“When things started changing in the college football world, we were fortunate to become members of the BIG EAST. I think we have been a good member for the BIG EAST, but the conference has been a great avenue for us to reach our potential.” – Frank Beamer Bowl Games • The BIG EAST has always assured itself of prestigious bowl invitations. The league champion will attend the Tostitos Fiesta, FedEx Orange, Nokia Sugar or Rose Bowls as part of its membership in the Bowl Championship Series. The Hokies have represented the league in two of the aforementioned bowls - the Nokia Sugar Bowl (twice) and the FedEx Orange Bowl. • The BIG EAST and the Toyota Gator Bowl have a multi-year pact, which allows the Gator Bowl to select a BIG EAST bowl-eligible team after the league's representative in the Bowl Championship Series has been determined. The BIG EAST has sent a team to the Gator Bowl for six of the past seven seasons. Since joining the league, Tech has represented the BIG EAST in three Gator Bowls, including a 41-20 victory over Clemson in last season's game. • The Insight.com Bowl is entering its third year as a partner with the BIG EAST. The Phoenix, Ariz.-based game will select a third league team. Exposure • The conference also has an agreement with the Music City Bowl. The agreement • The league established its own regional allows the Nashville, Tenn.-based bowl to choose a fourth league squad. Tech television package in 1991 before a game appeared in the inaugural Music City Bowl in 1998, defeating Alabama, 38-7. was played. The BIG EAST Television Network immediately was the largest • The BIG EAST is in the final season of a two-year deal to send a team to the regional college football network in the Jeep San Francisco Bowl, to be played at Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco. This country. is the bowl's first season in California after moving from Honolulu. • Beginning in 2001, the BIG EAST will • Tech holds the longest active bowl string in the BIG EAST. The Hokies have been begin new multi-year contracts with ABC to eight straight bowls. and ESPN. Prior to the current deal, the BIG EAST enjoyed a five-year deal with CBS and ESPN. • For the sixth straight season, ESPN Regional Television of Charlotte, N.C., will own telecasting rights for all telecasts not assigned to ABC or ESPN. ERT will produce and distribute additional games for a Game of the Week syndication, local markets and pay-per-view. • Once again this season, BIG EAST Conference football will be viewed in over 33 cities, including the major television markets of New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington, D.C., Tampa, Miami, Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Indianapolis. A Shot at the National Title • The BIG EAST has been a charter member in each of the major bowl agreements, designed to help determine a national champion. It began with the Bowl Coalition in 1992 followed by The Bowl Alliance in 1995. The Bowl Championship Series began in 1998 and will continue this season. • The Hokies have been to a bowl every year since the BIG EAST started round-robin play. A league team has played for a claim of the national championship six times, including Virginia Tech following the 1999 season. Six times in the first 10 the development of BIG EAST ABC or ESPN. ERT years of BIG EAST football, a football since its start. The will produce and league team has gone into its BIG EAST has been a charter distribute additional bowl game playing for a claim member of each of the major games for a BIG EAST to the national championship. bowl agreements with Game of the Week The conference is aiming to conferences, beginning with through syndication, maintain that level of The Bowl Coalition in 1992 local markets and pay- excellence as it begins its followed by The Bowl Alliance per-view. second decade in 2001. in ‘95. The Bowl The BIG EAST has Last season, it was the Championship Series began always assured itself University of Miami in ‘98 and will continue this of prestigious bowl contending for the national season. invitations. The league crown. The Hurricanes Television prominence has champion will attend completed an 11-1 season been a constant in the BIG the Tostitos Fiesta, with a victory over Florida in EAST. For football, the league FedEx Orange, Nokia the Nokia Sugar Bowl. UM established its own regional Sugar or Rose Bowl finished No. 2 in the AP and television package in 1991, as part of its USA Today/ESPN polls. before it had played a game. membership in the In 1991, the first season of The BIG EAST Television Bowl Championship BIG EAST football, Miami Network immediately was the Series. captured a national largest regional college The BIG EAST and championship. Two years ago, football network in the country. the Toyota Gator Bowl Virginia Tech was competing This year the BIG EAST have a multi-year pact, in the national title game. In begins new broadcast deals which allows the Gator between, the league with ABC and ESPN that run Bowl to select a BIG maintained its status as a through the 2007 season. EAST bowl-eligible national force, both on and off ABC will telecast five games team after the league’s the field. per year. ESPN and ESPN2 representative in the The BIG EAST will carry at least 10 games Bowl Championship End Jim Davis puts the pressure Conference hit the ground each season. Together, the Series has been on at BC. running in 1991, gaining agreements will mean a BIG determined. instant notice and credibility EAST telecast most weeks of The Insight.com with its level of excellence on the season. Bowl is in its fourth year as a before returning to that the field and its television and For the sixth straight year, partner with the BIG EAST. echelon the last two bowl relationships. ESPN Regional Television That Phoenix-based bowl will seasons. Syracuse has been Commissioner Michael owns broadcasting rights for have the third selection. to the postseason in 11 of Tranghese has spearheaded all telecasts not assigned to The conference also has the last 14 years. West an agreement with the Music Virginia has gone to bowl City Bowl. The agreement games in six of the past allows the bowl, which is eight seasons and Boston played in Nashville, to College has gone “bowling” choose a fourth league five times in the past nine squad. years, including the last two. In 2001, the BIG EAST Some of the same has a deal to send a team to elements that were in place the San Francisco Jeep when The BIG EAST Bowl, which will be played at Conference was born in Pacific Bell Park. BIG EAST teams have 1979 are present in BIG enjoyed plenty of success in EAST football. The football recent years. League squads members are a group of have played in 16 bowl schools that, for the most games on or after New part, were traditional rivals, Year’s Day. Virginia Tech is but were never a formal on an eight-year bowl streak, league. They are: Boston the longest active string in College, University of Miami, the conference. Miami won University of Pittsburgh, national titles in 1983, ‘87, Rutgers University, Temple ‘89 and ‘91. The Hurricanes University, Syracuse played on New Year’s Day Tech receiver Ernest Wilford battles for yardage against University, Virginia Tech and Pittsburgh. every year from 1984 to ‘95 West Virginia University. 2001 Virginia Tech Football 183 BIG EAST Conference Commissioner Commissioner’s seat barely began BIG EAST competition and the growth of sports had a chance to get warm. In in the 1995-96 academic year. events on television response to the beginning of In 1999, football member increased, Gavitt and significant conference Virginia Tech was admitted to Tranghese were ready to take realignment nationally, he the league as the 14th full advantage. Gavitt became the coordinated an expansion, member. It began competing BIG EAST’s first In the BIG EAST, Mike which included the University in the BIG EAST in all sports Commissioner in 1979 and Tranghese has seen it all. He of Miami becoming a full in 2000-01. served until 1990 when was the league’s first league member in 1991-92 The league’s athletic Tranghese took the helm. employee in 1979. More and being a key addition to directors unanimously Under Tranghese, the BIG importantly, however, he has the unique football group. The appointed Tranghese in 1990 EAST championship slate has made it all grow. BIG EAST is a charter after his 11 years of service, expanded from seven men’s Now, in his 12th year as member of the Bowl the last nine as associate championships in 1979 to 20 Commissioner, The BIG EAST Championship Series, the commissioner. As men’s and women’s events in Conference continues to group of major conferences Commissioner, he has led the 1993. The recent addition of expand and flourish under his and bowls that helps produce BIG EAST while adhering to women’s lacrosse increases direction. a national championship the principles which have the number of sports to 21. Tranghese has led the BIG game and the best possible marked the conference’s His negotiating expertise EAST through multiple bowl matchups. explosive rise to prominence – also has resulted in a long- membership expansions, a After establishing the BIG promoting and cultivating term partnership with Madison marked increase in EAST football group, intercollegiate athletic Square Garden, host of the championships, the formation Tranghese guided the league programs in an environment BIG EAST Men’s Basketball of BIG EAST football and through a critical stage that of integrity and the pursuit of Championship since 1983.