The Big 12 expansion groundswell

[Flystripper]

I know it's not rational, but there's a part of me that will be sad if BYU gives up independence to join the Big12.

you are right. It is not rational. I am trying to understand what you find appealing about Independence over the Big 12.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

I guarantee that discussion took place with the WCC before the deal was done.

Every report I have read indicates that the WCC said they would not have welcomed BYU without a long term commitment. If BYU bolts they will have dealt similarly with the WCC that Nevada and Fresno did with the WAC/BYU.

However, Zaninovich elaborated when asked if he was concerned that BYU might bolt:
"As i explained before, we have not added a new member in 30 years. Anytime you change or bring in someone new, certainly there is associated risk. We are very comfortable in that we think BYU fits in our conference, and we are very comfortable from what we have heard from them in terms of their commitment to being independent in football for a long time -- meaning that they are going to be a part of the West Coast Conference for a long time, so we are very comfortable with where we are in those conversations and how that worked out."

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogs/b...rence.html.csp

[LiveCoug]

Every report I have read indicates that the WCC said they would not have welcomed BYU without a long term commitment. If BYU bolts they will have dealt similarly with the WCC that Nevada and Fresno did with the WAC/BYU.


http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogs/b...rence.html.csp

Tom Holmoe has done a wonderful job evading the question (concerning ditching WCC if Big 12 comes a callin).

[LA Ute]

Every report I have read indicates that the WCC said they would not have welcomed BYU without a long term commitment. If BYU bolts they will have dealt similarly with the WCC that Nevada and Fresno did with the WAC/BYU.


http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogs/b...rence.html.csp

You're poking some pretty sensitive areas here, HFN.

[TripletDaddy]

Every report I have read indicates that the WCC said they would not have welcomed BYU without a long term commitment. If BYU bolts they will have dealt similarly with the WCC that Nevada and Fresno did with the WAC/BYU.


http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogs/b...rence.html.csp

All conference affiliations have out clauses. There may be penalties associated, but nobody is bound to any particular conference long-term.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

You're poking some pretty sensitive areas here, HFN.

Max Hall still hates you.

[LA Ute]

Max Hall still hates you.

But if Max were in my ward he'd be my buddy.

[Coach McGuirk]

You're poking some pretty sensitive areas here, HFN.

I will gladly listen to all your bitching and groaning should this come true.

[MarkGrace]

Tom Holmoe has done a wonderful job evading the question (concerning ditching WCC if Big 12 comes a callin).

Yes. When asked about it in the independent presser, he was very evasive. There's not a chance between negotiated this deal with the WCC without taking into account a move to another conference.

Even if we bolt now, the WCC will make a ton of money for having to do nothing more than smile and say the right things at the time of agreement.

[BlueHair]

All conference affiliations have out clauses. There may be penalties associated, but nobody is bound to any particular conference long-term.

This. I don't think any conference agreements have any "for time and all eternity" language in them. Coaches are fired all the time before their contracts are up.

[LA Ute]

I will gladly listen to all your bitching and groaning should this come true.

I promise not to say anything. The BYU fans here are very sensitive about any suggestion that anything BYU does is ethically questionable. I think all loyal fans feel that way about their favorite program, but with BYU it seems especially sensitive. That's understandable, given BYU's church affiliation. Hey, I defend BYU when it is attacked on ethical grounds.

[MarkGrace]

Ending Big 12 title game a bad decision

By Berry Tramel Oklahoman 1
Published: December 3, 2010

ARLINGTON, Texas — Sooners and Cornhuskers sharing the gridiron. Brent Musburger and Kirk Herbstreit sharing the broadcast booth.

Jerry Jones’ palace. A glittering trophy and Fiesta Bowl trip awaiting the winner. A championship decided on the field, just like everyone always wants in this eccentric sport.



The Sooners celebrate their 2008 Big 12 title. PHOTO FROM THE OKLAHOMAN ARCHIVE

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Ending Big 12 title game a bad decision Tell me again why Saturday night is the last Big 12 Championship game. Why, when Nebraska and Colorado flee the league next summer, the Big 12 is prepared to go backward. Why Big 12 athletic directors are shortsighted enough to be giddy about extra cash at the expense of conference prestige.

The Big 12 title game, which has elevated the league in the eyes of the American sports fan, will be missed. Sorely missed. The conference has no idea what a void it’s about to create.

Starting with Bob Stoops.

“It doesn’t seem to hurt a lot of teams this year or in some other years, that haven’t had championship games,” Stoops said. “The Pac-10 hasn’t had one yet, nor has the Big Ten. And they seem to have been in the championship hunt through the years.”

Trouble is, a title game hasn’t kept the Big 12 from the championship hunt. Saturday will be just the second Big 12 Championship game since 2002 without national-title implications, and the Big 12 placed a team in the Big Bowl in 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008 and 2009. That’s seven of the last 10 years. Only once (Missouri 2007) has the Big 12 title game cost the league a national championship spot.

The Southeastern Conference, the only other league with a title game throughout the 2000s, has produced five national-title game participants. The Big Ten three and the Pac-10 two.

The Big 12 wants to mess with that track record?

And as for the Big Ten and Pac-10, they’ve surrendered. They expanded so they could stage a title game. At least the Big Ten went after a big-time addition in Nebraska; the Pac-10 wanted a game so badly, it added Utah and Colorado.

The SEC and the Big 12 set a standard, an expectation of a showdown game that determines a champion. The other leagues on their level craved that status and took steps to catch up.

Next December, when college football’s other big boys — SEC, ACC, Big Ten, Pac-10 — are staging title games, the Big 12 will be playing regular-season games it hopes will draw a piece of the spotlight.

Maybe Bedlam. Maybe OU-A&M. OSU-Texas. Something like that. Hasn’t been determined.

That’s a Roulette wheel. A championship game guarantees intrigue, even if it lacks Oklahoma-Nebraska luster.

The Big 12 resorting to 10 schools is a sign of weakness. A sign that this conference is sliding back to its roots of Big Eight and Southwest Conference vulnerability.

That’s why expansion is necessary.

Big 12 athletic directors don’t see it that way. They love the idea of television networks offering the same money, to be split 10 ways instead of 12. Love the idea of a bigger piece of the pie.

Here’s how crazy greed can make you. One Big 12 AD told me he wasn’t even sure he’d endorse Arkansas coming over to the Big 12, that the Razorbacks might not be worth it on the television contract.

That’s silly.

The Big 12 has to be proactive. Has to find a way to get back to 12 schools.

The Big 12 can’t add just anyone. TCU makes no economic sense, which is why the Horned Frogs are Big East-bound.

But Brigham Young brings TV clout and a quality program. Add BYU.

Take a run at Notre Dame. The Big 12 is not as rigid as the Big Ten; the Big 12 has shown it allows its members some marketing independence. Notre Dame’s not likely to say yes, but asking doesn’t hurt.

Maybe you look at a Louisville. Or even further East, to West Virginia. Look outside the box. Find a solution.

Don’t mess with success. Don’t temper the excitement in a sport that too often tiptoes around legitimate games.

Keep the Big 12 Championship.

Read more: http://newsok.com/ending-big-12-titl...#ixzz175gfy6e3

[Coach McGuirk]

I promise not to say anything. The BYU fans here are very sensitive about any suggestion that anything BYU does is ethically questionable. I think all loyal fans feel that way about their favorite program, but with BYU it seems especially sensitive. That's understandable, given BYU's church affiliation. Hey, I defend BYU when it is attacked on ethical grounds.

Like with most opposition, you assume the worst, while we assume the best.

[ERCougar]

I promise not to say anything. The BYU fans here are very sensitive about any suggestion that anything BYU does is ethically questionable. I think all loyal fans feel that way about their favorite program, but with BYU it seems especially sensitive. That's understandable, given BYU's church affiliation. Hey, I defend BYU when it is attacked on ethical grounds.

There's at least one fairly significant difference between a BYU defection to the B12 and Fresno/Nevada's actions: BYU would be leaving the WCC exactly how they found it; Fresno/Nevada decimated the conference by allegedly falsely leading them on. No one has any idea what level of assurances were given or if confidences were breached, so maybe the worst that could be said about Fresno/Nevada is that they were weasel-y. BYU has apparently led the WCC commissioner to think that they are in it for the long haul. If they knew about some backroom plan to join the Big 12 at the end of the year, that may be less than forthright (even "weasel-y") but: 1) nothing's in hand, so they are being prudent by planning for the worst case scenario and 2) the consequences are far less devastating to the other schools.

Arguably a big difference. I'm sure you'll defend BYU accordingly.

[Clark Addison]

I promise not to say anything. The BYU fans here are very sensitive about any suggestion that anything BYU does is ethically questionable. I think all loyal fans feel that way about their favorite program, but with BYU it seems especially sensitive. That's understandable, given BYU's church affiliation. Hey, I defend BYU when it is attacked on ethical grounds.

It's cool. I try not to speak evil of the Lord's annointed, but we are a fairly open community here, and I will not be offended, nor will I judge you, if you choose that route.