The Big East is getting litigious -- again.
In the latest realignment-driven lawsuit, the Big East has filed a claim against Texas Christian University (TCU), who had been set to join the conference for the 2012 football season before reneging on that agreement in order to jump to the wealthier Big 12. According to the suit, filed in a federal district court in Washington, D.C., the conference has alleged that TCU has materially breached the terms of their contract to join the Big East conference, signed in the Fall of 2010.
That contract contained a provision that required the university to pay a $5 million fee if they failed to follow through with joining the conference. That payment was never made, but TCU plans to join the Big 12 conference officially on July 1, 2012.
"The Big East made demand for the payment owed under the agreement, but Texas Christian University has refused to make that payment or acknowledge its obligation to do so," according to the lawsuit.
TCU has not yet responded to the suit.