The Big 12 expansion groundswell

[Uncle Ted]

Nope, OU will want to bring Okie State with them to the SEC. FSU already turned down the SEC back when Arkansas joined; South Carolina was then invited. I doubt Clemson would leave the ACC. Maybe West Virginia will try to get invited to the SEC but OU is really the team the SEC wants and would be willing to take Okie St. in order to make that happen.

What if Nebraska, given how bad they want out of the B1G, goes with OU to the SEC? Would Okie Lite still get invited?

[Green Monstah]

What if Nebraska, given how bad they want out of the B1G, goes with OU to the SEC? Would Okie Lite still get invited?

I think the OK legislature wod require ou/osu be a packaged deal. Same with UT and TT.

[Paperback Writer]

What if Nebraska, given how bad they want out of the B1G, goes with OU to the SEC? Would Okie Lite still get invited?

Shut the f&*# up Donny! The Dude is right, Nebraska isn't going anywhere.

[Omaha 680]

We all know UT is trolling with the Nebraska talk. It's safe to say Nebraska was one of the big winners in the Big 12 realignment saga. Perhaps they were just lucky to be an attractive program that checked all the boxes at the time the B1G moved to expand (Yes, UT, we all know Nebraska was later booted from the AAU). Perhaps they were just the most forward-thinking school in the Big 12 and were willing to look at their options when it became painfully obvious that Texas was not looking out for the long term health of the conference. Probably a little of both. But regardless of how they got there, Nebraska in the B1G are in an infinitely better position than they would be in the current Big 12 or a future SEC. While I certainly miss playing the old Big 8 schools, especially Oklahoma, I would be crazy as a fan of Nebraska teams to want the school to do anything else but stay put. I'm sure the Nebraska administrators, who are not lunatics, feel the same way.

[Uncle Ted]

Gee on the Big 12 expansion... BYU is still one of his top picks. Of course, the question is do they expand.

Yet Gee is also grappling with the unsettled, fluctuating issue to be dealt with less than a week from now, on Oct. 17, in Irving, Texas: Big 12 expansion.


“The presidents will meet with the [Big 12] commissioner [Bob Bowlsby] at that time,” Gee told the Gazette-Mail on Monday. “He’ll review the process he’s been through. Then we’ll have an opportunity to really discuss it and make recommendations. It’ll be the first time we’ll be together since [Bowlsby has] been going through the process of interviewing and elimination.”


Bowlsby was authorized by the league’s Board of Directors, which includes the schools’ presidents and chancellors, to interview and negotiate with potential candidates. Different reports say the list was pared, which would seem to point to the upcoming meeting for a final determination. Gee, however, said that might not be the case.


“I just don’t know,” he said. “I mean, I don’t know. I’m sure there will be a very serious discussion. Now, whether or not there will be a final decision made, I’m not certain I can say. I think we’re getting closer to some type of decision, but it’s very complicated and there are a lot of moving parts, so I don’t want to predict.”

Parts have been moving since the process began. Back in June of 2015, Oklahoma president Dave Boren called the Big 12 “psychologically disadvantaged” with only 10 teams, without a football championship game and without a league network.


There was then speculation his Board of Regents disagreed with his assessment. After a meeting, he was quoted as saying he wasn’t “sure the automatic answer… is expansion.”


He then issued a statement saying “Oklahoma has not taken a position on expansion.”


Gee, on the other hand, hasn’t wavered. He has supported expansion throughout. Word is, he supports BYU, Cincinnati, Connecticut and Tulane, although he wouldn’t comment when asked Monday. He did, however, respond to Iowa State president Steven Leath’s comment that expansion is “less likely.” Leath told the Iowa State Daily, “I think the chances we expand are a little smaller than it was before.”


“Of course, I was on the [expansion] committee,” Gee said. “We saw all the possibilities of expansion and the opportunities that exist. We also understand there are other variations that can take place too. I happen to be very enthusiastic about expansion, but I also understand it needs to make sense. We need to understand the opportunities and consequences, intended or unintended. I really don’t know if it’s likely or less likely. I think that will be determined by discussions we have on Monday.”

“Of course, I was on the [expansion] committee,” Gee said. “We saw all the possibilities of expansion and the opportunities that exist. We also understand there are other variations that can take place too. I happen to be very enthusiastic about expansion, but I also understand it needs to make sense. We need to understand the opportunities and consequences, intended or unintended. I really don’t know if it’s likely or less likely. I think that will be determined by discussions we have on Monday.”


If the Big 12 doesn’t expand, it will leave money on the table under the pro rata clause with TV partners ESPN and Fox. The league has also indicated, though, it wants to work with the networks and not anger them with a money grab.

In a subject tied to that, recent reports have it that Big 12 members won’t this year extend their grant of TV rights agreement to the league beyond its expiration in 2025. That’s led to speculation Oklahoma, Texas or other league members might look to fly elsewhere.


“I don’t think it means anything,” Gee said. “I think we need to resolve the issue of expansion before we get talking about other issues. If we’re to add teams, that adds different dynamics. We need to resolve the expansion issue first.”


It’ll be interesting to see if it’s resolved on Monday. It would certainly be in the Big 12’s best interest to make a strong call with a show of unity. The process has dragged out. Some of the main characters have looked bad throughout.


Gee, however, disagrees with recent criticism calling the process “dysfunctional.”


“Oh, I think it’s been very functional,” he said. “I think the commissioner has done a good job. I think we’ve been very serious about it. I think those who are criticizing from the outside have a view on what should be done. I think we’ve been very thoughtful and methodical. I’m very satisfied with the process.”


We’ll see if that process ends in less than a week.

http://www.wvgazettemail.com/apps/pb...01%2F161019947

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

I hope BYU gets a rant video from stingray!

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

We need to get Finebaum talking hype about BYU. Someone call in tomorrow!

Edit: I'm an idiot, again. These were supposed to be in the Mississippi State thread.

[Crockett]

We need to get Finebaum talking hype about BYU. Someone call in tomorrow!

Edit: I'm an idiot, again. These were supposed to be in the Mississippi State thread.

That guy needs to wipe his upper lip after drinking his chocolate milk.

[Lost Student]

Answers about Big 12 expansion may or may not come Monday

Press conference on Monday. My guess is that they will announce nothing, but I'll be watching anyway!

[New Mexican Disaster]

Answers about Big 12 expansion may or may not come Monday

Press conference on Monday. My guess is that they will announce nothing, but I'll be watching anyway!

My attitude on this point is beyond the point of caring.

[Moliere]

My attitude on this point is beyond the point of caring.

I care. We are in!!

[New Mexican Disaster]

I care. We are in!!

In that case I will care too.

[Topper]

In that case I will care too.

This approach is preferable, not to care until we're in.

[originalsocal]

Answers about Big 12 expansion may or may not come Monday

Press conference on Monday. My guess is that they will announce nothing, but I'll be watching anyway!

At this point I can't lose.

If we're in great! P5 inclusion.

If we're out meh! B12 is a dumpster fire.