The Big East elbow-rubbing is today in Newport, R.I., with the official Media Day and predictions coming tomorrow. Popular topic prediction? Bowl scenarios! Cue Tampa Tribune’s Brett McMurphy and this timely tip.

Unless the Gator Bowl opts to commit to an agreement with the Big East exclusively and ditches its current hybrid Big East/Big 12 model, it’s “doubtful” the league will remain affiliated with the Jacksonville bowl when the new bowl agreements begin in 2010, Big East commissioner John Marinatto said.

“It would be doubtful,” Marinatto said. “It’s not what we want and not what we’re going to try for. It’s not on our agenda. We believe [the Big East] has earned that, we don’t want the hybrid [model].

“If we have to go somewhere else, so be it.”