Unlike past spring meetings of the Big East Conference in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., the most important negotiations at the gathering that begins Saturday won't take place on the first tee. This year, it's serious.

What about 'institutional integrity'?

Using a blend of guilt, flattery and financial inducements, leaders in the Big East Conference opened their annual meetings Saturday and began the push to keep Miami in the league. "Institutions have to have integrity," Connecticut athletic director Lew Perkins said during an interview in the parking lot. "I don't see a lot of advantages in leaving." Perkins and Virginia Tech AD Jim Weaver were among those who invoked the "institutional integrity" theme -- hoping if money and conciliation won't work, maybe an old-fashioned guilt trip will. Hurricanes athletic director Paul Dee insisted leaders at his school haven't decided a thing and have set no timetables for a decision. "The worst thing we can do is set some hard sort of time line right now," Dee said. Big East bylaws have a clearly stated section about leaving the league. Any school can do it, and with a year's notice, the penalty is $1 million. For his part, Miami football coach Larry Coker said he would love to stay in the Big East. The 'Canes have made the national title game the last two seasons, and their path is almost certainly easier in the Big East than in a 12-team ACC with Florida State. --The Associated Press

For the first time since commissioner Mike Tranghese forced the Atlantic Coast Conference's wooing of Miami out into the open, Big East athletic directors will meet and hear from their colleague in Coral Gables, Paul Dee.

Tranghese, the second commissioner of the 24-year-old league, has been in the job since 1990. His smooth demeanor cloaks his agility as an infighter. In an official statement released Wednesday, he said, "I will take (ACC commissioner) John Swofford at his word that the ACC Presidents have not formally voted." Tranghese said this on the same day that the newspapers and web sites are filled with stories of the ACC presidents having voted to expand via conference call Tuesday.

Tranghese said that he doesn't believe the Hurricanes' ship has already set sail for a new port.

"I'm looking forward to sitting with Paul to find out exactly where we all are and see if we can preserve the league," Tranghese said. "Miami has been very consistent. They will be open-minded and they will listen. I don't believe Miami is coming out of courtesy."

Tranghese has heard the various scenarios of what is to come, including the possibility, acknowledged by one Big East official, that the league will make counter-proposals to Maryland and Florida State to lure them out of the ACC. "Isn't everything on the table now?" the official asked. "Go right to the top. Start with Florida State."

Tranghese has heard the story that Miami will demand the I-A schools in the conference band together into an all-sports league. It's an issue that the league discussed three years ago, with Miami in the majority of schools that favored the status quo, Tranghese said. He has heard the debate over which two schools the ACC's prefers from among Boston College, Syracuse and Virginia Tech.

He has heard the questioning of how the ACC will come up with an additional $27 million to pay three new members and maintain the current annual payments of more than $9 million, when the national economy is sluggish and TV rights fees are going down, not up.

None of that concerns Tranghese right now. All issues start with the concerns of the Big East's three-time defending conference champion Hurricanes.

	“	This is being done by Miami. This is the jewel of the ACC's eye. Miami is looking at what's right for it as an institution. We're going to have a chance to sit with our longtime partner. ”
		— Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese

"This is being done by Miami," Tranghese said. "This is the jewel of the ACC's eye. Miami is looking at what's right for it as an institution. We're going to have a chance to sit with our longtime partner."

Is he nervous?

"Nervous is not a good word. Hopeful," Tranghese said. "I'm not frightened by it. This is my job. When you're a coach, anybody can coach when you're winning 80-50. You find out about people when things are difficult."

Ivan Maisel is a senior writer at ESPN.com. He can be reached at ivan.maisel@espn3.com.