UConn basketball beat writer Joe Arruda of the Hartford Courant reports that Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman attended UConn's game against Gonzaga Friday night in Seattle.

https://twitter.com/joearruda9/status/17...1492656168

Could an invite to the Big East be in the Zags future?

Maybe she likes great basketball games?

(12-17-2023 10:29 PM)esayem Wrote:  Maybe she likes great basketball games?

That's a very long flight for her. Not saying that anything is up, but if anything WAS up, that would be a good excuse to swing by Spokane.

(12-17-2023 10:31 PM)bryanw1995 Wrote:  

(12-17-2023 10:29 PM)esayem Wrote:  Maybe she likes great basketball games?

That's a very long flight for her. Not saying that anything is up, but if anything WAS up, that would be a good excuse to swing by Spokane.

Not too long for volleyball?

(12-17-2023 10:25 PM)BeatWestern! Wrote:  UConn basketball beat writer Joe Arruda of the Hartford Courant reports that Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman attended UConn's game against Gonzaga Friday night in Seattle.

https://twitter.com/joearruda9/status/17...1492656168

Could an invite to the Big East be in the Zags future?

Ackerman has already stated she is favorable to Gonzaga but she added it doesn't have the support of Big East presidents. I don't see a lot of interest when the cost of plane tickets to Spokane for women's volleyball and midweek men's tennis matches add up.

the BE has to improve OOC sch
their TV games are horriable on Fox

(12-18-2023 01:32 AM)templefootballfan Wrote:  the BE has to improve OOC sch
their TV games are horriable on Fox

The 11 Big East teams played a combined 50 P5 games in the OOC and went 27-23 in those contests.

(12-17-2023 10:57 PM)DFW HOYA Wrote:  Ackerman has already stated she is favorable to Gonzaga but she added it doesn't have the support of Big East presidents.

Link?

(12-18-2023 07:58 AM)PeteTheChop Wrote:  

(12-17-2023 10:57 PM)DFW HOYA Wrote:  Ackerman has already stated she is favorable to Gonzaga but she added it doesn't have the support of Big East presidents.

Link?

It was in her comments at Big East media day.

Really, when I read the headline, the first inference that popped in to my head is whether VA might be scouting locations to become the head of a west coast conference, such as a reconstituted PAC or MW/PAC merger.

I love VA as the Big East commissioner, IMO she has been the best commissioner in FBS the past 10 years. She has done more with less than anyone, and by some distance, I think. But she is for that reason under-employed with us.

Not sure that a reconstituted PAC would be a promotion for her, though.

GO GET 'EM C7 !!!

I wouldn't read too much into it. Nothing has really changed in regards to Gonzaga's candidacy for the Big East (or really any conference). Their resume is established and proven. The only (and continued) hurdle would be geography and location. It really isn't a big deal for the Big East if Marquette makes one trip out to Spokane for men's basketball (or for any of its varsity sports); similarly, it really isn't a big deal if Houston (Big 12) has to travel one time out there; the majority of the inconvenience lays at the feet of Gonzaga. They would need to be the ones regularly traveling cross country to compete in not only men's basketball but each of its Olympic sports. For certain sports like rowing, tennis, track & field, cross country and golf, it wouldn't really be an issue (since many sports already keep matches/contests local to begin with). For other sports like soccer, volleyball and baseball, the travel implications would be substantial.

At the end of the day, whether or not Gonzaga joins a different conference is entirely dependent on FOX (or another network). If they pay the predetermined value that both Gonzaga and that conference seek for a union, it will happen. If not, Gonzaga will continue with the status quo (and their sweetheart deal with the WCC). They aren't being pressured to move. We pretty much know where the Big 12 stands (Yormark is in favor, but there isn't enough Presidential support from the members). For the Big East, with active negotiations taking place, I'd say the odds would be with them if any move were to take place in the next 12-24 months.

(12-18-2023 09:55 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  Really, when I read the headline, the first inference that popped in to my head is whether VA might be scouting locations to become the head of a west coast conference, such as a reconstituted PAC or MW/PAC merger.

I love VA as the Big East commissioner, IMO she has been the best commissioner in FBS the past 10 years. She has done more with less than anyone, and by some distance, I think. But she is for that reason under-employed with us.

Not sure that a reconstituted PAC would be a promotion for her, though.

The next BE contract is going to be much more lucrative than the current one. She'd need to take over a P4 Conference to move up in the Conference pecking order.

(12-18-2023 09:55 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  Really, when I read the headline, the first inference that popped in to my head is whether VA might be scouting locations to become the head of a west coast conference, such as a reconstituted PAC or MW/PAC merger.

I love VA as the Big East commissioner, IMO she has been the best commissioner in FBS the past 10 years. She has done more with less than anyone, and by some distance, I think. But she is for that reason under-employed with us.

Not sure that a reconstituted PAC would be a promotion for her, though.

Val is a basketball-first administrator, with strong east coast ties. You could have sold me her being a candidate for the ACC, given her alumna status at Virginia. While she did get her JD at UCLA, she hasn't spent any professional time on the west coast. I don't know, just struggle seeing a fit there (especially since she doesn't have any experience with football or direct experience working for a TV network or content provider).

Even when Stu Jackson jumped from the Big East to the WCC as Commissioner, he had ties to the West Coast. He played at Oregon and Seattle, was an assistant at Washington State and was the inaugural GM and eventual HC of the Vancouver Grizzles. Some fits are more readily visible than others.

(12-18-2023 11:55 AM)bryanw1995 Wrote:  

(12-18-2023 09:55 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  Really, when I read the headline, the first inference that popped in to my head is whether VA might be scouting locations to become the head of a west coast conference, such as a reconstituted PAC or MW/PAC merger.

I love VA as the Big East commissioner, IMO she has been the best commissioner in FBS the past 10 years. She has done more with less than anyone, and by some distance, I think. But she is for that reason under-employed with us.

Not sure that a reconstituted PAC would be a promotion for her, though.

The next BE contract is going to be much more lucrative than the current one. She'd need to take over a P4 Conference to move up in the Conference pecking order.

That's my belief as well. But you never know.

FWIW, I think her contract runs through June 2024. So now is a prime time to leave, if she wants to.