By LENN ROBBINS
June 6, 2008
Now that the Big East has faced down death - and that's exactly the fate it was headed for in the spring of 2003 when the Atlantic Coast Conference raided Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston College - it has to find a way to remain vibrant.
That will be the biggest challenge facing the new commissioner.
Mike Tranghese, just the second league boss in the league's 29 years, announced yesterday he will step down next summer. Tranghese succeeded Dave Gavitt, the first commissioner who oversaw the rise of the only basketball conference to send three teams to a Final Four (1985). He also guided the league through turbulent expansion to include more football schools and realignment.
Tranghese considered resigning five years ago but knew he couldn't once the league's future was in jeopardy. Despite the turmoil, the league has been so solid that there isn't even a policy in the league manual that addresses selecting a new commissioner.
"The presidents are going to determine the process," Tranghese said yesterday on a telephone conference call. "I shouldn't be picking my successor. I told them I'd help them and I think the area I could help them the most is telling them who not to hire."
Translation: No one from the ACC need apply.
Dan Gavitt, son of the league founder, is a potential candidate, but the eight football schools might want a person with more football expertise. Louisville AD Tom Jurich also is the chair of the Big East ADs. Nick Carparelli, Jr., the Big East associate commissioner for football, is considered a rising star but it could be dicey for the presidents to name him over Gavitt.
