UConn’s Auriemma puts blame on Notre Dame

NEW YORK – UConn coach Geno Auriemma thinks that the Big East conference’s realignment issues could have been solved years ago with one simple move – Notre Dame’s football team joining the conference.

“They’ve been in our league 17 years, so how long are we going to date before we just decide this ain’t working? And I’m not happy about it,” Auriemma said at the conference’s annual women’s basketball media day Thursday. “That’s not the opinion of the University of Connecticut, the Big East Conference. … That’s just Geno Auriemma’s opinion.”

The Irish, whose women’s basketball team is picked first in the conference’s preseason poll, have had all their sports in the Big East with the exception of football – which has remained independent.

Last month, Syracuse and Pittsburgh announced they were leaving the Big East to join the Atlantic Coast Conference. Commissioner John Marinatto reiterated that the two, which are contractually bound to the Big East for the next two seasons, will not be allowed out early.

“If Notre Dame had come in as a football and basketball school when they came in, we wouldn’t have a problem. Miami wouldn’t have left. Virginia Tech wouldn’t have left. Boston College wouldn’t have left. We probably wouldn’t have any of these issues, would we?” Auriemma said.