I never thought I'd be writing about West Virginia U.S. Senator Joe Manchin in a post on SB Nation Pittsburgh, but here we are. The senator is threatening an investigation after reports that Kentucky senator Mitch McConnell helped stop West Virginia University's admittance into the Big 12.

The Times report said Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) had lobbied to the Big 12 on Louisville's behalf on Tuesday night, specifically to Oklahoma President David Boren, who is a former U.S. Senator, halting West Virginia's admittance to the Big 12.

Manchin said he hopes the report is not accurate and that the Big 12 is simply finishing its due diligence before officially accepting West Virginia.

There's definitely a good joke in here about how the only way to make the conference realignment process even sillier is to get U.S. Senators involved. If they do - or if they continue to - this story could drag on for quite a while.

For more on the WVU Mountaineers, check out the Smoking Musket.