McConnell Loses Bid for Big 12

by: wvblueguy

Fri Oct 28, 2011 at 16:33:13 PM EDT

It is now official

WVU will be going to the Big 12 much to the chagrin of Kentiucky Senator Mitch McConnel who stepped into the selection process by lobbying everyone he could at the Big 12 on behalf of Louisville. 

West Virginia is headed to the Big 12 … again. Three days after reports that the conference would invite the Big East school, the Big 12 followed through and made the addition official Friday. "The Big 12 is a perfect fit for West Virginia University," West Virginia president Dr. James P. Clements said in a statement released by the Big 12. "It is a strong conference that, like WVU, values quality academic and athletic programs, and has a great tradition of success. This is a very exciting time for WVU and Mountaineer nation. I am confident that the future of WVU athletics has never been more promising."

McConnell did all he could to scuttle the move.  Both our Senators took him to task on this issue.  DKos has a great story on the political implications of this event.

“Tell him to bring it on!” Manchin told a West Virginia radio station emphatically on Thursday. “But I’m going to fight. And I respect that, if Mitch wants to fight. But Mitch, if you lose the fight, go back and retrain and get better. OK? Louisville doesn’t have the record. They don’t have the standings or the merit that West Virginia has. You know what, Louisville? Go back and toughen up a little bit. Get better. And maybe you’ll be part of the Big 12 later on.”
A Republican source warned that McConnell has a long memory and won’t forget this tiff.
“Making this political is not the fight he wants to pick,” the source said. “If there is one guy who files things away better than McConnell I’d love to know who it is. He’ll need something some time.”