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West Virginia expects July 2012 arrival in Big 12

Posted on: October 28, 2011 5:46 pm
Edited on: October 28, 2011 6:44 pm
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Posted by Chip Patterson

West Virginia president James Clements made it very clear the way he felt when issuing his opening statements on the Big 12 Update teleconference.

"It's a great day to be a Mountaineer, and a great day to be a member of the Big 12 conference," Clements boasted to the media on the line. After a week filed with back and fort reports regarding their conference affiliation, West Virginia finally had a home.

When, exactly, the Mountaineers join the Big 12 is still unknown. Big East bylaws require a 27 month withdrawal period after the official notification from the departing school. Athletic director Oliver Luck confirmed he officially informed Big East commissioner John Marinatto of West Virginia's intentions on Friday morning.

Both Luck and Clements repeatedly used the target date "July 1, 2012" as the school's expected arrival in the Big 12. When multiple questions were posed to West Virginia's leadership on how they planned to leave before the completion 27-month period - the response was predictably vague.

"Our team and their team were in discussion today, tying to make that happen," Luck said of the negotiations with the Big East office.

As required in the bylaws, West Virginia has already paid $2.5 million - half of the $5 million exit fee - to the league offices along with their official notification of withdrawal. Luck and Clements were both confident in their ability to join the Big 12 in time for the 2012-2013 season, though there was no elaboration on the negotiations with the Big East.

West Virginia to the Big 12
Another important development from Friday's teleconference was the Big 12's announcement that the reported grant-in-rights was close to being approved by the member schools. The agreement, which was confirmed as a 6-year deal, is currently "being circulated" among the member schools with the expectation it will be approved in a Tuesday meeting.

The Big 12 announced that this would likely be a stopping point, for now, for expansion. Ten teams allows for a round-robin conference schedule, and "a true champion" to be crowned in the regular season. Missouri has not officially left the Big 12 as of Friday's call, but it was clear they did not expect the Tigers to be a conference member for much longer.

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Category: NCAAF
Tags: BCS Bid, Big 12 Expansion, Big 12 Grant of rights, Big East Exit Fee, Big East Expansion, Big East withdrawl, Conference Realignment, Grant In Rights, Grant Of Rights, James Clements, John Marinatto, Oliver Luck, Oliver Luck, West Virginia
 
Comments

Since: Aug 1, 2008
Posted on: November 2, 2011 5:51 pm
 

West Virginia expects July 2012 arrival in Big 12

I would have an intelligent conversation with you but I can see that is impossible. I am not living in the past just stating facts. I can see by your posts you must be a WVU English graduate.....

Since: Aug 1, 2008
Posted on: November 2, 2011 5:49 pm
 

West Virginia expects July 2012 arrival in Big 12

Let me try to make it clear for you !mountaineer! WVU is the ONLY game in town or the states for that matter (unless you count Marshall). They do not have to compete for the fans money. Also there are quite a few Penn State alum in the Pittsburgh area as well as though that went to WVU because they could not get accepted at Pitt or PSU. Has the attendance been bad at Heinz Field for the Panthers absoultely was it bad at the Uconn game absolutely but we can use the cold rainy excuse too. And Pitt is not drawing from the entire state population. The point is be happy your institution is leaving a dying conference and moving on. That was my point to all the WVU fans on here bashing Pitt. What does Pitt have to do with WVU leaving the Big East not a dam thing.

Since: Dec 13, 2007
Posted on: October 31, 2011 1:39 pm
 

West Virginia expects July 2012 arrival in Big 12

College Sports is a free enterprise system. If the fans don’t want realignment stop going to the game and don’t watch it on TV. But the fans do want realignment. They want to see their team play the best teams each and every year. Maybe the colleges who do not put the best product or team on the field are the problem. Remember the fans will watch the best product; TV will pay for the best product that is a fact. So next time you see realignment remember this is the benefit of free enterprise and socialism is the best way not to see the best product on the field….

Since: Sep 9, 2006
Posted on: October 29, 2011 6:05 pm
 

West Virginia expects July 2012 arrival in Big 12

WVU only makes a strong B12 even stronger!  WVU and TCU are much stronger in football than the Tigers or Aggies.
They can and will compete with OU, UT, KSU, TT, OSU and TCU for the B12 championship.
 

If B12 can add some of these teams  (Houstan, Cinci, BYU or maybe even ND) it wouldnt need to take a back seat to anyone.

The B12-10 has had 8 teams (not including WVU or TCU) in the top 25, holding 6 spots currently.  ISU and KU are the only teams you can consider bottom dwellers and ISU can suprise you, hence Iowa.

Good Luck WVU and welcome to the B12!

Since: Nov 9, 2008
Posted on: October 29, 2011 4:12 pm
 

West Virginia expects July 2012 arrival in Big 12

West Virginia will be fine and the extra expense associated with their tyravel will easily be covered by the additional money they'll earn as a member of the Big 12 errr 10(?). Either way... welcome to the Big 12 / 10 WVU!
soodfoot
Since: Oct 29, 2011
Posted on: October 29, 2011 2:14 pm
This comment has been removed.

Post Deleted by Administrator

Since: Dec 4, 2007
Posted on: October 29, 2011 1:25 pm
 

West Virginia expects July 2012 arrival in Big 12

Cutty,


I would imagine that if Pitt was the ONLY entertainment activity in the ENTIRE state like WVU is to West Virginia,  we would most likely have large crowds just like you guys. ;)  

Since: Dec 4, 2007
Posted on: October 29, 2011 1:20 pm
 

West Virginia expects July 2012 arrival in Big 12

Once again... maybe you should read all WVU posts before generalizing like most of you Pitt fans do.  Go back and look at my posts throughout the time from when Pitt left for the ACC and now... I stated many times that I didn't blame Pitt or Syracuse for bailing on the sinking ship.  Why do you Pitt fans have to always generalize and state crap that isn't true.  I don't do that to you or your team. 

But whatever



Well the comment was meant for the massive amount of WVU fans who did make the negative comments. IF you were not one of them, good for you. Just keep skipping on by. As far as researching YOUR posts.....why? What I stated was a fact and reading your posts doesn't change that. Perhaps you are a bit sensitive. If you are a straight shooter not an offender than why are you so defensive. This was directed to the WVU fans that did attack Pitt for leaving.

Since: Jun 2, 2007
Posted on: October 29, 2011 12:53 pm
 

West Virginia expects July 2012 arrival in Big 12

I notice you defend Notre Dame in other posts!!! Is there a college less greedy? They could've saved the Big East.

Since: Nov 3, 2006
Posted on: October 29, 2011 12:53 pm
 

West Virginia expects July 2012 arrival in Big 12

Well Butch, you feel these schools should be punished for acting in their own self interest and the survival of their programs and that's flawed thinking. Do you blame Pitt, Syracuse and WVU for creating the dog eat dog environment that is college football now? 

If you do blame them, then you haven't been paying attention and are wrong.  You might want to look elsewhere to place that blame. Maybe start with that thing called the BCS.
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