BE & West Virginia Settle (Membership Termination)

PonyKai · Post by **PonyKai** » Tue Feb 14, 2012 10:43 am

BE and WVU have apparently come to an agreement. BE walks away with $20,000,000 and the judge dismisses WVU's lawsuit and recognizes the bylaws of the Big East conference as valid. Important, as any other member institutions that decide to bolt and skirt the timeline would have to file suit from scratch. I'd say the BE walked away with a win.

http://brett-mcmurphy.blogs.cbssports.c ... 2/34834816

"Finally, West Virginia is officially headed to the Big 12.

The Big East Conference announced Tuesday that West Virginia's membership had been "terminated" and it was no longer a league member after June 30. The Mountaineers will join the Big 12 for the 2012-13 academic season.

"Our membership in the Big 12 offers WVU significant advantages," West Virginia athletic director Oliver Luck said in a statement. "The Big 12 is a strong and vibrant conference academically and athletically. We look forward to the potential academic and athletic partnerships and financial opportunities that membership in the Big 12 offers."

Sources told CBSSports.com that the Big East will receive $20 million from West Virginia, which is responsible for $10 million. The Big 12 is "loaning" West Virginia the remaining $10 million, but the school will only be responsible for paying back about half of that amount.

Luck said the agreement prohibits discussion of the settlement, but that no state or taxpayer funds, tuition or academic support monies will be used. Any settlement funding transferred will come from private sources and independently generated athletic revenues, Luck said."

Alaric · Post by **Alaric** » Tue Feb 14, 2012 11:07 am

Glad to have the money but can't believe Uncle Bevo wouldn't have coughed up a lot more than that

SMUer · Post by **SMUer** » Tue Feb 14, 2012 11:19 am

Is "termination" just a legal admonishment or does it have more teeth than that? I mean, I'm glad that they were smart enough to require that UWV acknowledge that the conference by-laws are fair but doesn't this really say that in order to leave the Big East, you and any future adultering conference need to pile together $20M and say "I'm sorry, I'm wrong, but I'm leaving anyway"? Maybe this is as strong as conference by-laws can reasonably be expected to be, but like any other contract now, the terms are meaningless because neither party is willing to uphold them. Potential cash lure for BYU?

TidePony · Post by **TidePony** » Tue Feb 14, 2012 12:38 pm

Reality check for the Mountaineers:
1. The SEC refused you (I hear you were deemed too redneck for the SEC with all that unfortunate coach burning).
2. The ACC refused you (academics maybe???)
3. The B1G wasn't an option
4. You went to an already raided Big 12 were you will have no rivals
5. $20 million is the beginning of all the money that you will throw away
6. What do you do next after you figure out why A&M, Nebraska, Colorado, and Missouri left decades old rivalries for calmer waters?
7. I can't wait to watch the Iowa State - West Virginia game! I'm sure your fans are lining up for those tickets.

Water Pony · Post by **Water Pony** » Tue Feb 14, 2012 6:20 pm

TidePony wrote:Reality check for the Mountaineers:
1. The SEC refused you (I hear you were deemed too redneck for the SEC with all that unfortunate coach burning).
2. The ACC refused you (academics maybe???)
3. The B1G wasn't an option
4. You went to an already raided Big 12 were you will have no rivals
5. $20 million is the beginning of all the money that you will throw away
6. What do you do next after you figure out why A&M, Nebraska, Colorado, and Missouri left decades old rivalries for calmer waters?
7. I can't wait to watch the Iowa State - West Virginia game! I'm sure your fans are lining up for those tickets.

After the season the Cyclones had in 2011 and their impressive win over Okla. State, ISU would say they would be favored over the Mountaineers.

bubba pony · Post by **bubba pony** » Tue Feb 14, 2012 8:27 pm

I don't follow all the details as much as many but won't Syracuse and Pittsburg have to pay $20 million each now that there is a precedent? So $60 to the BE. Looks like the BE played hardball and did fairly well for themselves.

Rebel10 · Post by **Rebel10** » Tue Feb 14, 2012 9:19 pm

I imagine if Pitt and Syracuse stay for a year it will only be 10 million to get out. However, I think both schools want to take the full 27 months to let their football teams recruit and get ready for ACC play.