The Big 12 expansion groundswell

[Uncle Ted]

Hold put on the coach couch burning party...

Sources tell Metronews and other media outlets that WVU received word that the Big 12 invitation, thought to be a “done deal,” was now on hold. The Big 12 wanted “more information” from WVU.

WVU, apparently stunned by the news, canceled plans for a press conference tentatively scheduled for Wednesday afternoon in Morgantown.

The late development appeared to center on Louisville. Morgantown Dominion Post newspaper sports reporter Drew Rubenstein reported there was a “late push” by the University of Louisville to be considered over WVU.

“Sources used terms like ‘volatile’ and ‘internal battle' to describe the conference realignment with the Big 12,” Rubenstein reported.

[Omaha 680]

Hold the coach couch burning party...

I know I'm late to the party, but the Big 12 is starting to look really ridiculous. Yes, I still want to join.

[Uncle Ted]

OU fans best hide their couches...

After being informed by Big 12 officials that it would be admitted to the conference, West Virginia now finds itself in a holding pattern.

A Big 12 conference call Tuesday night was expected to be a formality on West Virginia’s road to admittance. Instead, objections were raised.

A late push by Louisville has put political pressure on the Big 12 and opened the possibility of Louisville’s being the university that is admitted instead of West Virginia. Two people with direct knowledge of the situation said that lobbying by the Senate minority leader, Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky, including to David Boren, the president of the University of Oklahoma and a former senator, helped slow West Virginia’s admittance to the Big 12.

West Virginia officials, who called the deal “solid” late Tuesday afternoon, declined comment Wednesday.

“I think it’s 50-50 right now between West Virginia and Louisville,” one of the people with direct knowledge said. The other added that it was “too close to call.”

[SeattleUte]

What are they saying about BYU? Haven't been following the thread much, sorry.

[Flystripper]

What are they saying about BYU? Haven't been following the thread much, sorry.

Nothing. BYU does not nor have they ever had an offer.

[SeattleUte]

Nothing. BYU does not nor have they ever had an offer.

UNBELIEVABLE.

[dabrockster]

OU fans best hide their couches...

I'm sorry but WTF.... Hey Politicians. STFU...

[YOhio]

I'm sorry but WTF.... Hey Politicians. STFU...

Universities are using public money. Politicians have every right to act in the best interests of public universities.

[SeattleUte]

Universities are using public money. Politicians have every right to act in the best interests of public universities.

Most private universities also use tens of millions if not hundreds of millions of dollars of public funds per year. It's probably the best government expense I can think of. The "unique" ones don't, however.

[Jennerstein]

I'm pretty sure that if BYU had been in WVa's position and had gotten their offer pulled, we would have seen a bunch of Cougarboarder's jumping off the Church office building.

[dabrockster]

Universities are using public money. Politicians have every right to act in the best interests of public universities.

Is athletic departments federally subsidized? I am guessing No

[lambdacoug]

OU fans best hide their couches...

Maybe we can call this the Anne Richards Remix.

[SeattleUte]

Is athletic departments federally subsidized? I am guessing No

lol I love this. You guys never learn. How many times do I have to tell you the athletic departments mean squat to univerisities? They are the flea on the hound. Look what's been happening to your Pac 12 and your Big 12 hopes, and you still don't get that?

[SeattleUte]

Maybe we can call this the Anne Richards Remix.

I don't get BYU fan atheists. I know there are quite a few. But it defies common experience. Like how mole rats are cold blooded. (Note, mole rats are awesome, beloved creatures among scientists, full of lessons about the universe; so, there's no intent here to be disrespectful by referring to you as a type of rat.)

[falafel]

I don't get BYU fan atheists. I know there are quite a few. But it defies common experience. Like how mole rats are cold blooded. (Note, mole rats are awesome, beloved creatures among scientists, full of lessons about the universe; so, there's no intent here to be disrespectful by referring to you as a type of rat.)

I heard that same NPR segment on the naked mole rat. You should have remembered that the naked mole rat is neither a mole or a rat.