Big East Conference Commissioner Michael Tranghese (photo courtesy of the Big East Conference)

The Big East Conference held its football media days in Newport, R.I. on July 16-17 with a record number of media attending a clambake social and media day activities. All eight teams were represented by their head coaches, while also in attendance were the conference’s four Heisman Trophy candidates: Brian Brohm (Louisville), Ray Rice (Rutgers), Steve Slaton (West Virginia), and Pat White (West Virginia).

“We’re one of the six conferences with an automatic berth in the BCS,” said Big East Conference Commissioner Michael Tranghese. “We’re competing for the national championship.”

A preseason poll of media, who cover the league regularly, had West Virginia picked for first place followed closely by Louisville and Rutgers. All three teams are expected to be in the national preseason polls.

Just three years after Miami and Virginia Tech left the Big East Conference, followed by Boston College the next year, the Big East finished the 2006 football season with an abundance of highlights. Three teams (Louisville (6), West Virginia (10), and Rutgers (12)) finished the season ranked in the Top 12. The highest television rating average of any conference on ESPN also belonged to the Big East. In addition, the Big East capped the season on with an even stronger note by finishing with an immaculate 5-0 bowl record.