By Glypie Grider
Louisville has joined the Big East Conference, and you have arrived at the university just in time. While revenue sports such as football and men’s basketball are expected to make big dents in the new conference, non-revenue sports such as volleyball and tennis are also projected to continue their successful programs.
When the University of Louisville first joined the Big East, head basketball coach Rick Pitino said, “For all of our coaches — — whether it’s volleyball, women’s field hockey or soccer — we’re going to be part of something special in the Big East … And I’m proud to say that we’re also going to be a part of the greatest basketball conference in the history of the game, from top to bottom.” Pitino led Providence College, one of the Big East schools, to the Final Four in 1987.
Louisville, like four other universities, left Conference USA at the close of the 2004-2005 year and joined the Big East. U of L joins the University of Cincinnati, Marquette University, the University of South Florida, and DePaul University in the eastward move. Boston College, Miami (Fla.) and Virginia Tech left the Big East for the Atlantic Coast Conference.
“Joining the Big East Conference is tremendous recognition of the University of Louisville’s outstanding athletic program and our accomplished student-athletes,” James Ramsey, President of U of L, said
“U of L is dedicated to earning national recognition for academic and research achievement, and joining the Big East Conference is an opportunity to be affiliated with many of the nation’s most renowned institutions,” Ramsey added.
In addition to the five C-USA schools moving in, the 2005-2006 Big East institutions will include the University of Connecticut, Georgetown University, University of Notre Dame, University of Pittsburgh, Providence College, Rutgers University, St. John’s University, Seton Hall University, Syracuse University, Villanova University and West Virginia University.
“This association will provide us the national stage that we all desire,” said U of L Athletic Director Tom Jurich. He believes Louisville football will make an immediate run for the Big East title and subsequent Bowl Championship Series bid. (The Big East Conference is a member of the BCS.)
Only eight teams will compete in football, though nine Big East schools carry football teams. Notre Dame, with a team vested in century-old football and whose list of great players include George Gipp (“The Gipper”), Paul Hornung and Joe Theismann, will remain independent of the conference.
Louisville’s football program enters the Big East Conference after winning three C-USA titles, including the 2004 title. U of L also won the Liberty Bowl Championship in the postseason and finished sixth in the nation in the polls with an 11-1 record.
Similarly, U of L’s men’s basketball enters the Big East following its first NCAA Final Four appearance in 19 years. The team won the C-USA Championship title in the 2004-2005 season and finished with a 33-5 record.
The Big East was created on May 31, 1979, and was comprised of seven schools. Mike Tranghese is the conference commissioner. U of L accepted the invititation to join the Big East on Nov. 4, 2003.
“With our move into the Big East Conference … the sky is truly the limit,” Jurich said.
Sophomore quarterback Brian Brohm will lead the Cardinals as they transition to the Big East Conference this fall. U of L joins four other schools in the move: Marquette University, the University of South Florida, the University of Cincinnati, and DePaul University. All five were previously in Conference USA.
