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WVU settles Big East lawsuit, will join Big 12
WVU


    MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia University announced Tuesday it has settled a lawsuit with the Big East for an unspecified amount, clearing the way for the conference power Mountaineers to join the Big 12 in July in time for the fall football season.
    Athletics Director Oliver Luck said the terms of the deal were confidential and WVU wouldn't release details. But Luck said no state, taxpayer, tuition or other academic dollars will be used in the settlement.
    A person familiar with the agreement said the settlement totaled $20 million but did not know how much money would come from the university and how much the Big 12 may contribute. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because financial terms were not announced with the agreement.
    Luck said the funding will come only from private sources and money that athletics raised independently. WVU has already paid half of the required $5 million exit fee.
    Luck said the new relationship puts WVU among peers that are also large, public, flagship institutions for their states and have strong academic and research programs. Athletically, it's a "challenging and competitive" group, he said, populated by schools with "tremendous legacies, passionate fan bases."
    It's also lucrative: Luck said WVU should get about $18 million to $19 million a year in television payouts, about double what it gets from the Big East. Payments are being prorated for the first three years at 50 percent, 67 percent and 87 percent, he said, reaching 100 percent in the fourth year.
    "It's a very healthy television payout, and it's important we maintain our self-sufficient status," Luck said. "With this move, we'll be in an excellent position to do so."
    A spokesman for the Big 12 didn't immediately comment, but the conference released its football schedule about an hour after the announcement. West Virginia makes its Big 12 debut Sept. 29 at home against Baylor.
    The Mountaineers and their explosive offense went 10-3 last season and finished ranked in the Top 25. West Virginia capped off the season with a record-setting 70-33 victory over Clemson in the Orange Bowl.
    Luck didn't rule out the possibility of a nonconference game against archrival Pitt after the 2012 season but said that both schools have nine non-conference games and a matchup would be "difficult to schedule."
    "It's pretty obvious there will be no Backyard Brawl" in 2012, he said.
    WVU sued the Big East in Monongalia County Circuit Court in Morgantown in November, challenging its bylaws in a bid to join the Big 12 in time for the 2012 season.
    The Big East countersued in Rhode Island four days later, arguing that WVU had breached its contract with the conference and should remain in the Big East for another two years as required in the bylaws. In late December, the judge there denied WVU's motion to dismiss.

Bulloch Academy preparing for first-round state playoff matchup
Gators face Pacelli Friday at home
BA Baseball
Bulloch Academy senior first baseman T.J. Durden celebrates a Gator victory over St. Andrews earlier this season. - photo by JOSH AUBREY/staff

The Bulloch Academy Gator baseball team wrapped up the regular season with a come from behind walk-off win over Vidalia Heritage Friday on senior night. In the bottom of the eighth and the bases loaded senior Nathan Newkirk ended the game with a two-run double for a 5-4 win as the Gators ended the regular season with a record of 21-7.

"They're a good ball club and they had a pitcher that was that was effective on the mound,” said coach Jason Godbee. “It was an exciting way to send the seniors out and to end the regular season. It was also good that we were challenged and we had a battle and figure out a way to come from behind and win, so that was a big plus.”

The Gators missed out on a bye in the first round of the GIAA state playoffs with a loss last week against Stratford, but won the last two games of the season and earned the No. 7 seed in the tournament and will host the opening round Friday against Pacelli at home.

“I think we've got a lot of momentum going into the state,” Godbee said. I was proud of the way our guys bounced back Wednesday against Gatewood after losing to Stratford the day before. One of our goals going into the season was to be able to play a round at home so the guys are excited about that.”

Godbee is hoping the schedule in the state tournament may get the Gators remembering the path they took in winning a state title in football. Bulloch Academy opens with Pacelli and if they win, they will take on Brookstone which are the same teams they beat on the way to a state title on the gridiron.

“They're a good ball club,” Godbee said. “They have a new coach who has had a lot of success in Alabama before coming there. They were in our region last year when I was at Strong Rock. They have a really good shortstop, who was an eighth grader last year and started for them. They also have a third base who swings a good bat. I think he has seven or eight home runs this year, but they really are successful playing small ball. We have to make sure that we execute and take care of the little things.  They played a very tough region with Brookstone, Calvary Christian, Westfield and Strong Rock. It's a strong baseball region over there.”

Bulloch Academy and Pacelli will play a best of three series starting with a doubleheader Friday beginning at 4 p.m. The third game will take place Saturday at 1 p.m. if necessary.