*****The Super, Mega, Huge Big 12 Expansion Thread*****

[oldwiseman]

I've read a lot of articles with all kinds of speculation and this one still stands out to me. It just makes no sense for the Big 12 to fall apart completely because there is too much money on the table with the current TV contracts. While I don't have a copy of those contracts, I would assume that there are some teeth to it that would require the networks to pay out if they broke them for any reason. The Big 12 may not resemble what it does today in the future, but that doesn't mean it can't exist even without OU, aTm, and OSU.

Big 12 Television Contracts Likely to Protect League : Outkick The Coverage

 

[ia8manfan]

The Big Ten once again respectfully informed the group that the Council of Presidents and Chancellors has already ruled out the addition of either Oklahoma school, primarily over concerns related to academic fit within the conference.

They're worried about academics, yet they took Nebraska!?!

 

[TykeClone]

But this ESPN talk has me wondering. Does anyone know, since there is the issue of Tax Exemption, the Money that ESPN gives for the TV deals, do they get to deduct that as a donation?

No.

 

[brutodd]

They're worried about academics, yet they took Nebraska!?!

Nebraska WAS in the AAU when they asked to be and then were, admitted into the B1G. Then promptly kicked out after they were admitted. Somewhere way way back in this thread, their chancellor said something to the effect of "I don't think we would have got into the B1G w/out being in the AAU."

Of course, once you're in the B1G, you're in.

I know the University of Nebraska System has a med school (UN-Omaha) and a Law School (UN-Lincoln) and I was told that they have like a $250+M research park going up/being added to. So maybe not so shoddy, academically wise. Again, no NW or Michigan, but I would definitely throw ISU in the same category, and definitely better in almost all areas that are common between the schools, versus the 'bug eaters. Engineering, Vet Med, DOE Ames Lab, USDA, C-6 in Howe Hall, etc etc...I think academically we fit fine with the B1G. It's the whole money thing (again, rearing it's ugly head) that is running a lot of this show. Heck, if we're looking at Academics, ISU, KU, and Mizzou are the northern schools that do fit.

 

[weR138]

Nebraska WAS in the AAU when they asked to be and then were, admitted into the B1G. Then promptly kicked out after they were admitted. Somewhere way way back in this thread, their chancellor said something to the effect of "I don't think we would have got into the B1G w/out being in the AAU."

Of course, once you're in the B1G, you're in.

I know the University of Nebraska System has a med school (UN-Omaha) and a Law School (UN-Lincoln) and I was told that they have like a $250+M research park going up/being added to. So maybe not so shoddy, academically wise. Again, no NW or Michigan, but I would definitely throw ISU in the same category, and definitely better in almost all areas that are common between the schools, then the 'bug eaters. Engineering, Vet Med, DOE Ames Lab, USDA, C-6 in Howe Hall, etc etc...I think academically we fit fine with the B1G. It's the whole money thing (again, rearing it's ugly head) that is running a lot of this show. Heck, if we're looking at Academics, ISU, KU, and Mizzou are the northern schools that do fit.

Neither of these come close to other B1G programs and cannot be used as a reason for their acceptance. In the case of Nebraska Law I'm sure the other B1G Law schools would prefer not to be mentioned with it, seriously.

Also, Michigan and Wisconsin helped to vote Nebraska OUT of the AAU. The idea that Jim Delaney didn't know their status was tenuous is just silly. NU got into the B1G on football cache, nothing else. Let me say that again; NU academics don't come close to the B1G. Any argument that they do is ridiculous.

The saddest part about it is that the CIC will no doubt improve UNLs academics by leaps and bounds. I'm going to go ahead and sound like a crybaby and say we deserve that CIC shot in the arm more than Nebraska. Whaah.

 

[BCClone]

It's not a donation it is a business expense.

Last time the big ten talked about expansion, they talked about geography. The school had to border, state wise, another school. If UT was admitted, it would come as a pure $$$$ grab from this hard stance that they have taken in the past. It would open them up against a baylor sort of thing also.

Best thing is if the also-rans in the big 12 can hang together, this includes MU. None of these other schools have **** on MU, so I would hope there is a little loyalty. If they do I think something better than the MTn west would be had, with 7 schools, I think it would be better than BE money wise.

 

[weR138]

It's not a donation it is a business expense.

Last time the big ten talked about expansion, they talked about geography. The school had to border, state wise, another school. If UT was admitted, it would come as a pure $$$$ grab from this hard stance that they have taken in the past. It would open them up against a baylor sort of thing also.

Best thing is if the also-rans in the big 12 can hang together, this includes MU. None of these other schools have **** on MU, so I would hope there is a little loyalty. If they do I think something better than the MTn west would be had, with 7 schools, I think it would be better than BE money wise.

This is a death sentence and won't happen.

 

[Wesley]

If what Im hearing is accurate you all should be upset with Baylor for costing a 3-5 million dollar payout from A&M out the door

That is a pittance. We are after much bigger votes for any support we will give at this point. We have been harmed by Tam and OU. They are looking stupid and we need money to feel better.

 

[Wesley]

There are just too many things that don't add up in this scenario.

Number 1 on my list is that I don't think the Pac would want to take just the Oklahoma schools. I don't think OU is going to be a big enough fish to make up for concerns about OSU academically. I think there will also be grumblings against it from a scheduling perspective and reduced exposure in Cali for some schools.

From an OU/OSU perspective, you are 2 timezones removed from most of the conference. You are a geographical castaway for travel purposes. You don't seem to have a financial advantage compared to saving the Big 12.

As others have pointed out, not sure they have the votes to dissolve the conference.

Finally, the invitation schools just don't make sense. If the Okie schools leave, why would you invite 3 smaller Texas schools when we already own the Texas market? SMU brings nothing. Houston brings just a slight bit more than nothing. Is TCU really going to bail on the Big East just a single year after accepting the conference invite? That would seem really scummy. And to date, pretty much everything reported said BYU is in if OU commits. In this scenario, OU is out so it would seem BYU would no longer be in place.

This whole angle just seems like one big steaming pile of crap.

You are correct. This is just plain stupid talk. OU looks like they have conspired with TAM to get out of exit fees so they can do their thing. OU had TAMN make thier move and then Boren tried to power it though when it did not work. Now it is a mess. I say sue their butts off if they dare to move. Go Ken Starr.

The best thing that can happen is Tam and OU lose on the football field this week.

 

[benjay]

Boren broke the golden rule of conference realignment: keep your mouth shut. Osborne knew this, and he got what he wanted. Texas appears to have figured it out, and they have all of the options in the world. OU and Tam have painted themselves into a corner.

 

[mt85]

Writers' roundtable -- Our experts answer three big questions about realignment - ESPN

This seems like more credible reporting to me.

Katz: If this gigantic shakeup occurs, it's likely not going to be for 2012. The timetable is getting too late for scheduling to make this happen for next fall. I hope -- and I predict -- this turns out more like last summer. Texas A&M moves to the SEC. Someone replaces the Aggies in the Big 12. And then we exhale. I've talked to countless schools and league commissioners and haven't found a single one that really wants to go to a 16-team conference. They only look at it in the prism of, "Well, if it has to happen, then we might as well join or get left behind." But no one really wants to be in such a mess.

I'm still not convinced that ESPN isn't encouraging instability to force the conference commissioners to take action before others make their move.

 

[cyclones18]

I still think that the media has absolutely no clue and that the Big 12 will still exist after this season.

most logical post in this entire thread. esp considering the fact that OSU and TT cannot join the Pac 12 since their universities are not qualified academically. CU has already stated that they will not vote to add any of the major players in the Big XII. Plus Boone Pickens said last Thursday during the OK State game that they have no interest in leaving the Big XII. He said it on ESPN and they give no clout to it but fully support "unnamed inside sources" and take it as fact. ESPN has orchestrated this entire mess and I for one will laugh my ***** off when it blows up in their face! Suck it ESPN!

 

[Wesley]

Statements from SEC Commissioner Mike Slive and Pac 12 reps are, I think, intended to deflect tortious interference allegations. The position is that the conferences were not intending to expand and did not initiate contact, but, acted only when approached. Unless somebody got really sloppy with email, Iit happens) winning a case against a conference would be tough. A case against one of the departing schools is a different matter. Ten schools pledged to stay together for ten years and some of the schools made investments and commitments in reasonable detrimental reliance.

OU is destroying their hard drives as fast as possible to remove incrimination that they conspired with Tam. They were perhaps using Tam to do their dirty work and UT saw through it.

 

[AlumfromAmes]

OU is destroying their hard drives as fast as possible to remove incrimination that they conspired with Tam. They were perhaps using Tam to do their dirty work and UT saw through it.

Could be. You suppose both Mondo and Rebecacy were right without knowing it?

Mondo that Oklahoma conspiring with A&M and MU? A&M fires the first shot, Oklahoma bails, and then MU.

Rebecacy that Oklahoma would push Texas to accept equal revenue sharing and maybe more. Only problem - maybe Texas called OU's bluff. Or maybe Oklahoma was playing us and never really intended to stay.

It'll be really interesting after its all said and done to learn exactly how this all happened.

 

[Bestaluckcy]

Katz: If this gigantic shakeup occurs, it's likely not going to be for 2012. The timetable is getting too late for scheduling to make this happen for next fall. I hope -- and I predict -- this turns out more like last summer. Texas A&M moves to the SEC. Someone replaces the Aggies in the Big 12. And then we exhale. I've talked to countless schools and league commissioners and haven't found a single one that really wants to go to a 16-team conference. They only look at it in the prism of, "Well, if it has to happen, then we might as well join or get left behind." But no one really wants to be in such a mess.


Katz makes this sound like a catch 22 but I am not sure the actions of the commissioners is all that innocent. Slive blows smoke at SEC media days to avoid lawsuit, but has been talking to TAM for quite some time in a back room. PAC 12 Commissioner has conference schools expressing a desire to stay at 12. Larry Scott turns deaf ear toward them and goes after OU.

 

[CycloneChris]

Sources: Texas has three viable realignment options

"There's nothing Texas could have offered Oklahoma that would have changed their mind. They were set on leaving the Big 12 before Texas got there," a well-placed source at a Big 12 school said, adding that Sunday's meeting had a very friendly and cooperative tone. "The Big 12's done. Oklahoma wasn't open to creating Big 12 stability."

"Texas' first choice is to keep the Big 12 together. That's always been and continues to be Plan A and B," a well-placed Texas source said. "However, they know that if Oklahoma and Oklahoma State leave, the conference is no longer viable. Then it's time to look at Plan C."

 

[jbhtexas]

Katz makes this sound like a catch 22 but I am not sure the actions of the commissioners is all that innocent. Slive blows smoke at SEC media days to avoid lawsuit, but has been talking to TAM for quite some time in a back room. PAC 12 Commissioner has conference schools expressing a desire to stay at 12. Larry Scott turns deaf ear toward them and goes after OU.

I agree with this. You likely have many school presidents and athletic directors who have realized the absurdity of 16-team conferences. And then you have two or three conference commissioners (with possibly a couple of athletic directors thrown in) working together and trying to drive the bus towards that absurdity, because those guys are focused soley on revenue, and not the overall good of college sports.

 

[Wesley]

Suppose OK wanted to blow up the Big 12 this year instead of last by going Pac 12 on us after the IOK Network did not get off the ground. Why would you not blow up the whole league to avoid paying exit fees? I think the fingers are pointing mostly at Mr Search Committee Dave Boren. I think we want to win some of these games on the field this year as buttkicker shots. If not fball, let's tromp these schools in bball.

 

[Cydwinder]

Katz: If this gigantic shakeup occurs, it's likely not going to be for 2012. The timetable is getting too late for scheduling to make this happen for next fall. I hope -- and I predict -- this turns out more like last summer. Texas A&M moves to the SEC. Someone replaces the Aggies in the Big 12. And then we exhale.I've talked to countless schools and league commissioners and haven't found a single one that really wants to go to a 16-team conference. They only look at it in the prism of, "Well, if it has to happen, then we might as well join or get left behind." But no one really wants to be in such a mess.


Katz makes this sound like a catch 22 but I am not sure the actions of the commissioners is all that innocent. Slive blows smoke at SEC media days to avoid lawsuit, but has been talking to TAM for quite some time in a back room. PAC 12 Commissioner has conference schools expressing a desire to stay at 12. Larry Scott turns deaf ear toward them and goes after OU.

This is what really bothers me about this whole thing. If a conference is happy at 12 members and wants to stay at 12,why are you even interested in adding more?

 

[Wesley]

This is what really bothers me about this whole thing. If a conference is happy at 12 members and wants to stay at 12,why are you even interested in adding more?

Because ESPN wants playoffs with megaconferences and the bowls be dammed?