But right now there is not. Both sides are asking for equitable relief, but neither has been granted what they seek. At present, if WVU broke the contract and played for the Big XII, the BE can seek money damages, and that's it. Neither party has the power of a court order compelling or excusing specific performance of the contract. So WVU could take the chance. The problem is that the schedules need to be set soon, or WVU may find itself shut out from playing anywhere.
Exactly. I can't recall ever a situation like this. Not to say it hasn't happened somewhere, at some level of athletic competition. But from what I can tell sitting in my chair, there's nothing right now to stop the Big 12 and the Big East from both putting out 2012 calendar year schedules for ALL varsity sports......such that both conferences have scheduled West Virginia sports.
The schedules are going to need to come out, there's some wiggle room right now in scheduling, but not much.
This is why I've said repeatedly that with more cutthroat leadership, the big east could really shaft West Virginia. Until it's officially ruled upon, there's a chance, however remote that no injunction is put in place, and WVU goes ahead and plays all of their games in the big 12 and the thing just plays out in the courts. Best case scenario for the Big 12, that's for sure. Highly unlikely.
As for the big east, if I'm leading this thing, I've got two schedules ready to go right now - for all sports - for the big east. One with WVU, and one without. and I've already filed for forbearance of the 8 team minimum rule for football with the NCAA, in case you go with the schedule with only 7 conference teams in 2012.
It seems to me, that as soon as that forbearance of the 8 team minimum can be secured from the NCAA, the big east is free to say "screw you" to west virginia, and simply not schedule them in any sports, and in that case, with an injunction in place, West Virginia is now in limbo with every single sport for two years.
I doubt that Marinatto is the kind of guy to do something like that though, even if WVU deserves it, and that may be the only thing that saves them.