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The birth and redemption of the Big East: how a conference fulfilled her potential

People still want to push dirt on the Big East's grave, but that's just because they don't know the real story.

Sometime in the summer of 1979, a weary but clearly elated Dave Gavitt walked into the waiting room and started passing out cigars. He smiled and announced, "It's a conference girl." The birth certificate read: "Big East"

She grew up fast, growing in her first year and again as a three-year-old. By the time she was old enough for grade school, she was more than hold her own with the big kids; she was dominating them.