The Big 12 expansion groundswell

[NorthwestUteFan]

One of my son's friends is named Braxton. Is your brother's friend currently in prison?

That would be a big NO.

[falafel]

I knew a BYU gymnast when I was a freshman. He was short with legs like tree trunks. He used to randomly hit on girls by asking them if they'd like to watch him workout.

I assume all gymnasts are exactly the same.

[NorthwestUteFan]

I assume all gymnasts are exactly the same.

Yes, just like all Cougar fans and all Ute fans (and while we are at it, all lawyers, engineers, doctors, college professors, etc) are exactly the same.

[SteelBlue]

One of my son's friends is named Braxton. Is your brother's friend currently in prison?

Also, one of your friend's sons is named Braxton.

[falafel]

Also, one of your friend's sons is named Braxton.

Actually, I don't know the father (just the step father). Probably due to the father being in prison.

[SteelBlue]

Actually, I don't know the father (just the step father). Probably due to the father being in prison.

Ha. I'm talking about one of your friends in NorCal.

[falafel]

Ha. I'm talking about one of your friends in NorCal.

Hey! Its a great name, isn't it?

[Moliere]

I think he's Canadian as well so that might have played a part.

Yeah, he's Canadian. He also used to disappear for the entire weekend during freshman year. All the guys on our floor would wonder where he went and he'd mysteriously show up Monday morning. He once wrestled our RA into near submission because the RA wanted a Cindy Crawford poster taken down. He was a cool guy.

[Pelado]

Am I crazy to think that those numbers show pretty well for BYU? Here you have a top 5 team and one that everyone is keeping an eye on to see if they are for real, a media darling because of their recent success against two scrub teams like BYU and USU.

I guess I am just a glass is half full kind of guy.

I was expecting BSU's game to be have a higher rating than ours, so I was surprised when it was lower. But then I remembered that they blew out their opponent from the start while our games were close to the end. Additionally, there's not that much difference between the ratings.

Mostly, it's just another data point to compare us to - I don't know that in and of itself it's all that telling.

[PolyCougar]

Just thinking... could ESPN want BYU to stay independent, keep them playing pansies, and give us the Boise treatment (with a larger fan base/hatred group)? One of the reasons so many people watched Boise was because they wanted to see what they could do against real competition. So ESPN gives us a few marquee games, lets us beat the crap out of small schools, then puts us in the "conversation" every year for something great (talk creates ratings)... just stretching for a silver lining right here... but feels like a possible reason ESPN would advise BYU to stay out of the BIG 12 and enjoy two thirds of a season as practice games.

From a BYU standpoint, we'd just have to win all the easy ones, get into rhythm, then pull a Utah against Alabama... though our Oklahoma win is more likely considering we NEVER blow out good teams. Just looking at how this season is shaping up, we could still get 10 wins, and sure Utah State, Idaho, and SJSU aren't sexy (ok they're dog turd in National Media's eyes), but stacked up wins create controversy, and controversy creates ratings... I say that realizing Tulane a while ago got no love, even though they were awesome, and undefeated if I remember right.

[lambdacoug]

Just thinking... could ESPN want BYU to stay independent, keep them playing pansies, and give us the Boise treatment (with a larger fan base/hatred group)? One of the reasons so many people watched Boise was because they wanted to see what they could do against real competition. So ESPN gives us a few marquee games, lets us beat the crap out of small schools, then puts us in the "conversation" every year for something great (talk creates ratings)... just stretching for a silver lining right here... but feels like a possible reason ESPN would advise BYU to stay out of the BIG 12 and enjoy two thirds of a season as practice games.

From a BYU standpoint, we'd just have to win all the easy ones, get into rhythm, then pull a Utah against Alabama... though our Oklahoma win is more likely considering we NEVER blow out good teams.

I'm willing to bet both ESPN and Notre Dame are playing a role in things, especially if BYU has turned down an alleged invite. ESPN would probably prefer to make individual contracts with schools than a deal that includes conference patsies like Wazzu, Vandy, Baylor, ISU, etc... ESPN could well be meddling to create a situation where there are more top tier independents. BYU gets in as an early adopter. I'm not saying any of this is less than crazy, but it makes a certain kind of sense for ESPN, pay large contracts to large school, get marquee games and pay less overall than per-conference deals without the patsies. Just a thought...

[TripletDaddy]

Did the B12 ever get around to signing those media rights grants? I know there was much ballyhoo over the resultant new found stability stemming from those media grants, but the last I recall, nothing had been signed. We know Mizzou certainly did not sign them and my recollection is that the agreement was predicated upon all schools signing the pact.

Technically, without those signatures, there is still no stability. TCU doesn't care because an unstable B12 is better than an unstable Big East. But BYU sez: get back to us once you have all the i's dotted and the t's crossed.

I guess that is what the B12 means when it says that it won't make any further moves until Mizzou decides wtf it is going to do.

grasping at straws, I know.

[PolyCougar]

I'm willing to bet both ESPN and Notre Dame are playing a role in things, especially if BYU has turned down an alleged invite. ESPN would probably prefer to make individual contracts with schools than a deal that includes conference patsies like Wazzu, Vandy, Baylor, ISU, etc... ESPN could well be meddling to create a situation where there are more top tier independents. BYU gets in as an early adopter. I'm not saying any of this is less than crazy, but it makes a certain kind of sense for ESPN, pay large contracts to large school, get marquee games and pay less overall than per-conference deals without the patsies. Just a thought...

True, and in the process ESPN gets to make all these other schools happy because their team got on National TV... obliterated, but Mom and Dad got to watch their son get a concussion from Van Noy. Again... grasping for anything here.

[Omaha 680]

Did the B12 ever get around to signing those media rights grants? I know there was much ballyhoo over the resultant new found stability stemming from those media grants, but the last I recall, nothing had been signed. We know Mizzou certainly did not sign them and my recollection is that the agreement was predicated upon all schools signing the pact.

Technically, without those signatures, there is still no stability. TCU doesn't care because an unstable B12 is better than an unstable Big East. But BYU sez: get back to us once you have all the i's dotted and the t's crossed.

I guess that is what the B12 means when it says that it won't make any further moves until Mizzou decides wtf it is going to do.

grasping at straws, I know.

I saw the same grapsing at straws on CB, and honeslty that's the first halfway acceptable explanation I've heard. I would want to take the risk and jumping because the upside is so huge. But I guess you can't blame CecilO and the boys for being gunshy after getting burned by promises on the CSTV deal. Like you said, no way Missouri has signed, and if they haven't signed, no one else has either. They'll all sign together.

[WashingtonCoug]

Did the B12 ever get around to signing those media rights grants? I know there was much ballyhoo over the resultant new found stability stemming from those media grants, but the last I recall, nothing had been signed. We know Mizzou certainly did not sign them and my recollection is that the agreement was predicated upon all schools signing the pact.

Technically, without those signatures, there is still no stability. TCU doesn't care because an unstable B12 is better than an unstable Big East. But BYU sez: get back to us once you have all the i's dotted and the t's crossed.

I guess that is what the B12 means when it says that it won't make any further moves until Mizzou decides wtf it is going to do.

grasping at straws, I know.

I agree with this. BYU needs the Big 12 to be more stable before they can make the jump. I honestly think BYU still makes the move to the Big 12. They have to wait for Missouri to make their move. I don't think a decision will be made this season. Once Missouri decides, the media pact will be signed. In the end, BYU will be in whether Missouri decides to stay or go. When Missouri makes the decision, you will see some quick news on new Big 12 teams.