Big East Conference Football Media Day: Schedule, Storylines, Player Interview List

Usually, clams and football aren't two things normally associated with each other. But at least once a year, in Newport, R.I., the two come together like peas and carrots at the Big East Conference football media day and clambake.

For two days, beginning on July 30 and ending July 31, Big East coaches, players, executives and media members meet in a town more known for its seafood than football. However, that's just how the Big East rolls -- at least for now.

Entering this season's media day, there are a lot of different storylines media members will focus on and discuss. The biggest story will be the conference's season-long swan song of long-time members Syracuse Orange and Pittsburgh Panthers.

Big East Media Day Info:

Where: Newport, RI.
When: July 30-31.
You Can Watch: BigEast.tv
Twitter hashtag: #bemediaday

During the offseason, both schools made it official that its final season in the Big East will be this year before it heads to the Atlantic Coast Conference. The departure of SU ends a 33-year relationship between the school and league, as the Orange were one of seven founding members of the Big East. Pitt joined just three years after Syracuse, and has been one of the league's most consistent football programs during its tenure.

Another main storyline will be, how the Rutgers Scarlet Knights will cope with the loss of their form head coach Greg Schiano, who left to take the Tampa Bay Buccaneers coaching job, and play under new headman Kyle Flood.

So far under Flood, things are headed in the right direction for the Scarlet Knights, as they brought in one of their best recruiting classes ever and has defensive play-makers Khaseem Greene and Steve Beauharnais returning. The mix of having young blue-chippers and solid veterans have a lot of Rutgers football fans excited.

However, all of that excitement comes from stuff on a piece of paper and not actually play on the field. Can the Scarlet Knights live up to their high expectations for the 2012 season?

Other headlines surrounding Big East media day will included:

• Who the heck is the favorite to win the conference?
• Temple Owls make their return to the Big East.
• Who will be the next league Commissioner?
• How will the addition of Boise State, Houston, Memphis, San Diego State, SMU and UCF in '13-14 be received by the rest of the league?

Meanwhile, here's the list of players attending the Big East media day (via BigEast.org).

Cincinnati
Maalik Bomar, LB
Austin Bujnoch, OL
Walter Stewart, DE

Connecticut
Ryan Griffin, TE
Lyle McCombs, RB
Trevardo Williams, DE
Blidi Wreh-Wilson, CB

Louisville
Mario Benavides, C
Adrian Bushell, CB
Alex Kupper, OT
Hakeem Smith, S

Pittsburgh
Aaron Donald, DE
Ray Graham, RB
Jarred Holley, S

Rutgers
Khaseem Greene, LB
Duron Harmon, S
Mark Harrison, WR
Scott Vallone, DT

USF
Sam Barrington, LB
B.J. Daniels, QB
Evan Landi, TE
Kayvon Webster, CB

Syracuse
Justin Pugh, OT
Zack Chibane, OG
Alec Lemon, WR
Shamarko Thomas, SS
Jay Bromley, DT

Temple
Chris Coyer, QB
Marcus Green, DE
Brandon McManus, K/P
Martin Wallace, OT

For more on the Big East football media day, check back to this SB Nation New York StoryStream. Meanwhile, for everything on the Big East Conference visit the the SB Nation blog Big East Coast Bias.