Article: "Source: Eers are In"

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For a couple of weeks I have reported on West Virginia's fight to be accepted as a member of the Southeastern Conference. My source is a individual who has well-placed contacts inside the WVU athletic department, as well as, substantial boosters. While we will not know how accurate he is until an announcement is actually made, I know first hand that his reports (published by LHB) have ruffled feathers (or coonskin caps) inside the WVU heirarchy and among big-money boosters in Morgantown. Here is his lastest (via email):

Chatter began to build late Friday afternoon and gained steam after the Big East meeting on Sunday that West Virginia University would soon leave the Big East and join the SEC.

Sources close to the Mountaineer program confirmed that WVU’s plan to compete in SEC athletics was approved by the SEC’s league office clearing the way for the Mountaineers to formally submit an application for membership.

The only remaining hurdle was quietly addressed in the Big East meeting on Sunday as the 14 remaining Big East schools voted to waive the required 27 month notification and allow Pittsburgh and Syracuse to participate in the ACC in 2012. The vote established a precedent that would allow the Mountaineers to compete in the SEC next year.

According to the same sources the SEC informed WVU midweek that the Mountaineers would be offered the 14th spot in the conference.

Widespread speculation that the Mountaineers would withdraw from the Big East on Sunday proved to be untrue but WVU officials resisted attempts from other Big East members and commissioner John Marinatto to raise the exit fee for the league.

WVU sources have no opinion on the growing national sentiment that Missouri would be the SEC’s choice over WVU. The Missouri Board of Curators reportedly will meet on Tuesday to discuss conference affiliation and it was widely assumed the Board would approve Missouri’s move to the SEC.

With the confidence within the Mountaineer program about SEC membership and the equally confident stance of Missouri regarding membership in the SEC one Mountaineer booster speculated that the SEC was intent of expanding to 16.

“The only think that makes sense is if both WVU and Missouri are invited to join the SEC.” he said.

According to the Mountaineer booster the SEC has told WVU the league plans to expand to 16 if Missouri decides to join the league.

WVU and Texas A&M would begin SEC play in 2012 . Missouri and the final 16th addition to the league would begin play in 2013.

The booster, who also has close ties to the Virginia Tech program, asserts that Virginia Tech was approached by the SEC to be part of a 16 team league but they (SEC) were rebuffed.

“Tech has complex political ties to the University of Virginia that would make it difficult for the Hokies to leave the ACC.”

He went on to say that Frank Beamer was vehemently opposed to switching conferences.

The Mountaineers have always been considered a long shot for SEC membership due to their small media market size. Apparently WVU athletic director Oliver Luck successfully pitched WVU’s national appeal and the growing population in West Virginia’s eastern panhandle that is part of the Washington D.C. market.

The Mountaineers also perform strongly in the Pittsburgh market.

The SEC reportedly liked WVU’s commitment to winning national championships in both football and basketball

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