The Big 12 expansion groundswell

[BemidjiCoug]

In other words, he read BYU's press release.

good one

[Uncle Ted]

Totally agree. Why would Texas or Oklahoma want to be the new team in a conference, they have the clout to get teams to come to them.

Yes, the Pac-12 would have to: :hookem: -> <- Pac 12

(e.g. let them keep their $300M LHN including the rights to rebroadcast their games. OU is developing a network of their own would demand the same.)

If that happened USC would be pissed but who cares about SC.

[ERCougar]

Your math assumes that the revenue stays constant in spite of the lost teams and lost regional impact, and that the conference doesn't invite replacements with whom they must share that revenue.

My math says nothing about replacements, since the Big Whatever didn't replace anyone (and really, if they didn't like CU, what does that say about BYU?)--all my math assumes is that CU brought to the table less than it took home, and I don't think that's a crazy assumption.

Here's my version of what seems to have happened--correct me where I'm wrong: CU and Nebraska bolted, the latter being a much bigger loss than the former. Nothing happened to TV contracts so the remaining 10 schools figured, "why add to the denominator? More money for all of us!" Meanwhile, they send out smoke screens about considering expansion at some point to keep TV people happy. When A&M started to get serious about leaving, then viability became a real concern, or at least big enough to get them off of their collective butt, so they actually became serious about expansion targets.

Not a terrible financial move, really, but probably pretty shortsighted. Time will tell.

Does that seem off?

[LiveCoug]

Greg Wrubell likes the Wilner article.

Greg is a tad bit delusional. I really think he thinks that BYU is just like ND.

[Blueintheface]

Greg Wrubell likes the Wilner article.

Greg is a tad bit delusional. I really think he thinks that BYU is just like ND.

That should shock no one. He will be one of the ones singing the Big 12's praises 3 months from now when we're installing conference banners all over campus. I love his homerism when it comes to calling a game but he can't see the forest for the trees.

[Paperback Writer]

My math says nothing about replacements, since the Big Whatever didn't replace anyone (and really, if they didn't like CU, what does that say about BYU?)--all my math assumes is that CU brought to the table less than it took home, and I don't think that's a crazy assumption.

Here's my version of what seems to have happened--correct me where I'm wrong: CU and Nebraska bolted, the latter being a much bigger loss than the former. Nothing happened to TV contracts so the remaining 10 schools figured, "why add to the denominator? More money for all of us!" Meanwhile, they send out smoke screens about considering expansion at some point to keep TV people happy. When A&M started to get serious about leaving, then viability became a real concern, or at least big enough to get them off of their collective butt, so they actually became serious about expansion targets.

Not a terrible financial move, really, but probably pretty shortsighted. Time will tell.

Does that seem off?

In my view that's really close. In retrospect, I think the Big 12 blew it by letting DeLoss Dodds dictate what's best for Texas instead of what's best for the Big 12. Specifically, I refer to not offering TCU and BYU after CU and Nebraska bolted. BYU would have earned their share. TCU doesn't bring any additional TV sets but adds a 12th team for stability and a CCG. There would have to have been a lot of "fence mending" between TCU and Texas and Baylor but it was a possibility. And TCU and BYU were the best available. That's where leadership comes in and makes the Big 12 stable. Instead the Big 12 has DeLoss Dodds running the show and Dan Beebe taking orders. And that just might be the failed legacy of the Big 12.

[LiveCoug]

Wetzel:

"Source: B12 discussing trying to add 1) WVU, Pitt, Louisville or 2) just BYU. Nothing definitive or imminent, just talk. Time an issue tho"


Number 1 blows chunks.

[All-American]

In my view that's really close. In retrospect, I think the Big 12 blew it by letting DeLoss Dodds dictate what's best for Texas instead of what's best for the Big 12. Specifically, I refer to not offering TCU and BYU after CU and Nebraska bolted. BYU would have earned their share. TCU doesn't bring any additional TV sets but adds a 12th team for stability and a CCG. There would have to have been a lot of "fence mending" between TCU and Texas and Baylor but it was a possibility. And TCU and BYU were the best available. That's where leadership comes in and makes the Big 12 stable. Instead the Big 12 has DeLoss Dodds running the show and Dan Beebe taking orders. And that just might be the failed legacy of the Big 12.

You know, that's something I've not really thought about with respect to the big xii's long term stability. There are at least three teams which are somewhere between decent and great that would join with a word's notice: SMU, Houston, and TCU. The big xii has left those options untouched, for readily apparent reasons, but if it ever came down to needing a number, they could find it without having to cross a single border.

[Viking]

Wetzel:

"Source: B12 discussing trying to add 1) WVU, Pitt, Louisville or 2) just BYU. Nothing definitive or imminent, just talk. Time an issue tho"


Number 1 blows chunks.

Trust the Viking god of thunder, we are in.

[Babs]

You know, that's something I've not really thought about with respect to the big xii's long term stability. There are at least three teams which are somewhere between decent and great that would join with a word's notice: SMU, Houston, and TCU. The big xii has left those options untouched, for readily apparent reasons, but if it ever came down to needing a number, they could find it without having to cross a single border.

Except those teams have said they want nothing to do with the Big 12. Of course that may be like the pimply girl with braces saying she didn't want to go to prom with the BMOC, anyway, but I don't know.

[Paperback Writer]

You know, that's something I've not really thought about with respect to the big xii's long term stability. There are at least three teams which are somewhere between decent and great that would join with a word's notice: SMU, Houston, and TCU. The big xii has left those options untouched, for readily apparent reasons, but if it ever came down to needing a number, they could find it without having to cross a single border.

Might as well add Rice to SMU, Houston, and TCU and then we'd have the good 'ol SWC again. There's a reason (actually, lots of them) of why the SWC failed. And Rice is the only one in "good standing" with Texas. As you know, it's more than just numbers. The Big 12 needs contributors and not more programs taking more out then they give. BYU most likely does this. TCU probably doesn't but TCU has done more (by far) in football then SMU and Houston.

The big question is if adding BYU and TCU would have been enough to keep Texas A&M in the Big 12. And that's where leadership comes back in. Dan Beebe should have kept DeLoss Dodds "in the fold" and got Texas on board with Big 12 expansion by reaching out to BYU and TCU. Instead, Dodds tries to take the entire Big 12 South to the PAC-10. That's what caused Texas A&M to re-open back channels with the SEC. But that's what the Big 12 gets by having a "weak" conference commissioner beholden to Texas. Wonder what Big Ten commish Jim Delaney would have done if say, Iowa, had decided to start back channel talks with the Big 12.

[LiveCoug]

Trust the Viking god of thunder, we are in.

You know I lack faith. I can't just trust anything until it's signed, sealed and delivered.

[DapperDan]

the thing I don't get about super conferences is what happens when these bread winners don't have the Iowa States of the world to beat up on anymore? Do we just assume that there will always be enough talent for all these teams to remain competitive or are we just going to create new Iowa States?

[SteelBlue]

Trust the Viking god of thunder, we are in.

Viking, percentage wise, how confident are you in your source? In your mind is there any way this doesn't happen?

[Paperback Writer]

the thing I don't get about super conferences is what happens when these bread winners don't have the Iowa States of the world to beat up on anymore? Do we just assume that there will always be enough talent for all these teams to remain competitive or are we just going to create new Iowa States?

I think we'll have something like the NFL where the dynasties are fewer. Where 8-4 is considered a good season. And this will require a play-off so that the 8-4 team playing the best football at the end of the year wins the championship.