W. Virginia files lawsuit against Big East

[SoonerMom2]

Updated: October 31, 2011, 5:28 PM ET
W. Virginia files lawsuit against Big East
By Andrea Adelson
ESPN.com

West Virginia filed a civil lawsuit against the Big East on Monday in an attempt to exit the conference in 2012 to join the Big 12, squarely blaming commissioner John Marinatto for the instability of the conference.

In the 14-page suit filed in Monongalia County Circuit Court in West Virginia, the university claims it should not be held to the 27-month waiting period required of all departing teams. West Virginia alleges, "The Big East Conference and its commissioner, through their actions, breached their contract to WVU and nullified and voided the bylaws."

The reason the Big East breached its contract? West Virginia alleges that nothing was done to protect the remaining six football playing schools once Pitt, Syracuse and TCU left. That created such instability, that the lawsuit alleges Cincinnati, Rutgers and UConn engaged in discussions with the ACC, SEC, Big 12 and Big Ten.

West Virginia alleges Marinatto failed to take proactive measures to "maintain, let alone enhance the quality of competition in the league" and the school had no choice but to accept an invitation to the Big 12.

West Virginia also believes the Big East will lose its position as an automatic BCS-qualifying conference.

West Virginia also alleges, "The denigration of the Big East Conference is a direct and proximate result of ineffective leadership and breach of fiduciary duties to the football schools by the Big East Conference and its commissioner."

The school is asking for a court injunction to declare the current 27-month waiting period void or count the $2.5 million payment the conference already received from the school as a way to waive the waiting period. West Virginia also is seeking damages for the breach of contract.

The Big East has not responded to a request for comment. But the league has been adamant about holding Pitt, Syracuse and West Virginia to the waiting period.

When the Big 12 announced it had accepted West Virginia as a member last week, both the conference and school said the Mountaineers would be full members in 2012.

Andrea Adelson is the Big East blogger for ESPN.com.

Source: http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/7175251/west-virginia-files-civil-lawsuit-big-east-places-blame-commissioner-john-marinatto

[AlbqSooner]

Pro-Active litigation IMO.

[ouflak]

I think this is merely an attempt to get a settlement and out of the conference early. They just beat the Big East lawyers to the courthouse.

[WileyCoyote]

I think this is merely an attempt to get a settlement and out of the conference early. They just beat the Big East lawyers to the courthouse.

Agreed. And the couthouse is in W Va. This could be interesting entertainment. In the end, $$$ will change hands and it will fade away. Too late Big Least, the proverbial horse is out of the barn and headin' for greener pastures.

[King Barry's Back]

No one can force WVU to play in a certain conference. The only issue at stake is how much they will have to pay to get out.

[OUinFLA]

Anyone know of a decent WVU forum?

[badger]

The forum that seems to have the most comments is we must ignite this couch :D

[OUDoc]

Interesting. I assume the Big East will let them out much like schools releasing players who don't want to stay. That said, I wonder how much money the Big East will extract from WV to do so?

[OU_Sooners75]

Anyone know of a decent WVU forum?

They have a free rivals board.

Decent posts...

http://westvirginia.rivals.com/forum.asp?sid=891&fid=33&style=2


(http://westvirginia.rivals.com/forum.asp?sid=891&fid=33&style=2)

[AAABearcat]

It appears that the Big East in their meeting today, will invite 6 schools, among them Boise St for football only.. If they get accepted, the figure being discussed for WVA leaving early is $21million, if this doesn't go through, then the BE will do everything in their power to keep WVA for the 2 years, for the simple reason is they keep BCS standing until 2014 at the earliest., the only way they don't, is if the conference doesn't meet the minimum number.
It is odd that WVA went the legal route, the BE could tie it up in courts for years, and it won't stay in a WVA county court.

[badger]

I am thinking that other parties might get involved for a few reasons:

1- If Mizzou truly wants outta the Big 12, the Big 12 will not let them leave easily if we don't have 10 teams ready to go.

2- The Big 12 needs 10 teams to maintain existing TV contracts and stands to lose lots of money if we slip down to 9.

3- If the SEC, the Big Ten or anyone else wants Mizzou, they will be proactive if getting the Big 12 back to 10 teams so there are no legal disputes in holding Mizzou in the Big 12 to keep existing TV contracts.

4- Mizzou itself will be proactive in getting the Big 12 a replacement so it can leave as fast as possible, if that is what they truly want.

5- West Virginia will continue to be very proactive in getting outta the failing Big East as fast as possible by any means possible, including this lawsuit.

6- Syracuse and Pitt may join WVU in litigation to move to the ACC faster.

The Big East should just let go rather than show the nation how desperate and pathetic they truly are.

[AAABearcat]

2- The Big 12 needs 10 teams to maintain existing TV contracts and stands to lose lots of money if we slip down to 9.

.

$$$$$$$$$ is what is driving all of this, that is the reason why the Big12 wants WVA in next year and that is why the Big East will not let them go; everything else is immaterial.

[Breadburner]

T Bone will foot the bill....!!

[TheHumanAlphabet]

So what would happen is the Big (L)East requires WVU to play...they don't and play a Big 12-2-1-1+1 schedule and don't show up to the Big (L)East games? Could WVU schedule the games as they please and play?

[badger]

So what would happen is the Big (L)East requires WVU to play...they don't and play a Big 12-2-1-1+1 schedule and don't show up to the Big (L)East games? Could WVU schedule the games as they please and play?

I strongly suspect that would be filed under "breach of contract" and the Big East and member schools would sue them for lost revenue.

Really, this is about all WVU can do at this point, but I have a feeling that others will join the fight on their behalf for the reasons I listed above.

[AAABearcat]

Here is the latest word from the BigEast: http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/7177969/big-east-votes-invite-six-football-according-report
"Marinatto also said that the Big East's presidents are committed to enforcing the league's 27-month waiting period before any departing school can leave. West Virginia filed a lawsuit against the Big East on Monday, arguing it should be allowed to leave for the 2012 season because the league breached its contract.

"The conference believes these claims to be wholly without merit and will explore all its legal options to protect its interests and to ensure that West Virginia lives up to its obligations," Marinatto said.


I am not a lawyer, but if WVA scheduled Big12 teams while still under contract to play games in the Big East, that would be a legal problem which would dwarf the money involved in the Big 12 TV contract.

[jkjsooner]

There should have been clauses protecting the institutions if too many original members left.

[jkjsooner]

It appears that the Big East in their meeting today, will invite 6 schools, among them Boise St for football only..

Poor Boise St. They keep trying to move up in the world and every time they do so their new conference goes to the toilet.

[AAABearcat]

Poor Boise St. They keep trying to move up in the world and every time they do so their new conference goes to the toilet.

They might have the easiest path of any school to a National championship by being in the Big East, Eastern media and lack of great competition, beats no media and lack of competition every time
The earliest the Big East loses BCS status, as long as they have the minimum football teams is 2015 under the current contract

[AAABearcat]

There should have been clauses protecting the institutions if too many original members left.

In a little bit of irony; it was the WVA president who put the 27month clause in.

[badger]

Helllloooo... this is why WVU is suing, everyone:


Neinas said West Virginia's entrance into the Big 12 was contingent on the university being available next year.

"We needed a 10th member next season to fulfill our TV commitments," Neinas said. "There's an inventory that goes with a contract for TV, so we've got to be able to do that."

Link (http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/article.aspx?subjectid=236&articleid=20111101_236_0_MORGAN705870)

The expedition of this is the only reason they were invited right away. West Virginia is doing what they can to hold up their end of the bargain now.

In other words: Big East, prepare thine couch.

[MeMyself&Me]

The lawsuit is intended to force the Big East into a negotiated exit fee settlement instead of waiting. WV is expecting the Big East doesn't want any part of discovery.

[goingoneight]

In other news, the rich get richer (the SEC) and the poor get even more watered down.

[Sooner_Tuf]

How long before Missouri sues the Big XII claiming OU forced Booger to suck?