4-1-Zoo: Syracuse To Leave Big East; Is Pitt Next?
PITTSBURGH (93-7 The FAN) -- Syracuse and the Big East Conference announced Monday that the Orange will be allowed to leave for the Atlantic Coast Conference after the 2012-13 season .
Syracuse will pay $7.5 million in order to do so.
The obvious question now looms: What does this mean for Pitt?
Well, quite simply, it means the Panthers are likely on their way out after the upcoming academic year as well. Pitt filed a lawsuit against the Big East in March because of losses in revenue due to multiple factors in conference realignment -- most notably lost home games against TCU and West Virginia.
The Big East needs to move on. Pitt wants to move on. This recent decision with Syracuse shows that both sides were on the same page.
With this announcement coming out of nowhere, it makes me wonder if settlement discussions are being worked out behind closed doors.
Pitt's lawsuit could indeed be holding up the process now, but in the end it's inevtiable -- Pitt will be in the ACC next season. The lawsuit was engineered to guarantee that would happen, and the Big East's agreement with Syracuse only further ensures Pitt will be granted the same leave.
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Chris Gates | Area 4-1-Zoo Blog
Twitter.com/Chris_Gates
Chris.Gates@cbsradio.com
