The Big East will lose three of their premier teams in the coming years as Pittsburgh and Syracuse depart for the ACC and West Virginia bolts for the SEC. The only question left is when will they join their new conferences. The Conference calls for a 27-month exit plan for any school that wants to leave the conference, but in the age of instant gratification, that might be a little bit too long for any of these teams to wait.
But according to Matt Hayes at the Sporting News (via our Cardiac Hill), the Big East might just stick to their guns and force the three teams to wait out the 27 months, despite their attempts to leave the conference early.
A high-placed Big East source told Sporting News that not only will the Big East not back off its 27-month notice of withdrawal for West Virginia, Pitt and Syracuse, but there’s “no chance” the three wayward universities can buy their way out of the contract – for any amount of money – and leave in time for the 2012 season.
“It’s not about money,” the Big East source said. “It never has been.”
Waiting a full two football seasons to leave the conference would be torture for these schools, and it would give the entire conference a lame duck feel for a couple of uncomfortable seasons. I understand that the Big East doesn't is a proud conference and doesn't want to lose these schools, but it will be interesting to see if they change their tune over the course of the next 27 or so months.