West Virginia has canceled their 2012 football game at Florida State, the Seminoles announced today. West Virginia will pay FSU $500,000 for the cancellation.
The Mountaineers were scheduled to visit Doak Campbell Stadium on Sept. 8, 2012. The two schools are also slated to play Sept. 14, 2013 at West Virginia. No announcement was made about the future of that game, but WVU will also need to cancel one of their non-conference games that season since they have four on the books.
West Virginia is canceling the FSU game in preparation for playing a Big 12 schedule in 2012. With ten teams in the Big 12, each school will play a nine-game conference schedule.
Florida State will need to act quickly to get a new opponent for their fourth non-conference game. The ACC schedule should be released this month and the Seminoles need their schedule completely set for season ticket holders and marketing.
FSU could look for an FCS school, but they are already slated to open the season against Murray State on Sept. 1. Brett McMurphy of CBSSports.com suggests that the Noles contact schools in the Big East since they will need an extra game with the departure of West Virginia.
Statement from FSU AD Randy Spetman:
“We were informed in writing late Friday afternoon of West Virginia University’s intention to cancel its 2012 football game with Florida State University scheduled for September 8 in Tallahassee. We are disappointed for our coaches, players and fans that this game will not take place as originally scheduled. We now face the challenge of completing our 2012 schedule just seven months before the start of the season. We will work quickly and diligently to fill the hole on our schedule and will communicate with our season ticket holders and fans as the process moves forward.”
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