Marinatto: Big East presidents vote to extend invitations to new members

Posted Nov 1, 2011 by Adam Adkins

Updated Nov 1, 2011 at 02:31 PM

Big East Conference commissioner John Marinatto announced the presidents of the league’s member institutions voted unanimously to extend invitations to new members during a meeting Tuesday in Philadelphia.

“Our presidents voted unanimously to extend invitations to specific institutions, including both football-only and all-sport members to join the Big East Conference,” Marinatto said in a statement provided by the league office. “I will be speaking to representatives of those schools shortly and look forward to announcing with them their acceptance into the Big East. The addition of these members will extend our reach, bring us to exciting new markets, strengthen our status within the BCS, and lay the foundation for possible further expansion, all while maintaining the high quality and standards our conference is known for.”

The Big East’s targets in realignment have been previously reported as Boise State, Air Force and Navy for football-only membership and UCF, SMU and Houston for all-sport membership.

Marinatto also addressed the lawsuit West Virginia has filed in an effort to leave the Big East and join the Big 12 Conference beginning next season.

“In light of the lawsuit filed by West Virginia (on Monday), the presidents also discussed and confirmed our continuing commitment to enforce the conference’s 27-month notification period for schools choosing to leave,” Marinatto said. “The conference believes these claims to be wholly without merit and will explore all its legal options to protect its interests and to ensure that West Virginia lives up to its obligations.”

Marinatto has previously stated that he intends to hold both Pittsburgh and Syracuse, which are heading to the Atlantic Coast Conference, to the 27-month notification period as well.