New Big East football conference officially still a no-name league

Only in the Big East Light, or whatever it’s going to by called by July 1, does the commissioner have to put out a press release denying there is a leading favorite for a new name to replace the old name.

It was reported by the network with call letters E-S-P-N, that “America 12” was the favored name for the new football league to be stitched together in the aftermath of the Big East’s messy divorce.

“We have not chosen a new conference name at this time and there are no favorites,” Big East commissioner Mike Aresco denied in a statement released Friday. “We are going through a thoughtful evaluation of potential names for our conference, and will select a name in a timely manner.”

In case you missed it, the seven Big East Catholic schools are splitting to form a separate basketball league and are taking the “Big East” name with them.

The football league, or what’s left of it, needs a new brand. “America 12” was floated but apparently there was some blow back.

For one, the new league will have only 10 teams the next two seasons: Next year’s football lineup is Connecticut, South Florida, Cincinnati, Central Florida, Memphis, SMU, Houston, Temple, Rutgers and Louisville.

Rutgers and Louisville are leaving after next year--Rutgers to the Big Ten, Louisville to the ACC--to be replaced by East Carolina and Tulane.

The “NAME HERE” league will eventually get to 12 in 2015 when Navy and Tulsa come onboard.

America 12? Come on, now, you guys can do better than that. That sounds more like a name for a Space Shuttle, although it would have mission control in one of its divisions (Houston).

How about Big Metro American Conference?

You could call it the Big MAC and sell hamburgers on the side.

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