The PAC 10 expansion groundswell

[LA Ute]

Whew. Thank you. That takes a load off my mind.

You're suggesting that Ute fans should be "concerned." I don't get it.

[Hot Lunch]

http://www.texas.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1092201

Colorado is expected to have a major announcement on Wednesday, sources said.

If the specualation is true, Colorado could be preparing to accept a bid from the Pac-10 Conference, which has targeted the Buffaloes for expansion.

The move would undercut an attempt by Baylor to sway the Texas Legislature into helping the Bears get an invite ahead of Colorado.

[shoganai]

IMO, this means three things...

1. Notre Dame will not be joining the Big 10, and apparently everybody knows it.

2. UT and A&M are perfectly OK with kicking Baylor to the curb. No way the Pac-10 would be extending this invitation if it would upset the big boys. The Horns and Aggies already gave the thumbs up to this one.

3. The MWC expansion talk is about to get very, very interesting.

[Uncle Ted]

http://www.texas.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1092201

I thought this was interesting as well...

The question is could Colorado afford it?

The price to get out of the Big 12 is a $10 million buyout, and it would take a vote of nine members of the Big 12 to dissolve the league and eliminate any buyout penalties, according to one league source.

Sources say Colorado's athletic department is not in strong financial condition, and the school doesn't have the kind of money right now to buy its freedom.

So, say, Nebraska and Missouri go to the Big Ten and the six go to the PAC-10+6... who would be the ninth vote? Or would they all be paying the remanding Big 12 members $10M each (or $80M)?

[jay santos]

http://www.texas.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1092201

Strange. Colorado seems the last choice to make the first move, based on the information circulating now.

[shoganai]

So, say, Nebraska and Missouri go to the Big Ten and the six go to the PAC-10+6... who would be the ninth vote? Or would they all be paying the remanding Big 12 members $10M each (or $80M)?

I could be wrong about this, but I believe the conference is legally dissolved if that many members leave, so there's no more binding exit penalty.

[Coach McGuirk]

I keep saying I am sick of all the talk, but really I am hanging on every word that is written.

The Mountain West's decision to stand pat Monday was telling. Why make a commitment to Boise State right now, when that league, which is desperately trying to become a BCS conference, can wait a week and see if there are bigger trophies to be had.

[SeattleUte]

I realize Orangebloods doesn't have much of a staff, but if Chip Brown really wants to be collge football's Bob Woodward, he needs to learn how to spell linchpin, the difference between affect and effect, when to use a question mark, and about complete sentences. How embarrassing for a university of Texas' academic stature.

[SeattleUte]

http://www.texas.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1092201

If this is true, GREAT news for the Utes. We're on third base if this is true. God willing, but I'll wait for the announcement. (I assume CU can find a high roller to finance the 10 million.)

[jay santos]

I realize Orangebloods doesn't have much of a staff, but if Chip Brown really wants to be collge football's Bob Woodward, he needs to learn how to spell linchpin, the difference between affect and effect, when to use a question mark, and about complete sentences. How embarrassing for a university of Texas' academic stature.

Poor consistency in that first sentence. he needs to learn..., the difference..., when to use..., and about...?

[Coach McGuirk]

If this is true, GREAT news for the Utes. We're on third base if this is true. God willing, but I'll wait for the announcement. (I assume CU can find a high roller to finance the 10 million.)

so is this more news that nothing will happen, and that is GREAT news for the Utes?

[SeattleUte]

Poor consistency in that first sentence. he needs to learn..., the difference..., when to use..., and about...?

There is nothing wrong with shifting directions that way. The clauses are complete.

[LA Ute]

As I said over on UteFans, someday some really good sportswriter is going to have quite a long article (or even a book) to write about how this all happened. Reminds me of the runup to World War I.

[SeattleUte]

so is this more news that nothing will happen, and that is GREAT news for the Utes?

I'm already on record saying Texas et al. aren't going to the Pac 10. So, if CU is going...

Also, a preemptive announcement by CU might tell you they're already all deciding the Big 12 South merger with the Pac 10 isn't going to happen.

[SeattleUte]

As I said over on UteFans, someday some really good sportswriter is going to have quite a long article (or even a book) to write about how this all happened. Reminds me of the runup to World War I.

Not hardly like the runup to WWI. Pleeeasee.

Have you ever read the business book "Barbarians at the Gate," about the merger of Reynolds Tobacco and RJR Nabisco? It is just like that.

EDIT: But the stakes were higher in Barbarians at the Gate. It was much bigger news and involved a lot more money.