Pitt Sues Big East

We already know Pitt and Syracuse are leaving the Big East for the ACC. Currently due to the Big East's insane by-laws the two schools are not scheduled to leave until July 1, 2014. Pittsburgh just filed a lawsuit because of this so they can join July 1, 2013. The school wants to join the ACC in just over a year which makes plenty of sense.

The two schools informed the league of their move in September and with the 27 month waiting period can't leave until that date. Only last time I checked 27 months from September 2011 would be December 2013. The Big East is trying to get a few extra months here and so is Pitt They are obviously trying to do this so a move does not have to occur midseason. You would assume that Pitt would win here because it is closer to their date and they have several good points in the lawsuit, but it should be interesting. I think Pitt would rather move in December 2013 instead of July 2014 too even if it is midseason.

The Big East will already have 12 football members in 2013 so there is no need to have Syracuse and Pitt in the conference from that standpoint. Multiple sources have apparently said the schools will be able to join the ACC in 2013, but the schools seem to want to pursue legal action in case the Big East tries something.

Pitt has released the following statement on this issue.

"Since the University of Pittsburgh made the decision to join the Atlantic Coast Conference, we have done everything possible to move through a smooth transition with the Big East. Though we have been excluded from governance activities, meetings, decision-making and operational functions of the conference, we have been positive and respectful of the Big East.

"On September 26, 2011, when we notified the Big East that we were withdrawing from the conference, we paid the first half of the exit fee of $5 million. When the 2012-13 season is complete, we will have competed in the Big East for two seasons, thus providing ample time to re-form the Big East Conference for the future. Beginning with the 2013-14 season, the Big East will actually have four more football playing schools and more schools overall than when we gave notice that we were moving to a different conference.

"Although the Big East's stated position is that we must stay through the 2013-14 season, the Big East acknowledged publicly that a discussion of our departure after the 2012-13 season was appropriate. A few weeks ago, Steve Pederson met with John Marinatto to begin the process to work toward an exit after this upcoming academic year. The Commissioner indicated that he was doing this with the authorization of the Chair of the Big East Presidents. However, attempts to contact the Big East in the following weeks to move the process forward have been unsuccessful, leading us to conclude that negotiations would not occur. Given the change in leadership of the Big East and the lack of response to our attempted contacts, on Friday, May 11, 2012, we filed a law suit in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, seeking resolution of this matter. We are confident in our position as stated in the complaint, but believe that this matter is best resolved between the parties. We have notified the Big East of this action, and continue to hope that our departure can be accommodated through private negotiations."

-Noland