That is fascinating. Confirms much of what we had "heard" throughout the process.
I take away a few things from that article:
1. The reason Wefald and The Big 8 schools (ex-Neb) sided with Texas on the early votes was probably due to the fact that they were sick of Nebraska's power and influence and probably envious of their success. They saw this as a way to knock Neb down a peg. Unfortunately for ISU, KSU, Mizzou, KU, Colorado, and OSU; they got into bed with a self satisfying monster (UT). Nebbie (see Osbourne) never forgot. Lucky for CU & Mizzou, they were attractive enough to escape (maybe not lucky though.....)
2. Nebbie and Texas both forced unequal revenue sharing down everyone's throats.
3. Nebbies eventually fall from the pinnacle and OUs rise to prominence and growing rivalry with Texas was too much for Nebraska to take. (the tables had turned and the power they once held was rapidly eroding under them)
4. Nebraska hypocritically joined the B1G on the premise of stability and anti-Texas sentiment, when in reality they were joining a shared revenue conference that they had been so ardently fighting against for the pasts 15+ years.
5. When Nebbie left, CU jumped ship, shattering the Big 8 brotherhood and tilting the voting power back to Texas (as OU and OSU were now fully in bed with Texas and the Big 8's best recruiting beneficiaries).
IMO, had Nebraska remained, CU and Mizzou would have never left, and the Big 12 would probably be stronger than ever.
The net result for our former 3 amigos is debatable at best:
More $$$, sure, but what has that gotten them?
Nebraska- Cash kings, but success on the field has been far inferior to their Big 12 days. They are lost in a mediocre shuffle of Minnesota, Illinois, Northwestern, Iowa, and Purdue. Once every few years they get their coveted match ups against the Blue Bloods from the east. Only problem is that the "Nebraska" brand ain't what it used to be, so what once would have been prime time ABC match-ups are relegated to the BTN at 7pm. Instead of easy fan travel trips to ISU, KSU, KU, Mizzou, & CU; with the exception of Iowa City and Minny, they now have 7+ hour journeys anywhere. I get the sense that allure of visiting the Big 10 stalwarts has faded, but I'm just a jaded little Cyclone fan.
Mizzou- great start in the SEC, on the heels of a string of excellent Big 12 years and down cycles from Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee. Have since floundered, and with Tennessee rising, Florida rebuilt, and Georgia always strong; I forsee a long-term future similar to Kentucky in the SEC East. Basketball has all but disappeared. Norm Stuart Court is a shell of it's former self.
Colorado- arguably the worst outcome of any former Big 8 compatriot. Football has essentially been wiped from the face of this institution. Despite the allure of the Pac12, nobody on the West coast gives a damn about college football the way they do in the heartland. But hey, the basketball Buffs have quietly emerged......
Your athletic departments can make $1 B/year, but if the product and the results are worse than before, what's the point? As far as $$ into ADs and building athletic shrines, I think we've hit the point of diminishing returns. You can only invest so much in infrastructure, especially if attendance is falling. The net effect will be continued skyrocketing of coaching salaries; as this is the only viable outlet for huge revenue growth.