Post by elp525 on Dec 23, 2009 6:12:42 GMT -5
December 22, 2009
By Mitch Vingle
Sports Editor
THE VIEWS from here: n I'm well aware the Big Ten may pluck a Big East team to make the Big Ten the Big Twelve. (Not really, though. We already have a Big 12. The Big Ten would remain the Big Ten even though, well, it should then be the Big Twelve. But it won't. Capice?)
I've already approached Big East commissioner John Marinatto about the situation. As you may have read last week, he's chosen not to deal with the subject publicly. He believes - and is probably correct - commenting on every rumor will just make the upcoming 12- to 18-month rumor circus even more over the (big) top.
As Christmas approaches, though, Marinatto sees some blessings in regard to his league.
For instance, yes, Brian Kelly left Cincinnati for Notre Dame, but take a look at the Big East coaching moves of late.
The successful coaches aren't leaving for middle-of-the-road jobs within other BCS conferences. They are only leaving for the upper-echelon programs.
That's progress in a league that watched Mark Dantonio leave Cincy for Michigan State. That's progress in a league that watched Walt Harris leave Pittsburgh for Stanford.
Look back. Kelly to Notre Dame. Rich Rodriguez from WVU to Michigan. Bobby Petrino from Louisville to the Atlanta Falcons. That's the extent of it since Dantonio's departure.
It's a trend that's mirrored the more successful basketball side of the Big East. At one point, Steve Lappas left Villanova for Massachusetts after the 2000-01 season. Rick Barnes, now the Texas coach, left Providence for Clemson.
But coaches leave the conference now only if they're forced to or for a traditionally - and monetarily - rich program. You have John Beilein leaving WVU for Michigan, Ben Howland leaving Pitt for UCLA and Tom Crean leaving Marquette for Indiana. That's it.
"We've always hired good people,'' Marinatto said. "We've hired people that other schools want. I give our schools a lot of credit for hiring quality people.
"After that, the marketplace takes over. But you've got to credit our conference schools for the hires."
The other Christmas blessing for Marinatto was the final BCS rankings.
They shall allow him to be nestled, all snug in his bed.
The BCS honchos, you may remember, tried to get critics off their backs by announcing "evaluation prongs'' in 2004, including a four-year average of each league's highest-ranked team. They said an average ranking of 12 or higher over a that span was necessary.
Well, after Cincinnati's No. 12 final ranking following the 2008 season, the Bearcats finished No. 3 this season. Which was mammoth for the oft-criticized league.
"No question," Marinatto said. "It's not as good as No. 2. I mean, if it weren't for that one second [put back on the clock so Texas could defeat Nebraska in the Big 12 title game], I'd be talking to you from Pasadena.
"It was a huge accomplishment for UC and the Big East. But it was also huge that Pitt and West Virginia finished in the top 18 [of the BCS rankings]."
That helps because other "prongs" include the number of each league's Top 25 teams and the average BCS ranking of all members.
"It's a long way from August," Marinatto said, "when we had no teams ranked."
I could not in good conscience, by the way, let Marinatto go without asking about the current BCS setup. I mean, c'mon. One controversial, restored second kept Cincinnati out of the title game. How can you not be outraged? How can you not demand a playoff?
"Our position is the same as it has been," said the commissioner. "We would be open-minded to a playoff if we felt there was a viable plan.
"Right now, the BCS is the best option."
And finally . . .
I caught up with new Marshall football coach Doc Holliday Tuesday.
"My only concerns right now are putting together a staff and recruiting," he said.
Holliday wouldn't comment on the staff search. It seems safe to assume, though, the rumored names of Tony Petersen and Bill Legg as co-offensive coordinators and JaJuan Seider as an offensive hire are correct.
Holliday had to wait until today, when his paperwork was expected to be complete, to make recruiting calls on MU's behalf.
He will indeed, though, go to the Little Caesars Bowl in Detroit before returning on Dec. 27. The game plan from there is to review the current MU commitments, organize with hired staff and head out recruiting the first full week of January. That's when the next contact period begins.
What Holliday says he refuses to do is throw together a staff simply because the contact period is looming.
"It's important," he said, "to make the right hires. You only get one shot at that."
By Mitch Vingle
Sports Editor
THE VIEWS from here: n I'm well aware the Big Ten may pluck a Big East team to make the Big Ten the Big Twelve. (Not really, though. We already have a Big 12. The Big Ten would remain the Big Ten even though, well, it should then be the Big Twelve. But it won't. Capice?)
I've already approached Big East commissioner John Marinatto about the situation. As you may have read last week, he's chosen not to deal with the subject publicly. He believes - and is probably correct - commenting on every rumor will just make the upcoming 12- to 18-month rumor circus even more over the (big) top.
As Christmas approaches, though, Marinatto sees some blessings in regard to his league.
For instance, yes, Brian Kelly left Cincinnati for Notre Dame, but take a look at the Big East coaching moves of late.
The successful coaches aren't leaving for middle-of-the-road jobs within other BCS conferences. They are only leaving for the upper-echelon programs.
That's progress in a league that watched Mark Dantonio leave Cincy for Michigan State. That's progress in a league that watched Walt Harris leave Pittsburgh for Stanford.
Look back. Kelly to Notre Dame. Rich Rodriguez from WVU to Michigan. Bobby Petrino from Louisville to the Atlanta Falcons. That's the extent of it since Dantonio's departure.
It's a trend that's mirrored the more successful basketball side of the Big East. At one point, Steve Lappas left Villanova for Massachusetts after the 2000-01 season. Rick Barnes, now the Texas coach, left Providence for Clemson.
But coaches leave the conference now only if they're forced to or for a traditionally - and monetarily - rich program. You have John Beilein leaving WVU for Michigan, Ben Howland leaving Pitt for UCLA and Tom Crean leaving Marquette for Indiana. That's it.
"We've always hired good people,'' Marinatto said. "We've hired people that other schools want. I give our schools a lot of credit for hiring quality people.
"After that, the marketplace takes over. But you've got to credit our conference schools for the hires."
The other Christmas blessing for Marinatto was the final BCS rankings.
They shall allow him to be nestled, all snug in his bed.
The BCS honchos, you may remember, tried to get critics off their backs by announcing "evaluation prongs'' in 2004, including a four-year average of each league's highest-ranked team. They said an average ranking of 12 or higher over a that span was necessary.
Well, after Cincinnati's No. 12 final ranking following the 2008 season, the Bearcats finished No. 3 this season. Which was mammoth for the oft-criticized league.
"No question," Marinatto said. "It's not as good as No. 2. I mean, if it weren't for that one second [put back on the clock so Texas could defeat Nebraska in the Big 12 title game], I'd be talking to you from Pasadena.
"It was a huge accomplishment for UC and the Big East. But it was also huge that Pitt and West Virginia finished in the top 18 [of the BCS rankings]."
That helps because other "prongs" include the number of each league's Top 25 teams and the average BCS ranking of all members.
"It's a long way from August," Marinatto said, "when we had no teams ranked."
I could not in good conscience, by the way, let Marinatto go without asking about the current BCS setup. I mean, c'mon. One controversial, restored second kept Cincinnati out of the title game. How can you not be outraged? How can you not demand a playoff?
"Our position is the same as it has been," said the commissioner. "We would be open-minded to a playoff if we felt there was a viable plan.
"Right now, the BCS is the best option."
And finally . . .
I caught up with new Marshall football coach Doc Holliday Tuesday.
"My only concerns right now are putting together a staff and recruiting," he said.
Holliday wouldn't comment on the staff search. It seems safe to assume, though, the rumored names of Tony Petersen and Bill Legg as co-offensive coordinators and JaJuan Seider as an offensive hire are correct.
Holliday had to wait until today, when his paperwork was expected to be complete, to make recruiting calls on MU's behalf.
He will indeed, though, go to the Little Caesars Bowl in Detroit before returning on Dec. 27. The game plan from there is to review the current MU commitments, organize with hired staff and head out recruiting the first full week of January. That's when the next contact period begins.
What Holliday says he refuses to do is throw together a staff simply because the contact period is looming.
"It's important," he said, "to make the right hires. You only get one shot at that."
