West Virginia University's move to the Big 12 athletic conference spells certain changes for the sports programs.

Besides the expected higher revenue from a larger football conference, WVU has a new quota for varsity sports teams to meet.

The new requirements provide the perfect opportunity to resurrect a resource the University has half-fulfilled for years.

Men's distance running has the potential (and almost guarantee) for All-Americans at an extremely low cost.

With Sean Cleary, the women's distance coach, among the top coaches in the nation and the women's program already on the national scene, the men's program would require no new coaches or resources.

And, the proposed team shows every sign of success.

Sean consistently develops All-Americans with the women's team, and the runners on the men's team at the time it was cut went on to make U.S. National teams, Olympic Track and Marathon Trials, and run sub-4:00 in the mile – a gold-standard time for that event.

Fortunately, the Big 12 varsity team requirements may lead to WVU reinstating men's distance running to some extent.

Section 1.3.4 of the bylaws states member schools must have six men's teams of the following seven sports: football, basketball, baseball, cross-country, outdoor track, indoor track and golf.