Marinatto bolting is no shock

Big East Commissioner John Marinatto stepping down from the post shouldn’t a shock.

We’re not saying it was a forgone conclusion that Marinatto would quit, we’re saying it isn’t a shock when you consider how crazy things have been in the Big East has been the last couple of years.

West Virginia bolting the league, the impending defections of Syracuse and Pittsburgh and the reports of Rutgers, Connecticut and Louisville all eyeing a new home have made things downright unstable in the Big East. Throw in the additions of Boise State (football only), Central Florida, Houston, Navy (football), San Diego State (football), SMU and Temple and what you have is one big jumble.

Adding Temple, Navy and even Central Florida is understandable and perhaps even logical. But seeing the Big East logo on football fields in Idaho, California and Texas? How crazy and out of place does that sound?

The Big East does have a little more bargaining power on the football end because its reaching so many markets, but it still sounds a little crazy for Boise State to be playing for a Big East championship.

Getting back to Marinatto stepping down, maybe it was inevitable. His image as top man in the Big East had to take a major hit after losing three major programs. The Big 12 lost Nebraska and Colorado, but recovered after getting TCU to back out of its deal to join the Big East.

Conference USA lost Houston, SMU and Central Florida, but announced the additions of Charlotte, Florida International, Louisiana Tech, North Texas and UT-San Antonio. Those may not be power teams, but they fit right in the C-USA footprint.

The Big East, on the other hand, reached out to the left coast and the Deep South to replace its losses. Although adding those schools shows the Big East isn’t going to just sit back and watch, this could all fall a part fast.

Who’s to say the Pac-12 or even the Big Ten won’t call on Boise State? What’s to stop Houston of SMU from finally knocking down the Big 12’s door?

Maybe the uncertainty of it all served as a reality check for Marinatto. For all we know he could be walking out the door at the right time.

The pressure will most certainly be on the next man or woman who decides to take this challenge.