MIAMI -- The Big East Conference has requested a stay, or even dismissal, of the lawsuit filed by the University of Miami last month claiming that the school lost money by staying in the league.

The request for the stay was filed Tuesday with U.S. District Judge Ursula Ungaro-Benages.

The conference asked that the Miami suit be put off until the conclusion of a Big East lawsuit filed earlier against Miami in Connecticut.

The Big East last week moved the Miami lawsuit from Florida Circuit Court to federal court. Ungaro-Benages scheduled an initial hearing on the civil action for Feb. 27.

Big East lawyers asked that if the Miami case can't be delayed, it be dismissed as an attempt to "forum shop."

"This litigation is merely an opportunistic bid by Miami to seek refuge in what it perceives to be a more favorable venue," Ungaro-Benages was told.

UM spokesman Mark Pray said he had not seen the request and could offer no comment.

In addition to the conference, league members Connecticut, West Virginia, Rutgers and Pittsburgh are named as defendants by Miami.

Miami still has the option of asking the judge to move the lawsuit back to local courts.

The Connecticut lawsuit alleges Miami was involved in a conspiracy with the Atlantic Coast Conference to weaken the Big East, costing the member schools millions of dollars.

Miami and fellow Big East member Virginia Tech are leaving the league to join the ACC after the current academic year ends. Boston College is also leaving the Big East for the ACC, but perhaps not until 2006.