UConn Comments on New BIG EAST Conference Members

Director of Athletics Jeff Hathaway

“I am extremely excited about the future of the BIG EAST Conference. We have added five schools that we feel bring a great deal to the league both academically and athletically. The BIG EAST will continue to be a conference recognized for its national prominence in athletics. As a charter member of the league, UConn has always been a vital component of the conference. Today, we remain a key pat in the newly reconfigured league. We are very excited to continue to be a leader in the BIG EAST Conference.”

Men’s Basketball Coach Jim Calhoun

"One of the key things, being a traditionalist and someone that has been involved with the BIG EAST for almost 18-19 years, it is difficult to see such drastic change.  But, change does take place and, as is becoming evident, UConn and the other members of the new BIG EAST will have the best basketball league in the country. That change will also lead to improvements in all the athletic programs for all members.

“Once again, I didn't have much say in what was going to happen. I liked the BIG EAST when it was small but it is growing and people come and go and change happens and is needed.  It will be a great challenge for UConn and all the schools and I am excited about the new challenges ahead."

Football Coach Randy Edsall

“The three schools that will be coming into the league in football are three outstanding programs. Louisville has been to four-straight bowl games and we had the opportunity to play down there (in 2000). By watching them on television, you can tell they are well-coached with great players. Cincinnati has been to bowl games and is in a great recruiting area. Rick Minter has done a good job there, just like Bobby Petrino has done at Louisville. Jim (Leavitt) has grown the program at South Florida. We have actually played all three of these schools recently. (South Florida in 2000 and ’01 and Cincinnati in 2001). We have a presence in Florida and we like that because we do a lot of recruiting down there. They are three schools that will add a lot to the schools that are already in the league. They help us from the recruiting standpoint and will make all of us better through the competition.”

Women's Basketball  Coach Geno Auriemma

"The conference as it stands right now with those additions, I don't know that you can find a better conference in America, and part of our tradition is basketball, that is what our conference was founded on and I'm glad to see us get back to that thinking that we are the best basketball conference in the country.  Now that we (UConn) have added football, certainly South Florida, Louisville, and Cincinnati, they are not Miami and Virginia Tech, but who is?  So I think given our situation, I think we have a really good league, and I like our chances in the league, in every sport.  The last thing you want is to be in a league where you can't compete or the competition can't be competitive with you, in our league, the competition will be really good night in and night out, in every sport."

"Travel has evolved to the point where going to DePaul or Marquette is no different than going to Miami or Virginia Tech.  I don't think the travel is going to be much of an issue.  The one thing that I don't know is how is it going to shake out in terms of how many league games you play.  I think all that remains to be worked out, but I am glad we have agreed to stay together for the next five years, I think that is great, I think the loyalties in the conference outweighed anything else, that is one of the best things to come out of this."