The Big 12 expansion groundswell

[Surfah]

Every Baylor fan should be ashamed by that site, especially after they left smu, TCU, Houston, and rice in the dust.

The worst part about that site (besides the desperation) is the use of Baylor Nation. I hate when people add nation to represent their fan base.

[Uncle Ted]

Wow, an official Baylor site, not just a fan site. Ken Starr in action?

I am guessing we will see Starr if the Big 12 implodes. I saw this on another forum...

Baylor will sue the SEC when the Big 12 breaks up due to A&M's leaving the conference. Baylor will suffer hundreds of millions of dollars in damages due to lost TV revenue because it will be left behind and no longer be a member of a conference with a lucrative TV contract. Baylor is a private institution so that its records, including what it spends on legal fees, are not subject to Open Records disclosure. After Baylor files suit, the discovery process will show that the SEC has been actively courting A&M for over a year proving that the SEC interfered with Baylor's contract with the Big 12, and caused Baylor's losses. Baylor has a president who is an attorney with a record of aggressive prosecution (Kenneth Starr) and a local politically influential booster and fund raiser (Buddy Jones) who will supply any amount of money to pay for savage legal representation. Once the lawsuit gets rolling, the other schools damaged by the SEC's interference with their Big 12 contracts (Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri and Iowa State) will join in and the damages could exceed $1 billion. The SEC must realize this and it could affect whether they invite A$M to join.

[creekster]

The worst part about that site (besides the desperation) is the use of Baylor Nation. I hate when people add nation to represent their fan base.

CUF Nation applauds your position.

[Blueintheface]

I am guessing we will see Starr if the Big 12 implodes. I saw this on another forum...

They (The SEC) had to know this though, right? You don't think they would have sufficiently covered their tracks to prevent this? I'm truly asking as I don't think that The SEC doesn't truly have their own legal experts and rich boosters.

[Babs]

Every Baylor fan should be ashamed by that site, especially after they left smu, TCU, Houston, and rice in the dust.

It was the laughing stock of every discussion at school today. Have they no shame? At all?

[TripletDaddy]

CUF Nation applauds your position.

I'm giving Surfah "Most Favored Nation" status among all CUF posters.

[Jacob]

I am guessing we will see Starr if the Big 12 implodes. I saw this on another forum...

The threat of the lawsuit seems to stem from A&M leaving. I suppose this is because the TV contract requires 10 teams?

Does this mean Texas and Oklahoma can leave with no penalty and no lawsuit from Baylor? If so, the scenario that makes the most sense is to contract. Start a new conference with Texas, OU, OKST, ND, the Kansas Schools, TTech, BYU, and one other (Mizzou?) Now you have 8 teams. 7 conference games and 5 non-conference. Everyone keeps (ND, TX, BYU) or creates their own TV deal for non-conference games, but ESPN buys the first tier rights to conference games.
Maybe they convince A&M to stay.

[Babs]

Does this mean Texas and Oklahoma can leave with no penalty and no lawsuit from Baylor?

That's the current goal, as best as anyone can figure.

[Uncle Ted]

They (The SEC) had to know this though, right? You don't think they would have sufficiently covered their tracks to prevent this? I'm truly asking as I don't think that The SEC doesn't truly have their own legal experts and rich boosters.

I am sure that the SEC realizes this and is most likely the reason the presidents all said they are not interesting in expanding right now. They wanted aTm to leave the Big 12 first so they can argue they didn't have anything to do with the aggies blowing up the Big 12. One problem I see with this is that aTm has not really left the Big 12. They said only that they may leave the Big 12, essentially.

[SteelBlue]

David Ubben from ESPN's Big 12 blog in chat today (going on right now @):
http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat...ith-dave-ubben

Tom (Austin)
Are the rumors true that BYU has received an invite but hasn't been convinced to accept it yet?

David Ubben (3:19 PM)
Every indication currently is that any Big 12 expansion is in a holding pattern until Oklahoma figures out what it's going to do.

Jake (Las Vegas)
What teams do you think will go to the Pac-12 and do you believe that OU and OSU would go without Texas?

David Ubben (3:25 PM)
Bob Stoops didn't seem to rule it out today, and that's one rumor that's out there. It wouldn't shock me, but again, I absolutely hate to see these teams get split up if it happens. So, Texas will now not be in a conference with A&M and probably not play them? And not in a conference with OU or maybe not play them? This is insanity.

[Uncle Ted]

The threat of the lawsuit seems to stem from A&M leaving. I suppose this is because the TV contract requires 10 teams?

The lawsuit would most likely happen if the Big 12 implodes (e.g. Texas, OU, etc. bolt to another conference) and not just from aTm leaving. If aTm leaves and the Big 12 stays in place then aTm will need to pay an exit fee (as much as $30M).

Does this mean Texas and Oklahoma can leave with no penalty and no lawsuit from Baylor? If so, the scenario that makes the most sense is to contract. Start a new conference with Texas, OU, OKST, ND, the Kansas Schools, TTech, BYU, and one other (Mizzou?) Now you have 8 teams. 7 conference games and 5 non-conference. Everyone keeps (ND, TX, BYU) or creates their own TV deal for non-conference games, but ESPN buys the first tier rights to conference games.
Maybe they convince A&M to stay.

Everyone will be able to leave the Big 12 without a penalty if the conference disbands. I have to wonder if aTm is hoping for this so they don't have to pay an exit fee on top of the $18M the aTm athletic department already owes to the tax payers. Of course, aTm fans believe that they can raise this money overnight by passing around a hat but if they can do this I have to wonder why they have a $18M debt. Maybe aTm will be forced to stay if (1) the SEC gets nervous about the potential lawsuit and/or (2) they can't raise the money to pay the exit fee and still pay the bills. I think they might be up against their credit limit.

[SteelBlue]

More from Ubben's chat:

Tom (Austin)


Is BYU's D as tough as they looked on Saturday? Should we be worried?

David Ubben (3:31 PM)


I think so, but we'll find out Saturday if its offense is at bad as it looked.

[Surfah]

Andy Staples is saying the SEC presidents should vote by tonight on TAMU.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...ent/index.html

[Blueintheface]

Andy Staples is saying the SEC presidents should vote by tonight on TAMU.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...ent/index.html

I have a sneaking suspiscion the SEC Presidents didn't come close to envisioning the cluster**** that would ensue following TAMU's request for removal from the Big 12. It could very well lead to them all voting no. Just speculation on my part obviously.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

Andy Staples is saying the SEC presidents should vote by tonight on TAMU.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...ent/index.html

An SEC no vote would potentially stop the hysteria for awhile.