Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 22, 1990 TAG: 9006220156
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: PROVIDENCE, R.I. LENGTH: Medium
Calling the conference a $14.5 million business, the Big East's new commissioner issued a warning to anyone thinking of breaking up the successful nine-team league.
"We are absolutely committed to protecting our structure," Tranghese said at a news conference Thursday, where he was appointed Dave Gavitt's successor. "We are not going to let someone step forward and control our destiny.
"If you come after us from the outside, you've got one heck of a fight."
Tranghese, the associate commissioner under Gavitt, faces several problems, including the fact that some conferences are courting Boston College, Pittsburgh and Syracuse, the Big East's only Division I-A football schools.
While not getting into specifics, Tranghese opened the proceedings by stating: "I'm going to say what's on my mind."
And he did.
On winning and making money: "There seems to be in this day and age a distaste for winning and a distaste for making money. We do not have a distaste for winning and a distaste for making money."
On league policies: "We're going to continue to do what we do in privacy. They want us to discipline our coaches in public and that's not going to happen. We're different than other conferences and we'll continue to be different."
On Georgetown coach John Thompson, considering a $6 million offer to become general manager and part owner of the Denver Nuggets: "John [Thompson] and I get along. I'm a capitalist, too."
Tranghese, 46, takes over a conference that he said he plans to run like "a $14.5 million business." He has been with the Big East since its inception 11 years ago and has worked closely with Gavitt, who resigned to become director of operations for the Boston Celtics.
All along, Tranghese was the logical choice to replace Gavitt. And Seton Hall athletic director Larry Keating said Thursday that no one else was interviewed for the job.
"Mike didn't get the job by default," said Keating. He said all nine athletic directors were involved in the selection.
Tranghese was appointed assistant commissioner for public relations and marketing in 1979 and associate commissioner in 1982.
Before joining the Big East, Tranghese served as Providence College sports information director.
by CNB