Arizona State's Ray Anderson slammed for Big 12, West Virginia comments: 'Lack of class'
The Arizona State University leadership isn't exactly making a good first impression in the Big 12.
The university, which will be leaving the Pac-12 for the Big 12 in 2024, is being slammed for comments made by Athletic Director Ray Anderson on Saturday.
The comments?
“I promise I’m not going to Morgantown,” Anderson said in reference to the home of the West Virginia Mountaineers, who are a current member of the Big 12. “I’m going to sign that to Jean Boyd (deputy AD). He can go to Morgantown. But send me to Texas and the rivalry with Arizona and starting a new one with BYU and Utah and Colorado."
Anderson's comments were based on the new travel costs and logistics that his school would face in having to travel to West Virginia and other new Big 12 schools. Morgantown is more than 2,000 miles from Tempe.
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Arizona State AD Ray Anderson discussing move to Big 12: "I promise I'm not going to Morgantown. I'm going to sign that to (deputy AD) Jean Boyd. He can go to Morgantown. But send me to Texas & the rivalry w/Arizona & starting a new one w/BYU, Utah & Colorado"
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) August 6, 2023
Voiceofmotown.com noted that Anderson's comments were made in a "joking manner, but West Virginia fans likely won’t see it that way. Which makes the future rivalry games between the two schools that much better in 2024 and the future."
“We’re going to try to in the Olympic sports go to divisions and we’ll probably do that in football as well. For travel, regionalization makes sense. But it really makes sense in the Olympic sports,” Anderson also told the media as part of his comments.
No matter the tone of Anderson's comments, the damage appears to have been done.
More: Arizona State leaving rich Pac-12 history behind in Big 12 expansion move
Social media slammed Ray Anderson and ASU's leadership in the wake of his words:
Just to Clarify, I really don’t care what the ASU AD has to say or thinks. I am, however, Surprised by the lack of Class displayed in his remarks. Yea, I think Presidents & head of institutional Departments should Exhibit some decorum. Maybe that makes me Old School and I would… https://t.co/WjHNj1Sy2f
— WolfMan (@Wolfley64) August 6, 2023
Is this dude for real? Our leadership sucks. https://t.co/TTprsGYeBI
— Barstool ASU (@tempebarstool) August 6, 2023
Wouldn’t catch Oregon State or Wazzu saying something like this. https://t.co/UuDtKqRW8W
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) August 6, 2023
Sigh... Dear WVU fans, please understand not only does Ray Anderson NOT speak for ASU fans here but he is pretty much universally loathed by us as well. Don't take his comments out on us, the fans. Thanks. #wvufootball #WVU https://t.co/rY4NrXuM6Z
— The Deviled Frog 😈🐸 (@DevilFroggy) August 6, 2023
Why would anyone say this? @WVUhoops @Big12Conference https://t.co/pA30vYcxSx
— Fran Fraschilla (@franfraschilla) August 6, 2023
I keep reading articles dissecting the collapse of the PAC 12. They’re interesting enough, as sad as they are, but the true story of the PAC 12’s demise was on display Saturday when ASU’s Mike Crow & Ray Anderson displayed the poor judgement & ego issues that undermined the PAC…
— C.W. Lambert (@InsideTheBig12) August 6, 2023
Arizona State leadership is giving strong ungrateful “little brother” vibes
They’ve only been in the Big 12 for just over 24 hours… https://t.co/kZ5dhHJ8ui— RC Maxfield (@RCMB323) August 6, 2023
I find it absolutely hilarious that Arizona State, a giant commuter school known as THE party school and the for the “scenery” is acting uppity about the Big 12 lol
— Mike Settle Jr (@settlemlCFB) August 6, 2023
Can we kick Arizona State out of the Big 12 already? Done with their leaderships crap.
— Brendan Kuhn (@b_kuhn_2) August 6, 2023
From the statements of Arizona state AD the Big12 would have been better off with the Beavers.
— Greg Collins (@WTxFlatlander) August 6, 2023
New Big 12 hate power rankings. Big shakeup this time. See you next week.
15. WVU
14. Colorado
13. Oklahoma State
12. Texas Tech
11. Baylor
10. Central Florida
9. BYU
8. Cincinnati
7. Utah
6. Iowa State
5. Kansas
4. Houston
3. Kansas State
2. Texas Christian
1. Arizona State https://t.co/tlgFFFuA9f— David Blattman (@davidblattman) August 5, 2023
I already regret the Big 12 adding Arizona State... can we trade 1 ASU for an Oregon State and Washington State?
— C.W. Lambert (@InsideTheBig12) August 5, 2023
Okay it has officially taken me 24 hours of Arizona State being in the conference to fully and completely understand the leadership problem at Arizona State. https://t.co/LDsAxrlIiC
— John Kurtz (@jlkurtz) August 6, 2023
Yeah, not exactly a great first impression to joining the Big 12.
More: Who is in the Big 12? And why are Pac-12 schools leaving for it? Your questions answered
Big 12 expansion: Arizona State's Michael Crow implored to let Sun Devils leave Pac-12
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Big 12 expansion: Arizona State AD slammed for West Virginia comments
