The Big 12 expansion groundswell

[Uncle Ted]

Apparently BYU is about to pour a ton of money into the stadium. New video boards for sure and rumors of other major upgrades as well.

I can't see them putting all this money into the program if they aren't fully invested into it's success. Success = Big 12.

They are upgrading the stadium to help sell tickets to those future games with Idaho St and the likes as an independent.

[Uncle Ted]

A little history on Neinas and TCU...

New Big 12 commish, TCU, smoke and fire

Interim Big 12 commissioner Chuck Neinas said this morning there is resistance to adding a new member from the state of Texas.

I interpreted that to mean TCU. And I was reminded that I once had a conversation with Neinas about the Horned Frogs.

It was 2003 and conference dominoes were falling. The ACC cherry-picked Miami and Virginia Tech from the Big East, which then raided C-USA for Louisville, Marquette, Cincinnati and DePaul.

Neinas was a paid consultant for C-USA at the time and C-USA intended to replenish its ranks by snaring teams (including Tulsa) from the WAC. Meanwhile, TCU, which had already bolted from the WAC to join C-USA, was allegedly being targeted by the Mountain West.

I phoned Neinas with that bit of intel and he told me that it was unlikely any C-USA teams would switch conferences. When Neinas was asked why he feels strongly about that, he said, “because I’ve been in Conference USA meetings.”

Asked specifically about reports of TCU’s flirtation with the Mountain West, Neinas scoffed and indicated that the media deals too much in speculation.

And then TCU left for the Mountain West.

How does that translate to current events? Maybe it doesn’t. Maybe I was just tossing it out there as background information. Or maybe it translates to current events in this way: There are two reasons the media often deals in speculation.

Reason No. 1: Smoke. Reason No. 2: Fire.

[LiveCoug]

I'm totally fine with TCU to the Big 12.... As long as BYU accepts an invite first!

[SteelBlue]

I getting ready for the Chili Peppers, who come on in an hour, but yeah, folks, BYU is unlikely to go to the B12...nothing has changed since a few days ago.

There's damage control in trying to explain this to people who have supported the program and I can tell you that it's not working.

[USUC]

Has Chip Brown been accused of being part of the spreading of misinformation (or being used to spread misinformation by those in the Texas program)? I have no idea what his background is and how connected he is with the Texas program. Where is his source for BYU not being interested? Why would Chip Brown have connections inside of BYU? I have to assume his sources are within Texas. Would the Texas schools benefit from having another team in the conference from Texas? Maybe it is feeling heat from all the other members and wants another team they feel like will be in their corner. It would be interesting to see what the non-Texas schools in the Big-12 think about expansion candidates.

[Gaffords]

I'm totally fine with TCU to the Big 12.... As long as BYU accepts an invite first!

Here is the issues with TCU joining the B12.
For Texas: TCU adds nothing to the B12 money wise. Even on their best years they rank third in viewers behind UT and OU ln DFW.

For Oklahoma: That is the one City (DFW) OU beats UT in recruiting. Do they want to legitimize TCU?

Pros for adding TCU for OU and UT. It is possible (and likely) that TCU ends up on the SEC expansion list sooner or later to double down on the State of Texas.
Is it better to add TCU to block the SEC? SEC recruiting DFW hard and heavy wouldn't be good for either school...

10 vs 12. Will the contracts rewrite themselves if we go to 12? Will all schools agree to lose money by splitting 12 ways vs 10 if not?

[Uncle Ted]

I'm totally fine with TCU to the Big 12.... As long as BYU accepts an invite first!

I have selfish reasons for TCU and BYU to be in the Big 12 even though the frogs add very little to the conference. Traveling over to cow-town or, even better, cowboys stadium for a game is a quick drive for me. I don't mind driving to Austin, Waco, Norman, or Stillwater either. Hell, I would even drive to Lubbock too if BYU was playing.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I am still waiting to hear a reason for BYU turning down a B12 invite that is remotely rational. The only deal-killer I can think of would be no agreement on Sunday play. Assuming the B12 continues to solidify, what possible reason would there be for BYU losing interest as Chip and Viking are reporting?

[LiveCoug]

I am still waiting to hear a reason for BYU turning down a B12 invite that is remotely rational. The only deal-killer I can think of would be no agreement on Sunday play. Assuming the B12 continues to solidify, what possible reason would there be for BYU losing interest as Chip and Viking are reporting?

You are looking for rational reasons. That's your problem.

Maybe they just love the WCC too much. Maybe they truly believe Indy will take them to the promised land. I don't know. Makes no sense. Holmoe and Bronco have both talked about joining a conference. This is our chance.

[LiveCoug]

Gswaim, who has been all over the place on this expansion thing, is saying that BYU is in. Cracks me up.

[Coach McGuirk]

Gswaim, who has been all over the place on this expansion thing, is saying that BYU is in. Cracks me up.

I'm sorry, who is gswaim?

[LiveCoug]

I'm sorry, who is gswaim?

Some radio host in Big 12 country.

[Omaha 680]

You are looking for rational reasons. That's your problem.

Maybe they just love the WCC too much. Maybe they truly believe Indy will take them to the promised land. I don't know. Makes no sense. Holmoe and Bronco have both talked about joining a conference. This is our chance.

This is what give me hope. Up until a couple weeks ago, all Bronco could talk about was how great independence is. Then suddenly he starts letting slip how he would like to be in a BCS conference. As has been noted before by many, Bronco is very much a company man and I don't think he would freelance with his opinion like that if it wasn't being seriously considered.

[TripletDaddy]

I am still waiting to hear a reason for BYU turning down a B12 invite that is remotely rational. The only deal-killer I can think of would be no agreement on Sunday play. Assuming the B12 continues to solidify, what possible reason would there be for BYU losing interest as Chip and Viking are reporting?

You are correct. None exists.

I've stopped caring what Chip Brown tweets. Same approach for every other alleged BYU insider says or tweets. As a result, Last week was a good week for me and I expect next week will be even better.

[SteelBlue]

You are correct. None exists.

I've stopped caring what Chip Brown tweets. Same approach for every other alleged BYU insider says or tweets. As a result, Last week was a good week for me and I expect next week will be even better.

I'm going to open a twitter account and start saying things like: "wagons are circling. People are quiet. Something big is happening. Stay tuned". That stuff seems to kill.