ESPN Films - 30 for 30: REQUIEM FOR THE BIG EAST

In the late 1970s Dave Gavitt spearheaded the formation of the Big East, a conference of urban schools with good basketball programs that had been mostly unheralded nationally. This episode of "30 for 30" looks at the heyday of the Big East in the 1980s. The league enabled its member schools to recruit more effectively in the Northeast and keep talent close to home. ESPN gave the Big East a nationwide audience, as the teams moved their games from campus arenas to larger, more television-friendly venues.League coaches John Thompson, Jim Boeheim, Rollie Massimino, and Lou Carnesecca were iconic and they offer their commentary. Also making appearances are star players Pearl Washington, Patrick Ewing, Ed Pinckney, and Chris Mullin. The Big East tournament became an annual happening at Madison Square Garden in the Eighties, and the conference sent teams to the Final Four regularly in that decade—an amazing three Big East schools went in 1985."Requiem for the Big East" also recalls a few of the more memorable conference games during the decade, the Syracuse-Georgetown rivalry, and the league's well-earned reputation for physical play. It closes by looking at how football, money, expansion, and the departure of Gavitt changed the league’s identity in the Nineties. Bonus features on this DVD include extended interviews with coaches and players from the Big East of the Eighties. As good as many of the entries in the "30 for 30" series are, this is one of the best.

Good review of history of Big East. Good job of highlighting problems of football schools. Neglected to highlight the fact that UCONN brought 2 national championship titles to the conference.

This provided information for an article I have been writing on the Original Big East (1979-2013). It was valuable for this Pandemic-oriented task-of-joy.Thanks

Full of information on the Big East legends!

Good stuff on the history of the Big East!!

Great DVD. Good history.

Best history and storied review of the start of Dave Gavitt's legendary Big East league and it's demise into the dark world of money and football money at the college level. Required viewing for all college basketball fans and especially fans of the real Big East league. 30 For 30 is always a good watch, but this documentary is stellar.

I bought it for a gift for my son (Syracuse grad) who really enjoyed it. Interesting look at how tv ratings and money influence college sports.