http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08214/901121-233.stm
Commissioner to retire with Big East facing brighter future
Friday, August 01, 2008
By Paul Zeise, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
NEWPORT, R.I. -- Michael Tranghese's retirement from his position as Big East commissioner is not a signal of troubled times ahead for the conference.
In fact, the opposite is true.
With the league strong and unified, a new set of lucrative television contracts in hand, soon to be completed new bowl agreements pending and a three-game BCS bowl winning streak, Tranghese believes the time is right for him to move on from the position he has held since 1990.
And while Tranghese has in many ways been the glue that has held the league together and has worked extremely hard to make sure the "basketball schools" and "football schools" stayed together -- he insists there is no sentiment at all for such a split.
"If I thought for one second there was even an iota of a chance of that happening, that there was trouble on the horizon, I wouldn't be leaving. I'd stay on and work through it," Tranghese said at the Big East's media day.
"I just think what we have and what we have built is something special. It is working, it is working well -- the only reason I am stepping down is I hate flying. But if I had to, I'd still be getting on planes.
"I feel it is a very good time to make a change because it is very quiet, it is very calm right now for the new person to come on board and get into things slowly. The political landscape changes every day, though, so you never know what will happen nine months from now, but the camaraderie in this league and the unity is something truly unique."
Tranghese said that the new commissioner will certainly have to continue to search for a ninth football member that makes sense, but he said it isn't likely to happen anytime soon because there aren't any teams out there that would "make the Big East better."
He also said the bowl deals are a big part of the new commissioner's first few months on the job because the league is looking to upgrade the level of their bowls.
As it stands the league has six bowl tie-ins (BCS, Gator/Sun, Meineke Car Care Bowl, Papajohns.com Bowl, St. Petersburg Bowl, International Bowl) but Tranghese said he expects those to change in the next two years when current contracts expire.
The fact that bowl game organizers are interested in making deals with the Big East is a sign of the progress the league has made since it was raided by the ACC four years ago.
"We have two more years to go with the current bowl games, but we've already begun to work on some things for the future," Tranghese said.
"I think it is incredible that we have a number of representatives from bowls that we are not aligned with here at this event and they all say the same thing. They want to check us out and see what we are all about."
Tranghese said the key to the Big East's quick rise back into prominence after losing three key football teams has been simple -- they've won and won big.
He points to the fact that the conference has won its past three BCS bowl games against champions from the SEC, the Big 12 and the ACC.
He talks about the number of big non-conference wins -- like South Florida's win at Auburn last year -- and its winning record in bowl games the past three seasons as clear signs the league is earning respect from even its harshest critics.
"We had to prove ourselves in the past, but we no longer have to prove ourselves," Tranghese said.
"We've proven we can play, we can play on any playing field and beat anybody. Now we just need to maintain that high level of consistency. And let's not forget we still have, what we believe, is the best basketball conference in the land."
Although the league is in a good place, there is no doubt that the choice of the next commissioner is critical to maintaining momentum. And picking a successor that will duplicate what Tranghese has done will not be easy.
"Michael was the first full-time employee this conference hired in 1979, and as such, he's been here from the start and nobody understands better what this league is about," said John Paquette, associate commissioner of the Big East. "The next person will have to be someone who understands that delicate balance between basketball and football members and making sure the interests of both are served.
"It has to be someone that understands who we are as a conference and where we are going."
Pitt athletic director Steve Pederson seconded that notion and said Tranghese's leadership will be missed greatly.
"There were basically two guys who deserve a lot of the credit for holding this conference together during the turmoil -- [Pitt chancellor] Mark Nordenberg and Michael Tranghese," Pederson said.
"Michael is very even keeled, he maintained a belief in a league he held dear to his heart. He never panicked. His leadership really is something we all take a cue from. And while he held it together and rebuilt this thing, it is up to the next guy to elevate it to the next level."
While the future of the Big East is bright, the future for Tranghese is not so clear, at least from where he is sitting.
"I'm not sure what I'll do, I guess I'll be looking for a job if you know anyone who is hiring," Tranghese said with a laugh.
"I haven't really thought much about it really. I have a lot of work that needs to be done before I leave."
Paul Zeise can be reached at pzeise@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1720.
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Interesting Mikey T article out of Pittsburgh
