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UConn Coach Blasts Notre Dame

  • Oct 20, 2011

    Connecticut's Geno Auriemma wants Notre Dame in Big East for football

    By Erick Smith, USA TODAY Updated 47m ago

    With the future of the Big East in doubt, Connecticut women's basketball coach Gene Auriemma has lashed out at Notre Dame and its insistence on playing as a football independent.

    Connecticut women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma would like to see Notre Dame playing football in the Big East.

    Auriemma's comments came Thursday at the conference's media day for women's basketball when UConn was not picked No. 1 in the Big East's preseason poll for the first time since 2005. The team picked No. 1? Notre Dame.

    He believes that if the Irish, who play in the Big East in all other sports, could solidify the league they joined in football.

    "I'm pissed about it," he said. "We've got one school that holds the future of our league in the palm of their hand and they are not really concerned about it."

    Earlier in the week, commissioner John Marinatto held a teleconference on the Big East's plan to expand to 12 football schools and said Notre Dame was working hard to ensure the leagues survival.

    "I think Notre Dame is as committed, if not more committed, in this conference than any other member because they view it as a very positive place," Marinatto said.

    "I think they're really committed to growing with us. I mentioned all of our schools are excited about this (12-team) model. Notre Dame is included in that in a very strong way. They like the model and I think they're excited about it as we go forward."

    The arrangement of the Irish only play in non-football sports has been in place since the fall of 1995. It has been a bone of contention with other schools in the past. Auriemma thinks its time Notre Dame take the next step.

    "They have been in our league, what, 18 years," he said. "How long are we going to date before we just we decide this isn't working? I'm not happy about it.

    "That's not the opinion of the University of Connecticut, the Big East Conference, my president, my AD. That's just Geno Auriemma's opinion."

    He traced the instability in the league back to when they were allowed to not play football and join for other sports.

    "If Notre Dame had come in as a football and basketball school, all in, we wouldn't have a problem," he said. "Miami wouldn't have left. Virginia Tech wouldn't have left. Boston College wouldn't have left. We probably wouldn't have any of these issues, would we? No."

    goeers

  • I applaud this guy for speaking his mind and I agree with him 90 percent. But I don't know if Notre Dame would have kept Miami, VT and Boston College in the Big East. Maybe, maybe not.

    It's a double-edged sword ... I think if Notre Dame had joined the Big East 10 years ago, it would have been part of some lopsided, unfair revenue sharing deal that favored the Irish. More than likey, I think the Big East would be going through what the Big 12 has gone through the past few years with Texas.

    Simply put, it's hard to run a conference when one of your members (full time or part time) thinks it is above the other members and entitled to a better deal than the other members.

    WVUfaninDC

  • I know slot of people feel the way I do, it's way past due, but never too late to kick noted dame to the curb.

    Johnnyboy

  • Oops I can't spell

    Johnnyboy

  • Oops I can't spell

    Johnnyboy

  • Bout time someone grew some and ripped the Irish publicly, well done Geno

    wvufan4ever3

  • UNBELIEVABLE! People like this just dont understand how much Notre Dame has HELPED this conference! Hey If it wasn't for them this conference would be falling apar.........

    Goldrusher35

  • Goldrusher35 said...

    UNBELIEVABLE! People like this just dont understand how much Notre Dame has HELPED this conference! Hey If it wasn't for them this conference would be falling apar.........

    Don't get me wrong that have helped us tons but at this point when they could instantly stabilize this conference if they joined in football, they just set back and laugh and continue playing our commish. Long term they have been needed but short term they are the enemy IMO. I personally do not care what they do because I do not think we will be here much longer, but if WVU was fighting tooth and nail to rebuild this conference and they still wouldn't join and get the league more revenue and prevent us from having go get ECU or SMU for example I would be very angry.

    wvufan4ever3

  • wvufan4ever3 said...

    Don't get me wrong that have helped us tons but at this point when they could instantly stabilize this conference if they joined in football, they just set back and laugh and continue playing our commish. Long term they have been needed but short term they are the enemy IMO. I personally do not care what they do because I do not think we will be here much longer, but if WVU was fighting tooth and nail to rebuild this conference and they still wouldn't join and get the league more revenue and prevent us from having go get ECU or SMU for example I would be very angry.

    I agree, they have helped us, but having a rep of ND as a chairperson and they are rumored to be looking ACC for football only is, well, I dont have a word for it right now.

    Goldrusher35

  • To hell with the fight rash. He is right get in all the way or get the hell out! Know one should be bowing down to the demands of this pompus school!

    bendp

  • I also applaud Geno, but he stopped short of what his message should have been. He should have said that ND either needs to join in FB, or go find some other place for their non-FB sports. Why won't anyone in the Big Least say this publicly?

    LAMountaineer

West Virginia
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