The Big 12 expansion groundswell

[TripletDaddy]

BYU should have just distributed pocket copies of the 10 Commandments with #4 highlighted.

I don't need a link to the 10 Commandments. I know the 10 Commandments.

[YOhio]

The Dude of WV says that the Big 12 waits for Notre Dame. Trust me, guys. He is not happy about this.

[YOhio]

G Swaim says, 'hey, that's possible.'

[YOhio]

Meanwhile, T Dawg Coug talks about two of his favorite things.

[Shaka]

Sunday play?

First, the B12 barely plays any games on Sunday as is. Second, had BYU joined up, the powers that be (texas, oklahoma, and kansas basketball) would have made it clear to Fox that BYU shouldn't be scheduled on a Sunday.

Bungled.

Exactly. If the article is correct BYU should have let themselves be announced as a member and worked things out later. That way both sides are pressured to save face and get the job done. Sunday play would never be an issue. Also BYU should have been willing to do whatever it took to get out of their ESPN contract.

[ERCougar]

Sunday play?

First, the B12 barely plays any games on Sunday as is. Second, had BYU joined up, the powers that be (texas, oklahoma, and kansas basketball) would have made it clear to Fox that BYU shouldn't be scheduled on a Sunday.

Bungled.

What about the possibility he mentions of BYU being scheduled and then being held liable for damages for not playing on Sunday? Sincere question--I don't know the legal implications.

Who is this shoganai guy anyway? Any reason to believe him?

[Green Monstah]

I can see why. He's so well fed, he must be a great shot with that thing.

He's the foodstamps version of a West Virginia Mountaineer.

[Uncle Ted]

Who is this shoganai guy anyway? Any reason to believe him?

http://sportsbyshoganai.posterous.com

I am a former newspaper and television sports reporter from Utah who still enjoys opining, digging, and sharing his info and commentary on the sports world - especially as it relates to BYU.

I have both a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree from BYU, and live in the Dallas Metroplex.

I can be reached via sportsbyshoganai@hotmail.com

Twitter @SBShoganai

Let's see, he's from Utah, degrees from BYU, lives in Dallas... There is absolutely no reason to believe him. Being from Utah was the deal breaker.

[OSUCougar]

Sunday play?

First, the B12 barely plays any games on Sunday as is. Second, had BYU joined up, the powers that be (texas, oklahoma, and kansas basketball) would have made it clear to Fox that BYU shouldn't be scheduled on a Sunday.

Bungled.

Yeah, because they are our friends, just like Notre Dame is.

While I'm not happy about not being in the Big12, I can understand BYU's hesitation on joining up based on promises not put on paper. The wounds of the mtn deal were still pretty fresh in BYU's mind.

[Shaka]

What about the possibility he mentions of BYU being scheduled and then being held liable for damages for not playing on Sunday? Sincere question--I don't know the legal implications.

Who is this shoganai guy anyway? Any reason to believe him?

While BYU would have been announced as a member they still wouldn't have signed on the dotted line. As long as they weren't contractually obligated BYU should have shown faith in their B12 friends and let themselves be announced as a member. Everyone in that conference knows BYU will never play on Sunday. Had BYU shown trust (while not being obligated because they hand yet to sign) I feel the other schools would have helped take care of the problems with FOX. To me it looks like FOX was just being a pain because they didn't want to show weakness around ESPN.

[TripletDaddy]

What about the possibility he mentions of BYU being scheduled and then being held liable for damages for not playing on Sunday? Sincere question--I don't know the legal implications.

Who is this shoganai guy anyway? Any reason to believe him?

Sure, it is possible. Is it probable? ESPN doesn't seem to have a problem with no Sunday play and as mentioned, the B12 rarely plays on Sundays. Damages are easier to pay when you are making 18-20MM a year.

Fox would not purposely continue to schedule BYU on Sundays simply to rack up damages and piss off all of BYUs B12 conference mates. That isn't how you do business.

[TripletDaddy]

While BYU would have been announced as a member they still wouldn't have signed on the dotted line. As long as they weren't contractually obligated BYU should have shown faith in their B12 friends and let themselves be announced as a member. Everyone in that conference knows BYU will never play on Sunday. Had BYU shown trust (while not being obligated because they hand yet to sign) I feel the other schools would have helped take care of the problems with FOX. To me it looks like FOX was just being a pain because they didn't want to show weakness around ESPN.

Bingo. Once we accepted the invite, Texas and OU become our ally and fox would get with the program. It is a risk. The worst case scenario would have been to join the B12, play zero football games on Sunday anyway, and fox purposely sticks it to us for a year for one or two basketball games on Sundays. we don't play those games, of course, and fox stops scheduling us on Sundays due to the massive negative media backlash and uproar from the entire B12 conference. What a stupid PR move for fox that would be. It wouldn't happen.

[DU Ute]

Bingo. Once we accepted the invite, Texas and OU become our ally and fox would get with the program. It is a risk. The worst case scenario would have been to join the B12, play zero football games on Sunday anyway, and fox purposely sticks it to us for a year for one or two basketball games on Sundays. we don't play those games, of course, and fox stops scheduling us on Sundays due to the massive negative media backlash and uproar from the entire B12 conference. What a stupid PR move for fox that would be. It wouldn't happen.

Plus, refusing to play a game FOX tries to make them play on Sundays gives BYU the kind of standing-up-for-our-beliefs exposure it craves.

[Maximus]

BYU should have just distributed pocket copies of the 10 Commandments with #4 highlighted.

football is holy.

[ERCougar]

Sure, it is possible. Is it probable? ESPN doesn't seem to have a problem with no Sunday play and as mentioned, the B12 rarely plays on Sundays. Damages are easier to pay when you are making 18-20MM a year.

Fox would not purposely continue to schedule BYU on Sundays simply to rack up damages and piss off all of BYUs B12 conference mates. That isn't how you do business.

Then it makes me wonder if the BOT injunction was a little stronger against things than a lack of 'encouragement' as he describes it. Maybe they're the ones who demanded that in writing.

I also wonder why UT and OU didn't press for no Sundays for BYU clause. If that's the only barrier, that seems like a pretty easy demand, especially given that Fox would be stupid to go against that anyway, as you point out. If its something that will work out anyway, then make it work out now.