West Virginia Appears To Be Leaving Big East For Big 12

[brendan120678]

Source: Hartford Courant

The Big East Conference is on the verge of taking another significant hit.

Multiple media reports indicate West Virginia, a football member since 1991, is leaving for the Big 12. West Virginia will replace Missouri, which is set to leave the Big 12 for the SEC.

The Big East is already losing Syracuse and Pittsburgh to the ACC, while TCU recently announced it would join the Big 12 instead of honoring a previous commitment to the Big East. Big East officials have been plotting an expansion plan that would include invitations to as many as six schools, a list that reportedly includes Boise State, Houston, SMU, Central Florida, Navy and Air Force.

<snip>

With West Virginia leaving, the Big East will likely expand its search for new members. Conference sources said Air Force's interest in the Big East in waning and Boise State's interest may be tempered by the loss of West Virginia.

Other possibilities include Temple, Army, East Carolina, Memphis and perhaps even Brigham Young. But the latest defection will be a critical blow to the Big East's quest to maintain a spot as a BCS AQ conference, since West Virginia is consistently among the conference's top performing programs.

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Sucks to be in the Big East. And I say that as a proud Big East basketball fan.
St. John's University class of 2002.

They should have never tried to become "big" in football. They had a great niche in basketball (and, to a lesser extent, baseball and soccer).

[Iggo]

1. PLAYOFFS!!!

[lazarus]

2. I'm sure

that this is all to do with academics.

:evilgrin:

[Condem]

3. Just one question.

Why isn't the Big Ten mentioned in ANY current expansion talk?

[lazarus]

4. they have been

I've heard them mentioned several times. I'll be honest and say i can't recall the circumstance; it could well have been in the context of their not wanting to expand right now.

Here's the deal: It's not academics. If it was, Stanford and Vanderbilt would be in the vaunted Big Ten or the Ivy League. It started with geography, then turned into money. Academics are a cover so they can pretend the players aren't pure revenue generators, but are "student athletes", as if playing football at The Ohio State University or Alabama is just a hobby they enjoy doing while they focus on classes.

Is Nebraska really that academically renowned? More than Mizzou? The Big 10 is likely waiting until they know they can add two schools, not one, because thirteen is a weird number to try to schedule with. That's why it looks like the SEC is adding Mizzou, we need a 14th.

[Capt. America]

5. I wouldn't want WVU in B1G. They bring nothing to the table.

[GaYellowDawg]

6. If you've ever experienced WVU fans...

... then you know just how true your statement is.

[KamaAina]

7. At least three of my favorite DUers are 'Eers fans

I have a good mind to tell them about this. Tip: Make sure your couch is securely indoors. :-)