WVU's New Football Foes

Now that it looks like WVU is heading to the Big 12 in 2012, what is the team's chances of second straight year to a BCS game? The Mountaineers should be able to integrate right in, and be competitive. But, where exactly do they stand? Let's take a quick look at the conference for 2012.

Baylor: No Robert Griffin III, not a lot of defense equals a rebuilding year for the Bears.

Iowa State: A bowl team from a year ago, questions at quarterback and defense will keep them midpack.

Kansas: Transition year for the Jayhawks as Charlie Weiss takes over the team. It will be interesting to see what he does at the quarterback position.

Kansas State: Quarterback Collin Klein is back, and so is much of the defense. Another solid season for the Wildcats is in the cards.

Oklahoma: Landry Jones and most of the offensive line are back, so scoring won't be a problem. Defensive needs to catch up.

Oklahoma State: Lost major keys parts on offense and defense, but should remain competitive with younger guys stepping in.

Texas: Too many questions for the offense entering the Spring to make them a true contender. Defense did step up last year, and helped the team stay in games.

TCU: The newcomer will have an explosive offense if the young line gives Casey Pachall time to throw. Will be a very competitive team right away.

Texas Tech: Plenty of talent, just a lack of execution over the last few years. Crucial year for Tommy Tuberville to get team to buy into system.

Embrace Your New Big 12 Overlords!

A new chapter in WVU sports will start this fall. The school is on the way to the Big 12, following the news of an agreement made with the Big East to leave early.

From the Charleston Daily Mail...

The Big East will make about $20 million from the resolution, with WVU paying $11 million.

The source said the Big 12 would handle the remaining amount and the Mountaineers will enjoy full membership in that conference beginning July 1.

The source said WVU's early exit from the Big East is no longer conditional upon Boise State joining the Big East as a replacement in 2012.

So, as one chapter closes, another begins for WVU...a chapter that will take them west. Trips to the Northeast will be replaced with trips to Texas and the heartland of America. And, anyone not excited has something wrong with them.

The new rivals will be some of the most tradition-rich teams in college sports. Kansas is a basketball Mecca, Oklahoma is 8th all-time in football victories, Texas is 2nd all-time, and Oklahoma State ranks 4th all-time in National Championships for all sports.

That's just a little example of the tradition of winning the Big 12 has. WVU will jump in with every sport they have, and should be competitive in most. There is also word that Oliver Luck is looking to bring back a Men's Golf team. As for Men's Soccer (which the Big 12 doesn't have) look for a new home in Conference USA or the MAC. Rifle will also stay put.

These are exciting times for Mountaineer fans. The school is coming off an Orange Bowl win, both basketball teams are competitive, both soccer teams are strong, and the remaining Olympic sports should only get better with the move to the Big 12.

So, sit back, relax, and enjoy the transition to the big, bad Big 12.

Conference Realignment 2011: The WVU, Big XII Timeline

In case you missed anything from the last two days, here is an attempt to try to timeline everything that has happened.

TUESDAY:

-New York Post first broke the news that WVU was set to leave for the Big XII.

-Several media outlets started to pick up the story, including CBS Sports. Brett McMurphy reported the same thing, that WVU was in if Missouri was out. This certainly felt concrete, considering McMurphy has been all over realignment from the start.

-Pete Thamel of the New York Times followed that with the news that WVU "applied and was accepted" to the Big XII.

-Later in the day the news came out that it was essentially a "done deal", and that a press conference was scheduled for Wednesday.

-And then all hell broke loose. Starting with the statement from WVU Athletics that there would be no press conference on Wednesday.

WEDNESDAY:

-WVU fans woke up to disturbing news. The Dominion Post was reporting that Louisville made a late push, and the Big XII basically told WVU to sit tight.

-Later in the morning, wvmetronews.com used the Post article, and went further saying that the Big XII "needed more information".

-The opened up a whole pile of rumors, many saying that Sen. (and Louisville Grad) Mitch McConnell (R-Ken) had influenced the Big XII's decision in some way. However, there were no concrete stories to prove this, until...

-Pete Thamel of the New York Times dropped a bomb regarding the situation, and said it's "too close to call" between WVU and Louisville. He also wrote that numerous sources claim that McConnell had contacted OU President, David Boren, a former senator, and others to "push" the Louisville cause.

-Well, you knew the WV senators wouldn't let that go, so statements from both Joe Manchin and Jay Rockefeller, as well a Rep Shelly Moore Capito were released condemning the alleged actions of McConnell. Manchin took it a step further by even suggesting an investigation! You can find all the statements on wvillustrated.com

-Rockefeller ended up speaking to Boren and others about the situation, while Manchin took to the mic to voice his concern.

-Numerous tweets throughout the night gave WVU the lead, while others said Louisville. However, the most interesting may have come from Chuck Charlton from the Dallas Morning News, who tweeted "Because of the messy, awkward situation, two sources say Big 12 might consider Louisville and WVU together as a compromise."

THURSDAY:

-This morning has been relatively quiet, but it's early.

-USA Today is reporting that WVU may still be the frontrunner, with a decision possibly coming before the weekend.

-Brett McMurphy also laid out how close WVU was to already being a member of the Big XII. And, yes...very close.

-Jenn Menendez of the PPG writes about Manchin's appearance on MSNBC this morning. Manching said it "was a "done deal" before the move stalled."

-According to Dennis Dodd(CBS), all three senators have been lobbying their fight to Boren for weeks.

-Stay Tuned...much more to come!

Conference Realignment 2011: A Sad Day For College Sports

Where to begin...

It's amazing how pure joy can turn to utter madness in the span of about 24 hours, but that's exactly what happened to the Mountaineer faithful. Tuesday was one of the better days in recent memory, when we were told that WVU had been accepted to the Big XII and a press conference was scheduled for Wednesday. Unfortunately, it all came crashing down starting Tuesday night with the news that the presser was postponed, and by Wednesday morning all hell broke loose.

Yesterday essentially turned into one of the most absurd days in recent memory...one that makes you embarrassed by sports and the human race. The stories of political influence started to take over, with seemingly everyone having their own take of what the outcome may look like, and how much influence is coming from both sides.

It's absolutely sick, really. Nobody wants congress getting involved...I'm certain that's the last thing we need.

Is Louisville to blame for all of this? Of course not! They are just doing what WVU would be doing if this was turned the other way. Louisville understands how important it is to get out of the sinking Big East. And, I hope the Big XII eventually invites them too. It would be a short trip for WVU fans, and an ongoing rivalry.

The major blame has to go the Big XII's way. If you believe that all the reports were true that WVU was verbally accepted and a presser was scheduled (and I do believe it considering nobody denied anything on Tuesday), then this is all on the leadership of a conference that really can't afford to be unstable. The last thing the Big XII needs is more dissension moving forward, considering some of those schools could still take off on the drop of a dime.

Even with this instability I certainly hope WVU gets in. The Big XII chaos still pales in comparison to what is happening in the Big East. It would just feel a bit better if WVU felt a little more welcome. But, at this point I guess beggars can't be choosers.

Looking Forward to the Big 12

Trips to New Jersey and Connecticut will now be replaced with trips to Texas and Oklahoma if the news of WVU heading to the Big 12 is true. I, for one an excited about the new step for the Mountaineers, and look forward to those trips to the heartland and south.

WVU's football program should fit in well. They will be competitive wherever you put them, and let's not forget the last time they played a team from the Big 12 it was in the Fiesta Bowl...a game I'm sure Oklahoma fans would like to forget (Yes, I know WVU played Colorado twice, but they are gone). Sure, a lot has changed since then, but the fact that WVU is 2-0 in BCS games, shows they will not back down to anyone.

Dana Holgorsen also has some serious connections in the Big 12 world. Holgorsen has been on staffs at both Oklahoma State and Texas Tech, where you can still see plenty of his influence. He also knows the recruiting grounds of the conference, which should help expand WVU's recruiting base. Holgs has already been able to snag players like Dustin Garrison and Paul Millard, so we'll see if it continues.

Basketball is a different story. There is the chance for WVU to roll right in and be a major conference player. Not that football can't be that, but this is a Mountaineer basketball program that has been one of the more consistent performers recently. Since 2005, WVU has been to four Sweet 16's, one resulting in a trip to the Final Four, and an NIT Championship in the only year they missed the Tournament. There's no doubt this program will remain competitive with Bob Huggins at the helm.

As for the Women's team, Mike Carey continues to get premier talent, and has been a serious player in the Big East for the past decade. Look for the Lady Mounties to continue to stay competitive in another deep conference.

The Mountaineer Women's Soccer program will be a team to beat yearly in the Big 12 as well. The perennial Big East power will join a deep conference that has five teams in the RPI Top-50. WVU (26th in RPI) should make an immediate impact in the conference, the bigger question is what will happen to the Men's team? The Big 12 doesn't have Men's soccer. Maybe an invite to Conference USA?

The Olympic sports will be in for some great competition as well. The Big 12 is very strong in practically all of them, and should only help the WVU compete level. This is certainly an exciting time for Mountaineer athletics, and things will be looking differently soon enough.

As for the Big East, I will say that it is sad to see the conference dying. There's not much better in sports than the Big East Championship at the Garden in March every year. It's hard to believe that the event may be close to death. Sadly, the Big East brass just wasn't up to the task of understanding how important the football side was. As we all know football is King, but not to certain individuals in Newport, RI. I can't but think this all could have been avoided, but WVU had to lookout for its own interests...and the Big East is just too unstable.

Okay, I'm ready to mess with Texas!

Conference Realignment 2011: New York Post Says WVU on the Way to Big 12

Well, here is the news that West Virginia fans have been waiting for...if true.

The New York Post is reporting that WVU is set to replace Missouri, when the Tigers eventually head out to the SEC. The Post article goes on to say.

The Big 12 held a board of directors meeting yesterday, and a source said the league's plan is to hold on to Missouri, which wants to leave for the SEC, for one more year then replace it with West Virginia.

This is huge news for WVU fans that have been destroying the Internet to find realignment info for the past two months, ever since Syracuse and Pitt announced a move to the ACC. The Mountaineer faithful's first choice seemed to be the SEC, but the Big 12 became an attractive locale since Texas and Oklahoma decided to stick around.

WVU will fit in well athletically. The Mountaineers have solid football and basketball programs that should be competitive right away. The soccer teams might dominate the league, and the Olympic sports should show well also.

The biggest hurdle will certainly be the travel. The closest school right now is over 800 miles away, but this is the direction we are going in now. Don't forget, Boise State may be in the new Big East.

With WVU seemingly on the way out, it will be interesting to see what happens to the football version of the Big East. Rutgers and UConn are still waiting for the ACC to call, and Louisville and Cincinnati will certainly be hoping that the Big 12 goes back to "12" teams. The future of the Big East just continues to get more and more dire. I guess that proactive approach didn't pay off.

UPDATE: Multiple sources are now reporting that WVU is headed to the Big 12. Brett McMurphy from CBS, who has been all over realignment just tweeted this...

@McMurphyCBS: West Virginia to Big 12 w/in 24-48 hours after Missouri withdraws from Big 12, sources tell @CBSSports bit.ly/vPPq77

Very telling news right there.

MORE UPDATES: Pete Thamel of the New York Times writes that a source with direct knowledge of the situation says WVU has "applied and are accepted" to the Big 12.

Thamel also writes that the Big 12 is planning to stay at 10 teams...for now.

ANOTHER UPDATE: Mitch Vingle of the Charleston Gazette just tweeted this....

@MitchVingle: Confirmed. WVU to Big 12 is a done deal. There will be a press conference with the Big 12 folks tomorrow.

And that might do it folks.

Conference Realignment 2011: Missouri Still in the Big 12...For Now

The conference waiting game continues for West Virginia, following the news Monday night that Missouri has yet to withdrawal or decide to stay in the Big 12. Interim Conference Commish, Chuck Nienes spoke to the Kansas City Star, saying

Missouri did no submit a letter of conditional withdrawal nor did it notify the conference on Monday of plans to leave.

The Big 12 Board of Directors met on Monday, and the hope for everyone in the entire universe was that Missouri would end this national nightmare. However, the wait continues for basically every school associated with the Big 12, SEC, and Big East. Missouri still seems to hold the fate of WVU, Louisville, Cincinnati, and possibly BYU as well. If they go, then a whole new round of debate begins about which one of these teams is best suited to fill Mizzou's void.

However, it may be a moot point if the Big 12 does decide to go 12 teams. In the scenario, it seems likely that WVU and Louisville would both be heading out of the Big East. And, if Missouri is gone, Cincy or BYU could be that final team.

If Missouri stays, then look for the WVU to SEC rumors to fire back up, which will really be good for nobody. Even though it makes sense, there hasn't been any concrete evidence that the SEC is a huge fan of bringing the Mountaineers in.

So, again a big thanks to Missouri for keeping the ridiculousness of conference realignment alive by holding out as long as humanly possible, and completely messing with the fate of half the country.

Conference Realignment 2011: Reports say WVU first in line for Missouri's Big 12 Spot

With Missouri potentially making a conference decision soon, the Big 12 is preparing for either scenario. The conference will be proactive if Mizzou does make the split to the SEC. Soonernation's Brandon Chatmon writes...

If Missouri leaves, (Oklahoma AD Joe) Castiglione said the Big 12 has a "Plan A" and "Plan 1-A" but did not discuss specific teams outside of BYU. He also said he was hopeful Missouri would remain in the Big 12.

"I think our intent would be to move as quickly as we could," Castiglione said. "There may be other issues that hinder our ability to move as quick as we want. Behind the scenes we will be doing as much as we can as quick as we can to resolve it."

So, what is the potential Plan A or 1-A? It's not public yet, Chatmon writes that West Virginia could be the first team called.

West Virginia could be the top choice to replace Missouri if the Tigers left the conference, a source with direct knowledge of the Big 12's expansion plans told ESPN.com's Andy Katz on Satuday. The source said the league is more inclined to go to 10 teams in the short term while it assesses the pros and cons of 10 or 12 teams.

We have heard this before from Katz, and you wonder if it starts to gain steam this week, especially with Missouri possibly leaving.

Chatmon also includes quotes from an Austin American-Satesmen story, where a Big 12 official said WVU would be an upgrade over Missouri. In that article by Kirk Brohls, a Big 12 official claims that...

“West Virginia has better football than Missouri, better basketball than Missouri, a better budget than Missouri and more passion among its fans than Missouri. They’re better, anyway you turn ‘em. The travel’s not good (to Morgantown, W. Va) but that’s it.”

So, as we head in to another week of uncertainty, maybe the light at the end is getting closer and closer...and that light is more South and heartland than Southeast.

Conference Realignment 2011: ESPN Report says WVU and Louisville are Two of the Top Choices for Big 12

West Virginia and Louisville are two of the top candidates to replace Missouri, if the Tigers indeed depart for the SEC. That's the word from ESPN's Andy Katz.

Katz writes...

A source with direct knowledge of the Big 12's expansion panel's plans told ESPN.com's Andy Katz that if Missouri departs, the Big 12 still must decide if it wants to go to 10 or 12 members. The source said Louisville and West Virginia are two of the top candidates to replace Missouri if it leaves.

Not a huge surprise. Both schools have a solid resume for athletics, fanbase, and television ratings. Louisville has the edge in geography, but WVU has the more suitable program. It may not matter if the Big 12 goes back to 12 teams, because both schools would probably be in.

The bigger question is what happens to the Big East? The conference surely can't keep it's AQ status if they lose two or three more schools. Hell, they may not even have a conference left.

Missouri is expected to meet later this week about its invitation to the SEC. This means we could start hearing more information about WVU and/or Louisville in regards to their future with or without the Big 12 soon.

Conference Realignment 2011: Missouri inching closer to the SEC

It looks like WVU's only way out of the Big East now is the Big 12, following Pete Thamel's report in thes New York Times that Missouri's application to the SEC is "inevitable and imminent." This comes after the news earlier today that WVU is expected to vote "yes" to double the Big East exit fee.

Thamel goes on to write that once Missouri sends the application, it should be a done deal.

He writes...

After Missouri applies, the person said that it expects “no problems” with gathering enough votes among SEC presidents to become a member.

The Missouri board of Curators is expected to meet later this week, writes Thamel.

So, things are starting to move quickly, and expect the Big East to send out invitations this week. WVU will now have to either wait to become the 15th or 16th member of the SEC when the conferences go SUPER. They can hope for an invitation to the Big 12, which certainly looks better now. Or, they could stay in the Big East, with an uncertain future. The plot thickens...

Conference Realignment Update

A lot seems to be happening as we speak. The Big 12 is taking action, even while Missouri is still at a crossroads. Here's a look at the big rumors and actual stories today...

BIG NEWS: The Big 12 has reportedly invited TCU to begin play in 2012-2013 year.

-UPDATE: CBS is reporting that TCU has accepted the invitation, and will not be heading to the slowly decaying Big East.

Statement from TCU Chancellor, Victor Boschini Jr. from the Dallas Morning News

"These discussions with the Big 12 have huge implications for TCU...It will allow us to return to old rivalries, something our fans and others have been advocating for many years. As always, we must consider what’s best for TCU and our student-athletes in this ever-changing landscape of collegiate athletics. We look forward to continuing these discussions with the Big 12."

TCU is all but in the Big 12 it seems

ALSO, according to CBS Sports, Missouri doesn't have the votes to get into the SEC at this time. Some schools are holding out for a better option or a more geographically-friendly option to the SEC East.

The Big East has now lost Syracuse, Pittsburgh, and TCU...and UConn, Rutgers, Louisville, Cincinnati, and West Virginia are all looking to get out. John Marinatto is looking like a genius right now.

Things are moving a bit today, so we will try to continue to update you as much as possible.

WVU to the Big 12? More of a reality than we think?

WVU, which allegedly pledged its allegiance to the Big East will certainly still be looking out for its own interests. And, if the Big East's grand plan is to bring in the service academies, WVU has to continue looking outside of the conference.

One of those conferences may be the Big 12. The conference that was left for dead just a few days ago, may have been resurrected with the news that the key players are looking to stay and reform the league. With Texas A&M going to the SEC and maybe Missouri too, plus Nebraska and Colorado already gone, the Big 12 has holes to fill. BYU seems to be the priority, as it should be. The Cougars have a national following, and very good money tie-ins. The thinking is BYU will join if Texas and Oklahoma stay. Now that it the big boys are going to reportedly stay, pencil the Cougars in.

What about the other openings? Enter Andy Katz' article from last week. This story originally went under the radar due to the fact that it looked like the Big 12 was dead, and the Big East still had Syracuse and Pittsburgh.

Katz writes...

Big 12 athletic directors were given a list of schools to contact a few weeks ago once it became clear that Texas A&M would be departing the conference for membership in the SEC.

Arkansas and BYU were contacted but then, according to multiple sources, the athletic directors who were given the instructions did not reach out to the other three schools on the list -- Pittsburgh, Louisville and West Virginia of the Big East -- because Oklahoma president David Boren made comments that the Sooners were unsettled in their situation as a member of the Big 12 and were exploring their options.

Katz has continued to give this view all morning on SportsCenter. Arkansas isn't going anywhere. As mentioned before, BYU is looking good to join. Pittsburgh is ACC-bound, so that leaves Louisville and West Virginia as potential targets for the Big 12 to expand back up...at leads according to Katz.

One would imagine the Big 12 wants to get back to the actual "12", and establish that it will remain one of the premier conferences in the country. So, could both WVU and Louisville split from the Big East? Why not. Both schools to have to worry about the future Big East football, especially when the service academies are the alleged target to save the league. Both would also fit in well competitively with the Big 12. In fact, the schools would boost the conference as a basketball power. If this were to happen, the conference could also split into two new divisions.

Division One: WVU, Louisville, Missouri(or new team), Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State

Division Two: Baylor, BYU, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas Tech

Two very competitive divisions would also allow the conference to have a legit championship game. And of course, WVU and Louisville would not have to worry about losing the AQ status, since the two would be attached to Texas and Oklahoma.

So, as we debate, moan, and groan about the SEC and the Big East, maybe it's time to start paying more attention south-westward. The Big 12 could be the best fit for WVU.

Comparing the Conferences: Where will WVU End Up?

The conference realignment talk continues to rule college football between the weekends. WVU has been linked to a possible move to the SEC this week, and have had links to the ACC and staying in the Big East in the past. Let's take a closer look of what these conferences look like, and the positives and negatives for all.

Scale: Very Poor, Poor, Fair, Pretty Solid, Solid, Excellent

Big East:

Football Competition: Fair

Football Recruiting Area: Fair

Basketball Competition: Excellent

Basketball Recruiting Area: Solid

Other Sports Competition: Solid

Conference Markets: Excellent

Best Market: New York

The Big East is certainly known for its basketball. Both Men's and Women's are very good. However, the Big East's best asset is the markets. The Northeast is the Mecca of news and publicity, and many of the teams are in or around New York, Philadelphia, and Washington. Teams are based from the Midwest, soon-to-be Texas, and the Eastern Seaboard. Sure, money isn't huge in football, but could be in the future with expansion.

Chance of Staying in Big East: 45%

SEC:

Football Competition: Excellent

Football Recruiting: Excellent

Basketball Competition: Fair

Basketball Recruiting: Fair

Other Sports Competition: Very Solid

Conference Markets: Fair

Best Market: Atlanta

Easily the best football conference in the nation. It would be very hard to say "No" to the big money sport. The football recruiting grounds are fertile. However, the markets aren't great, and basketball is top-heavy. Yes, the SEC gets serious football publicity, but it starts to dry-up quickly after that. For example...Who exactly calls SEC basketball games on ESPN?

Chance of Going to SEC: 25%

Big 12:

Football Competition: Very Solid

Football Recruiting: Excellent

Basketball Competition: Fair

Basketball Recruiting: Fair

Other Sports Competition: Solid

Conference Markets: Solid

Best Market: Dallas/Fort Worth

Big schools, mostly based in a big state. The market is good. Several schools are in or close to some of the largest cities in the country. Football and basketball are competitive every year. However, the future of this conference is up in the air. There's a good chance this conference may completely dissolve, especially with Texas and Texas A+M leaving, and the possibility of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State bolting too.

Chance of Going to Big 12: 5%

ACC:

Football Competition: Solid

Football Recruiting: Excellent

Basketball Competition: Excellent

Basketball Recruiting: Very Solid

Other Sports Competition: Solid

Conference Markets: Very Solid

Best Market: Charlotte

It would be a nice fit for WVU. It makes sense geographically, and it would reignite a few old rivalries. The markets are good, even reaching New England. It's also competitive in both football and basketball. It's not as deep as other conferences, and there is the possibility of some teams leaving, but overall, it's a pretty good situation.

Chance of Going to ACC: 20%

Big Ten

Football Competition: Very Solid

Football Recruiting: Solid

Basketball Competition: Solid

Basketball Recruiting: Very Solid

Other Sports Competition: Solid

Conference Markets: Solid

Best Market: Chicago

This midwestern stronghold boasts tradition and consistent competition. The markets are solid, though stuck in the middle of the country. However, that still beats the west coast. Travel is not as wild as some other conferences, and many of the stadiums and arenas are cathedrals. The conference's biggest issue may be its stereotyped style of play. The word "boring" tends to come up a lot with football and basketball. Whether its fair or not is irrelevant. The bottom-line is the word comes up too often.

Chance of Going to Big Ten: 5%