West Virginia Athletic Director Oliver Luck Taking Shots at Big East

Breaking conference bylaws, making bogus allegations and suing the Big East conference wasn't enough for West Virginia. Mountaineers athletic director Oliver Luck has decided to continue the school's verbal attack against commissioner John Marinatto and the remaining members of the Big East.

The Charleston Gazette quoted Luck as saying West Virginia was "fortunate" to get out of the league and join the Big 12.

Luck also commented on a report that the BCS will continue to pit No. 1 against No. 2 but not hold the bowls to having to accept automatic conference qualifiers once the current contract runs out in 2013.

The West Virginia athletic director said, "I can't see any bowls wanting Big East teams."

It seems a little unnecessary for an athletic director of a large university to be hurling insults toward a BCS conference commissioner and its members.

Luck seems to be under the impression that West Virginia will be able to leave the Big East effective at the end of the of the 2011-2012 season. ESPN reported Luck saying his program was "100 percent focused on 2012 in the Big 12."

Maybe Luck knows something about contract law that Big East commissioner John Marinatto doesn't. 

Marinatto believes the Big East has the right to hold West Virginia to the 27-month waiting period that it had agreed to and authored when the conference changed the bylaws eight years ago.

Marinatto thinks all allegations that West Virginia has put forth against the Big East are false.

As for West Virginia's lawsuit against the Big East—it seems frivolous. It seems like as waste of taxpayers' money to have the state listen to such a desperate and thoughtless case.

Isn't it just frivolous for the state to have to hear a case only filed to increase West Virginia's bargaining power?

Luck and West Virginia shouldn't be hurling insults at the Big East. He should be treating them as cordially as possible. He might even think about apologizing and consider applying for entrance to the newly proposed Big East.

Joining the Big 12 and being the only school in the Eastern time zone may not work out for anyone.

The Big 12 may come to their senses and realize that West Virginia may only bring an extra mouth to feed.

With West Virginia's small marketing area, unruly fans and an academic level that puts it in the bottom of the conference, the Big 12 might rethink their offer.

There's no reason for any West Virginia authority to be hurling insults at the Big East. It's not professional.