While the University of Missouri continues to weigh their options and figure out the best time to announce their intention to leave the Big 12 for the greener pastures of the SEC, the Big 12 is not sitting idly on their hands waiting for Mizzou to make a decision.
On Tuesday, according to ESPN and Big 12 sources, the Big 12 has told West Virginia that it will soon be accepted as a member of the Big 12 conference. Original reports assumed that the invitation was contingent on Mizzou's departure to the SEC, but since, sources have suggested that West Virginia will become a member regardless of what happens with Missouri.
West Virginia becomes the second Big East school that the Big 12 has poached in the past 30 days. The conference announced that TCU would become a member of the conference beginning in 2012 earlier this month.
While adding West Virginia seems to be a move to strengthen the conference depth in football and send a signal of strength to Mizzou and the entire nation, not all members of the Big 12 seem to be united.
Texas Tech head coach Tommy Tuberville initially sounded thrilled to add West Virginia, citing that "It's just an excellent college town and they play very good football. ... It's a heck of an atmosphere."
But Tuberville then publically questioned whether West Virginia was the best geographic fit and suggested that Louisville would have been a better option.
Tuberville's statements are exactly what the conference does not need, especially if they hoped to make a last second charge to keep Mizzou in the mix.
Mizzou's biggest concern and biggest reason for wanting to leave seems to be tied with stability within the conference and lack of cohesion and unity moving forward.
But as Tuberville's comments suggest, even as the Big 12 adds potent new members, the conference still has work to do when it comes to standing united.
Sources:
On Tuesday, according to ESPN and Big 12 sources, the Big 12 has told West Virginia that it will soon be accepted as a member of the Big 12 conference. Original reports assumed that the invitation was contingent on Mizzou's departure to the SEC, but since, sources have suggested that West Virginia will become a member regardless of what happens with Missouri.
West Virginia becomes the second Big East school that the Big 12 has poached in the past 30 days. The conference announced that TCU would become a member of the conference beginning in 2012 earlier this month.
While adding West Virginia seems to be a move to strengthen the conference depth in football and send a signal of strength to Mizzou and the entire nation, not all members of the Big 12 seem to be united.
Texas Tech head coach Tommy Tuberville initially sounded thrilled to add West Virginia, citing that "It's just an excellent college town and they play very good football. ... It's a heck of an atmosphere."
But Tuberville then publically questioned whether West Virginia was the best geographic fit and suggested that Louisville would have been a better option.
"It's hard to get to West Virginia. Man, I don't know whether these people realize ... because you've got to go to Pittsburgh and then you've got an hour and a half ride to Morgantown."
"I thought it would be Louisville. I thought they would be a better fit for the situation for the Big 12. It's just the distance and travel is going to be different for everybody and just being able to get there and for fans to get in and out."So while the conference tries to strengthen itself by adding legitimate new members, it continues to be an organization of instability as one of its main institutions is already questioning the addition of the Mountaineers to the conference.
Tuberville's statements are exactly what the conference does not need, especially if they hoped to make a last second charge to keep Mizzou in the mix.
Mizzou's biggest concern and biggest reason for wanting to leave seems to be tied with stability within the conference and lack of cohesion and unity moving forward.
But as Tuberville's comments suggest, even as the Big 12 adds potent new members, the conference still has work to do when it comes to standing united.
Sources:
Dangit, the big twelve should just get Boston College.
ReplyDeleteMissouri is making a huge mistake in leaving a conference they helped make and a conference where they were about average in quality to a the best football conference in America. That does not make sense other than to make an extra buck. Yet in the long run they will see decreasing fan support as they become another Vanderbelt in the SEC.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Tommy does not want to play WVU in any sport - WVU is great in football BUT far SUPERIOR in basketball.
ReplyDeleteMaybe he likes playing the little sister's more- BUT bring your A game to Morgantown