Big East Expansion Update

[Aughnanure]

Navy joins for football in 2015, Air Force next?

http://www.norwichbulletin.com/sports/x767704523/Navy-Big-East-join-forces-for-15-season

Signs pointing to settlement between Big East and West Virginia

http://www.sundaygazettemail.com/Sports/todayssportscolumn/201201190295?page=1&build=cache

http://vuhoops.com/2012/01/20/wvu-lawsuit-should-they-settle/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+VUhoops+%28VUhoops.com+Villanova+Basketball+News%2C+Blog%2C+%26+Information%29

[GOO]

I wonder who the 12th football team will be.  BYU and Airforce said no.  Do they reconsider?

I say no settlement with WVU, unless it is for big money that really covers all of the damges.  I'm thinking 20 to 30 million as a guesstimate.  Get a damage award, it could be hugh:  Lost TV revenue for the BE, lost games and money from TV and ticket sales, etc, to the extent that decent games can't be lined up for 2012.  Are punative damages an option, since the WVU  acted recklessly in violating the bylaws? 

[Aughnanure]

Word around Twitter and other team's message boards is something like $27 million.

[GGGG]

Word around Twitter and other team's message boards is something like $27 million.

That's a nice number, but on a per school basis isn't exactly a windfall.

I know that fans with no monetary interest involved never want to settle, but the article lays out the reasons why it is in the interests of both parties to settle and move on.  BTW, which is what I predicted would happen from the beginning.

What is odd though is that the BE has no contingency plans should WVU leave immediately.  That means a seven team football conference.  Could be that part of the compromise is that WVU must play BE football in 2012?

[Aughnanure]

What is odd though is that the BE has no contingency plans should WVU leave immediately.  That means a seven team football conference.  Could be that part of the compromise is that WVU must play BE football in 2012?

But the Big 12 needs 10 teams for 2012 as well.

[GGGG]

But the Big 12 needs 10 teams for 2012 as well.

Ah, I didn't think Mizzou's departure to the SEC was official yet...obviously I missed that.