WVU to switch conferences?

[Peake]

Why I find it funny you are trying to take a shot at the Big Ten, considering the last time a Big East School actually played for a National Title was 02 (who lost to a Big Ten school and has since left the conference). Not to mention that WVU in the time Miami, Tech, and Cuse were good you won 2 conference titles in 91 and tied for one in 03. I wouldn't say that is a real successful track record moving forward in a conference that is far better then the one you currently play in.

[FANOSPORTS]

More to the point, kiss your shot at a BCS game goodbye for the foreseeable future!

Hey, that's quite alright. At least when they do go to a BCS game they have a chance of winning it. They've beaten Georgia and Oklahoma with impressive games the past few years and have had some other good bowl wins. They darn near beat LSU last year at their place and did quite well this year until the 4th quarter. Other than the Miami game (Cooper's recruits) in 2002 OSU hasn't beaten anyone of note in the last 30 years in bowl games (Kansas State, Texas A&M 3x, BYU 3x, Navy, Colorado, Oklahoma St. and Arizona State). Losses to Arkansas (albeit a forfeit), Penn State (pre Big-10), Alabama 2x, Texas, LSU, Florida, Florida State, Georgia and Tennessee which are considered traditional football powers by most people highlight the list of losses so at least we've beaten a couple powers over the years when we were the underdogs in big games. See, the difference is that OSU is supposed to win, WV is not and they have been doing just fine here the last few years with a lot less talent and depth than OSU thank you. Just sayin !!!!!

[Peake]

So a few years ago=07 and 06, I guess Michigan should judge their success for the future on beating Florida in 07 and playing in the Rose in 06?

God am I really defending OSU?

I think you have to tip your hat to OSU for several accomplishments: Playing in more BCS games then any other school, beating Oregon in the Rose two years ago, beating Arkansas last year (Maybe not), playing in 3 BCS National Title Games, and winning 6 straight Big Ten Titles.

OSU also went into Texas in 06 and beat the Longhorns who were #2 in the country. Beat Miami, FL last year, had the balls to take on USC when they were loaded.

Meanwhile WVU has beaten absolutely no one out of conference the past few years. Congrats you played a close game w/LSU 2 years ago, that is not a win. Congrats you played for 3 quarters with LSU and then got blown out, not a win.

[Raiderball]

WVU records against teams who have left for ACC

BC 18-6-1 from 1981-2004 (21-11-1)
Miami 2-11 from 91-03 (3-16 all time)
Pitt 17-12-2 from 80-10 (31-63-3 all time)
Syracuse 16-16 from 80-11 (27-32 all time)
VT 12-14 from 80-05 (28-22-1 all time)

WVU has faired ok against these "more recognizable" schools in the Big East. Two championships mentioned (93 and 04) plus at least one and possibly two years losing the championship due to losing head to head matchup. Although there were a few down years, most years WVU has finished in the top half the conference.
As Fan stated, WVU is doing fine for the talent they are able to bring in. Most of the
4* and 5* are due to them being passed over by the elite teams due to some red flags popping up or maybe giving the Major Harris and Pat Whites a chance to play QB instead of moving them to WR or DB. Also finding that diamond in the rough and and putting them in a system where they can have success.

Is WVU a yearly top 10 team? NO. Are they top 20-25? Absolutely. There will be some runs (88, 93 and 05-07) they will be top 10 with outside shot of making it to the championship game. Yes, there will probably be that occasional down year (.500) also.
I'm not sold on this conference being any better than the original Big East with UM, VT and the better Cuse teams.

Playing in the Big XII should help recruiting also. Will be easier selling conference games with UT, OU, OSU than it is UConn, Rutgers and UC.
Improvement in the Bowl tie ins also.

[Raiderball]

Miami FL last year??? Realllly?
How many months did they have to prepare for Texas in 06? You were the one that said that earlier. Don't give me they had to play Akron, East. Mich or whatever MAC team it was that year before they could begin preparations for Texas.

If you can count that last years win against Miami I think you've got to consider WVU wins over Auburn and Maryland as good OOC wins. Throw in bowl wins over GT and UNC for WVU also.

[Peake]

The Big 12 right now is better then the Big East. Miami, FL was the old Miami but VT wasn't an elite program until the late 90's and the Cuse was not on the same level as Oklahoma and Texas playing for several National Titles. I don't really buy that explanation. I think you bring up legit points about WVU and how it looks to shake out. I don't really think this is a very good fit, because your recruiting base is the south and the east. Texas kids aren't going to jump ship and go to WVU. Time will tell.

The difference between the two is OSU went on the road to Texas and won during the regular season, but I guess that is the equivalent to beating Maryland right? Good for you beating Georgia and Oklahoma 4 and 5 years ago. It has nothing to do with nothing now. Different players, different coaching staff (for the most part). It has nothing to do with nothing.

Are we really comparing WVU and OSU? Is this what we are doing? In the past decade OSU has 3 BCS National Title appearances, case closed. They've produced a heisman trophy winner, tons of NFL talent, and most importantly won a National Title. There is no comparison. Wake me up when you play USC, Texas, and Miami, FL out of conference.

[seofan_via_dublin]

I love Peake arguing for OSU, you do it well!

[Charge]

I will never dog peake again, or at least I will try not to.

[Charge]

Raiderball, all anyone is saying is it will be hard to get a BCS game out of this conference. There are six Big 12 teams in the top 25 BCS rankings and only one Big East team, which is WVU at 25. So they would be 7th in that conference this year. There is really no argument, Big 12 is way better conference.

[Raiderball]

I wasn't the one making comparisons to OSU. Go back and check. My comment was in response to another post saying that OSU beating Miami last year was a good win. If that was a good win I think a win over Maryland is just as good. As for beating Texas, I agree, that was a good win for OSU but don't tell me they didn't spend August preparing for that game.

Miami/Maryland (Miami today is not the Miami of 10 yrs ago)
Texas 06/Oklahoma07

Move to Big XII not my first choice but is better than being in the sinking Big East. More natural rivals in ACC and/or SEC.

WVU has been getting a few kids from Texas over the last 3 yrs or so. Starting A Back and backup QB are both from Texas (Houston area I believe) and we have committments from a QB and DL in next years class. You are correct though that the main areas for recruiting are the south (Fl) and east (NJ, MD, DC, PA and OH).

Comparing the old BE to the current B12
Miami = UT, OU
VT, Cuse, BC, WVU = KSU, OSU, TT, TCU

[Raiderball]

Raiderball, all anyone is saying is it will be hard to get a BCS game out of this conference. There are six Big 12 teams in the top 25 BCS rankings and only one Big East team, which is WVU at 25. So they would be 7th in that conference this year. There is really no argument, Big 12 is way better conference.

I thought I said as much about the difficulty of reaching a BCS bowl in this conference. That should be obvious to anyone. I do think WVU will have their years though. Past history shows the possibility of 2 teams making it into BCS bowl. On top of that the bowl tie ins are much better here also.

To use the current rankings to say WVU would be the 7th best team in the conference this year is a little much though don't you think?

[Raiderball]

If WVU makes this move I hope B12 does not take in ND as member in all other sports like the BE has done.

[seofan_via_dublin]

My question is how will this affect WVU basketball.

The Big East is a better basketball conference, will WVU still be able to recruit NY and DC/East Coast with the recruits knowing that they will no longer play 1/2 their conference games on the in their back yard?

This time I'm not knocking, looking for an honest assessment.

[Raiderball]

My question is how will this affect WVU basketball.

The Big East is a better basketball conference, will WVU still be able to recruit NY and DC/East Coast with the recruits knowing that they will no longer play 1/2 their conference games on the in their back yard?

This time I'm not knocking, looking for an honest assessment.

I have those same questions concerning basketball recruiting in the NY/NJ metro area. When WVU made the run to the final four in 2010 there were 6 players on the roster from the area. This years roster shows 4 from that area.
As long as Huggins is there I think they will still be able to bring in a few players from that area. I'm sure with Huggins connections WVU will continue to play a few teams from NYC area.

This years class consists of players from Mi, Oh, Ct, Tx (2), NY, Fl and Pa. On paper it appears to be a solid class, of course, we all know that means nothing.

The loss of BE basketball is what I hate most about this conference realignment.
KU, Kstate, Tex, Ok St will be strong competition but still won't be like going through BE conference play. Also BE tourney in MSG. Definitely won't be the same.

[Charge]

Raiderball, all anyone is saying is it will be hard to get a BCS game out of this conference. There are six Big 12 teams in the top 25 BCS rankings and only one Big East team, which is WVU at 25. So they would be 7th in that conference this year. There is really no argument, Big 12 is way better conference.

I thought I said as much about the difficulty of reaching a BCS bowl in this conference. That should be obvious to anyone. I do think WVU will have their years though. Past history shows the possibility of 2 teams making it into BCS bowl. On top of that the bowl tie ins are much better here also.

To use the current rankings to say WVU would be the 7th best team in the conference this year is a little much though don't you think?

I was making the point about the difference in conferences. This year WVU is first in the Big East, which would get them a BCS game but if they were in the Big 12 they would be behind six other conference teams in the BCS.

[91blue14]

some good reading on here

[Raiderball]

Raiderball, all anyone is saying is it will be hard to get a BCS game out of this conference. There are six Big 12 teams in the top 25 BCS rankings and only one Big East team, which is WVU at 25. So they would be 7th in that conference this year. There is really no argument, Big 12 is way better conference.

I thought I said as much about the difficulty of reaching a BCS bowl in this conference. That should be obvious to anyone. I do think WVU will have their years though. Past history shows the possibility of 2 teams making it into BCS bowl. On top of that the bowl tie ins are much better here also.

To use the current rankings to say WVU would be the 7th best team in the conference this year is a little much though don't you think?

I was making the point about the difference in conferences. This year WVU is first in the Big East, which would get them a BCS game but if they were in the Big 12 they would be behind six other conference teams in the BCS.

I know/see what you're saying Charge but IMO hard to just look at rankings and make that assumption... isn't that a little like comparing scores (TT beat Oklahoma then turns around the next week and gets pummeled by Iowa State)? I just think you have to be playing a B12 schedule. Play a B12 schedule maybe WVU is higher than that... hell, maybe they're at the bottom of the conference.

[Jesco White]

From a standpoint of stepping up and getting yourself a spot at "the big kids' table", I love the move. Geographically, I hate the move. It's further proof of the insanity that is over-running college football. I think WVU is a solid program with positives to offer any major conference. As YTB mentioned earlier, I wouldn't have minded seeing them in the Big Ten (assuming that we are on a collision course with the days of a four 16-team super-conference college football era...which I believe we are). I agree with the concerns about basketball and the answer that Raiderball gave about Huggins providing some stability in terms of still being able to recruit all over, i.e. NY/NJ. But, I'll take it a step further, and ask; What happens when Huggy-Bear hangs it up? I realize that could be a while down the road, but then again, health issues or anything for that matter could change things. Obviously he proved in his short time at KSU that he can recruit in the Big-12, so I'm not too terribly concerned for the Mountaineers on the hardwood making the initial transition.

Overall, I think WVU makes the Big-12 better than Mizzou did in both football and basketball. Speaking of which, what in the H3LL were the powers that be thinking there? They were a middle of the road Big-12 school and now they are going to go to the top conference in college football!!!! That's going to be ugly!! I'm sure the folks at UK, Vanderbilt, etc are pumped though. lol

[Raiderball]

Jesco,
Good question on what happens to recruiting when Huggs decides to give it up. I hope Luck is still around whenever that time comes. I think he will be sure to bring in the best available replacement.

[NYBuckeye96]

All this conference shuffling and the only real winners are the top 4 conferences.

Big Ten is an obvious winner in pickup up Nebraska and the new championship game.

The SEC is now in bigger markets for media rights in Texas and Missouri and now has a recruiting presence in Texas.

The PAC 12 picks up the huge Denver market and now has a championship game.

The ACC, to a lesser extent, wins by pickup up some of the best teams from the Big East - VA Tech, Miami, Boston College and now Syracuse, and Pittsburgh.


The Big 12 looses overall and could ultimately die as a conference at some point. Lost Nebraska. Lost Colorado [loss of Denver market hurts more than loss of team]. Lost A&M. About to lose MIZZOU. Sure, TCU is a good pickup, but not as good as what they are loosing. Otherwise, TCU would have been added in '95 instead of A&M. True, WVU is a good program, but it doesn't have any media markets and is not a geographic fit. The Big 12 is now more spread out geographically [WVU], covers fewer major media markets [Denver, St. Louis, part of KC that would have been MIZZOU fans], and lost teams that could draw a national audience [Nebraska], and now has to share it's recruiting gold mine of Texas with the SEC [A&M]. I see the Big 12 as the old Big East ---- the one BCS league that would be willing to let Notre Dame play all sports but football. The old Big 12 would not have had to do this, but the new Big 12 would jump at that chance today. And most importantly, the Big 12 is full of teams who would jump at a chance to play in one of the conferences mentioned above if they are ever invited.

The Big East looses most of all. I think it ultimately costs it its automatic qualifyer. No team they are adding is in the national picture except Boise State and Boise can't make up for all that the Big East has lost. In fact, whats to say Boise won't be at the bottom of the standings 5 years down the road? They are not a traditional powerhouse. Boise State could be another Southern Miss. Have a few dominate years and then fizzle away and are forgotten about. You can't make up for loosing Miami, VA Tech, Boston College, Syracuse, Pittsburgh and WVU by adding SMU, Houson, UCF, Boise State, Navy and Air Force. If you consider the additions of a few years ago - UC, Louisville, USF with these new additions, the new Big East is like the old Conference USA. The Big East is now spread out geographically and doesn't have as many natural rivals.

You have to feel sorry for the Mountain West. All of these great additions in its young history and all they will have to show for it ---- the new Mountain West will be the old WAC.

The WAC will be the worst conference by far. Dropping below Conference USA, MAC, and Sunbelt. The old WAC had second tier schools. Those schools are now in the Mountain West and the new WAC is full of third tier schools.

Will Conference USA try to raid the MAC and Sunbelt again? Maybe. But they are still full of random teams that are not in the national spotlight and have no really strong sense of rivalry.

Even if the Mountain West and Conference USA consolidated for a championship game, the Big East is about to take all of the top schools from both conferences. Who is left over really isn't strong enough to qualify for an automatic bowl birth.

The MAC might end up loosing Temple, but they are football only so I really don't care either way.

The Sunbelt might end up loosing a Troy to Conference USA.

Bottom line is no conference other than the top 4 are stronger because of expansion. Most are signifcantly weaker. By having a clear top 4, it helps to set the stage for a 4 team playoff sometime down the road.