Pitt suing Big East to guarantee it can join ACC in 2013
Pittsburgh isn't scheduled to leave the Big East until July 1, 2014, but the school filed a lawsuit Friday demanding the Big East allow the Panthers to join the ACC on July 1, 2013.
Pittsburgh and Syracuse announced last September they were leaving the Big East for the ACC and because of the Big East's 27-month requirement notice, both schools would not be allowed to join the ACC until 2014.
However, the Big East is scheduled to have 12 football members in 2013 -- not including Pitt and Syracuse, so Pittsburgh has filed a suit to guarantee it can join the ACC in 2013.
Pittsburgh released the following statement concerning its lawsuit against the Big East:
"Since the University of Pittsburgh made the decision to join the Atlantic Coast Conference, we have done everything possible to move through a smooth transition with the Big East. Though we have been excluded from governance activities, meetings, decision-making and operational functions of the conference, we have been positive and respectful of the Big East.
"On September 26, 2011, when we notified the Big East that we were withdrawing from the conference, we paid the first half of the exit fee of $5 million. When the 2012-13 season is complete, we will have competed in the Big East for two seasons, thus providing ample time to re-form the Big East Conference for the future. Beginning with the 2013-14 season, the Big East will actually have four more football playing schools and more schools overall than when we gave notice that we were moving to a different conference.
"Although the Big East's stated position is that we must stay through the 2013-14 season, the Big East acknowledged publicly that a discussion of our departure after the 2012-13 season was appropriate. A few weeks ago, Steve Pederson met with John Marinatto to begin the process to work toward an exit after this upcoming academic year. The Commissioner indicated that he was doing this with the authorization of the Chair of the Big East Presidents. However, attempts to contact the Big East in the following weeks to move the process forward have been unsuccessful, leading us to conclude that negotiations would not occur. Given the change in leadership of the Big East and the lack of response to our attempted contacts, on Friday, May 11, 2012, we filed a law suit in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, seeking resolution of this matter. We are confident in our position as stated in the complaint, but believe that this matter is best resolved between the parties. We have notified the Big East of this action, and continue to hope that our departure can be accommodated through private negotiations."
Multiple industry sources have told CBSSports.com in the past few weeks that Pitt and Syracuse would be allowed to leave the Big East and join the ACC in 2013. However, school officials must have felt they needed to pursue legal action to guarantee it.
Also, the ACC already has determined which divisions both schools will compete in and also will increase its football league schedule to nine games each when they are added.
The ACC's spring meetings, which Pitt and Syracuse officials will attend, begin Monday at Amelia Island.
Pittsburgh and Syracuse announced last September they were leaving the Big East for the ACC and because of the Big East's 27-month requirement notice, both schools would not be allowed to join the ACC until 2014.
However, the Big East is scheduled to have 12 football members in 2013 -- not including Pitt and Syracuse, so Pittsburgh has filed a suit to guarantee it can join the ACC in 2013.
Pittsburgh released the following statement concerning its lawsuit against the Big East:
"Since the University of Pittsburgh made the decision to join the Atlantic Coast Conference, we have done everything possible to move through a smooth transition with the Big East. Though we have been excluded from governance activities, meetings, decision-making and operational functions of the conference, we have been positive and respectful of the Big East.
"On September 26, 2011, when we notified the Big East that we were withdrawing from the conference, we paid the first half of the exit fee of $5 million. When the 2012-13 season is complete, we will have competed in the Big East for two seasons, thus providing ample time to re-form the Big East Conference for the future. Beginning with the 2013-14 season, the Big East will actually have four more football playing schools and more schools overall than when we gave notice that we were moving to a different conference.
"Although the Big East's stated position is that we must stay through the 2013-14 season, the Big East acknowledged publicly that a discussion of our departure after the 2012-13 season was appropriate. A few weeks ago, Steve Pederson met with John Marinatto to begin the process to work toward an exit after this upcoming academic year. The Commissioner indicated that he was doing this with the authorization of the Chair of the Big East Presidents. However, attempts to contact the Big East in the following weeks to move the process forward have been unsuccessful, leading us to conclude that negotiations would not occur. Given the change in leadership of the Big East and the lack of response to our attempted contacts, on Friday, May 11, 2012, we filed a law suit in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, seeking resolution of this matter. We are confident in our position as stated in the complaint, but believe that this matter is best resolved between the parties. We have notified the Big East of this action, and continue to hope that our departure can be accommodated through private negotiations."
Multiple industry sources have told CBSSports.com in the past few weeks that Pitt and Syracuse would be allowed to leave the Big East and join the ACC in 2013. However, school officials must have felt they needed to pursue legal action to guarantee it.
Also, the ACC already has determined which divisions both schools will compete in and also will increase its football league schedule to nine games each when they are added.
The ACC's spring meetings, which Pitt and Syracuse officials will attend, begin Monday at Amelia Island.
