Easssy, Rick

Like I said yesterday, I agree with Rick Pitino that the best course for UofL should be to stay in the Big East, take time, and add more promising programs over the next two years. Despite all the echo chamber declarations and microwave society musings, there's really no rush. Pitt and Cuse have to stay that long anyways and the current BCS contract doesn't expire till 2013-14. There's plenty of time. You think that in 2014, if the Big East plays it smart and has, I dunno, like 4 or 5 teams in the Top 25, which isn't exactly impossible if cards are played right, then we'll be left out? The Big East is a member of the BCS, remember? They're going to be a part of all these negotiations. You think they will negotiate themselves out of existence? It's just not gonna happen. Pitt and Syracuse didn't help things, obviously, but if everyone keeps their heads the Big East will be fine. All you need is ONE automatic bid; the Big East will keep that.

But still, Rick Pitino is making major miscalculations with his approach to this problem. Having already taken to his blog to register his thoughts, he's now giving interviews to anyone with a microphone about how UConn is "dumb" for leaving, the ACC is jealous of Big East basketball, and so on. Rick made his point, he's entitled to that much. But now, shut up Rick.

Tom Jurich and James Ramsey are calling these shots. Not you. And this is coming from someone who agrees with him! But I also acknowledge this is a complex situation with lots of pros and cons on both sides. If it's determined the Big 12 is more pro, the route we take, I'll get behind it. Pitino needs to do the same, and he needs to stop acting so petulant about the process.

He's coming dangerously close to completely tearing through the already-stretched support he still has among the Louisville faithful. I sometimes have no idea what's going through his head when he does things like refer to his time at UK as "Camelot", believes that every problem in college athletics can be solved with some anecdote from his autobiography, all while trying to sabotage a conference-move supported by the vast majority of UofL fans.

How does he expect the fanbase to respond to that? With all this conference talk, Louisville fans are being forced to look long-term. And for the first time in a long time, I think, they're seeing a future that doesn't include Rick Pitino. Because right now, it appears that the Spinmaster is spinning out of control.