Post by elp525 on Oct 27, 2011 5:11:26 GMT -5
Thursday, October 27, 2011
By Jenn Menendez
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
West Virginia University's pending move to the Big 12 Conference has been stalled and has become hotly political.
West Virginia's two U.S. senators and a congresswoman expressed outrage Wednesday night amid reports that a Kentucky politician may have muddied the Mountaineers move from the Big East Conference that seemed all but a done deal Tuesday.
The New York Times reported Wednesday that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., pressured the Big 12 to consider Louisville as the league's next member instead of West Virginia.
Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., said at a new conference in his Charleston, W.Va., office that he would call for an investigation in the U.S. Senate if necessary.
"If these outrageous reports have any merit -- and especially if a United States senator has done anything inappropriate or unethical to interfere with a decision that the Big 12 had already made -- then I believe that there should be an investigation in the U.S. Senate, and I will fight to get the truth," Mr. Manchin said. "West Virginians and the American people deserve to know exactly what is going on and whether politics is interfering with our college sports."
Mr. Manchin stopped short of accusing Mr. McConnell of wrongdoing but said political intervention is wrong in a situation like this.
"I've been very clear. If someone, a U.S. senator, were to intervene after the process, it's wrong," said Mr. Manchin. "It's unacceptable. If that happened I will ask for a Senate investigation. I don't believe that's the way this game should be played."
Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., also issued a statement Wednesday along with U.S. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va.
"The Big 12 picked WVU on the strength of its program -- period," said Mr. Rockefeller. "Now the media reports that political games may upend that. That's just flat wrong. I am doing and will do whatever it takes to get us back to the merits."
Said Mrs. Capito:
"With 9.2 percent unemployment, it's disappointing that folks in Washington are meddling in our college sports. West Virginia University brings with it a strong athletic program, loyal fans and strong alumni base and deserves to be in the Big 12. If there is political interference going on, it needs to stop now."
The 11th-hour pressure, according to the Times, was directed at several individuals including David Boren, the president of the University of Oklahoma and a former senator.
Later Wednesday, the Times reported that Texas Tech chancellor Kent Hance, a former congressman, confirmed that he spoke to Mr. McConnell regarding a push for Louisville.
"Mitch McConnell talked about the merits of Louisville and nothing else," Mr. Hance said. "Why shouldn't he be sticking up for Kentucky?"
West Virginia athletic director Oliver Luck and university president James Clement had no comment.
Multiple calls to Mr. McConnell's office were unsuccessful.
Several media outlets that cover West Virginia athletics, including the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, cited strong sources Tuesday that a move to the Big 12 was imminent.
Some outlets reported a formal announcement would be made Wednesday before the university issued a statement Tuesday night that no news conference was scheduled.
By Wednesday afternoon, a report by CBSSports.com said Big 12 interim commissioner Chuck Neinas and deputy commissioner Tim Weiser had planned to be in Morgantown Wednesday to announce the team's formal invitation.
That same report said the Big 12 board of directors wanted more due diligence, putting the move on hold.
It also said that "now the league is split between West Virginia and Louisville, multiple sources have said."
It is unclear if West Virginia's entry into the Big 12 is delayed or if there is enough pressure to derail it.
"I think it's 50-50 right now between West Virginia and Louisville," said one of the Times' sources.
Another source added that it was "too close to call."
The Associated Press reported Wednesday evening that no decision had been made by the Big 12 to add West Virginia and that Louisville is still a candidate.
The report also said a decision about expansion is not expected until next week.
West Virginia has been in a state of flux for more than a month since the University of Pittsburgh and Syracuse University left the Big East for the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Mr. Manchin said he hopes the Big 12 is still the most viable option and that political meddling hasn't derailed things.
By Jenn Menendez
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
West Virginia University's pending move to the Big 12 Conference has been stalled and has become hotly political.
West Virginia's two U.S. senators and a congresswoman expressed outrage Wednesday night amid reports that a Kentucky politician may have muddied the Mountaineers move from the Big East Conference that seemed all but a done deal Tuesday.
The New York Times reported Wednesday that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., pressured the Big 12 to consider Louisville as the league's next member instead of West Virginia.
Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., said at a new conference in his Charleston, W.Va., office that he would call for an investigation in the U.S. Senate if necessary.
"If these outrageous reports have any merit -- and especially if a United States senator has done anything inappropriate or unethical to interfere with a decision that the Big 12 had already made -- then I believe that there should be an investigation in the U.S. Senate, and I will fight to get the truth," Mr. Manchin said. "West Virginians and the American people deserve to know exactly what is going on and whether politics is interfering with our college sports."
Mr. Manchin stopped short of accusing Mr. McConnell of wrongdoing but said political intervention is wrong in a situation like this.
"I've been very clear. If someone, a U.S. senator, were to intervene after the process, it's wrong," said Mr. Manchin. "It's unacceptable. If that happened I will ask for a Senate investigation. I don't believe that's the way this game should be played."
Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., also issued a statement Wednesday along with U.S. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va.
"The Big 12 picked WVU on the strength of its program -- period," said Mr. Rockefeller. "Now the media reports that political games may upend that. That's just flat wrong. I am doing and will do whatever it takes to get us back to the merits."
Said Mrs. Capito:
"With 9.2 percent unemployment, it's disappointing that folks in Washington are meddling in our college sports. West Virginia University brings with it a strong athletic program, loyal fans and strong alumni base and deserves to be in the Big 12. If there is political interference going on, it needs to stop now."
The 11th-hour pressure, according to the Times, was directed at several individuals including David Boren, the president of the University of Oklahoma and a former senator.
Later Wednesday, the Times reported that Texas Tech chancellor Kent Hance, a former congressman, confirmed that he spoke to Mr. McConnell regarding a push for Louisville.
"Mitch McConnell talked about the merits of Louisville and nothing else," Mr. Hance said. "Why shouldn't he be sticking up for Kentucky?"
West Virginia athletic director Oliver Luck and university president James Clement had no comment.
Multiple calls to Mr. McConnell's office were unsuccessful.
Several media outlets that cover West Virginia athletics, including the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, cited strong sources Tuesday that a move to the Big 12 was imminent.
Some outlets reported a formal announcement would be made Wednesday before the university issued a statement Tuesday night that no news conference was scheduled.
By Wednesday afternoon, a report by CBSSports.com said Big 12 interim commissioner Chuck Neinas and deputy commissioner Tim Weiser had planned to be in Morgantown Wednesday to announce the team's formal invitation.
That same report said the Big 12 board of directors wanted more due diligence, putting the move on hold.
It also said that "now the league is split between West Virginia and Louisville, multiple sources have said."
It is unclear if West Virginia's entry into the Big 12 is delayed or if there is enough pressure to derail it.
"I think it's 50-50 right now between West Virginia and Louisville," said one of the Times' sources.
Another source added that it was "too close to call."
The Associated Press reported Wednesday evening that no decision had been made by the Big 12 to add West Virginia and that Louisville is still a candidate.
The report also said a decision about expansion is not expected until next week.
West Virginia has been in a state of flux for more than a month since the University of Pittsburgh and Syracuse University left the Big East for the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Mr. Manchin said he hopes the Big 12 is still the most viable option and that political meddling hasn't derailed things.
