The Big 12 expansion groundswell

[myboynoah]

like moths to a flame or like flies to a cowpie?

Like revelations to a prophet of God.

[statman]

46,692

http://www.goairforcefalcons.com/fac...n-stadium.html

and, according to wiki, record attendance was 56,409 in 2002 against ND.....

Their press guide (2009) says otherwise. I cut and paste the number straight from it. I think I trust their press guide. Isn't it actually a primary data source?

[Uncle Ted]

Their press guide (2009) says otherwise. I cut and paste the number straight from it. I think I trust their press guide. Isn't it actually a primary data source?

They most likely count all the cadets that could stand in the endzones.

Of course, what really matters is their average home attendance which was 35,656 last year (#66).

[Uncle Ted]

Air Force's average attendance for basketball was only 2,522 last season. I thought the TCU attendance was bad.

[LiveCoug]

Their press guide (2009) says otherwise. I cut and paste the number straight from it. I think I trust their press guide. Isn't it actually a primary data source?

The AP story states the 56k number..

[ame="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=222922005"]Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Air Force Falcons - Recap - October 19, 2002 - ESPN[/ame]

[Uncle Ted]

The A&M Aggies says show me the money or they will sue and leave for the SEC.

The Big 12 Conference promised Texas A&M $20 million annually and the Aggies intend to collect, A&M president R. Bowen Loftin said Wednesday.

“A key part of Texas A&M’s decision to remain in the Big 12 earlier this summer was the commissioner’s commitment that Texas A&M would receive a minimum of $20 million annually in future conference distributions,” Loftin said in a statement. “We remain committed to the conference and fully anticipate that the Big 12 will honor its commitment to Texas A&M.”

And what happens if the Big 12 doesn’t honor its $20 million pledge? A high-ranking A&M official said late Wednesday that every legal avenue would be explored first, with the potential of bolting for the Southeastern Conference coming after.

So the SEC offer must still be on the table(?).

[New Mexican Disaster]

The A&M Aggies says show me the money or they will sue and leave for the SEC.



So the SEC offer must still be on the table(?).

A story like this is the main reason I don't think that the Big 12 can stand pat. Every member is looking at the others thinking about what to do in case one of the others leaves. This situation can't be comfortable and will drag down the conference. They better do everything they can to maximize revenue or someone is going to jump ship and the rest of the rats will be clambering all over each other to get off the ship.

To me it is only logical that they are going to have to expand to not leave conference championship money sitting on the sideline. But it might take a few years.

[Uncle Ted]

A story like this is the main reason I don't think that the Big 12 can stand pat. Every member is looking at the others thinking about what to do in case one of the others leaves. This situation can't be comfortable and will drag down the conference. They better do everything they can to maximize revenue or someone is going to jump ship and the rest of the rats will be clambering all over each other to get off the ship.

To me it is only logical that they are going to have to expand to not leave conference championship money sitting on the sideline. But it might take a few years.

Yes, it seems the Big 12-2 is a little unstable right now. Another sign of this is what Chip Brown said in his report about increasing the Big 12 exit fees:

--Big 12 will review possibly having more stringent fees to withdraw from the league.

ABC may be showing reruns of golf or something on conference championship saturday if the Big 12-2 can't come up with a game to schedule on that the day. They have already said that the Texas-OU and Texas-A&M games are not going to be moved.

Right now there isn't a financial reason to expand but that may change when the TV contracts are up renewal. The first round of those apparently come up in April:

--Fox, Turner, NBC/Comcast all have indicated they want to be more involved in college football and could help drive up the TV rights fees the Big 12 can command when its cable package comes up for bid in April 11.

The ABC/ESPN contract I believe is good until 2015 and that is the one tied to the conference championship game. Apparently ABC has made some kind of agreement with the Big 12 that about not having a conference championship game if they can schedule a big rival game on that day instead. So is the Texas-Tech or OU-OSU game big enough for them? Also, Jerry Jones has a contract with the Big 12 for the championship game to be held at JerryWorld for the next four seasons. I am sure he will have something to say if the Big 12-2 can't come up with a game for him.

[Uncle Ted]

The A&M Aggies says show me the money or they will sue and leave for the SEC.



So the SEC offer must still be on the table(?).

In the latest episode of As the Big 12 Planet Turns Dan Beebe says the check to A&M is in the mail:

The Big 12 will honor its pledge of $20 million annually to Texas A&M, league commissioner Dan Beebe said Thursday.

"The commitment to Texas A&M was made, and it still stands," Beebe said in a statement. "We did not have the luxury of time during the crisis to sort out the details, but that will be addressed in the future."

[Y84it]

I wonder what its like to receive a $20 million

check? Do banks put a hold on that?

[PolyCougar]

In the latest episode of As the Big 12 Planet Turns Dan Beebe says the check to A&M is in the mail:

Man, as a BYU fan it kind of feels like we're the nice guys in High School, that just lost our favorite video game buddy to a group of really smart and wealthy hippies. So we start to hang with the rich popular kids, who can't make up their mind if they like us or not... only to find out they all have jacked up families, debt issues, self-esteem problems, and barely like each other even though they all say they're "best-friends". There are some really cool ones (Red Legger, shout out to you), but the ring leaders end up being controlling jerks that are on the verge of throwing a spoiled-boy tantrum at any moment... thats my flashback to high school moment I'm going through right now.

[jay santos]

Man, as a BYU fan it kind of feels like we're the nice guys in High School, that just lost our favorite video game buddy to a group of really smart and wealthy hippies. So we start to hang with the rich popular kids, who can't make up their mind if they like us or not... only to find out they all have jacked up families, debt issues, self-esteem problems, and barely like each other even though they all say they're "best-friends". There are some really cool ones (Red Legger, shout out to you), but the ring leaders end up being controlling jerks that are on the verge of throwing a spoiled-boy tantrum at any moment... thats my flashback to high school moment I'm going through right now.

It's just like that. Except you realized you and your buddy really never liked each other, you just always hung out because you lived next door to each other. And then you realized all the other friends you hang out with are the biggest losers in the whole school.

[PolyCougar]

It's just like that. Except you realized you and your buddy really never liked each other, you just always hung out because you lived next door to each other. And then you realized all the other friends you hang out with are the biggest losers in the whole school.

And then there's that other group... the kids that hang out in the library all day making little origami animals, but still managing to get in a lot of futile fights with bigger kids (Just playin' WAC... kinda).

[DapperDan]

It would be unwise for the Big 12 to say anything about expansion until CU's and NU's early exit payments are in the bank. They don't want to give them a negotiating leg to stand on to try to reduce it.

The Big 12 doesn't have a reason to talk about expansion at least until at April 12, 2011 or when their first TV contract comes up for renewal and they start collecting bids. Note that both Beebe and Mack left the door open for expansion:

This could be the reason for the BYU to go independent and never play as independent rumors. It's the only way BYU could be available to play in the Big 12 in 2011 and not throw a wrench in the NU/CU exit fees.

The problem with that is that ND is the only other team I can think of that also has the freedom to start Big 12 play in 2011 (and the Big 12 wants). There are some benefits to joining the Big 12 for ND, but I still can't wrap my head around the idea.

[beefytee]

This could be the reason for the BYU to go independent and never play as independent rumors. It's the only way BYU could be available to play in the Big 12 in 2011 and not throw a wrench in the NU/CU exit fees.

The problem with that is that ND is the only other team I can think of that also has the freedom to start Big 12 play in 2011 (and the Big 12 wants). There are some benefits to joining the Big 12 for ND, but I still can't wrap my head around the idea.

Wait what about Arkansas as a possibility?

I doubt it happens but there were some rumblings and supposedly there are no requirement or guidelines for resignation.