I hate to post a blog based solely on rumor, so I try not to do that.  Although, I feel very strongly that this isn’t just rumor, but more and more solid evidence that WVU’s move to the SEC will happen very soon.  And given the 27 month requirement and $5 million fee in the bylaws of the Big East, it’s extremely important to move as soon as possible.

First, I’m hearing from several sources that the SEC move has nearly or already been finalized.  Specifically that the paperwork is already at the SEC, and approved.  I’m not talking Joe Blow making a drunken comment to a buddy.  I’m saying these whispers of the pending move are being filtered through folks that know University officials, people within the Athletic Dept. as well as coaches and big donors.

SEVERAL different avenues of information that I’ve been gathering all weekend.  That’s too much to be coincidence.

Add in the fact that Pitt and Syracuse are headed to the ACC… and with the pending move of Rutgers and UConn to the ACC looking more likely as well… the timing is upon us.

I, for one, don’t believe the reports that WVU knew nothing of the ACC move by Pitt or ‘Cuse until they arrived at Maryland.  That’s bunk.  They knew, and it’s extremely likely the reason those schools bolted is due to the fact that WVU’s move to the SEC is imminent.  The timing of the announcement by those schools wasn’t done willy-nilly, and was very calculated.

Just as WVU’s silence is calculated.  What we’ve heard this evening?

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“I believe things will be all right,” said Drew Payne, chair of WVU’s Board of Governors. “How it’s going to end up, how it’s going to come down, I don’t think we know what that will be, but we will be in one of the major conferences that survive.”

“No matter how the college athletic landscape changes, there is no doubt WVU is and will remain a national player,” Luck wrote.

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Not too worried are they?

I’ve honestly not been a fan of a move to the SEC, and actually favored the ACC… I’ve posted those thoughts on here openly… so this isn’t wishful thinking on my part either.

Even Colin Dunlap is commenting on it via his Twitter:

It appears Oliver Luck and President Clements have masterminded a great move to the best overall conference in America where, in reality, we fit more naturally than in the ACC… and where WVU will be able to thrive monetarily and within the BCS, if nothing else.

Something not factored into this article is the apparently tongue-in-cheek comment by Herbstreit last night when they announced the LSU game time of 8pm that he’s very much looking to the “SEC type atmosphere” in Morgantown.  Whether it was a statement that was a testament to our fans with a visiting SEC school coming into town, pure irony playing on the wishes of WVU fans that do want to go to the SEC, or the fact that he may actually know something… it stuck out for sure.

I also find it rather amazing that Gameday is coming to Morgantown this week and not going to Texas A&M for what is truly the better matchup of the weekend with two Top 10 teams.  Are they going to be in perfect position to capitalize on a potential announcement this week that WVU is headed to the SEC leading up to the game against SEC stalwart and the current #2 team in the country LSU?

Sure there are still plenty of questions… but there’s too much banter going around and too many people that don’t normally say anything of certainty for me to believe it’s not happening.

So I’m saying it definitely is… and I’m sharing it with you.

So rest at ease folks… especially those that are getting uneasy… it is officially CFS’ stance that WVU will in fact become the 14th member of the SEC.

And it’s only a matter of time.  So stay tuned to see if it’s announced this week, something that I feel WILL most certainly happen.