Pittsburgh reaches agreement with Big East to leave for ACC in 2013
Two days after Syracuse reached an agreement with the Big East to leave the conference one year early, Pittsburgh agreed to similar terms with the league.
The Big East announced in a press release Wednesday that the league members will vote in accordance with the conference’s bylaws to end the Panthers’ membership with the conference effective July 1, 2013. Pittsburgh will pay $7.5 million to the league, which includes the $5 million exit fee, as well as an additional $2.5 million to terminate the membership earlier than the required 27-month exit period.
In the past year, the Big East has expanded to include eight teams from coast-to-coast to make up for the losses of SU, Pittsburgh and West Virginia. TCU also left the conference for the Big 12 without ever playing a single game as a member of the Big East.
Big East interim commissioner Joe Bailey said in the release that Pitt’s departure allows the league to continue to move forward.
“This is another step for the Big East to take toward a very exciting future,” Bailey said. “With the addition of our eight new members, the Big East will be incredibly strong and vibrant.”
Syracuse and Pittsburgh announced their intentions to head to the Atlantic Coast Conference at the same time last September, but their departure dates remained uncertain until this week.
Pittsburgh filed a lawsuit against the Big East in May after West Virginia sued the conference and agreed to a settlement to leave for the Big 12 in 2012. The Orange, though, chose to avoid litigation and reached an agreement with the conference Monday.
Either way, both are heading to the ACC early and will be members of the conference in 2013.
“We have appreciated and enjoyed our membership in the Big East and wish them much success in the future,” Pittsburgh athletic director Steve Pederson said in the release. “We are anxious to compete in our final season in the Big East and look forward to an exciting future in the Atlantic Coast Conference.”
Published on July 18, 2012 at 8:07 pm
Contact Chris: cjiseman@syr.edu | @chris_iseman
