PITTSBURGH -- The University of Pittsburgh remains committed to the Big East Conference despite the loss of a third school to the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Boston College decided Sunday to join Miami and Virginia Tech in leaving the Big East for the ACC. Boston College's departure will trim the Big East's football membership to only five: Pitt, Rutgers, Syracuse, West Virginia and Connecticut. UConn joins the conference for football next season, which is Temple's last in the league.

Even before Boston College's decision, there were rumors that Pitt might be interested in leaving a weakened Big East, perhaps to join the 11-member Big Ten. But athletic director Jeff Long said Monday that there are no signs the Big Ten has any plans to expand.

"It's not fair for me to comment on the Big Ten, but they've been very open and very staunch in their claims that they're not interested in expansion and they're very happy at 11," Long said.

The Big East is rebuilding its football membership with programs far less accomplished than Miami and Virginia Tech. Louisville and Cincinnati of Conference USA are expected to be invited to join during a Nov. 4 conference meeting. Marquette and DePaul, which do not sponsor Division I-A football, also expect to get invitations to join in all sports but football.

"We're on the verge of adding at least two football schools and two more basketball schools in the very near future," Long said.

However, adding Louisville and Cincinnati still would leave the Big East far short of the 12 schools required to stage a football playoff game. Also, the Big East would be one short of the eight teams it needs to keep its NCAA certification once Boston College leaves.

The three-school exodus is creating doubts that the Big East will retain its automatic spot in the Bowl Championship Series. The BCS contract expires after the 2005 season, and negotiations on a new deal will begin soon.

Upset with Boston College's abrupt decision to rescind its months-old commitment to the Big East, Long issued a strongly worded statement. Boston College expected an ACC invitation in June, only to be voted down by conference members.

"We are disappointed with the ACC's continued attack on the Big East Conference and in Boston College's decision to turn its back on its fellow members of the Big East," Long said. "This is especially disappointing given the fact that Boston College had repledged its loyalty to the conference just a short time ago. Given this pledge, and the very public and very embarrassing rejection they received earlier from the ACC, it is somewhat surprising they have decided to depart."

Football coach Walt Harris also took a verbal shot at a school his Panthers will play Nov. 1.

"Sports are all about the team and teamwork. That's what you teach to your football players," Harris said. "Boston College was part of the Big East team, and all had agreed to stay, so I don't think that speaks very well about who they are."

Long agreed there was some uneasiness among other Big East members once Boston College reluctantly returned to the conference after its June rejection by the ACC.

"But when you sit in a room and look at people eye-to-eye and face-to-face and they make a commitment to stay, you have a tendency to believe those people," Long said.

Now that Boston College's decision has been made, Long said, Pitt will concern itself only with what it can do to strengthen the downsized Big East.

"We choose to concentrate on the future, and Boston College is no longer a part of our future," Long said. "Every change presents an opportunity."