We’ve known for a while now that West Virginia had made its intentions known to leave the Big East for the Big 12.
Of course Pitt and Syracuse made their intentions to leave the Big East for the ACC known even earlier. However, they said they’d leave after the 27-month waiting period required by the Big East.
The Mountaineers are still owed money for their recent Final Four appearance, and several bowl trips by the Big East, and we’re told this may come into play for a nasty legal battle between the two parties.
In reality there is a settlement fee that could be reached soon, but the conference is now using media to put out a story that WVU will not have the money that the Big East will want to let them go. Just consider that posturing, as that’s exactly what it is.
We’re told by both WVU and source close to the Big 12 that this will be settled soon, and that the Big 12 already has a tentative conference schedule that they hope to releast within six weeks.
We’re also told by a media member who covers the Big East that the conference knows they will eventually lose WVU and has already scheduled accordingly, but don’t expect the Big East to pass that on to their media buddies.
Obviously we’ll be following this story very closely over the next few weeks, and talking about with media guest on the Greg Swaim Show.
At last, WVU found something, anything, that has teeth.
What the Big East owes WVU will no doubt be a leveraging device.
Greg,
This is the first that I have heard of WVU being owed $ from the BE. The final four was almost two years ago! Do you have any specifics on this?