It may seem as if the Big East is left to wait at the Big Ten's mercy
when it comes to potential conference re-alignment, but commissioner
John Marinatto said Monday that his league is exploring its own options
for adding schools, albeit much more under the radar than the Big Ten.

"We've been working quietly, trying not put things in the public
arena, the public forum, for a variety of reasons," Marinatto said. "It
leads to unnecessary speculation. You want to do things intelligently,
and the more you can keep things confidential, ultimately the better off
you are. When things get out there, it creates dynamics sometimes that
you have to respond to and focus attention on."

The unsolicited "perhaps you should look at this school" offerings
have already come in, he said.

"I get those on a regular basis," Marinatto said.

As far false reports of offers being issued by the Big Ten -- even
accepted, by some reports -- Marinatto said it got to the point where he
had to check his cellphone during an afternoon Mass after its
vibrations continued throughout the services. ... Read more