WVU close to leaving for Big 12

[shanacker]

On 1360 this morning, they reported WVU is close to joining Big 12. Whose next? Louisville?

[cpawstoney]

Shortly after Missouri officially announces it is withdrawing from the Big 12, West Virginia will be extended an invitation to join the Big 12, college football industry sources told CBSSports.com

http://brett-mcmurphy.blogs.cbssport...32522/32936807

[cpawstoney]

West Virginia is headed to the Big 12, according to a person with direct knowledge of the situation, a move that leaves the Big East with five football programs and an uncertain future.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/26/sp...f=ncaafootball

[1977 BearCat]

I read one account that indicated that West VA would join the Big 12 in 2013With 27 months notice, the earliest they can leave for football is 2014. We haven't yet heard "the rest of the story."

[shanacker]

This is the dagger. WVU gave the Big East legitimacy. You can add 100 UCF's and it won't make a difference. We need to pray the Big 12 notices our success.

[Bearcat_DF]

This is the dagger. WVU gave the Big East legitimacy. You can add 100 UCF's and it won't make a difference. We need to pray the Big 12 notices our success.

more reason to put 65k in PBS for the game w WVU

Are you coming and can you bring 3; 5; 9 others?

df

[shanacker]

more reason to put 65k in PBS for the game w WVU

Are you coming and can you bring 3; 5; 9 others?

df

I will be there. It makes no sense to me why the BIG 12 conference wants to remain at 10

[ME80]

Every day a different rumor that everyone runs with.

[mjv780]

Every day a different rumor that everyone runs with.

USA today is reporting it as almost a done deal...
http://content.usatoday.com/communit...ining-big-12/1

[shanacker]

Every day a different rumor that everyone runs with.

Rumors that become reality

[cmm27]

That is a prime example of what dragging your feet will accomplish.

[mjv780]

I know losing WVU would be a pretty crushing blow to the Big East, but I don't know where their reputation as the "flagship program" comes from... they get the preseason hype (mainly by the hype machine that is ESPN), but haven't won the league since '07(? - I say that without looking it up). UC has been as much of a conference leader as WVU. Really I guess I'm saying I don't think the Big East has a solid identity, which may be why it's being picked apart. The Big East is schizophrenic - split personality between the football & basketball schools.
Other conferences consistently have a couple of programs you can count on to win the league. In the Big East, almost every year, the 'darling' of the league blows it eventually... Pitt being the prime example of that - the last few years, preseason, they get hyped as if 'this will be the year', and every year they don't live up to expectations.
Add to that some general negativity from the press about the Big East (for whatever reason), and finishes like last year where 8-4 UConn went to a BCS game, and it was almost a given that the conference wouldn't be able to hold up long term.

[mjv780]

That is a prime example of what dragging your feet will accomplish.

Amen. The window for adding any kind of teams that will keep the league afloat is closing quickly. Here we are again, watching members depart as the commissioner twiddles his thumbs. I just hope UC doesn't get stuck on the Titanic when it sinks (it's no longer an if in my mind).

[Levittation]

I just hope Babcock knows something we don't which is why he took the job. Coming from Missouri, I would have to assume he knows better than most how things are likely to play out. It seems unlikely that he would take the AD position at a school which is sinking quickly. I think we all knew this was coming in some capacity, I just hope he has some other plans for us. Very wishful thinking I know.

[#41]

I will be there. It makes no sense to me why the BIG 12 conference wants to remain at 10

Easier to split a pie of revenue 10 ways than 12.