Source: West Virginia leaving Big East for Big 12

[NT80]

"The Big East has said it would like to add six teams to form a 12-team football league. Now make that seven."

"Houston regents will meet Thursday to authorize the school chancellor to negotiate a move to a new conference. But at least some of the institutions targeted by the Big East have been wary of additional Big East defections. Now with WVU's move, there's good reason."

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/campusrivalry/post/2011/10/west-virginia-leaving-big-east-joining-big-12/1

[kalebschumann]

The more dominos that fall the better for UNT.

[untbowler]

not sure why Big 12 would want WVU? Does not make sense. Why not Cincy or Louisville, Colorado State. Talk about breaking Geographic footprint.

WVU is also just dumb to think they could compete against Big 12 schools when they can not even win the Big East on consistent basis.

[UNT 90 Grad]

not sure why Big 12 would want WVU? Does not make sense. Why not Cincy or Louisville, Colorado State. Talk about breaking Geographic footprint.

Maybe it's some sort of conspiracy by the airline industry.

[mgfan]

It is possible the big 12 will take a few more BE schools and ACC could take the remaining schools. If that happens and no one leaves cusa/mwc we might be stuck unless cusa/mwc decides to expand. But why would they? And with SMU in cusa I don't see us getting in. I wouldn't mind seeing us strengthen the conference with some WAC or a combined league with the MAC

Edited October 25, 2011 by mgfan

[greenminer]

what?!

[eppy4life]

At this point I'd like to just close my eyes and wake up when it's all over.

[kalebschumann]

At this point I'd like to just close my eyes and wake up when it's all over.

That's a fact.

[LongJim]

not sure why Big 12 would want WVU? Does not make sense. Why not Cincy or Louisville, Colorado State.

WV is ~120 miles from these cities, and their DMA ranks:

Washington DC--8th ranked DMA

Cleveland/Akron--18th

Pittsburgh--23rd (50 miles away)

Their football and basketball are pretty good, and they have had recent success in both. They are academically on par with Louisville.

Cincinnati--35th

Louisville--48th

Colorado State--unranked. They are obviously close to Denver (#15) but don't really deliver that market, nor do they have a history of much success in major sports.

I think WV is probably the "best choice" pick. Plus they will say yes if asked.

[Eagle1855]

If this happens and the Big East doesn't get Boise, I don't see how they keep their auto-bid. And at that point, why would UH and SMU even bother?

And now there are reports UND could move their non-football sports to the Big 12. If so, the addition of WVU and ND is at-worst a wash, with regards to basketball- and more likely an improvement over Mizzou and A&M.

[Eagle1855]

Further, if the Big 12 really wanted to stick it to A&M, they'd just grab UH as well, on condition they built a sparkling new stadium (and played in Reliant for the mean time). Then you've expanded to every Texas market. You've got a conference that, with the addition of TCU and WVU, could be stable for the foreseeable future. With the outside chance of adding a Notre Dame (which if that happened, makes it as good a football conference as anywhere), it's a bonafide, top-tier conference.

I understand Deloss wants no part of UH, but some of that pride maybe should be set aside to preserve a close-nit, regionally-logical, top-bottom strong conference (which is what he's alleged to want all along). Especially since UH is head-long into a drive to Tier One.

[NT80]

If this happens and the Big East doesn't get Boise, I don't see how they keep their auto-bid. And at that point, why would UH and SMU even bother?

Harry's answer from another thread:

"Contract is redone in 2013 but they get a 2-year grace period which could push to 2015 and the rules are not clear on how you actually lose auto-BCS status so it could go beyond. The Big East is here to stay it's just a matter of which teams are in it."

They would be AQ for at least 4 years, as long as the Big East sponsors football, and probably beyond that once they get established league members again.

It is still very much worth it to join the Big East just to get into that "AQ Club" status before the door shuts everyone else out.

We need to hope the Big12 stops at 10 members and doesn't try to push it up to 12 and steal more Big East members, thus causing a further dilution of CUSA.

Edited October 25, 2011 by NT80

[Eagle1855]

Harry's answer from another thread:

"Contract is redone in 2013 but they get a 2-year grace period which could push to 2015 and the rules are not clear on how you actually lose auto-BCS status so it could go beyond. The Big East is here to stay it's just a matter of which teams are in it."

They would be AQ for at least 4 years, as long as the Big East sponsors football, and probably beyond that once they get established league members again.

It is still very much worth it to join the Big East just to get into that "AQ Club" status before the door shuts everyone else out.

We need to hope the Big12 stops at 10 members and doesn't try to push it up to 12 and steal more Big East members, thus causing a further dilution of CUSA.

That's good info, thank you. In that case, it's absolutely worth going to it, even if only for 4 years. That's four years of recruiting as a BCS conference.

The Big 12 still holds a lot of the cards to what happens, IMO. Plain and simple, it's a better, more stable conference. Which is hard to even say, given the madness that's happened over the past few months.

[yyz28]

A&M is looking more and more like they shot themselves in the foot every day this thing moves forward. ...and TCU > ATM any day of the week.

[CMJ]

http://www.lvrj.com/sports/mountain-west-conference-usa-officials-to-talk-to-big-east-chief-about-joining-forces-132528493.html

[Coffee and TV]

:unsure:

http://www.lvrj.com/...-132528493.html

[EdwardRRooney]

:unsure:

We would be screwed?

[MeanGreen61]

Press conference wednesday to announce WV to Big XII

http://wvgazette.com/News/201110250060

[Eagle1855]

We would be screwed?

Probably, but this idea seems dumb as hell to me.

[The Fake Lonnie Finch]

How does A&M making more money and getting more national exposure + the Big 12 taking on lesser schools to replace them = A&M getting screwed?

A&M made out like a bandit. They get more money while the Big 12 is watered down and still under boot heel of Texas and Oklahoma.

[houstonmeangreen]

If RV and Rawlins and Dan M aren't lobbying the Big East then I will be disappointed...we do have some good things to sell when the Big East is falling apart and they are taking conf USA folks...the Big East, if it survives, may be just a slight jump from CUSA when this all shakes out. Make some calls and bust out the projector and slides my friend.

[H-towngreen]

Probably, but this idea seems dumb as hell to me.

Agreed and agreed. The Big East is getting desperate to even consider this option. They need to hurry up and get some of these service schools to jump on board.

Is the Big East a bigger, east coast version of the WAC?

[Coffee and TV]

Probably, but this idea seems dumb as hell to me.

Remember what happened to the WAC when it got to 16 teams? The more affluent and prestigious schools split off to make a more leet conference. Can you imagine 32 schools being able to stick together like that for very long?

Sheesh. Maybe the Sun Belt is the more stable place to be.

[playoffpush]

No way this happens, it's just professional curtesy on the Big East's part.

[LongJim]

How does A&M making more money and getting more national exposure + the Big 12 taking on lesser schools to replace them = A&M getting screwed?

I'm sure it will help them in recruiting. They are replacing Texas/ou/Tech/(OKState) with LSU/Alabama/Auburn(Arkansas).

Unless the SEC goes to a ten game conference schedule or away from the 6(In Division)-2(Out of Division) - 1 (Rivalry game), they will host UGA/Tennessee/Florida once every twelve years and travel there with the same frequency.

Essentially, they are joining the SEC West, and will have very infrequent games with the name teams in the East.

I'm sure they'll be fine.

A&M made out like a bandit. They get more money while the Big 12 is watered down and still under boot heel of Texas and Oklahoma.

Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Auburn, and Alabama say hi. Maybe they'll share the $35 million in 3rd tier money they make next year with the Ags, since that supposedly is a major reason they're moving down the road. Oh wait, just like the Big 12, the SEC teams all agreed not to divide 3rd tier.

Or maybe the Ags will get a few hours a day on Sunshine Sports. No matter. They'll be on TV more and clear an extra $7 million with their SEC TV contract.

The Ags haven't seen boot heels yet. They will soon enough.