(07-01-2016 07:31 AM)Johnny Incognito Wrote:  Playing in the best football conference we have ever been a part of. We play Oklahoma, Texas, Oklahoma St, and TCU every year. Lots of great fans in the Big 12. Making big bucks. Team has more depth. If Dana ever gets a stud at qb (next year) we gonna be real good.

So, no. Dumb question. Next.

^^^^
This!!

I don't think WV was hurt at all by the move to the B12. The prestige in playing in the B12 makes up for playing in a tougher conference compared to a more winnable one (BE). They would've certainly had been hurt worse if they hadn't joined the B12, which takes you back to the right move question. It was definitely the right move & I don't think that you should separate the questions.

In 2012, WV still had Geno Smith at QB, who was considered a Heisman candidate that year. WV was picked to finish 2nd in the Big 12, according to the media poll. But it ended up finishing 4-5 in the conference (bottom half) and then lost the Pinstripe bowl to Syracuse.

Since then, the conference records have been:
2013: 2-7 (no bowl)
2014: 5-4 (lost Liberty Bowl vs TA&M)
2015: 4-5 (won Cactus Bowl vs Arizona St)


Prior to that, from 2003 to 2011, West Virginia usually finished first or second in the Big East and usually with no more than two conf losses.

(07-01-2016 05:54 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(06-30-2016 11:56 PM)UTEPDallas Wrote:  I've never understood the hate WVU gets for making a decision that any school in its situation would've done.

It's jealousy. Obviously, joining the Big 12 was the only move for WVU to make, and they are far better off being in the Big 12 than they would be in the AAC.

Heck, the later dissolution of the Big East and then the financial collapse of the AAC removed any doubt. And there wasn't any doubt to begin with.

I sure as hell wish USF had been in WVU's shoes since 2012. I'd be counting my blessings.

I think much of the anger that was directed at WVU at the time stemmed from the comments from Luck. He was stating for months that WVU would be leaving he just didn't know where or when. looking back he was being upfront but I think many thought such talk helped to make the league unstable. Behind the scenes I'm guessing now was anything but stable. I think the manner in which tbey left and some of the comments also contributed to the anger.
WVU did what they thought they needed to do. jUst like everyone else that left did and what UConn,Cincy andUSF would have done given the opportuity

I missed the part where WVU had any real alternatives....
It was either:
Stay in the disintegrating BE, which is now the super-awesome AAC
...OR...
Jump to the B12.

Has the B12 "hurt" WVU??? There is only ONE answer:
HELL NO.
The B12 saved WVU.

West Virginia and Louisville are both ecstatic to be where we are.

(07-01-2016 05:09 PM)gosports1 Wrote:  

(07-01-2016 05:54 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(06-30-2016 11:56 PM)UTEPDallas Wrote:  I've never understood the hate WVU gets for making a decision that any school in its situation would've done.

It's jealousy. Obviously, joining the Big 12 was the only move for WVU to make, and they are far better off being in the Big 12 than they would be in the AAC.

Heck, the later dissolution of the Big East and then the financial collapse of the AAC removed any doubt. And there wasn't any doubt to begin with.

I sure as hell wish USF had been in WVU's shoes since 2012. I'd be counting my blessings.

I think much of the anger that was directed at WVU at the time stemmed from the comments from Luck. He was stating for months that WVU would be leaving he just didn't know where or when. looking back he was being upfront but I think many thought such talk helped to make the league unstable. Behind the scenes I'm guessing now was anything but stable. I think the manner in which tbey left and some of the comments also contributed to the anger.
WVU did what they thought they needed to do. jUst like everyone else that left did and what UConn,Cincy andUSF would have done given the opportuity

As a USF fan, I lived through that whole process, including WVU's behavior during that time. I wasn't angered by them 5 years ago, and I never have been since. They did what they felt they had to do to safely remain in a Power league, and IMO that's the most important thing in all of college athletics so their focus and actions were not only understandable, they were completely rational. They vigorously pursued their own interests, that's what I hope USF admins are always doing, too.

I only regret that USF has (so far) failed. But that wasn't WVU's fault.

(06-30-2016 09:19 AM)Captain Bearcat Wrote:  In a vacuum, yes. Pitt, Syracuse, and West Virginia were all better in the Big East than they are today.

However, a hypothetical Big East with only 2 of those 3 would have left the remaining two worse off than they are today. That's why the Big East really fell apart - the 3 linchpins of the conference didn't trust each other not to bolt. The ACC played this masterfully - telling Syracuse and Pitt that if either of them said no, they'd go ahead and invite UConn instead. The Big 12 also tried to play WVU and Pitt off against each other, but the ACC was able to strike first.

That never happened...at all. It was a nice story, though.

West Virginia acted in the best interests of themselves. That's their job and they made the best decision they could with the information available at the time. It just so happens that they hit a rough patch in football. Do we question Texas's decision to stay in the Big 12 since they haven't been all that and a bag of potato chips lately? Nope, but some like to question where Texas ends up even though they've been the glue holding the rest of the Big 12 together and don't seem intent on moving.

(06-30-2016 03:08 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  You have to look at the AAC last year.
Houston, Navy, Temple and Memphis >West Virginia
We never heard much about the Big 12 except for Baylor and TCU. AAC got the most news highlights last year than the Big 12.

^ ? You do know Oklahoma is in the Big 12 right? They made the playoff.

Cheers!

I am envious of WVU to get in a P5 when the chance came available. They were competitive and deserved the shot. Having said that, will WVU ever be competitive to the level they were in during the Big East again. Being a good P5 (Big 12-2) team is great, moneywise, but where will it leave them if the conference folds.

(07-01-2016 10:19 PM)sierrajip Wrote:  I am envious of WVU to get in a P5 when the chance came available. They were competitive and deserved the shot. Having said that, will WVU ever be competitive to the level they were in during the Big East again. Being a good P5 (Big 12-2) team is great, moneywise, but where will it leave them if the conference folds.

If WVU had gone to the SEC East instead of the Big 12, and were usually in the middle of the pack in football as they are in the B12, do you suppose anybody would be asking if they had been hurt by moving?

(07-01-2016 10:19 PM)sierrajip Wrote:  I am envious of WVU to get in a P5 when the chance came available. They were competitive and deserved the shot. Having said that, will WVU ever be competitive to the level they were in during the Big East again. Being a good P5 (Big 12-2) team is great, moneywise, but where will it leave them if the conference folds.

WV can be just as good in the B12 as they were in the BE, just as soon as they hire Rich Rodriguez again. Or they get a new hot young coach. Thats all they are missing. The only way that WV has been hurt by their move to the B12 is that they took Holgorson with them to the B12 as their HC.

(07-03-2016 08:54 AM)cuseroc Wrote:  

(07-01-2016 10:19 PM)sierrajip Wrote:  I am envious of WVU to get in a P5 when the chance came available. They were competitive and deserved the shot. Having said that, will WVU ever be competitive to the level they were in during the Big East again. Being a good P5 (Big 12-2) team is great, moneywise, but where will it leave them if the conference folds.

WV can be just as good in the B12 as they were in the BE, just as soon as they hire Rich Rodriguez again. Or they get a new hot young coach. Thats all they are missing. The only way that WV has been hurt by their move to the B12 is that they took Holgorson with them to the B12 as their HC.

He is on the hot seat for a good reason...

Well, like I said in post #83:

In 2012 WV had a heisman candidate at QB and was picked by the B12 media to finish second in the conference, in it's first year playing in the Big 12.

But they've finished in the bottom half of the conference every year, so far.


So it must be something other than the players.

Rich Rodriguez couldn't win in the Big Ten and struggles in the Pac 12. He's struggle in the Big 12 too.


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I know the thread is about WV -- but since Hokie4 brought up Rich Rod:

Has Arizona ever had a major period of sustained success in football?? Honest question.

I see Mike Stoops went 41-50 and Rich Rod is so far 33-20. (W-L)

(07-03-2016 12:01 PM)MplsBison Wrote:  I know the thread is about WV -- but since Hokie4 brought up Rich Rod:

Has Arizona ever had a major period of sustained success in football?? Honest question.

I see Mike Stoops went 41-50 and Rich Rod is so far 33-20. (W-L)

Dick Tomey had the most success. Coach Tomey came to Arizona from Hawaii.[During his tenure, he coached five future NFL first-round draft choices, 20 All-Americans, and 43 Pac-10 first team players. His best teams were in the mid-1990s, highlighted by a tenacious "Desert Swarm" defense. He led Arizona to the only two ten-win seasons in school history, highlighted by a 12–1 campaign in 1998, in which they finished fourth in both major polls, the highest ranking in school history. Unfortunately, the Wildcats were drubbed in the 1999 season opener against Penn State and never recovered; Tomey resigned in 2000.

Probably the to ever coach in Tucson. Finished 95-64 for this career. Winningest coach of all time.
CJ

(07-03-2016 10:15 AM)Hokie4Skins Wrote:  Rich Rodriguez couldn't win in the Big Ten and struggles in the Pac 12. He's struggle in the Big 12 too.


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Not a bad point. RichRod made has name off of Pat White and Steve Slatons speed.

(06-30-2016 08:26 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  WVU jumped into a sinking lifeboat with nobody who speaks the same language.

WVU is really an example to the rest of college football of what it is like to end up an outlier.

Poor poor WVU making $30M a year and hosting B12 schools instead of AAC schools. The horror...

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