Big East question for HUSID74

[JoeyBagODonuts1]

Back when I was a student in the late 80s, there was a rumor that Hofstra turned down an invitation to join the Big East when it was first formed. Is there any truth to it, and if so what was the reasoning?

[HU95]

I remember hearing that in the '90s too. Supposedly had to do with the BE not sponsoring Wrestling.

Again, not sure it ever really happened or just a good story.

[HUSID74]

The truth is we were invited to the discussion of the Big East after our NCAA appearances in the late 70's. Our AD at the time was Bob Getchell, also the wrestling coach.
The Big East was not going to have wrestling as one of its sports to Getchell declined to particiapte in the discussions to protect his wrestling qualifiers in the old ECC....Great foresight!

In another great decision by our AD Howdie Myers, he never went to NIT meetings so the group threw Hofstra out of ownership. Fast forward and the founding schools made a killing when the NCAA bought the NIT...some of those schools were NYU, Wagner, Manhattan to name a few.

[JoeyBagODonuts1]

Great stuff HUSID. Imagine what could have been!

[HUSID74]

Joey you're welcome...and yes some very suspect decisions made over the years to put us where we are now...but WE'RE DANCIN!!!!

[joeg1]

Joey you're welcome...and yes some very suspect decisions made over the years to put us where we are now...but WE'RE DANCIN!!!!

This is some fantastic institutional knowledge that should not be lost to time. SID, you should consider writing a book. Not Hofstra's finest hour, but you know what they say - those who do not remember history are bound to repeat it!

[Polito]

Vomit worthy. And this history is why many still do not trust the leadership today. We do not have a positive track record at all. Time to change that - and it seems like there are some recent positives to draw from as we go forward. Onward and upward.