PITTSBURGH Long's first task at Pitt: Keep Big East together

The Panthers' new athletics director took over on Friday.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Jeff Long took over Friday as Pittsburgh's athletics director knowing the school could be seeking a new conference affiliation within weeks.
Obviously, any worry Pitt might be forced to abandon a dying Big East Conference should Miami and two others leave to join the Atlantic Coast Conference didn't dissuade him from taking the job.
Long and university Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg said Pittsburgh remains committed to the Big East and will do everything to keep it together, but will be proactive should the situation change.
Long, the former senior associate athletic director at Oklahoma, was formally introduced as Pitt's AD Friday morning, then rushed off a few hours later to his first -- and, possibly, his last -- Big East meeting in Ponte Vedra, Fla.
"No matter what happens, Pitt is going to be a major factor," Long said. "We are going to be a top Division I program."
The Big East's upheaval couldn't come at a worse time for Pittsburgh, which only two months ago won its first Big East men's basketball tournament championship in 21 years of membership. The Panthers are coming off a Top 10 season in basketball and a Top 20 season in football.
Was aware of situation
Long said he checked out Pitt's conference situation thoroughly before accepting the job Thursday night and is not discouraged by it.
"It's something I had a concern with, and I've talked to folks here about it," he said. "I think we, as an administration, are working to anticipate changes that may occur, but it's premature to say there will be any changes."
Nordenberg promised Pitt will do everything it can this weekend to persuade Miami and the others not to leave. Syracuse and either Boston College or Virginia Tech also are expected to be invited to join the ACC.
"It is our hope the Big East will emerge from this period even stronger than it has been in the past, and that really is the focus of our institutional efforts at this point," Nordenberg said.
Nordenberg did not deny speculation the conference will offer financial incentives for Miami not to leave. Virginia Tech athletic director Jim Weaver told The New York Times that money likely will drive the decision, and the ACC has more of it because its TV contracts are more lucrative than the Big East's.
"I'm in regular discussions with the presidents and chancellors of the other Big East schools, and we're exploring a range of alternatives to strengthen the conference," Nordenberg said.
"But there wouldn't be anything productive in my saying anything more about that now."
Pitt football coach Walt Harris said potential recruits aren't bringing up the topic of conference affiliation with him.
"The focus is Pitt football and not all that other stuff," he said. "The Big East is a great conference and it's become a tremendous football conference. Our goal is to keep it intact. ... (If something happens), then we will think about the possibilities."