-Big East fan, happenings in the conference have an "If a tree falls in the woods and no one hears it, does it make a sound?" feel to it.

However, for those in the Big East, this just screams more problems for a league that is constantly pushing the boulder up a hill.

Marinatto already managed to lose West Virginia, Pitt and Syracuse, three of the stronger products in the conference. The commissioner also lost TCU before the Horned Frogs even got a shot to play in the Big East. 

Now, he is going to leave the league as it is going through a transitionary phase where, if the rumors are true, Louisville's future in the conference hangs in the balance. Quite a precarious position to be in as the league's future hinges on the addition of mid-major properties to remain relevant. 

The Big East needs strength and stability in the worst way, and losing its leader in this trying time is yet another blow to the brand. With the removal of automatic bids and the push to allow three teams per conference to go to the "BCS bowls" starting in 2014, the Big East could be in a lot of trouble. 

With no conference tie-in to a major bowl and the Big Ten and SEC allowed to get three teams big paydays, it looks like the Big East will be the odd man out.

Unfortunately, the conference does not have much time to dwell on its shortcomings. The commissioners and presidents need to meet to vote on the postseason, and the Big East needs to find a way to maximize its television revenue.

The hunt for Marinatto's replacement has to start now, and unlike the Big 12, it does not have strong selling points.