Post by elp525 on Oct 29, 2011 11:50:41 GMT -5
October 28, 2011
A collection of quotes on WVU’s move to the Big 12
The politicians
"This is a great day for West Virginia and a very proud day for [the] Mountaineers. I'm so happy that the Big 12 made its final decision on the merits: the strength of WVU's athletics, our academics and our spirit. Joining the Big 12 will showcase our state in a whole new way. I've always said that West Virginians can compete - and excel - on any field, and I look forward to great things from our teams in this excellent conference. Like most great successes, [Friday's] news was a team effort. I thank Senator Rockefeller and our entire Congressional delegation for their hard work on this issue, [as well as] President [Jim] Clements and Athletic Director [Oliver] Luck for their diligence and all the fans, students and athletes who have taken WVU to the next level."
- Sen. Joe Manchin
"It's a terrific day for West Virginia and for college football writ large - the merits won out and WVU is back in the Big 12. The Big 12 picked WVU earlier this week because of its first-rate football program, its standout athletes, and its fine university, academics and fans. The intervening days have been troubling, most especially the reports of an eleventh-hour political intervention to undermine the first, merits-based decision. Those reports prompted me to get involved, too - to push everyone to get back to the merits. It is encouraging that the Big 12 stuck to its guns and is following through on its commitment to add WVU to the conference. College football is struggling with the weight of its own success right now, and with all eyes on the conference system, this was an important moment to get it right. Conference decisions have far reaching consequences for publicly-supported state universities - and every school has to get a fair shake."
- Sen. Jay Rockefeller
WVU brass
"The Big 12 is a perfect fit for West Virginia University. It is a strong conference that, like WVU, values quality academic and athletic programs, and has a great tradition of success. This is a very exciting time for WVU and Mountaineer nation. I am confident that the future of WVU athletics has never been more promising."
- WVU president Jim Clements
The Big 12
"We are excited to add West Virginia to our exceptional lineup of conference members. They bring an excellent overall athletic program to the Big 12 and allow the league to expand into an area that boasts a passionate group of fans and alumni throughout its region."
- Big 12 interim commissioner Chuck Neinas
The vanquished
"I'm not sure what happened with [WVU]. They got invited. I'm not certain how everything went down. They fought a good battle and won. We will continue to build on. We have a lot of different options to look at."
- Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich
The media
"The school announced it is joining the Big 12 in 2012, which means they should have a good transition since Geno Smith, unless he opts to bolt for the NFL, will be a four-year starter and have great grasp of this system. That'd be huge for them. This will be a dangerous team right away because of the firepower."
CBSSports.com college football columnist Bruce Feldman
WVU coaches
"Tremendous opportunity for WVU athletics and fans! I look forward to once again competing in the Big 12."
- Dana Holgorsen, football, via Twitter
"Obviously having spent a year in the Big 12, we are familiar with the schools and the venues that they play in. We are excited to compete against the outstanding teams that the Big 12 Conference fields annually."
- Bob Huggins, men's basketball
n "For West Virginia to continue to be a major player on the national scene, this is a great move for us. I have researched the Big 12 and what they've done over the years and they are a very competitive conference on the women's side. They are national contenders year in and year out."
- Mike Carey, women's basketball
"We are extremely excited to be joining the Big 12 Conference and are looking forward to competing in possibly the top conference in college baseball. Also, we are very fortunate to have people of the quality of President Clements and Oliver Luck providing outstanding leadership for us in this turbulent time in intercollegiate athletics. This is truly a great day for WVU and our baseball program."
- Greg Van Zant, baseball
"As far as the move to the Big 12 and its impact on men's soccer, that is something that we're looking towards what the best avenue for our program will be. Regardless, Oliver Luck has assured me that the university is committed to maintaining men's soccer at the very highest level. It remains a top-level program to our athletic department and university. With that being said, our administration is already working towards solidifying our best options moving forward. We have put in a lot of effort growing this program in to one of the nation's finest on the field and in the classroom. My athletic director has made it quite clear that West Virginia University is both committed to me and the continued growth of men's soccer."
- Marlon LeBlanc, men's soccer
n "I would like to congratulate President James Clements and Director of Athletics Oliver Luck for getting us into the Big 12. This is very critical to the success of all of our sports. From a wrestling perspective, this is a tremendous advantage for us. Three of the best teams in the country, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Iowa State, will now be in our gym every other year. We can talk to recruits about the top-tier competition they will be competing against. We will have the chance to showcase some of the best wrestling in the country. It will allow us to keep some of the best wrestlers in the country around home. Since this will not be a 10- or 12-team league in the Midwest, we will still be able to keep our regional affiliations and rivalries. This is a tremendous opportunity not only for West Virginia, but also for our wrestling program."
- Craig Turnbull, wrestling
A collection of quotes on WVU’s move to the Big 12
The politicians
"This is a great day for West Virginia and a very proud day for [the] Mountaineers. I'm so happy that the Big 12 made its final decision on the merits: the strength of WVU's athletics, our academics and our spirit. Joining the Big 12 will showcase our state in a whole new way. I've always said that West Virginians can compete - and excel - on any field, and I look forward to great things from our teams in this excellent conference. Like most great successes, [Friday's] news was a team effort. I thank Senator Rockefeller and our entire Congressional delegation for their hard work on this issue, [as well as] President [Jim] Clements and Athletic Director [Oliver] Luck for their diligence and all the fans, students and athletes who have taken WVU to the next level."
- Sen. Joe Manchin
"It's a terrific day for West Virginia and for college football writ large - the merits won out and WVU is back in the Big 12. The Big 12 picked WVU earlier this week because of its first-rate football program, its standout athletes, and its fine university, academics and fans. The intervening days have been troubling, most especially the reports of an eleventh-hour political intervention to undermine the first, merits-based decision. Those reports prompted me to get involved, too - to push everyone to get back to the merits. It is encouraging that the Big 12 stuck to its guns and is following through on its commitment to add WVU to the conference. College football is struggling with the weight of its own success right now, and with all eyes on the conference system, this was an important moment to get it right. Conference decisions have far reaching consequences for publicly-supported state universities - and every school has to get a fair shake."
- Sen. Jay Rockefeller
WVU brass
"The Big 12 is a perfect fit for West Virginia University. It is a strong conference that, like WVU, values quality academic and athletic programs, and has a great tradition of success. This is a very exciting time for WVU and Mountaineer nation. I am confident that the future of WVU athletics has never been more promising."
- WVU president Jim Clements
The Big 12
"We are excited to add West Virginia to our exceptional lineup of conference members. They bring an excellent overall athletic program to the Big 12 and allow the league to expand into an area that boasts a passionate group of fans and alumni throughout its region."
- Big 12 interim commissioner Chuck Neinas
The vanquished
"I'm not sure what happened with [WVU]. They got invited. I'm not certain how everything went down. They fought a good battle and won. We will continue to build on. We have a lot of different options to look at."
- Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich
The media
"The school announced it is joining the Big 12 in 2012, which means they should have a good transition since Geno Smith, unless he opts to bolt for the NFL, will be a four-year starter and have great grasp of this system. That'd be huge for them. This will be a dangerous team right away because of the firepower."
CBSSports.com college football columnist Bruce Feldman
WVU coaches
"Tremendous opportunity for WVU athletics and fans! I look forward to once again competing in the Big 12."
- Dana Holgorsen, football, via Twitter
"Obviously having spent a year in the Big 12, we are familiar with the schools and the venues that they play in. We are excited to compete against the outstanding teams that the Big 12 Conference fields annually."
- Bob Huggins, men's basketball
n "For West Virginia to continue to be a major player on the national scene, this is a great move for us. I have researched the Big 12 and what they've done over the years and they are a very competitive conference on the women's side. They are national contenders year in and year out."
- Mike Carey, women's basketball
"We are extremely excited to be joining the Big 12 Conference and are looking forward to competing in possibly the top conference in college baseball. Also, we are very fortunate to have people of the quality of President Clements and Oliver Luck providing outstanding leadership for us in this turbulent time in intercollegiate athletics. This is truly a great day for WVU and our baseball program."
- Greg Van Zant, baseball
"As far as the move to the Big 12 and its impact on men's soccer, that is something that we're looking towards what the best avenue for our program will be. Regardless, Oliver Luck has assured me that the university is committed to maintaining men's soccer at the very highest level. It remains a top-level program to our athletic department and university. With that being said, our administration is already working towards solidifying our best options moving forward. We have put in a lot of effort growing this program in to one of the nation's finest on the field and in the classroom. My athletic director has made it quite clear that West Virginia University is both committed to me and the continued growth of men's soccer."
- Marlon LeBlanc, men's soccer
n "I would like to congratulate President James Clements and Director of Athletics Oliver Luck for getting us into the Big 12. This is very critical to the success of all of our sports. From a wrestling perspective, this is a tremendous advantage for us. Three of the best teams in the country, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Iowa State, will now be in our gym every other year. We can talk to recruits about the top-tier competition they will be competing against. We will have the chance to showcase some of the best wrestling in the country. It will allow us to keep some of the best wrestlers in the country around home. Since this will not be a 10- or 12-team league in the Midwest, we will still be able to keep our regional affiliations and rivalries. This is a tremendous opportunity not only for West Virginia, but also for our wrestling program."
- Craig Turnbull, wrestling
