We may get to see WVU's baseball team on TV it seems. These should be on the Big Ten network, if nobody else picks it up...

The Charleston Daily Mail Wrote:WVU baseball to participate in Big East/Big Ten Challenge
By From staff reports
September 9, 2008

MORGANTOWN -- West Virginia University's baseball team will open the 2009 season by competing in the inaugural Big East/Big Ten Challenge hosted by the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Sports Commission on Feb. 20-22.

"This is a cutting-edge concept for Division I baseball," Big East Commissioner Mike Tranghese said. "It's a terrific opportunity for our teams to play against great competition in a setting that's conducive to high-level collegiate baseball."

"We've held our baseball championship in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area twice in the past three years, so we know that our teams are in for a wonderful experience."

The inter-conference competition will feature 27 games and give both northern-based conferences the opportunity to start the season competitively while playing in a warmer climate.

"We think it is a great idea," WVU Coach Greg Van Zant said. "We're excited for the opportunity to take part in something like this, and it's great for college baseball."

WVU will open its season against Indiana on Feb. 20, followed by games against Minnesota on Feb. 21 and Illinois on Feb. 22. Game times and venues will be announced at a later date.

8 teams from the Big East will play in this, and 10 from the Big 10. This is a great idea!

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – Two of the nation’s most prominent collegiate athletic conferences have come to an agreement to participate in a unique and ground-breaking season-opening baseball tournament in Florida. The inaugural BIG EAST/Big Ten Baseball Challenge, hosted by the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Sports Commission, will feature 27 games February 20-22, 2009, at various spring training venues in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area, API Marketing announced today.

All 10 of the Big Ten’s baseball-playing institutions will compete in the inaugural event, including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State and Purdue. Eight BIG EAST representatives will participate, including USF, Connecticut, Georgetown, St. John’s, Seton Hall, West Virginia, Cincinnati and Notre Dame.

Added BIG EAST Commissioner Michael Tranghese: "This is a cutting-edge concept for Division I baseball. It’s a terrific opportunity for our teams to play against great competition in a setting that’s conducive to high-level collegiate baseball. We’ve held our baseball championship in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area twice in the past three years, so we know that our teams are in for a wonderful experience."

BIG EAST/BIG TEN CHALLENGE MATCHUPS
February 20-22, 2009

Day 1 – Friday, February 20
Ohio State vs. Notre Dame
Penn State vs. St. John’s
Illinois vs. Iowa
Michigan State vs. Connecticut
Michigan vs. USF
Northwestern vs. Georgetown
Minnesota vs. Seton Hall
Indiana vs. West Virginia
Purdue vs. Cincinnati

Day 2 – Saturday, February 21
Michigan vs. Cincinnati
Purdue vs. USF
Penn State vs. Northwestern
Ohio State vs. Connecticut
Indiana vs. Georgetown
Illinois vs. Notre Dame
Minnesota vs. West Virginia
Michigan State vs. Seton Hall
Iowa vs. St. John’s

Day 3 – Sunday, February 22
Michigan vs. St. John’s
Ohio State vs. Cincinnati
Minnesota vs. Michigan State
Northwestern vs. Connecticut
Indiana vs. USF
Iowa vs. Georgetown
Purdue vs. Notre Dame
Penn State vs. Seton Hall
Illinois vs. West Virginia


http://www.bigeast.org/ViewArticle.dbml?...ID=1577764

I was planning on looking up the entire field myself. I just hadn't gotten around to it, since I was looking over the Charleston newspapers.

Thanks for covering that for me, bearcatfan...

Pretty interesting idea.....

I think it is a great idea for two leagues that struggle with OOC scheduling every year.

I have to wonder why Rutgers isn't participating. Although we generally have an extended Florida trip every year during Spring Break anyway. I'll assume that if this continues our OOC schedule which is usually easily filled will change accordingly.

This is a great idea....I'm sure the baseball coaches love this idea as opposed to being killed by southern teams who practice outside all year long

Jackson

Nice! And it's a chance for the Big East and Big Ten to "bond" as a conference even more. It's good to see the Big East hanging out with the BCS conferences.

I wonder why Louisville isn't going? None-the-less, I think this is a great idea. I'm glad we (the BEast) are in it first.

exactly, where is louisville, they get to the CWS and they're left out of the big ten/big east challenge? i know they're a heck of a lot more accomplished than seton hall. i don't really follow the sport too much but i was always under the impression our 3 best and most consistent teams the past couple of years were louisville, st johns, and rutgers and only one of the three makes it.

Why all the complaining? They only chose 8 teams from each conference. Who knows who'll get picked next year. This is going to be an annual affair...

do we know for sure this is an annual event? it seems like a great idea for the northern teams to get to play some games in decent weather in february for a change. on paper it looks a bit lopsided hopefully this is the year usf starts realizing some of that talent they've been stockpiling for the past couple of years with prado.

Quote:West Virginia University's baseball team will open the 2009 season by competing in the inaugural Big East/Big Ten Challenge hosted by the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Sports Commission on Feb. 20-22.

Look up the definition of inaugural...

bitcruncher Wrote:

Quote:West Virginia University's baseball team will open the 2009 season by competing in the inaugural Big East/Big Ten Challenge hosted by the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Sports Commission on Feb. 20-22.

Look up the definition of inaugural...

yes, it means first

we had the inaugural tampa classic with usf vs famu and last i checked we haven't played in 5 years and counting. so unless you can find something in writing that says this will be an annual showcase there is no gurantee that other teams such as rutgers or louisville will play in this challenge.

In press releases from both conferences, the word inaugural is used exclusively. I would imagine that both conferences understand the meaning of inaugural, and would use the term correctly.

USF and FAMU is another story. I often wonder if folks in Florida have any brains at all. I mean, look at all the problems they've had just getting people to vote the right way...