West Virginia Big 12: WVU's Lawsuit for Early Big East Exit Shouldn't Be Honored

West Virginia may be a top-25 team, but that doesn't exclude them from playing by the rules.

On Friday, WVU and Big 12 officials shocked the Big East when it was announced the Mountaineers would be joining the conference in 2012.

The only problem is, the Big East rules that teams must give 27-month notice and pay $5 million before transferring, which in turn protects the conference from too much turmoil in a short period of time.

That's why ACC programs Pittsburgh and Syracuse must wait until June 1, 2014 to transfer to the Big East. TCU was an exception because the Horned Frogs hadn't played in the Big East yet before transferring.

Now, because the Big East is saying West Virginia must honor the provisions in its bylaws, WVU has decided to file suit against the Big East.

The most notable statement in the lawsuit read, via Deadspin.com:

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"This lack of leadership, breach of fiduciary duties by the Big East and its Commissioner, and voting disparity between the football and non-football schools resulted in the Big East football conference no longer being a viable and competitive football conference."

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If all programs followed West Virginia's lead, there would be more turmoil than there already is in college football. Why doesn't the entire Big East conference leave in a day? That would destroy the little structure college football has left.

I understand why WVU did what it did. It didn't get its way, and with a little help from its friends in business suits, anything's possible. I understand that America is reduced to this way too often, when lawsuits grow on trees, along with money.

But maybe show a little respect for once to your conference. Maybe lead by example.

Yes, the Big East appears to have gone off the deep end a bit, but you don't see Pitt and Syracuse jumping ship at the first sign of trouble.

West Virginia has been in the conference since 1991, which means for the majority of these years it has been happy with the way the Big East has conducted itself. Now, after all these years, they want out, and they want out now.

WVU may be fed up, but they owe it to the conference to stick it out because for 20 years they've been reasonably accommodated.

With the Mountaineers being a Top-25 team, WVU should be setting a standard instead of following the herd, stampeding at the first sign of alarm.

Pitt and Syracuse are playing by the rules.

Why can't West Virginia?