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A high-placed Big East source told Sporting News that not only will the Big East not back off its 27-month notice of withdrawal for West Virginia, Pitt and Syracuse, but there’s "no chance" the three wayward universities can buy their way out of the contract - for any amount of money - and leave in time for the 2012 season.

"It’s not about money," the Big East source said. "It never has been."

It’s commonly believed among most BCS administrators that the Big East and West Virginia will settle on a lawsuit that would allow both parties to save face for 2012 season, give the Big 12 its tenth team and give the Big East a sizeable buyout from West Virginia.

That scenario, of course, would allow Pitt and Syracuse - who have declined legal action - to use the WVU settlement as a barometer and leave early for the ACC with a similar buyout.

But forget about settlements and cash buyouts. West Virginia is bound by a legal contract it signed with the Big East - and the Big East isn’t letting go.

What WVU is asking our legal system to do is ignore terms of a contract. That’s not going to happen unless the Big East has violated terms of the deal, which it hasn’t.

This lawsuit, more than anything, is a tactical (see: litigious) way for West Virginia to get the Big East to accept a monetary buyout. And now, it appears, that’s not going to happen, either.

The reality is, West Virginia can simply leave and play in the Big 12 next season, but monetary legal damages of breaking that contract could make Texas A&M’s buyout from the Big 12 (estimated at $13-15 million) look like chump change - especially if Pitt and Syracuse are willing to wait to leave WVU alone in its contract defiance.

And you people thought the Big East would just go quietly.

CoxMustangFan wrote:How long until Big 12 retaliates and takes L'ville and Cincy, too? Can't help but think the BE will win the battle, but the Big 12 will win the war.

EastStang wrote:The Big XII doesn't want Louisville or Cincy. Also, from my sources, the Big XII payout to schools not named UT or OU is less than the per school payout of the BE. WVU is going to find out how little fun it is to be on UT's dole and the Big XII is going to find out what a pit Morgantown is.