Shocker of the week right here. The Big East has decided to file a countersuit against WVU.
"Today’s legal action underscores the Big East Conference’s stated position that it will vigorously pursue the enforcement of its rights and West Virginia University’s obligations under the conference’s Bylaws which West Virginia formally agreed to and helped construct," Marinatto said in the official release.
I said earlier this was just getting interesting when West Virginia filed their lawsuit against the conference. Now it has. This time, the Big East filed the suit on their own turf in Rhode Island.
The count against West Virginia is as followed:
1) Breach of Contract
The Big East is essentially saying that by publicly stating that WVU wanted to join and would do whatever it takes to get to the Big 12 by 2012, the school breached its contract with the Big East (that WVU helped write, no less) and the Big East is seeking damages, including staying in the conference until July of 2014 and other legal fees. I do enjoy this part of the suit.
42. As a direct and proximate result of WVU’s breach, Plaintiff has suffered and will continue to suffer
substantial damages and irreparable harm, as set forth above
The Big East was already viewed as a weak football conference with the Mountaineers. Without them, they're still a weak football conference. The only way there's "irreparable harm" is as I said last night: If WVU leaves, Pitt and Syracuse are also leaving. The Big East has to, unfortunately, set a precedent here. The situation has gotten very ugly, very fast. Thankfully, Pitt is not involved and it'd be nice to keep it that way.
If you're so inclined, here's a copy of the Big East's complaint.