Big East Commissioner Marinatto Discusses Expansion, TV Deals

Big East Commissioner John Marinatto today at the conference's football media day discussed possible further expansion and the next TV contract. Marinatto: "Both are ongoing. But we are the only ones left (all the other BCS conferences have agreed to long term, lucrative deals). I think there is an advantage in that." Marinatto said of the conference rejecting a renewal offer from ESPN in May, "How would we look if we had accepted the ESPN offer and then someone else (Fox or NBC) offered much more?" 

On the subject of adding a 10th football team after TCU joins in '12, Marinatto remained "vague because he feels there is no school out there who is regarded in the same 'home run' category as TCU" (BOSTON.com, 8/2).