Conference Realignment: West Virginia Files Suit Against Big East
by Brian Favat on Oct 31, 2011 5:40 PM EDT
in Conference Expansion
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PrintIn an attempt to extricate itself from the Big East Conference for the 2012 season, the University of West Virginia has filed suit against the Big East Conference. This is going to end about as well as you'd expect it to.
"West Virginia University filed a lawsuit against the Big East Conference today in an attempt to begin play in the Big 12 next year.
In the lawsuit, West Virginia Board of Governors vs. the Big East Conference, West Virginia cites a lack of leadership and a breach of fiduciary duties by the Big East and commissioner John Marinatto It also states that a "voting disparity between the football and non-football schools resulted in the Big East football conference no longer being a viable and competitive football conference."
You can read the entire claim here.
Of particular note are the claims listed under the section entitled "Denigration Of The Big East Football Conference," which more or less reads like an awful year-end performance review for John Marinatto.
Among the more noteworthy is claim #27 about Louisville, Rutgers and Cincinnati shopping themselves around to any BCS conference this side of the Rocky Mountains.
"27. Upon information and belief, representatives of Louisville, Rutgers, and Cincinnati have been engaged in discussions with other sports conferences, including the ACC, the Big XII, the SEC, and the Big 10 for the purposes of trying to obtain invitations to join these conferences and withdraw from the Big East."
Kinda funny to think of Rutgers as the mystery 14th team in the SEC.
And perhaps the most damning (emphasis added):
"28. On October 27, 2011, WVU received an invitation to join the Big XII for all sports, including football. WVU accepted the Big XII's offer the same day. As the Big East, in less than two months, had denigrated into a non-major football conference whose continued existence is in serious jeopardy, WVU had no choice but to accept the Big XII's offer."
So West Virginia, who was previously turned down by both the ACC and the SEC, had "no choice but to accept the Big XII's offer." Nothing like settling for your third choice of BCS AQ conference. It's unclear whether West Virginia will be successful in exiting the Big East after this season, but the line of argument that says "Marinatto was so negligent in his fiduciary duties to the Big East that West Virginia University was forced to join a BCS conference where the closest league member is located some 800 miles away" is an intriguing one.
This is certainly something to keep an eye on. If the Mountaineers are able to leave the conference this season, it would logically follow that both Syracuse and Pittsburgh wouldn't stick it out in the Big East and become members of the ACC as early as next season.
As always, stay tuned.
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/get’s popcorn
//pulls up chair
//put’s feet on the coffee table
Let the show begin.
by Eagle in Brighton on Oct 31, 2011 7:18 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Just wouldn’t be a Big East departure without contentious litigation, bad feelings, and accusations of poor leadership in the Commissioners Office.
by Eagle in Brighton on Oct 31, 2011 7:22 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Tort reform, anyone?
Not a lawyer, but wow, what a load of garbage.
I’d assume that the Big XII agreement was probably contingent upon WVU exiting the Big East as soon as possible, and this manuevering was probably orchistrated in some form by the Big XII to avoid that pesky 27 month waiting period.
I haven’t harbored any animosity towards WVU’s program, couch burning and hillbillery aside, or any ill will for their departing the Big East, but this might just do the trick. It certainly seems like a much more far fetched hail mary than the UConn/Pitt/Big East lawsuit against BC.
Seriously, ’neers, you knew about the 27 month wait period, now put on your big boy pants like Pitt and ’cuse and grow a pair, and endure the same lame duck status that BC did.
Agreed. It’s a frivolous lawsuit, but the allegations are hilarious because they just formalize all the casual criticism lodged against the BE for much of the past decade in one, cogent document.
Sounds like WVU can leave now if they want to- if they’re willing to pony up a $21m fee. Sounds like they just are fishing for leverage to get that number down to a more palatable level.
by Eagle in Brighton on Oct 31, 2011 7:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Agreed. I think all three can leave early if they pony up. This just sounds like West Virginia attempting to create leverage to negotiate that exit fee down to a more digestible figure.
Editor, BC Interruption
I sorta feel bad for WVU, Pitt and Syracuse … Consider that BC’s lame duck status only lasted a year, and didn’t include replacement teams Cincinnati, Louisville and South Florida.
WVU, Pitt and Syracuse’s stint in football purgatory will last another 2 seasons and those programs will probably be part of a 14-team Frankenstein of a football conference that includes Boise State, Air Force, East Carolina, UCF, Temple, Houston and SMU.
Note I said “I sorta feel bad …”
Editor, BC Interruption
Contingent on whether Marinatto ever gets those Big East football invitations in the mail …
Editor, BC Interruption
Yah, it’s going to be an awkward divorce for all.
Potential definitely exists for Pitt and ’Cuse to freeload off the resolution of this case though.
by Eagle in Brighton on Oct 31, 2011 7:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Reading the lawsuit again, I’m not sure if Pitt and Syracuse can freeload off a favorable WVU decision. Especially considering WVU is using the fact that Marinatto let Pitt and Syracuse walk is part of the “denigration of the Big East football conference.”
That said, I don’t think West Virginia is on very firm legal ground here. Couch burners will probably have to pay up.
Editor, BC Interruption
This may be the handiwork of Texas, er, the Big 12
It needs to have 10 members next year in order to have sufficient football inventory to satisfy its various TV deals; a 9-member conference won’t cut it. If WVU can’t escape the Big East for 2012, expect Missouri to be held a year (or two). In other words, the Big East is not only holding the ACC hostage through June 2014, but the Big 12 and SEC, too. Ah, Marinatto, winning friends, influencing people, and taking everyone else down with his sinking ship.
So, so happy we left that abortion of a conference when we did.
by Eagle in Brighton on Oct 31, 2011 7:51 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
I'll start
ACC’s 15th member is UCan’t. But not until after the bigeast has died a terrible horrible no good bad day death. AND IT WILL BE BEAUTIFUL. CHARLES BARKLEY SAID THE BIG EAST AIN’T NOTHING, AND GUESS WHAT CHARLES BARKLEY WAS RIGHT. 
Don't give up, don't ever give up ~ Jim Valvano
I believe Barkley said Big East basketball was nothing, a completely absurd statement. I don’t think there’s any dispute that Big East football is weak, although so is ACC football. Football is clearly dominated by the SEC, Pac-12, and Big 12. The Big East and (usually, though not last year) the ACC are the kings of basketball.
He made the comment about Big East basketball
And how it was the most overrated conference (which came off more as a dig at ESPN, due to their uncontrolable fisting of America with the big east basketball tournament. SETON HALL vs PROVIDENCE, LIVE AND YOUR GOING TO LIKE IT DAMNIT), and how having 8-9 teams in the NCAA tournament was one of the worst decisions.
Don't give up, don't ever give up ~ Jim Valvano
Football dominated by the Pac-12? The Pac-12 is a distant fourth in terms of football … with the ACC catching up.
Pac-12 = down year in football.
Editor, BC Interruption
Football is dominated by the SEC. Big Ten and Big 12 are behind the SEC, with the Big 12 gaining on them by adding TCU and West Virginia and subtracting A&M and Missouri.
Editor, BC Interruption
What WVU, Pitt, and Syracuse should do
Is refuse to recuse themselves from any league discussions, insist on voting on expansion candidates, etc. Right now the Big East is getting the benefit of their membership without giving any of the corresponding burdens.
Agree
If WVU, Pitt and Syracuse are going to be held hostage and will continue to be members of the Big East through 2014, shouldn’t they continue to vote on league membership, exit fees and the like?
Editor, BC Interruption
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