Coral Gables, Fla. ? The Big East is making it difficult for Miami to decide which conference to play in.

Miami will consider counterproposals from the Big East Conference before deciding whether to accept an offer to join the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Miami president Donna Shalala wouldn’t publicly discuss the specifics of those offerings, but acknowledged they were part of the reason why the university’s trustees didn’t vote Thursday on an invitation to join the ACC.

Shalala met for more than an hour with the university’s 19-member executive committee of its board of trustees.

“The Big East has informally sent a proposal, or at least a list of proposals, to us and we feel a responsibility to review them,” said Shalala, adding she was not ruling out any possibility.

She said a final decision will be announced Monday — the day Miami must inform Big East officials if they decide to join the ACC or risk doubling a penalty fee for leaving to $2 million.

“These are significant decisions that have long-term implications and we fully appreciate and respect Miami’s need to thoroughly evaluate their decision,” ACC commissioner John Swofford said in a statement. “We have had conversations with Miami today and will continue to be available to have any further discussions that may be necessary before making their final decision.”

The Rev. William Leahy, Boston College’s president, spoke with Shalala Wednesday night.

“I think she is generally torn about what to do,” he said.

Syracuse spokesman Kevin Morrow said his school and Boston College spearheaded the Big East’s counterproposals.

“We very much want Miami to stay,” Morrow said. “The Big East institutions are making a case to Miami for the Hurricanes to stay in the conference and Syracuse and Boston College are leading this conversation.”

Virginia Tech officials have indicated they will accept the ACC’s invitation, meaning the Big East will likely have just one more season with both of its top football draws as members.