Post by elp525 on Oct 26, 2011 8:22:52 GMT -5
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
By Jenn Menendez
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Mountaineers' conference shift a new challenge for Big East
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- West Virginia University will leave the Big East to join the Big 12 conference, a source with knowledge of the move said Tuesday.
The school will become the 10th member of the Big 12.
The departure ends an unsettling period for the Mountaineers athletic program. On Sept. 17, longtime rivals Pitt and Syracuse announced plans to leave the Big East for the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Members of the Big East since 1991, the Mountaineers had been rumored to be a candidate for membership in other conferences, including the SEC, in the nationwide dance of conference realignment in intercollegiate athletics, a dance fueled primarily by television revenue generated by college football programs.
West Virginia athletic director Oliver Luck had no comment Tuesday.
The Mountaineers, like Pitt and Syracuse, will have to pay the Big East a $5 million exit fee and wait 27 months until they are allowed to leave the conference.
Big 12 member Missouri is exploring a move to the Southeastern Conference. Whether or not that happens, West Virginia will join Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, TCU and Texas Tech in the Big 12.
West Virginia's television market will be the smallest in the Big 12, but the school's brand of football and rabid fan base have long been considered the university's best selling point.
The move is expected to have a major economic effect on the athletic program, which has a $60 million annual budget and earns $7 million a year from the Big East, primarily in football television revenue. That television figure is likely to increase sizably in the Big 12.
The move is not without challenges.
Geographically, West Virginia will be taking on multiple opponents more than a thousand miles away in places such as Stillwater, Okla., and Lubbock, Texas.
West Virginia football coach Dana Holgorsen, who is quite familiar with the Big 12, said Tuesday he had no opinion to share on the Big 12 report.
He spent a year at Oklahoma State as the offensive coordinator before coming to West Virginia and was at Texas Tech from 2000 to 2007 as wide receivers coach and offensive coordinator.
Big 12 member schools have won 18 national titles as former members of the Big Eight Conference or the Southwest Conference -- and three since the Big 12 was formed in 1996.
The Kansas City Star reported Tuesday morning that Missouri Chancellor Brady Deaton said it could be "days or possibly a week or two" before Missouri would officially join the SEC.
West Virginia men's basketball coach Bob Huggins had no comment about how the move would affect the basketball programs.
The moves will leave the Big East with just five football playing members: Louisville, Cincinnati, Rutgers, Connecticut and South Florida.
"Throughout conference realignment, when there's something official to respond to, we've responded," said Big East spokesman John Paquette. "As of this minute, there's nothing official to respond to."
A week ago West Virginia President James Clements was part of a unanimous vote to raise the Big East exit fee to $10 million, a number contingent on a new member joining the Big East. That has yet to happen.
Some fans rejoiced that West Virginia found a home outside of the Big East.
Tony Fragale, a Mountaineers fan and former high school coach in Morgantown, said he wouldn't let a plane flight get in his way if the matchup was compelling.
"I might fly to games. I'm OK with it. I'm really excited to see Texas and Oklahoma come play at Mountaineer Field," Mr. Fragale said. "It's the best we could do at present. ... I'm glad to see the college sports world is reorganizing. It's the way they're doing it that's so crazy. There's no one out there looking at the total college football landscape."
Ernie Anderson, a former nose tackle who now owns the Varsity Club, a tavern across the street from Milan Puskar Stadium, said he had faith all along.
"I was never concerned. Everyone realizes we have a pretty good ship," said Mr. Anderson. "The Big 12 has a great reputation. You're jumping off the Titanic to a league that will stay afloat. We're used to getting the last invite to the party."
By Jenn Menendez
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Mountaineers' conference shift a new challenge for Big East
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- West Virginia University will leave the Big East to join the Big 12 conference, a source with knowledge of the move said Tuesday.
The school will become the 10th member of the Big 12.
The departure ends an unsettling period for the Mountaineers athletic program. On Sept. 17, longtime rivals Pitt and Syracuse announced plans to leave the Big East for the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Members of the Big East since 1991, the Mountaineers had been rumored to be a candidate for membership in other conferences, including the SEC, in the nationwide dance of conference realignment in intercollegiate athletics, a dance fueled primarily by television revenue generated by college football programs.
West Virginia athletic director Oliver Luck had no comment Tuesday.
The Mountaineers, like Pitt and Syracuse, will have to pay the Big East a $5 million exit fee and wait 27 months until they are allowed to leave the conference.
Big 12 member Missouri is exploring a move to the Southeastern Conference. Whether or not that happens, West Virginia will join Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, TCU and Texas Tech in the Big 12.
West Virginia's television market will be the smallest in the Big 12, but the school's brand of football and rabid fan base have long been considered the university's best selling point.
The move is expected to have a major economic effect on the athletic program, which has a $60 million annual budget and earns $7 million a year from the Big East, primarily in football television revenue. That television figure is likely to increase sizably in the Big 12.
The move is not without challenges.
Geographically, West Virginia will be taking on multiple opponents more than a thousand miles away in places such as Stillwater, Okla., and Lubbock, Texas.
West Virginia football coach Dana Holgorsen, who is quite familiar with the Big 12, said Tuesday he had no opinion to share on the Big 12 report.
He spent a year at Oklahoma State as the offensive coordinator before coming to West Virginia and was at Texas Tech from 2000 to 2007 as wide receivers coach and offensive coordinator.
Big 12 member schools have won 18 national titles as former members of the Big Eight Conference or the Southwest Conference -- and three since the Big 12 was formed in 1996.
The Kansas City Star reported Tuesday morning that Missouri Chancellor Brady Deaton said it could be "days or possibly a week or two" before Missouri would officially join the SEC.
West Virginia men's basketball coach Bob Huggins had no comment about how the move would affect the basketball programs.
The moves will leave the Big East with just five football playing members: Louisville, Cincinnati, Rutgers, Connecticut and South Florida.
"Throughout conference realignment, when there's something official to respond to, we've responded," said Big East spokesman John Paquette. "As of this minute, there's nothing official to respond to."
A week ago West Virginia President James Clements was part of a unanimous vote to raise the Big East exit fee to $10 million, a number contingent on a new member joining the Big East. That has yet to happen.
Some fans rejoiced that West Virginia found a home outside of the Big East.
Tony Fragale, a Mountaineers fan and former high school coach in Morgantown, said he wouldn't let a plane flight get in his way if the matchup was compelling.
"I might fly to games. I'm OK with it. I'm really excited to see Texas and Oklahoma come play at Mountaineer Field," Mr. Fragale said. "It's the best we could do at present. ... I'm glad to see the college sports world is reorganizing. It's the way they're doing it that's so crazy. There's no one out there looking at the total college football landscape."
Ernie Anderson, a former nose tackle who now owns the Varsity Club, a tavern across the street from Milan Puskar Stadium, said he had faith all along.
"I was never concerned. Everyone realizes we have a pretty good ship," said Mr. Anderson. "The Big 12 has a great reputation. You're jumping off the Titanic to a league that will stay afloat. We're used to getting the last invite to the party."
