West Virginia To Big 12? Mountaineers Fans Hope For 'Relief'

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Big 12 expansion rumors have long pegged either the West Virginia Mountaineers or Louisville Cardinals as the likeliest program to catch a lifeboat away from the flailing Big East. Just picture a boat sinking while flailing. Why does it have arms! The Big East is like that.

While a report broke Tuesday in the New York Post that WVU will get the call-up, 'Eers fans remain cautious -- not to mention wishing the SEC had pounced first. But, of course, just about anything is better than the Big East.

We turned to WVUIE97 of the excellent West Virginia blog The Smoking Musket for insight from the Mountain State:

If this report that WVU is headed to the Big XII is true, it would be a welcome relief to WVU fans and administrators. The Big East is viewed by most as an unsavable sinking ship with little to no stability. The fans just want out and into a better situation. The Big XII may not be the most stable conference out there (they are at least addressing concerns), but it is a far-and-away better option than remaining in the Big East. Travel would be an issue for fans and even more so for the non-revenue sports, but the added benefits vastly outweigh the negatives.

As far as the marquee sports of football and basketball, WVU would be able to compete, and fans are already looking forward to a more attractive home football schedule and better bowl options. The SEC was and still is the first choice by many fans on our site and most others I know, but it seems that numbers of television sets mean more than a solid program/athletic department on the rise, and that's a shame.    

For more on the 'Eers, visit West Virginia blog The Smoking Musket. And stay tuned here for more conference realignment news.