The Big 12 expansion groundswell

[Cougarmandias]

I believe he and Wrubbell are know the most when it comes to what is going on at BYU. I also know they won't share it with anyone if it isn't strictly the party line. So how much is it really worth??

Knowing the party line is helpful. For instance, I noticed that the WCC wasn't on BYU's Harmon's list of concessions the B12 has to make or those crazy Mormons will sure 'nuff walk away from the deal.

[shoganai]

Shoganai,

the article reads like someone who is making an announcement. There is no reference to sources or anything, its just a statement. It reads like Harmon dressed up a list of talking points he was given by BYU.

Read in that light, what his article says is
1. BYU is still negotiating hard, any reports to the contrary are disinformation put out by the other side as a negotiating tactic.
2. Meanwhile, as a negotiating tactic, we are putting out information about how absolutely, positively important to us all our demands are, we're just crazy enough to walk away from the table if you don't meet them, so you might as well meet them because, wooh, we sure are crazy.

That's why Harmon is generally referred to as a "columnist."

News columns - as opposed to articles - are not intended to be strictly informational pieces with attributable sources, quotes, and following the inverted pyramid style of writing.

They're intended to be commentary pieces that include opinion and perspective from the writer. Usually a writer is designated as a columnist when his tenure or knowledge is enough to interest readers in his opinions (insert predictable joke about Harmon here).

I can say with great certainty that Dick Harmon is not BYU's Chip Brown. For one thing, BYU doesn't negotiate that way. The BYU/LDS Church way is to be direct, and ruthlessly honest at the negotiating table so there is no need to play the back-channel leak game. Whatever BYU's requirements are, the Big 12 already knows them, and there is no secret about what BYU will/won't compromise on.

But, I can also say that when you want to know what's going on in the minds of BYU's leaders, read between the lines of what Harmon writes. Not surprisingly, protecting the investment in BYUtv, not playing on Sundays, and assuring the stability of the conference are BYU's big concerns.

The good news is those shouldn't be impossible to work out.

I believe he and Wrubbell are know the most when it comes to what is going on at BYU. I also know they won't share it with anyone if it isn't strictly the party line. So how much is it really worth??

I think that's slightly more true of Wrubbell than it is Harmon, though at least somewhat true with both. Harmon takes some personal pride in at least trying to stay independent of BYU, even though he knows more than anybody that his name and brand are inseparably connected to the athletic department.

But, like you said, he also will fiercely keep a secret and he knows much more than he will ever write publicly - I once heard him say that there were details of the Roger Reid firing which he would take to his grave. What I've learned by seeing him work, is that he will spill the beans using the "in my opinion" format only when issues have hit such a saturation point that there's no longer any damage to be done by printing it. For example, he probably had all of the information contained in this column 30+ days ago, but printing it during fall camp would have been somewhat of a bombshell. Today, it's nothing most of us haven't already speculated on. It doesn't breach anyone's trust or harm negotations.

In other words, when Harmon writes something like this, he probably knew it weeks ago, but things have moved beyond the stage that his writing would imply. Otherwise he would still be keeping it a secret. Yes, that means negotations with the Big 12 will probably be concluded sooner than later.

[KillerDog]

I can't wait to be in the Big XII. I'm looking forward to developing football hatred for the slavers. I can't wait until we are at a road hoops game at Kansas and our faithful Cougs, down 20 and overmatched, hear the Rock Chalk chant as their death knell. Sign me up for a real conference. See you at all the roadies next year. I am committed.

[PolyCougar]

The part of CUF that makes me laugh the hardest is the part where CUFers suck their own wangs. Sorry, Redlegger, you're a close second.

In reality the CUF crowd isn't as different from the CB crowd as either would like to believe. It's like going to a Star Trek convention and seeing the nerds argue about whether the original was better than the Next Generation.

Professor X, was a way cooler captain of the Enterprise than TJ Hooker... nuff said.

[KillerDog]

That's why Harmon is generally referred to as a "columnist."

News columns - as opposed to articles - are not intended to be strictly informational pieces with attributable sources, quotes, and following the inverted pyramid style of writing.

They're intended to be commentary pieces that include opinion and perspective from the writer. Usually a writer is designated as a columnist when his tenure or knowledge is enough to interest readers in his opinions (insert predictable joke about Harmon here).

I can say with great certainty that Dick Harmon is not BYU's Chip Brown. For one thing, BYU doesn't negotiate that way. The BYU/LDS Church way is to be direct, and ruthlessly honest at the negotiating table so there is no need to play the back-channel leak game. Whatever BYU's requirements are, the Big 12 already knows them, and there is no secret about what BYU will/won't compromise on.

But, I can also say that when you want to know what's going on in the minds of BYU's leaders, read between the lines of what Harmon writes. Not surprisingly, protecting the investment in BYUtv, not playing on Sundays, and assuring the stability of the conference are BYU's big concerns.

The good news is those shouldn't be impossible to work out.

I wish this was true. i have had my own experience with negotiations with the LDS Church and they have been straight forward at times. At other times they have been downright disgusting in their tactics. Different lawyers used different techniques. If you want to know how the Church can negotiate, ask Bart Stringham at Utah Woolen Mills. Luckily for Bart he had many customers with more clout than those in charge of the negotiations. When it got ugly he pulled out his trump card and the Church employees capitulated.

[Uncle Ted]

Finally, I enjoyed how Dick states how awful Texas is:

The Big 12 is a league of tender feelings, trust issues, jealousy and gang hissy fits as a very arrogant and powerful University of Texas towers over all with its $300 million deal with ESPN for the Texas Longhorn Network. Texas will not share its gold.

Followed a few paragraphs later by an admission that BYU is just like Texas in many ways:

In Tramel's list of pluses for BYU, he listed large fan base, a good tradition and, as an independent, most readily available. As minuses, he listed a Texas-like reputation in getting along within a league.
And this is true. Many times in the MWC, BYU would talk like Texas. It bugged folks at Wyoming, Colorado State and New Mexico. But BYU had clout, ticket numbers, the fan base, ratings and championships; others did not.

Attaboy, Dick.

If Dick did his homework he would find out that a lot of schools make a great deal of money from their third tier rights. In 2009-2010, UNC made $11.2M, Alabama made $8.4M, and so on. Texas in 2009-2010 made only about $340K while its conference mates Kansas made $7.2M, Okie St made $6.4M, Missouri made $4.1M, and ISU made $2.5M. Schools not making money off their 3rd tier rights have only themselves to blame.

[Pheidippides]

I wish this was true. i have had my own experience with negotiations with the LDS Church and they have been straight forward at times. At other times they have been downright disgusting in their tactics. Different lawyers used different techniques. If you want to know how the Church can negotiate, ask Bart Stringham at Utah Woolen Mills. Luckily for Bart he had many customers with more clout than those in charge of the negotiations. When it got ugly he pulled out his trump card and the Church employees capitulated.

Yeah, I can't speak to the Woolen Mills situation but I know of others that back up your point. The church negotiates like anybody else.

[Viking]

I got around to reading this article this morning. Typical awful writing/poor journalism by Harmon. Too many things to list, but let's examine a few gems.

Dick, did you really just use the expression "hissy fit" in an article?

Oh yeah, by golly, we wouldn't want any of our old MWC amigos to think we are hypocritical. No sir, we can't abide the thought of that.

And Dick, you dumbass, we left the MWC because the MTN network gave us almost zero exposure and money.

Finally, I enjoyed how Dick states how awful Texas is:

Followed a few paragraphs later by an admission that BYU is just like Texas in many ways:

Attaboy, Dick.

While interesting, the bigger picture is that Dick has been silent up until now. And that speaks volumes.

Shogun-eye hits the nail on the head.

I am feeling pretty optimistic that this has a happy ending.

[shoganai]

I wish this was true. i have had my own experience with negotiations with the LDS Church and they have been straight forward at times. At other times they have been downright disgusting in their tactics. Different lawyers used different techniques. If you want to know how the Church can negotiate, ask Bart Stringham at Utah Woolen Mills. Luckily for Bart he had many customers with more clout than those in charge of the negotiations. When it got ugly he pulled out his trump card and the Church employees capitulated.

Yeah, my statement was probably a little too general. I would assume, however, that the highest of high-level negotations involving BYU and the church's exposure machine would be carried out a bit more along the lines of church ideals.

Either way, the idea of Samuelson using the Deseret News to send a message to the Big 12 doesn't resonate with me.

[Viking]

While interesting, the bigger picture is that Dick has been silent up until now. And that speaks volumes.

Shogun-eye hits the nail on the head.

I am feeling pretty optimistic that this has a happy ending.

BYU has one last shot to seal a great deal here. Not saying they wouldn't otherwise but consider:

1. Big 12 needs a #10.
2. UL could be that team but has to wait 27 months (unless a BEAST dissolution).

So, BYU takes #10 and gets what it wants or it risks seeing the BEAST come apart, and invites to UL/WVU...

This will be the ESPN conference, so I am really coming around to BYU getting the #10 spot, one more added and then a hold out for ND?

But, dear friends at BYU, DON'T OVERPLAY OR OVERSTAY THIS HAND 'CUZ IT'S THE BEST YOU'VE GOT

[Coach McGuirk]

But, dear friends at BYU, DON'T OVERPLAY OR OVERSTAY THIS HAND 'CUZ IT'S THE BEST YOU'VE GOT

You're back on this rant again?

[byu71]

I wish this was true. i have had my own experience with negotiations with the LDS Church and they have been straight forward at times. At other times they have been downright disgusting in their tactics. Different lawyers used different techniques. If you want to know how the Church can negotiate, ask Bart Stringham at Utah Woolen Mills. Luckily for Bart he had many customers with more clout than those in charge of the negotiations. When it got ugly he pulled out his trump card and the Church employees capitulated.

It is interesting to hear some people who are naive talk. Things like, blah, blah blah is more important than money. The church makes good business decisions, etc. In those folks defense I know it is their desire or belief anything involving the church is guided and directed by God himself.

I am not going to give details, but if God advises them on everything, then God really isn't very good at business or complete honesty at times.

[Flystripper]

I can't wait to be in the Big XII. I'm looking forward to developing football hatred for the slavers. I can't wait until we are at a road hoops game at Kansas and our faithful Cougs, down 20 and overmatched, hear the Rock Chalk chant as their death knell. Sign me up for a real conference. See you at all the roadies next year. I am committed.

I am so with you. A roadie to Lawrence and Columbia will be fun. Living in Chicago I can drive! 6 hours to Columbia and a little under 9 hours to Lawrence. Bring it on!

[thesaint258]

You're back on this rant again?

It changed?

[Hot Lunch]

I also happen to know that, love him or hate him, he is far and away the most connected and informed sports journalist in this market.

I have been told this by a couple of people in the Utah media about Dick when it comes to BYU sports.