The Big 12 expansion groundswell

[falafel]

Sure he could.

The B12 would not appreciate it if he did. Not a good way to start that relationship.

[Coach McGuirk]

The B12 would not appreciate it if he did. Not a good way to start that relationship.

i don't speak for the Big 12.

[falafel]

i don't speak for the Big 12.

But you speak for Holmoe?

[Blueintheface]

Holmoe went on to mention in his interview this morning how he got burned last year by telling a small group of "insiders" that a deal was imminent only to have it blow up in the press and in contract negotiations just a week later. I think Holmoe could say he hasn't been contacted or more to the point, invited, and still be honest in his dealings with the unwashed masses.

[Coach McGuirk]

But you speak for Holmoe?

Yes, I can.

[falafel]

Yes, I can.

Sweet. So out with it. What is Tom saying?

[Uncle Ted]

If the Big 12 really could add Notre Dame, A&M may have to reconsider their departure, negating the need for a third addition.

Chuck Carlton at the Dallas Morning News I think has this same opinion. He believes that the Big 12 just needs to add Notre Dame and BYU.

Some of his twitter comments:

ChuckCarltonDMN Chuck Carlton
All this from the Big 12 side. They're hoping that Notre Dame and BYU are open to listening, crunching numbers, seeing where it leads.
12 hours ago

Quick responses: Yes, I know about Notre Dame's culture. But Irish losing ground to be Big Ten financially; might have to consider a league.
12 hours ago

Regarding BYU, Cougars would be able to keep school network (BYUtv), play in automatic bid league and not worry about indy scheduling.
13 hours ago

Big 12 source: on ND “It would definitely be a conversation worth pursuing and having.” Irish would have to join as full members.
13 hours ago

Key fact in Big 12's strategy: Notre Dame makes $15M reportedly from NBC. Irish could keep current deal and make additional $20M in Big 12.
13 hours ago

Why the Big 12's rule on school networks could open the door to the conference courting Notre Dame, BYU. Really. http://t.co/BjH9L1i
13 hours ago

[Uncle Ted]

i don't speak for the Big 12.

I speak for the Big 12. Coach speaks for Holmoe.

[Coach McGuirk]

Sweet. So out with it. What is Tom saying?

last time he let a small group of insiders know some details, it blew up in his face. This time it is smaller.

[Coach McGuirk]

I speak for the Big 12. Coach speaks for Holmoe.

I like this arrangement.

[pellegrino]

Holmoe went on to mention in his interview this morning how he got burned last year by telling a small group of "insiders" that a deal was imminent only to have it blow up in the press and in contract negotiations just a week later. I think Holmoe could say he hasn't been contacted or more to the point, invited, and still be honest in his dealings with the unwashed masses.

I don't know that I would even care if he lied about it, were caught in the lie and still denied it. The public doesn't need to know everything about it.

[Blueintheface]

I don't know that I would even care if he lied about it, were caught in the lie and still denied it. The public doesn't need to know everything about it.

I completely agree.

[YOhio]

I don't know that I would even care if he lied about it, were caught in the lie and still denied it. The public doesn't need to know everything about it.

It wouldn't bother me at all.

[ERCougar]

Why not just say, 'i can't comment in that'? Over and over.

[Uncle Ted]

Carlton's Dallas Morning News article about the possibility of adding ND and BYU to the Big 12...

Minus Texas A&M, Big 12 could add Notre Dame, BYU


The same controversial Big 12 rules allowing a school to have its own television network could be the key to expansion should Texas A&M bolt for the Southeastern Conference.

While the Aggies continue to lay the groundwork that they hope will lead to the SEC in a couple of weeks, four sources familiar with the discussions say the Big 12 has been exploring internal contingency plans for possible replacements.

The bylaws that led to Texas' new Longhorn Network could become a magnet to attract the Aggies' replacement.

Think BYU, which is pursuing life as a football independent while trying to develop additional sports programming on an existing school network.

Or consider even Notre Dame, the Holy Grail for full conference membership and viewed as a pipe dream by many.

Yes, Notre Dame. Seriously. For 20 years, the Irish have enjoyed a relationship with NBC for home football telecasts. The New York Times reported in 2009 that the current agreement through 2015 pays Notre Dame about $15 million annually.

While Notre Dame loves its arrangement with NBC, the Irish are losing financial ground to surrounding Big Ten schools. In the 2010-11 conference distribution, Big Ten teams were projected to receive $22 million apiece, according to the Indianapolis Star.

While the Big 12 has not yet talked to any schools, it could offer to declare Notre Dame's relationship with NBC a proprietary school network, sources say. It could also make the remaining Irish road games available to its media partners, ESPN and Fox. Notre Dame would then get a full share from the Big 12 worth conceivably $20 million annually. The Irish would have to move its other sports from the Big East to the Big 12.

"It would definitely be a conversation worth pursuing and having," one conference source said.

The idea of Notre Dame football in the Big 12 — or any conference, for that matter — remains a long shot. A cautious Big 12 school source said he would like to hear more about the proposal and wondered about the precedent of allowing one school to keep all its home football games on a personal network. He added that the possibility of letting Notre Dame keep its NBC connection could offer the framework for substantial talks.

"Notre Dame changes your brand," another school source said. "That would be off the charts for us."

While Notre Dame has continually rebuffed the Big Ten, the Big 12 carries no historical issues. Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds has acknowledged regular discussions with Notre Dame counterpart Jack Swarbrick, including talks on conference alignment nationally.

Another possibility is BYU. Athletic director Tom Holmoe recently acknowledged monitoring conference developments across the country. With the Big 12, BYU could keep its network, compete in a conference with an automatic BCS bid and avoid difficult football scheduling as an independent. The Cougars offer great football tradition, including winning a national championship.

With Notre Dame and/or BYU, the Big 12 could be poised for further growth and strongly eliminate perceptions of weakness. With those two schools in tow, could Arkansas possibly be persuaded to consider the Big 12 as a 12th team? Yes, the scenario is a little over-the-top given the state the Big 12 finds itself.

Officials still would like to find a way to persuade A&M to stay and maintain historic rivalries.

But the Big 12 isn't without options, and the possibility of a lucrative school network could make big things happen.