We’ve all heard the speculation for past month or so. Where is West Virginia going to end up? The rumors swirled that the SEC and ACC could be potential landing spots, but both conferences said thanks but no thanks. Then, ESPN reported last week that the Big12 would accept the Mountaineers. However, then reports came out that Louisville was making a push to be the team that the league would accept instead of the Mountaineers. Finally, all speculation is put to the side as West Virgina has been officially added to the Big 12 conference.
“On behalf of all members, we are simply thrilled to welcome West Virginia University into Big 12 Conference. West Virginia is a flagship university in their state and has a wonderful academic and athletic heritage. They have all of the qualities and culture that we look for. We couldn’t be happier to welcome them,” said Big 12 chairman Burns Hargis.
” We have a saying here in Morgantown after a big win, and today is “truly a great day to be a Mountaineer.” It’s the perfect league for us and is very strong. The schools have loyal and passionate fans and it’s a real honor to be invited into the league. They appreciate the standing of our 17 athletics and this new direction offers us opportunities for success over the country,” West Virginia president James P. Clements said of the move.
West Virginia will officially become a member of the Big 12 on July 1, 2012. According to athletic director Oliver Luck, West Virginia paid $2.5 million on Thursday when the announcement came and the other $2.5 million of the Big East buyout will come when West Virginia is officially a member of the conference. Luck also said that his team and the Big East’s team is currently working out the details to get around the 27-month waiting period. He would not say anything else on the matter.
When asked about the other school (Louisville) entering the picture about becoming a member, Big 12 interim commissioner Chuck Neinas attempted to clarify the confusion.
“What happened was we were moving forward and came across the fact that if we added a new member and what would happen if Missouri remained or delayed their departure. We would have to look at a 11 member conference. By result, we felt it was important to share that information with the board of directors. That’s why we ended up having additional calls to make sure we can accommodate 11 teams. We came to the conclusion that we could have an 11 team conference. We had to find to make sure that for year 2012-2013 it was mandatory we would have at least 10 teams,” Neinas said.
It looks as if Missouri will be headed to the SEC which will free up a space for West Virginia. However, Neinas said it isn’t as easy as plugging West Virginia into Missouri’s schedule.
“I wish it was as simple as that. We will have to take a look at the schedules and do some new calculations. We will have to do some work on the schedules, there’s no question about that,” Neinas said.
The move is a positive one for the school and the athletics alike. Schools such as Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State, Baylor, Iowa and Texas A&M will become more of a challenge than the current Big East opponents which can only help out the recruiting and the competition in Morgantown.
As far as what the West Virginia coaches think, here is what some of them had to say.
Coach Dana Holgorsen – “This is a tremendous opportunity for WVU athletics, our fans and the state of West Virginia. Having coached in the Big 12 before, I appreciate the excitement, passion and expectations associated with the Conference, and I have no doubt that WVU athletics will be a great addition to the Big 12.”
Coach Bob Huggins – “Obviously having spent a year in the Big 12, we are familiar with the schools and the venues that they play in. We are excited to compete against the outstanding teams that the Big 12 Conference fields annually.”
Coach Mike Carey – “For West Virginia to continue to be a major player on the national scene, this is a great move for us. I have researched the Big 12 and what they’ve done over the years and they are a very competitive conference on the women’s side. They are national contenders year in and year out.”
Coach Greg Van Zant – “We are extremely excited to be joining the Big 12 Conference and are looking forward to competing in possibly the top conference in college baseball. Also, we are very fortunate to have people of the quality of President Clements and Oliver Luck providing outstanding leadership for us in this turbulent time in intercollegiate athletics. This is truly a great day for WVU and our baseball program.”
Coach Marlon LeBlanc – “As far as the move to the Big 12 and its impact on men’s soccer, that is something that we’re looking towards what the best avenue for our program will be. Regardless, Oliver Luck has assured me that the University is committed to maintaining men’s soccer at the very highest level. It remains a top-level program to our athletic department and University. With that being said, our administration is already working towards solidifying our best options moving forward. We have put in a lot of effort growing this program in to one of the nation’s finest on the field and in the classroom. My athletic director has made it quite clear that West Virginia University is both committed to me and the continued growth of men’s soccer.”
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