Wednesday, 05 December 2012 21:30

Written by Ray Fittipaldo

The subject of conference realignment and rivalry games came up during Jim Ferry’s postgame news conference following his team’s 66-45 loss to Pitt Wednesday night.

Ferry was speaking about how important games likes these are with everything that is going on in college athletics today. He then said many people in Pittsburgh and West Virginia have been saying for months now. He said the Panthers and Mountaineers should be playing an annual game.

“Shame on both of them, to be quite honest,” Ferry said. “That’s a game should be played. It’s Big East basketball. They’re so close, two great programs. That’s bad for college athletics. As long as I’m here, this game will be played every year.”

This is the first season since 1918 that Pitt and West Virginia will not play a game.

Pitt coach Jamie Dixon told the Post-Gazette Monday afternoon that Pitt’s athletic department budget does not allow him to play any non-conference games that are home-and-away series. The Panthers are committed to playing in exempt tournaments that provide non-conference games and next season will be in the ACC/Big Ten challenge.

West Virginia coach Bob Huggins has been a proponent of playing the game.

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NorCal Buc, December 06, 2012 - 07:50 AM

"Hooray" for Coach Ferry. BUT, welcome to corporate control of sports, and well....everything in the United States of Corporations.

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