Like the Big 12, the Big East survived another conference realignment scare. For now. And barely. The ACC has plucked two of the Big East’s most prominent members -- Syracuse and Pitt -- leaving the conference searching once again for adequate bodies to replenish the losses.
Meeting in New York last night, officials from the seven remaining football members (TCU included) pledged their allegiance to the Big East, and today, two members thought to be looking elsewhere for a home released the following statements.
First up, West Virginia athletic director Oliver Luck. The rumor mill had been working overtime the past few days with theories that WVU had reached out to the SEC for membership, only to be shot down. Below is Luck’s statement following the Big East’s meeting:
“President Clements and I represented West Virginia University at last night’s BIG EAST meeting in New York. The group concluded the meeting with a strategy to recruit top level BCS-caliber institutions that match the league’s strong athletic and academic histories and traditions.
“As I stated before, WVU is an excellent flagship, land-grant University, with national-caliber athletic and academic programs. We are, and will remain, a national player in college athletics.
“The conference office will coordinate any further discussion on this issue.”
Translation:
Well, nowhere to go right now. The possibility more than certainly exists that West Virginia could end up in another conference down the road. The magic number for the Mountaineers still feels to be 16. If there’s another conference realignment explosion that actually goes down as rumored, then WVU has a chance to make the cut.
UConn, on the other hand, might have a more short-term plan in place that may, or may not, include the Big East. Below is the school’s president Susan Herbst with her own statement:
“The past several days have magnified the period of instability that exists today in the world of college athletics. I want to say thank you to all of our loyal supporters and fans of UConn and our athletic programs for their patience during this time.
“Please know that we will always do what is in the best interests for the University of Connecticut.
“We remain committed to our ideals and principals in intercollegiate athletics and will continue to achieve excellence academically and athletically.”
Unlike the statement from WVU, the words “Big East” are nowhere to be found. Coincidence? I guess we’ll find out.