[kuntryboimike]

Will ANY FCS schools ever get called up to FBS? When will this all take place? I can't imagine a FBS conference dying with FCS schools just waiting for an invite....Someone tell me what the deal is.

[4everfsu]

http://espn.go.com/college-football/sto ... ntain-west

[jbock13]

It's official, WVU to the Big 12.

http://www.wvmetronews.com/news.cfm?fun ... ryid=48734

"West Virginia is leaving the Big East and heading to the Big 12 Conference, MetroNews has confirmed. WVU has scheduled a press conference for Wednesday afternoon. West Virginia's move to the Big 12 will happen regardless of whether Missouri stays in the league or applies for membership to the SEC -- still, it's expected the Tigers will bolt.

The move for West Virginia, meanwhile, would bring to an end what has been a hectic couple of months for Mountaineer fans concerned with possibly being left out in the cold in all of the conference realignment.

If the Mountaineers leave the Big East before either Navy or Air Force join, West Virginia’s buyout would only be $5 million. Otherwise, the buyout would be $10 million."

More in link.

[Sly Fox]

Apparently the news conference is going to have to wait. Oliver's a smart guy with tons of connections here in Texas so I highly doubt he botches this deal.

[jbock13]

Just so you know, metronews is a highly credible source in WV.

[From the class of 09]

metronews... in WV.

Sorry just found this funny

[TDDance234]

This was the domino that needed to fall. If the Big East starts offering spots for clubs like Memphis and Temple, it will begin the process of bringing FCS schools up, IMO.

[jcmanson]

The key will be if the Big East decides to jump in with the MWC and CUSA. From a Liberty perspective, we don't want this to happen because it would shut the door on any FCS schools jumping up to those conferences.

We want the Big East to stay alive and begin picking teams out of the MWC and/or CUSA.

[jbock13]

Could I just say that Louisville sucks and is just jealous of the success WVU has had in annihilating Louisville in every sport?

[ALUmnus]

seriously, manson? you really felt that compelled to say that?

[Cider Jim]

Talk about a traveling nightmare, the local paper today said that the closest Big 12 school to WVU was Iowa State, which is over 800 miles away!

Sly, isn't that almost like traveling the across the entire state of Texas for every away game?

[4everfsu]

WVU's move is now on hold.

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story ... ource-says

[jbock13]

If the Big 12 is serious about Louisville, then you know there's a definite lack of serious leadership in the Big 12.

[LUconn]

Everybody acts like WVU brings nothing to the table and they do lack a lot but they do have a well known brand and a very loyal following that travels well. It may not have as much value as a bigger TV market would but bowl committees DO consider what attendance will look like. Compare that to the average ACC school (who's footprint now includes WV). The Car Care Bowl with a UNC or BC looks pretty pathetic on a December afternoon.

[Cider Jim]

Everybody acts like WVU brings nothing to the table and they do lack a lot but they do have a well known brand and a very loyal following that travels well.

Do you really think their tractors and pickup trucks can make it the 800 miles (one way) to an away game?

[LUconn]

Now that we've got the US government fighting about UL vs WVU, why doesn't the Big XII just add the remaining 6 Big East teams and then someone else if Mizzou ever leaves? You'd get the magic 16 number which everyone seems to agree is sustainable, and you'd have a bunch of new markets. The footprint wouldn't be too big because the 2 divisions would most likely be east and west. Seems like an obvious solution that will never happen.

[jbock13]

If the Big 12 is serious about West Virginia, there is a lack of serious leadership. Louisville has the most profitable men's basketball program in the country, and a large share of the Kentucky and Ohio television markets, which is what realignment is all about. WVU's tv markets are small to non-existent.

lol where are all the louisville fans? I know plenty of kentucky fans, but no lousiville. Half the time I forget they're even in the big east!

[SumItUp]

Do you really think their tractors and pickup trucks can make it the 800 miles (one way) to an away game?

Why not? It works for Marshall.

[Cider Jim]

Why not? It works for Marshall.

That hurts, Sum.
Don't make me play my Okie card. You've read The Grapes of Wrath, haven't you?

[jbock13]

WVU doesn't have attractive markets? Hello, Pittsburgh! Look at Pitt's spring attendance and you'll see why Root Sports Pittsburgh focuses more on WVU than Pitt. Pitt doesn't have any fans either. Also, WVU's outreach streches into NY and VA (why do you think SNY and MASN carry every basketball game available to them?)

Secondly, there are a ton of former Mountaineers living down in Florida. I'm always amazed how much Blue and Gold I see down there.

Third, look at how wherever they go, the fans are there. Do those fans not watch the games on TV when it's too far away from them? Of course they do.

I do understand your argument that this is all market driven, which is stupid on its face but I understand thats how they look at it. Like the Roanoke-Lynchburg media market is 68'th in the nation, and Richmond is 57'th. But is Richmond and Roanoke's population even comparable? It's not. Richmond's market does not cover as many areas as the ROA-LYH, thus it overrepresents the amount of people who actually live near it.

[jcmanson]

Looks like it will be WVU over Louisville with the Big 12 planning on staying at 10, for now.

http://brett-mcmurphy.blogs.cbssports.c ... 2/32980106

Big East expected to offer invites to Boise State, Air Force, Navy, Houston, SMU, and Central Florida which would get them to 11. Big East wants 12 and is looking at BYU or Temple as the 12th member.

This would take the MWC/CUSA alliance to just 14 members. Remember they stated they would like as many as 24.

[ALUmnus]

Whatever happened to ECU being a lock for a Big East invite? It seems like Canadian universities will start getting invites before East Carolina at this point.

[LUconn]

Football teams in the BIG EAST are so screwed because they can't get rid of those non-football leaches. The league will never be stable.

[Liberty4Life]

Like Villanova and Georgetown? Yeah, those schools bring NOTHING to the table.

[jcmanson]

If my above scenario plays out, which seems likely, I'd love to hear who, objectively, would the MWC/CUSA target? Do we have a legitimate shot?

Sly? Lang? Anyone?