Monday Happy Hour is quitting the Big East too

One day a college football junkie is going to sit down and write the complete history of the Big East conference. While there are probably only 15 or 20 people who will care enough to read it, when they do they will find an interesting story of a conference ripped apart by changes to the sport over the last 20 years, and a stark division of interests between basketball and football.

Obviously today we know how the story ends. A conference that was started as a home for northeastern basketball powers soon tried its hand at football. However, those original basketball members weren't keen on football's place in the conference and ultimately undermined some chances for the conference to strengthen itself.

There were, of course, some bad breaks. Penn State got denied a place in the conference very early on. Virginia Tech and Miami defecting to the ACC in the middle of the last decade might have started the wheels turning on the Big East's demise. But if you were searching for the death knell to the Big East as a viable football conference it is hard to look past the moment last fall when Syracuse and Pitt announced that they would be leaving the Big East to join the ACC in 2014.

It was such a shocker that Big East commissioner John Marinatto didn't know until well after the decision had been made by two of his marquee athletic departments. Thus, it is fitting that as the Big East further erodes under the pressure of college football, that Marinatto steps down.

This isn't the end of the Big East as a major conference, that happened long ago, but today, with all that has happened to the Big East over the past year, it would be hard to dismiss the theory that the Big East was always just playing pretend at being a football power. It went out and got a few trendy teams for a while, snuck its way into a BCS auto-bid and hoped that it would be set for the future.

Now, when the conference commissioners meet next month to discuss the future of the college football postseason, the Big East may not even have a representative. Fitting for a conference that is well on its way back to its roots: a basketball conference for northeastern teams....and San Diego State.

Let's go to the links:

Notebook: The latest on Caris LeVert, notes from Spiece - UMHoops has some recruiting notes from the weekend including news on Caris LeVert, who might be making his decision soon; a fact that could be very beneficial to the Wolverines seeing as he is widely considered to favor Michigan as of now.

Class of 2013 Michigan recruit Shane Morris named MVP at marquee event - Shane Morris struggled earlier in the year at a Nike camp, but like a true competitor he jumped back into the competition and it paid off in a big way. He was widely praised as the best quarterback at the Columbus regional Elite 11 camp and has earned a spot in the finals later this summer.

Lineman David Dawson the most impressive Michigan commit at Columbus recruiting event - Morris wasn't the only one turning heads as lineman David Dawson separated himself as the best offensive linemen at the camp, taking home MVP honors at the position. Michigan commits Mike McCray and Taco Charlton also impressed and all three earned invites to Nike's national camp in Eugene this summer.

Idled by rain, Michigan softball still closes in on fifth straight Big Ten title

The Wolverines can clinch their 15th regular season title in the past 21 years by winning two of three games against Purdue at Alumni Field in Ann Arbor. The teams play a single game Friday night (6 p.m., BTN) and a doubleheader beginning at noon Saturday.

Ridiculously early CBB top 25 for 2012-2013 - The Crimson Quarry looks at the top-25 for next year and Michigan is 5th on the list despite some significant questions.

Ohio State Recruiting: Comparing Urban Meyer's and Brady Hoke's 2012 Classes - Big surprise, an Ohio State blog compares Michigan's 2012 class with Ohio State's and comes to the conclusion that Ohio State's is better overall. Real fair and balanced there guys.

To be honest, I do agree for the most part. OSU's defensive line haul was incredible and the class has some marquee names. If you had to pick a class as a whole, Ohio State gets it by a nose. I do take issue with Michigan's linebacking class not getting more credit, as I like Michigan's haul more than OSU's, but I'm just as biased the other way. One thing we can agree on: recruiting is going to be fun to watch develop over the next few years.

The Wiz of Odds: Bissinger: College Football Should Be Banned - I didn't realize until reading this that Malcolm Gladwell was going to be joined by Buzz "Twitter Meltdown" Bissinger. Between those two and Jason Whitlock, this debate is going to be all over the map.

B1G 2012 // College Campuses Can't Host College Football Games? - More from OTE on the future of college football's postseason.

Film Session: Michigan State DC Pat Narduzzi - For those of you that like defensive strategy, this BTN segment with Pat Narduzzi is pretty interesting. Michigan State's defense didn't get to where it is behind a guy who didn't know how to coach.