Rockefeller Congratulates WVU on Joining the Big 12

Statement

Senator Jay Rockefeller issued the following statement after the Big 12 announced that WVU will join the conference:

"It's a terrific day for West Virginia and for college football writ large -- the merits won out and WVU is back in the Big 12.

"The Big 12 picked WVU earlier this week because of its first-rate football program, its stand-out athletes, and its fine university, academics and fans. The intervening days have been troubling, most especially the reports of an eleventh-hour political intervention to undermine the first, merits-based decision. Those reports prompted me to get involved, too -- to push everyone to get back to the merits. It is encouraging that the Big 12 stuck to its guns and is following through on its commitment to add WVU to the conference.

"College football is struggling with the weight of its own success right now, and with all eyes on the conference system, this was an important moment to get it right. Conference decisions have far reaching consequences for publicly-supported state universities -- and every school has to get a fair shake."

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