Post by elp525 on Jun 15, 2010 4:17:23 GMT -5
June 14, 2010
By Dave Hickman
Staff writer
MORGANTOWN - At roughly the same time Oliver Luck was being formally introduced as West Virginia's new athletic director to a gathering of media and university officials and friends Monday afternoon, his new counterparts in the Big 12 seemed close to saving their conference.
But by no stretch of the imagination does that mean Luck, WVU and the Big East are off the hook where ramifications of conference expansion and back-room dealings are concerned. Things have already changed the landscape of college sports in the past week and more changes are sure to come.
And how Luck and WVU react and respond to those changes certainly present the biggest challenge to the school's new AD.
"I'm not sure I know where all of this is going to end up,'' Luck said Monday, 17 days before he officially takes over for the retiring Ed Pastilong on July 1. "I don't believe the Big Ten is done looking. I still think they'll cast an eye - I'm not sure which direction, south or west or east. But because of their business model, which is based on subscription revenue from cable - which is different than the business model for all the other conferences - I still think they're going to look around.
"I think all we can do is talk about it, be proactive, get as much information as we can and have a number of contingencies in place in case there is, in fact, a shake-up. I do believe, though, that at some point this will have an effect on the Big East and on the ACC and the SEC and those conferences that have been a little bit left out of major discussions.''
In the past week, Colorado has left the Big 12 for the Pac-10 and Nebraska jumped from the Big 12 to the Big Ten. Despite reports that perhaps as many as five more Big 12 teams were ready to join Colorado in the Pac-10, the Big 12 was feverishly working on a plan to keep the league together and it appears to have worked.
That doesn't mean, however, that more changes aren't imminent. From the perspective of West Virginia and the Big East, the Big Ten's potential further expansion could still deal another blow to the Big East.
But for the time being, all Luck, the university and the league can do is wait and try to stay a step ahead. Oh, and put as positive a spin on it as possible.
"I think our university has a tremendous opportunity,'' Luck said. "In times of uncertainty there are often times of opportunity. I think our location along the Eastern seaboard is a real plus. I think our Mountaineer traditions are a tremendous plus.
"I certainly think it's safe to say that we'd love to see the status quo continue. But like every other university, I think we need to be smart and strategic and try to figure out is X, Y and Z happen what are our alternatives.''
For the most part, West Virginia's party line in regard to the effects of a possible Big Ten expansion that would rob the Big East of one or more teams has been to remain steadfastly behind the Big East. On Monday, though, Luck was asked if there might come a point when being tethered to the Big East is counterproductive.
"My sense is that our best spot is where it is right now with the Big East,'' Luck said. "I think everybody would agree that playing basketball in the Big East allowed [WVU basketball coach Bob Huggins] to get those guys ready to make such a great run in the tournament. I think the football program is strong. I think since [the departure of Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston College] we have emerged as the football power in the Big East, which is not bad at all. That helps our university.
"I think what everybody will say is the same thing I will say, which is that we'd love to maintain the Big East. I think it's been a great conference. I think the folks at the Big East are being proactive and trying to determine their best response. But at the end of the day I think we also have a responsibility to the university. That's our primary responsibility. But I don't want to speculate because I just don't know and I'm not sure anybody knows how this is going to play out.''
One of the schools reportedly a candidate for Big Ten expansion is Pitt, West Virginia oldest and most bitter rival. Luck was a part of that rivalry as a quarterback for the Mountaineers from 1978-81 and would hate to see that disappear.
"I think at this point almost anything is possible, to be quite honest,'' Luck said. "Whether it's probable, I don't know. There are some schools that are so closely linked - and WVU and Pitt is one example - that it would be a tragedy to see us go our separate ways. But who would have thought Penn State would have joined the Big Ten? Who would have thought Boston College would have wanted to find a home in the Atlantic Coast Conference, which they may now regret? I don't know. But there are just a lot of different scenarios that are in play right now.''
Luck said that one of his first tasks will be to get up to speed on Big East issues and try to be as informed as possible when he takes part in discussions regarding the league and its future.
"I do think we have an opportunity,'' Luck said. "And I can guarantee you that the university administration, and now with me on board, we are talking to a lot of folks to make sure that we do have potential opportunities should certain contingencies take place.''
By Dave Hickman
Staff writer
MORGANTOWN - At roughly the same time Oliver Luck was being formally introduced as West Virginia's new athletic director to a gathering of media and university officials and friends Monday afternoon, his new counterparts in the Big 12 seemed close to saving their conference.
But by no stretch of the imagination does that mean Luck, WVU and the Big East are off the hook where ramifications of conference expansion and back-room dealings are concerned. Things have already changed the landscape of college sports in the past week and more changes are sure to come.
And how Luck and WVU react and respond to those changes certainly present the biggest challenge to the school's new AD.
"I'm not sure I know where all of this is going to end up,'' Luck said Monday, 17 days before he officially takes over for the retiring Ed Pastilong on July 1. "I don't believe the Big Ten is done looking. I still think they'll cast an eye - I'm not sure which direction, south or west or east. But because of their business model, which is based on subscription revenue from cable - which is different than the business model for all the other conferences - I still think they're going to look around.
"I think all we can do is talk about it, be proactive, get as much information as we can and have a number of contingencies in place in case there is, in fact, a shake-up. I do believe, though, that at some point this will have an effect on the Big East and on the ACC and the SEC and those conferences that have been a little bit left out of major discussions.''
In the past week, Colorado has left the Big 12 for the Pac-10 and Nebraska jumped from the Big 12 to the Big Ten. Despite reports that perhaps as many as five more Big 12 teams were ready to join Colorado in the Pac-10, the Big 12 was feverishly working on a plan to keep the league together and it appears to have worked.
That doesn't mean, however, that more changes aren't imminent. From the perspective of West Virginia and the Big East, the Big Ten's potential further expansion could still deal another blow to the Big East.
But for the time being, all Luck, the university and the league can do is wait and try to stay a step ahead. Oh, and put as positive a spin on it as possible.
"I think our university has a tremendous opportunity,'' Luck said. "In times of uncertainty there are often times of opportunity. I think our location along the Eastern seaboard is a real plus. I think our Mountaineer traditions are a tremendous plus.
"I certainly think it's safe to say that we'd love to see the status quo continue. But like every other university, I think we need to be smart and strategic and try to figure out is X, Y and Z happen what are our alternatives.''
For the most part, West Virginia's party line in regard to the effects of a possible Big Ten expansion that would rob the Big East of one or more teams has been to remain steadfastly behind the Big East. On Monday, though, Luck was asked if there might come a point when being tethered to the Big East is counterproductive.
"My sense is that our best spot is where it is right now with the Big East,'' Luck said. "I think everybody would agree that playing basketball in the Big East allowed [WVU basketball coach Bob Huggins] to get those guys ready to make such a great run in the tournament. I think the football program is strong. I think since [the departure of Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston College] we have emerged as the football power in the Big East, which is not bad at all. That helps our university.
"I think what everybody will say is the same thing I will say, which is that we'd love to maintain the Big East. I think it's been a great conference. I think the folks at the Big East are being proactive and trying to determine their best response. But at the end of the day I think we also have a responsibility to the university. That's our primary responsibility. But I don't want to speculate because I just don't know and I'm not sure anybody knows how this is going to play out.''
One of the schools reportedly a candidate for Big Ten expansion is Pitt, West Virginia oldest and most bitter rival. Luck was a part of that rivalry as a quarterback for the Mountaineers from 1978-81 and would hate to see that disappear.
"I think at this point almost anything is possible, to be quite honest,'' Luck said. "Whether it's probable, I don't know. There are some schools that are so closely linked - and WVU and Pitt is one example - that it would be a tragedy to see us go our separate ways. But who would have thought Penn State would have joined the Big Ten? Who would have thought Boston College would have wanted to find a home in the Atlantic Coast Conference, which they may now regret? I don't know. But there are just a lot of different scenarios that are in play right now.''
Luck said that one of his first tasks will be to get up to speed on Big East issues and try to be as informed as possible when he takes part in discussions regarding the league and its future.
"I do think we have an opportunity,'' Luck said. "And I can guarantee you that the university administration, and now with me on board, we are talking to a lot of folks to make sure that we do have potential opportunities should certain contingencies take place.''
