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Pickin' and Grinnin': College football goes to the courts
SportingNews.com ^ | June 12, 2003 | Matt Hayes

Posted on 06/16/2003 3:42:10 AM PDT by putupon

Pickin' and Grinnin': College football goes to the courts

June 12, 2003

The unthinkable has happened. College football is now mirroring society. Let's all officially welcome the group entering through the back door, with their shiny suits and plastic hair and their arguments for the sake of argument. Ladies and gentlemen, lawyers and politicians have their slithery sights set on our sacred game.

The problem: They were invited by five jilted and jaded girlfriends from the Big East, who can't understand why The Bachelor didn't pick them.

Officials from Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Pittsburgh, Connecticut and Rutgers have filed suit against the ACC, charging that the league and Miami and Boston College conspired to leave the Big East more than a year ago, despite Miami's assurances that it wasn't going anywhere. Yeah, so?

It's as comical as it is pathetic. The ACC decides to expand and invites Miami, Boston College and Syracuse. Those who don't get invites revert to a cycle that any freshmen psychology major could explain. First you kiss, then you beg, then you file suit.

And if all else fails, call your governor for help.

Someone please tell the honorable Gov. Mark Warner that his state has a $535 million shortfall of support for basic education. Let's see, the Hokies in the BCS (which is what this is all about), or the educational welfare of children in Virginia?

A quick aside to the honorable West Virginia Gov. Bob Wise: Don't even think about it. You've got a school there in Huntington that, along with the other 50-plus teams not in the Big Six confernces, has been getting screwed by the BCS since its inception. Can't back one state school and not the other; let WVU take this frivolous fight alone.

The Futile Five started out by joining hands and pleading for unity at the Big East meetings last month. This was the kissing stage. We still love you, we can make it work, we'll pay more attention (give you more money) to you. Then comes the begging stage. For this, we look to Virginia Tech.

First, the Hokies tried to get Warner to politically pressure Virginia into agreeing to expansion only if Tech was involved. Didn't work. The Hokies also tried a fancy double reverse, having a group of university bigwigs travel to the ACC offices and beg for admission. Once that failed, the next stage was inevitable: litigation.

Since when did entitlement become the right of every American? The Futile Five weren't too concerned about the rest of the Division I teams getting hosed by the BCS's monopoly not so long ago. So now, when it suits their needs, they're high and mighty.

What we have here is a group of schools getting booted from an exclusive club they helped form in the 1990s, and now their noses are suddenly pressed against the windows looking in. Does anyone else see the irony?

Instead wasting time and effort and money with pointless litigation, perhaps the Futile Five and Big East commish Mike Tranghese should focus their efforts on landing Notre Dame and keeping their automatic BCS bid. There's a solid base with the Futile Five; Pitt and Tech are among the nation's top 25, and West Virginia is on its way back. Then there's Connecticut, which could be a major player, given time.

And if all else fails, simply adhere to the last stage of denial: acceptance


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Connecticut; US: Florida; US: Georgia; US: Maryland; US: Massachusetts; US: New Jersey; US: New York; US: North Carolina; US: Pennsylvania; US: South Carolina; US: Virginia; US: West Virginia
KEYWORDS: 2livecrew; acc; bigeast; dannyford; dimrats; eliangonzalez; freeshoesu; georgeallen; jebbush; jerrykilgore; johnwarner; lawyers; markwarner; parolewideright; probation; probationbackfield; ratublicans; republicrats; rinos; sleaze; sue; vatech; vatechgirlyschedule; workrelease
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And if all else fails, call your governor for help.

Someone please tell the honorable Gov. Mark Warner that his state has a $535 million shortfall of support for basic education. Let's see, the Hokies in the BCS (which is what this is all about), or the educational welfare of children in Virginia?

Matt Hayes left out that the RINOs, RATublicans, and RepublicRATs of the Commonwealth of Virginia, aka the other Warner, Senator George Allen, and state Attorney General Jerry Kilgore refused to let principle stand in the way of politics and followed MarkyMark Warner's DimRAT lead.

At least Gov. Jeb Bush is showing some character.

1 posted on 06/16/2003 3:42:11 AM PDT by putupon
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To: putupon
For all of you who think that the betrayal of the Big East conference was done cleanly with all the cards on the table, remember you are siding with Clintonite Donna Shalala, the UM President who stated publicly and privately that UM had no plan or thought to leave the BE conference. Personally I could care less how it ends up but I hate to see liars get what they want, do you?
2 posted on 06/16/2003 3:53:48 AM PDT by doosee
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To: doosee
" Personally I could care less how it ends up but I hate to see liars get what they want, do you?"

You mean you hate all politicians, lawyers, doctors, car salesmen (new and used), CEO's, priests, and sport figures???
3 posted on 06/16/2003 4:05:43 AM PDT by Beck_isright (When Senator Byrd landed on an aircraft carrier, the blacks were forced below shoveling coal...)
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To: putupon; doosee
Officials from Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Pittsburgh, Connecticut and Rutgers have filed suit against the ACC, charging that the league and Miami and Boston College conspired to leave the Big East more than a year ago, despite Miami's assurances that it wasn't going anywhere.
 
Awww... couldn't happen to a nicer, more upstanding bunch.  I mean, it's not like they told Temple they were members of the big east in good standing in 1998 when the University spent 7 million dollars on a new Football training facility and then held a secret vote to push them out of the conference.
Mike Tranghese and his b.e. A.D. cadre are getting their just desserts.  Honor among thieves...
 

Owl_Eagle

”Guns Before Butter.”

4 posted on 06/16/2003 5:15:34 AM PDT by End Times Sentinel ("It is unlikely there'll be a reduction in the wages of sin.")
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To: doosee
Click on Jeb Bush link in post 1. You are going against him.

Shalalala is diesel dyke Clintonite, but her job is to do what's best for UM right now. Also so is an alum of that school, so she is a least showing a little class, unlike SENATOR GEORGE ALLEN & STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL GOVENOR WANNABE JERRY KILGORE OF VIRGINIA who are both perfectly willing to scrap both limited governance GOP principles and allegiance to the Alma Mater. What a disappointment that pair has turned out to be.

The contract is clear:1 year notice and 1 million dollars, and a school is free to leave. bottom line, end of story (or should be).

Besides that, the Big East Brainiacs are too stoopid to see, even though everyone has known for over 2 years, that FSU and UM want to be in the same conference and the SEC has an open door for them.

What the fools are going accomplish by this, besides making some sleazeball lawyers and politicians richer, is trashing both conferences, and sucking up all oxygen from the SEC so-EARTH TO BLACKSBURG, UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE ALERT! there is no room for any other teams who want in

5 posted on 06/16/2003 6:07:57 AM PDT by putupon (Do not FRemove this Tag Under Penalty of Law)
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To: Owl_Eagle
And what about VaTech? First they beg on their hands and knees to be the 3rd team in the deal, then when that doesn't happen, they start sing that honor, loyalty, turkeyspit lawsuit song. Hypocrites big time!!!
6 posted on 06/16/2003 6:15:23 AM PDT by putupon (Do not FRemove this Tag Under Penalty of Law)
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To: putupon
Miami was never a good fit for the Big East, geographically culturally or competitively. What they did bring to the table was football money and the prestige of their national titles and BCS Bowl appearances. While they seem a bit mismatched culturally with the highbrow ACC, UM at least has Florida State as a neighbor/rival who can be just as cruel and cutthroat as they are. And the Criminoles' dominance of ACC football has been rarely questioned. Even when their QBs go to jail, Florida State still manages to get the BCS bid.

But the ACC wants 12 schools, not ten, so they can have a conference championship game and the money it makes. So they courted Syracuse and Boston College for no real reason other than the schools give them visibility in the New York and New England television markets. Geographically, an easier fit would be Virginia Tech and East Carolina but they don't help television-wise.

The Big East has always been strange for an athletic conference because it allows schools with no football program (Georgetown, St. Johns, Villanova, etc.) to join them for basketball and not football. So the football part of the conference has always lacked stature - that was, until Miami joined. Now, like the gold-diggers they are, Miami is moving on to what it sees as a richer boyfriend. They've had their boob job and are just marrying up.

The little five consist of two schools (UConn and Rutgers) that are unlikely to be football powers anytime soon. So what we are *really* talking about is Pittsburgh, West Virginia and Virginia Tech being left at the altar. They can fantasize about Notre Dame joining them for football, as it did for basketball but, get real. The Irish are in the ideal situation football-wise and wouldn't even seriously consider joining the more prestigious Big 10 (11) conference to give up their rich NBC contract. That 12th spot in the Big 10 is really reserved for Notre Dame. Everyone knows it.

Pittsburgh could make overtures to the Big 10 and might woo them with the appeal of competitive football and basketball programs and a good media market, not to mention a built-in rivalry with Penn State. But, to do so, the Big 10 has to give up its own fantasy of landing the Irish.

And there's a strong possibiltiy that the dominoes will land on Conference USA which has some schools (Louisville, Cincinnati) that would like to see their football programs move up and other schools (Tulane, Houston) whose football programs might go under. Might Virginia Tech and West Virginia find some new partners?

As for the politicians, why be surprised either at their mettling or their grandstanding? It's what they do and what some of their voters (alumni) even expect them to do. But, in the end, they don't have the authority to make anything happen here, other than troll for voters.

As someone who thought Miami and Florida State had a far too easy road to get to a BCS Bowl every year, I actually welcome the merger because then one or the other might not get to go every year. Let them find out what the Big XII and SEC schools already know - that you can beat yourself silly trying to get to a conference titile game, lose there, and wind up with the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl or the Culligan Water Holiday Bowl as your reward. They can ask Florida how fun that prospect is - if they're still on speaking terms with the Gators.

7 posted on 06/16/2003 6:59:45 AM PDT by Tall_Texan (Why aren't we checking the DNC for WMDs?)
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To: putupon; Mudboy Slim; Coop; AppyPappy
What a disappointment that pair has turned out to be.

Just curious. Does that now mean you'll vote for Mark Warner when he challenges Senator Allen? And will you vote for Tim Kaine for Governor instead of Jerry Kilgore?

This still comes down to the fact that these are all state officials weighing in on a decision that could have an adverse affect on a state institution.

And for the record, while yes, I am pro-Virginia Tech, I am more concerned that you would insult the integrity of George Allen and Jerry Kilgore just because you disagree with them.

8 posted on 06/16/2003 7:01:53 AM PDT by Corin Stormhands (http://wardsmythe.crimsonblog.com)
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To: doosee
Not only that, BC and Miami both promised to stay in the Big East and decisions were made by other schools based on those contracted promises.
9 posted on 06/16/2003 7:17:20 AM PDT by AppyPappy (If You're Not A Part Of The Solution, There's Good Money To Be Made In Prolonging The Problem.)
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To: Corin Stormhands
could have an adverse affect on a state institution.

Last time I checked, Charlottesville was located in Virginia.

Does that now mean you'll vote for Mark Warner when he challenges Senator Allen? And will you vote for Tim Kaine for Governor instead of Jerry Kilgore?

The Hokies will vote for Warner, he was the leader in this, Allen and Kilgore are just his followers. Besides, Warner is a 'RAT and is expected to do stoopid stuff like court ordered legislation, Allen and Kilgore are supposed to know better. As for who to vote for or against, if an election were to be held tommorrow with any of candidates you mention, I would probably write in Al Groh.

At least with the 'RATs, you know you are going to get screwed, it hurts alot more when alleged republicans stab you in the back. I'm not alone either, there are a whole lot of disgruntled conservatives over at thesabre.com.

And again, what VPI is going to accomplish here is the destruction of both conferences. Its ACC or SEC for UM AND FSU, bottom line. NO UM in the BE no matter what, so instead of whining, crying, and calling lawyers like a carload of trailer trash thats been in a minor traffic accident, the Hokies should have been working on what to do with what remains.

Going undefeated against JMU, UR, Hampden Sydney, and Randolf Macon isn't going to get either team in as much as the Possum Bowl in Possum Holler, WVA for post season play.

AL GROH FOR SENATE!, CRAIG LITTLEPAGE FOR GOVENOR!

10 posted on 06/16/2003 7:40:41 AM PDT by putupon (Do not FRemove this Tag Under Penalty of Law)
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To: Tall_Texan
While I agree with your analysis, the root of the problem is the NCAA bureaucracy. If the ACC could have their top 2 teams meet in December for a "conference championship", then there would be no need to go to 12 teams. It is the artificial requirement that a conference have 12 teams before it is "allowed" to have a championship game that causes the problem.
11 posted on 06/16/2003 7:43:29 AM PDT by Aegedius
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To: Corin Stormhands
I'm on Va. Tech's side on this.
12 posted on 06/16/2003 7:44:09 AM PDT by Coop (God bless our troops!)
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To: putupon
there are a whole lot of disgruntled conservatives over at thesabre.com.

Don't let the door hit you on the arse on your way out.

13 posted on 06/16/2003 7:48:04 AM PDT by Corin Stormhands (http://wardsmythe.crimsonblog.com)
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To: AppyPappy
Not only that, BC and Miami both promised

Where, over drinks at the 19th hole? Whats in writing is one million dollars and one year notice.

How many people would believe that any school belong to a conference where an informal verbal statement trumped a written contract, anyhow?

This has been no secret anyhow, everyone has known for at least two years what UM wanted.

And how does that jive with the Hokies crawling on their knees begging to be part of the ACC, then, when not included, they join their noortheastern liberal friends at UConn in a trailertrash frivolous lawsuit talking about some mysterious verbal promise? The Hokies did their best to sell out their BE bretheren that are now feeling so much love with.

Truth really hurts sometimes, but it can't be denied, VPI is a bunch of hypocrites, Kilgore and Allen are a pair of RINOs who would trade their mothers' dentures for a vote.

14 posted on 06/16/2003 8:00:19 AM PDT by putupon (Do not FRemove this Tag Under Penalty of Law)
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To: putupon
Ideal SEC conference

EAST

VPI*
East Carolina*
South Carolina
Georgia
Florida
Tennessee
Vanderbilt


WEST

Alabama
Auburn
Ole Miss
MSU
LSU
Kentucky
Texas A&M*


*new members (all the contiguous states representing the Old Confederacy)

15 posted on 06/16/2003 8:10:48 AM PDT by meandog (Do unto others as you would have them do unto you...)
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To: putupon
And how does that jive with the Hokies crawling on their knees begging to be part of the ACC

I assume you have pictures of this. Didn't think so.

And how does that jive with the Hokies crawling on their knees begging to be part of the ACC

Have fun with your boy, Mark Warner. I'll stick with the Republicans.

16 posted on 06/16/2003 8:15:01 AM PDT by AppyPappy (If You're Not A Part Of The Solution, There's Good Money To Be Made In Prolonging The Problem.)
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To: AppyPappy
I assume you have pictures of this. Didn't think so.

What planet have you been on AP? Everyone thats been following the story knows and has seen a copy of the letter first requesting that VPI get the slot that SU will be offered. UVa tried to hold out for you ingrates too at your Democrat buddy Warner's request. Only GT and UVa wanted ya'll. The RINO's didn't get involved until ya'll joined lowrent leftwing lawsuit.

From the article posted that you must have missed:
First, the Hokies tried to get Warner to politically pressure Virginia into agreeing to expansion only if Tech was involved. Didn't work.

Like a spoiled bunch of leftwing legislate from the bench socialists, ya'll say "well, if we can't play, nobody can play. Wah-wah-wah, daddy Warner, that mean 'ol ACC is pickin' on us, wah-wah, save us, we're too weak to take care of ourselves, wah-wah"

17 posted on 06/16/2003 9:08:02 AM PDT by putupon (Do not FRemove this Tag Under Penalty of Law)
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To: Corin Stormhands
Don't let the door hit you on the arse on your way out.

You miss the point, which was that the RINOs will feel the consequences for this from conservatives other than myself. Thesabre is a sports related board where politics played a small role, untill VaTech decided it was appropriate.

Actually, it was the Hokies from techsideline.com who wrote all the original letters that got Warner involved.

As for leaving, no such luck for RINOs, hypocrites, and their enablers. I'm on FR for the long haul.

18 posted on 06/16/2003 9:16:14 AM PDT by putupon (Do not FRemove this Tag Under Penalty of Law)
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To: meandog
So you want to throw us out?
19 posted on 06/16/2003 9:34:25 AM PDT by razorback-bert (White Devils for Al-Sharpton 2004... Texas Chapter)
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To: putupon
Actually, it was the Hokies from techsideline.com who wrote all the original letters that got Warner involved.

Well, shame on the Governor for responding to his constituents. What was he thinking?

20 posted on 06/16/2003 9:52:13 AM PDT by Corin Stormhands (http://wardsmythe.crimsonblog.com)
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