Does the Big East have their man? It sure seems like it.
On Tuesday the Big East announced the hiring of new commissioner Michael Aresco, a veteran television executive currently working with CBS and their college sports coverage. With a round of television negotiations on the Big East calendar for September 1, having Aresco leading the negotiations should surely come in handy as the conference looks to score a profitable and rewarding TV deal with potential partners, whether it remains with ESPN or lines up with a new partner. We posed the possibility that CBS Sports could become a viable partner yesterday, but NBC Sports still appears to be the favorite.
As for the decision to go with a TV executive as commissioner, the Big East move is being heralded as "groundbreaking," according to CBS Sports president Sean McManus. Dennis Dodd of CBSSports.com said the Big East hit a home run. Of course, these men are also CBS men giving one of their own a nice ovation on his way out. What do people think from outside of the CBS family?
Our pal Michael Felder says it is a forward-thinking move and the right thing to do right now. VU Hoops says it is a wise move.
More links after the jump…
While interest in hosting the Champions Bowl, between the Big 12 and SEC, is certainly high, only three cities have decided to bid on the hosting duties according to Brett McMurphy (now of ESPN.com). Arlington, New Orleans and Atlanta are the three to be considered in the running.
College football legend Bill Curry will retire at the end of the 2012 season according to CoachingSearch.com and the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Curry is the head coach of Georgia State.
Later today the Pac 12 Networks will finally hit the airwaves, where available. Sports Media Journal has a full rundown of what to expect from the new network. See if it will be available to you.
Schools managing the information flow from practices is nothing new. Tennessee sent out an email reminder yesterday on the policies of sharing information from practices yesterday. Alligator Army takes a look at how the potential injury to quarterback Jeff Driskel has been carefully and perhaps frustratingly shared out of Florida camp.
How much are you willing to pay to see your favorite college football team this fall? Darren Rovell takes a look at the highest ticket prices this season.
Looks like Miami has their quarterback for the season opener, Stephen Morris.
Penn State wasn't bluffing about those names on the jerseys.
Did the agent for Julius Peppers write another bizarre chapter in the North Carolina academic fraud scandal? The Big Lead thinks so.
Ron Zook and Houston Nutt, together at last.
Tweet of the Day
I was set to share a tweet from former Auburn and former Arkansas State running back Michael Dyer here, but as I went to find the tweet I was looking for I discovered his account had vanished. What could have led to that? Perhaps the potentially hacked Twitter account posting an update suggesting he was heading to Prairie View A&M. Just one problem. Prairie View A&M had no idea this was happening.
We'll try this again tomorrow.
Video of the Day
Maybe Kentucky players were inspired by what they may have witnessed during the Olympic games in London, but do not expect any of these guys to be making a trip to Rio de Janeiro in four years to represent the United States.
