SB Nation New York - St. John's, Seton Hall, Rutgers React To The Hiring Of New Big East Commissioner Mike Aresco https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48977/ny-fave.png2012-08-15T15:50:38-04:00http://newyork.sbnation.com/rss/stream/30060372012-08-15T15:50:38-04:002012-08-15T15:50:38-04:00Mike Aresco Impressive At Big East Conference's Introductory Presser
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<img alt="August 6, 2012; Piscataway, NJ, USA; Rutgers Athletic Director Tim Pernetti during Rutgers team practice. William Perlman/THE STAR-LEDGER via US PRESSWIRE" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0IUDCPqNDX44ssuBdVN8_AQuRwY=/0x1006:2980x2993/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/8291456/20120806_gav_so3_023.jpg" />
<figcaption>August 6, 2012; Piscataway, NJ, USA; Rutgers Athletic Director Tim Pernetti during Rutgers team practice. William Perlman/THE STAR-LEDGER via US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>-- For more on the Big East Conference, visit the SB Nation blog <a href="http://www.bigeastcoastbias.com/">Big East Coast Bias</a>.
<br>-- For the latest news on the hiring of Mike Aresco, check back to this <a href="http://newyork.sbnation.com/2012/8/14/3241996/new-big-east-commissioner-reported-to-be-mike-aresco-from-cbs-sports">SB Nation New York</a>.</p> <p>Introductions are key to any relationship, most people would agree. So, when newly-hired Big East Conference commissioner Mike Aresco took the podium Wednesday for his introductory press conference at the New York Athletic Club there was some pressure.</p>
<p>Now, the pressure probably wasn't felt by Aresco, CBS' Executive Vice President of Programming since 2008, as he's been in charge of a large corporate entity before. The pressure was on the Big East's presidents, who decided unanimously Tuesday Aresco was the guy to guide their programs into the future.</p>
<p>"I am very pleased to become the new Big East commissioner," said Aresco in the opening statement of his media teleconference.</p>
<p>"I am absolutely delighted to be asked to lead this conference into what I think is a very bright future."</p>
<p>It's said, actions speak louder than words, and at a press conference, just like personal introductions, it's easy to get caught up in one's words. But if there's anything into reading into someone's tone, Aresco seemed genuine and confident about his new opportunity with the Big East, which in reality is about as ideal as setting up a blind date at day care.</p>
<p>"I think virtually everything in my career has prepared me for an opportunity like this," said Aresco.</p>
<p>Entering his inaugural season as the Big East's head man, a tenure which officially begins in early September, Aresco will need to deal with issues other commissioners will never face during their tenures.</p>
<p>First, Aresco will need to figure out how to handle the swan songs of two major programs, Syracuse University and the University of Pittsburgh, which both will be entering their final years with the league after being flag-bearers for it for 30-plus seasons.</p>
<p>(Sorta like the break-up stage.)</p>
<p>Does Aresco treat the exiting schools with any sort of farewell after three decades of service; or does he move on without any tribute to the programs that have combined to win six league titles in football and seven in men's basketball?</p>
<p>Second, the new commissioner will need to find some way to transition the Big East from an "East Coast" conference into a nationwide coalition involving schools like <span>Boise St. Broncos</span>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/san-diego-st-aztecs">San Diego St. Aztecs</a>, <span>Houston Cougars</span>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/smu-mustangs">SMU Mustangs</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/memphis-tigers">Memphis Tigers</a>, <span>Central Florida Knights </span>and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/navy-midshipmen">Navy Midshipmen</a>.</p>
<p>(New wardrobe, apartment, etc.)</p>
<p>A challenge that will be daunting considering all the programs being added to the league will be participants in football, a quality not shared by longer-tenured schools like: St. John's Red Storm, Seton Hall Pirates, Providence Friars, Marquette Golden Eagles, DePaul Blue Demons, Georgetown Hoyas, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/notre-dame-fighting-irish">Notre Dame Fighting Irish</a> and Villanova Wildcats.</p>
<p>(Upset family.)</p>
<p>"I think it's very important that the basketball and football schools stay together," said Aresco. "They want to stay together and it's very clear that they've committed to each other, and each makes the other stronger."</p>
<p>"I think the current membership understands that they are stronger. What I need to do is make sure the current membership feels that I am a tireless, tireless proponent of the conference. That I am telling the conference's story effectively well."</p>
<p>(Sticking to your roots.)</p>
<p>If the Big East is able to survive the football vs. non-football split, can it survive another major hurdle -- geography?</p>
<p>(Can we make this long-distance relationship work?)</p>
<p>"Obviously, its a diverse and complex conference," said Aresco. "But in the complexity is a great deal of strength.</p>
<p>"This conference is very excited to move forward. As I said earlier, I would not have taken this job if I didn't feel confident that this conference was cohesive and committed to each other."</p>
<p>(Commitment.)</p>
<p>But possibly the biggest issue Aresco will faced in his introduction was television.</p>
<p>(How much money do you make? Can I be financially secure with you?)</p>
<p>Without bigger-name programs like the Syracuse Orange, Pittsburgh Panthers and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/west-virginia-mountaineers">West Virginia Mountaineers</a>, who departed for the Big 12 Conference this season, Aresco will need to use his background skills as a contract negotiator to help the league earn a big enough television deal with a known network to make it relevant again.</p>
<p>"Obviously, working in television I've been involved in many, many negotiations, and obviously its an important factor into getting a negotiation favorable to the Big East."</p>
<p>(Yes, I make money.)</p>
<p>OK, but can his skills help the league earn as big of a deal as the one enjoyed by the ACC?</p>
<p>"I am not going to speculate on that," said Aresco. "I don't want to set any benchmarks, but I do think the Big East has an outstanding product in both football, basketball and women's and Olympic sports."</p>
<p>(Ah, not that much money.)</p>
<p>"In the end of the day, the value of the Big East will be recognized."</p>
<p>(But enough to make you very happy.)</p>
<p>Actually, in the end, Wednesday wasn't a time Aresco wanted to start talking or working on problems of the future. It was a day for him to introduce himself to the national college media and make sure the presidents who hired him believed he's the right man for this relationship.</p>
<p>If one were to grade Aresco's initial introduction, he probably earned himself another date.</p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/rutgers-scarlet-knights/2012/8/15/3244798/mike-aresco-big-east-conference-commissioner-st-johns-rutgers-seton-hall-syracuseJared Smith2012-08-14T20:05:06-04:002012-08-14T20:05:06-04:00St. John's, Seton Hall, Rutgers React To The Hiring Of New Big East Commissioner Mike Aresco
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<p>For the past two years, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/st-john-s-red-storm">St. John's Red Storm</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/seton-hall-pirates">Seton Hall Pirates</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/rutgers-scarlet-knights">Rutgers Scarlet Knights</a> athletic programs have been caught in the middle of the conference realignment hoopla involving the Big East Conference and other leagues.</p>
<p>These three programs stood by and watched as other schools realigned itself with a different conference, its commissioner resign during a time difficulty, and they all took punches from college media members who bashed its league for poor decision making.</p>
<p>However, the tides may turn for the better Wednesday when<a href="http://newyork.sbnation.com/2012/8/14/3242717/mike-aresco-introduction-big-east-conference-commissioner-announcement-joe-bailey-john-marinatto/in/3006037"> the Big East introduces its new commissioner</a> <b>Mike Aresco </b>at a press conference held at the New York Athletic Club (10:30 a.m. ET). The league made the hiring <a href="http://newyork.sbnation.com/2012/8/14/3242401/big-east-commissioner-mike-aresco-official/in/3006037">official on Tuesday</a>.</p>
<p>"Mike Aresco is a dynamic selection for our new commissioner," <a href="https://twitter.com/STJ_Basketball/status/235465965389889536">said St. John's athletic director Chris Monasch Tuesday.</a></p>
<p>Seton Hall athletic director Pat Lyons also expressed his positive feelings toward Aresco, when<a href="https://twitter.com/BrendanPrunty/status/235459814724100096"> he told Newark Star-Leger reporter Brendan Prunty</a>: "(Aresco is a) very well respected leader who knows the business of sports and media. We are very excited about him leading the Big East into the future."</p>
<p>Meanwhile, as the two non-football playing members breathed a sigh of relief -- because its conference may actually stand a chance with television's top contract negotiators -- Rutgers athletic director Tim Pernetti released a 4 minutes, 18 second <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfS9VTz-kes">YouTube video.</a> In the clip, Pernetti admits the hiring couldn't have come at a better time.</p>
<p>"I think its great for the conference," said Pernetti. "The conference has had a great week. The media negotiations that's coming up really is the moment that's going to define the league going forward, not only from the perspective of membership, what its ability will be able to generate in the market, but stability."</p>
<p>"As we gear up for our media negotiations, I don't think we could of had a better week as a conference."</p>
<p><object width="425" height="350" class="mceItemFlash"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PfS9VTz-kes"> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PfS9VTz-kes" mce_src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PfS9VTz-kes" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed> </object> </p>
<p>RVision: @RUAthletics AD @Tim_Pernetti on new BIG EAST commissioner. (via <a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=PfS9VTz-kes">RVision1766</a>)</p>
<p>Currently, Aresco is the Executive VP of Programming at CBS Sports, which makes him one of the people involved in negotiating TV contracts -- he handled CBS' contract negotiations with the NCAA for the rights to the men's basketball tournament, and negotiated the networks 15-year deal with the Southeastern Conference.</p>
<p>Despite his experience in the television world, <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fsports%2Fcollege%2Fstory%2F2012-08-14%2Fbig-east-commissioner-mike-aresco%2F57050770%2F1&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fnewyork.sbnation.com%2F2012%2F8%2F14%2F3243166%2Fst-johns-seton-hall-rutgers-reaction-big-east-commissioner-mike-aresco-press-conferenceschedule" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Aresco admitted in an interview with the Associated Press Tuesday</a> its going to be a tough road for his new employer and all eyes will be on him.</p>
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<p>"It would be hard to overstate it," Aresco said of the importance of the next TV contract. "I consider it job one. All eyes are going to be on it. I'm not making any predictions, but I'm very confident our value is going to be recognized and maximized."</p>
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<p>As of a few day ago, the Big East "New York's conference" had a shot of losing its big market feel. Now, it seems all the hoopla could be revolving around it.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Big East Conference, check out the SB Nation blog<a href="http://www.bigeastcoastbias.com/"> Big East Coast Bias</a>.</i></p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/2012/8/14/3243166/st-johns-seton-hall-rutgers-reaction-big-east-commissioner-mike-aresco-press-conferencescheduleJared Smith2012-08-14T16:14:46-04:002012-08-14T16:14:46-04:00Big East To Introduce Mike Aresco As Commissioner On Wednesday
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<p>With <a href="http://newyork.sbnation.com/2012/8/14/3242401/big-east-commissioner-mike-aresco-official/in/3006037">the news becoming official</a> Tuesday that the Big East Conference has a new commissioner in former CBS Vice President Mike Aresco, the league has decided to introduce its new headman Wednesday in a press conference starting at 10:30 p.m. ET.</p>
<p>The presser, which will be held at the New York Athletic Club, will be followed by a teleconference that will start at 11:30 a.m. Both conference's will feature Aresco and Gregory Williams, President, University of Cincinnati, Chair of the Big East Commissioner Search Committee.</p>
<p>Arseco comes to the Big East after being part of CBS since 1996. At the network, he was responsible for all the college programing. Arseco was a big part of CBS' NCAA Tournament deal with Turner Sports.</p>
<p>This background is expected to help the conference negotiate for a better television deal.</p>
<p>Aresco replaces interim president Joseph Bailey III, who took over after John Marinatto resigned in May.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Big East Conference, check out the SB Nation blog<a href="http://www.bigeastcoastbias.com/"> Big East Coast Bias</a>.</i></p>
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https://newyork.sbnation.com/2012/8/14/3242717/mike-aresco-introduction-big-east-conference-commissioner-announcement-joe-bailey-john-marinattoJared Smith2012-08-14T14:11:25-04:002012-08-14T14:11:25-04:00Big East Officially Names Mike Aresco As Commissioner
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<p><a href="https://twitter.com/Mengus22/statuses/235444942086995968"></a></p>
<p>The Big East Conference has named former CBS VP Mike Aresco as its new commissioner. <a href="http://www.bigeast.org/News/tabid/435/Article/236098/Mike-Aresco-Named-BIG-EAST-Conference-Commissioner.aspx">The official announcement </a>came from the league Tuesday, after a unanimous vote from its presidents. The news confirmed what was initially <a href="http://newyork.sbnation.com/2012/8/14/3241962/big-east-commissioner-mike-aresco/in/3006037">reported earlier in the day</a>.</p>
<p>"The search to identify the new Commissioner of The BIG EAST Conference was truly an international search," said <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/6087/greg-williams">Greg Williams</a>, University of Cincinnati President and Chair of the Commissioner Search Committee in the league's press release. "We had many outstanding candidates, but we are fortunate to have Mike Aresco as our new Commissioner."</p>
<p>"The Presidents have acted very responsibly," said Interim Commissioner <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/35396/joe-bailey">Joe Bailey</a>. "They have appointed a leader with integrity, intelligence and energy. Bravo!"</p>
<p>Arseco will replace Bailey, who was appointed the position after John Marinatto resigned in May.</p>
<p>Overall, the hiring is <a href="http://www.bigeastcoastbias.com/2012/8/14/3242124/the-slap-hitter-known-as-the-big-east-hit-the-shot-heard-around">receiving a lot of positive feedback</a>. One of the biggest reasons for the praise is Arseco's history with negotiating contracts for a major television network -- an attribute other Big East commissioners have lacked.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Big East Conference, check out the SB Nation blog<a href="http://www.bigeastcoastbias.com/"> Big East Coast Bias</a>.</i></p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/2012/8/14/3242401/big-east-commissioner-mike-aresco-officialJared Smith2012-08-14T10:51:41-04:002012-08-14T10:51:41-04:00New Big East Commissioner Reported To Be Mike Aresco From CBS Sports
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<p>The Big East Conference has found its new commissioner, as former CBS VP Mike Aresco is expected to be named the league's headman later Tuesday.</p> <p>The Big East Conference has found its new commissioner. According to <a href="https://twitter.com/blauds/status/235363584677408768">Mark Blaudschun</a> of a NewJerseyGuy.com, the Big East is ready to name CBS VP Mike Aresco as its new headman, a move that is expected to be made official sometime later Tuesday in New York.</p>
<p>The news comes after months of searching from the conference, which has been led by interim commissioner Joseph Bailey III, who took over after John Marinatto resigned in May due to pressure by the league's presidents.</p>
<p>The hiring of Aresco, who was <a href="http://www.eyeonsportsmedia.com/2007/12/executive-profile-mike-aresco-cbs.html">a big part in contract negations for CBS</a>, is expected to be help the league earn a better television contract and ease its way into introducing new schools Central Florida, Houston, Memphis, SMU, Temple, Boise State, San Diego State and Navy in the upcoming seasons.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Big East Conference, check out the SB Nation blog<a href="http://www.bigeastcoastbias.com/"> Big East Coast Bias</a>.</i></p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/2012/8/14/3241962/big-east-commissioner-mike-arescoJared Smith