The Big 12 expansion groundswell

[Omaha 680]

Without Texas, the crown jewel, I don't see why they take OKU and OKSU. Would those two schools be worth at least $40 million more a year? Or would other schools pay for the two to come aboard?

A little more on the OU/Texas meeting

In the meeting, Texas expressed its desire to keep the Big 12 together, while OU made it clear it plans to pursue membership in the Pac-12. But according to an OU athletic department source, Sooner officials agreed to wait as Texas works through its next move.

It's OU's preference to go to the Pac-12 with the Longhorns, the source said, and OU is willing to wait for a short period of time while that remains a possibility before acting on its own.

So is OU threatening to leave without Texas just to force Texas to come along?

[myboynoah]

A little more on the OU/Texas meeting



So is OU threatening to leave without Texas just to force Texas to come along?

Yeah, that seems like a really good possibility. Another possibility is that they want an ESPN deal on the side like Texas and are posturing for that. I don't see another possibility if this is posturing, which frankly, I don't think it is.

IMO, OKU and OKSU see the PAC-12 as the best longterm option for them and hope Texas comes along. I don't understand that, given the distances, but that's what I think.

[Uncle Ted]

Purple Book Cat: Conference Officials Meet; New Texas Faction Strongly Pushes for B1G Invite...

Big Ten officials met today to discuss how the conference could and should accommodate both Texas and ND. In short, the conference believes that the membership of each school can be accomplished largely within the context of the terms presented. Some other interesting developments have taken place in the last few days.

Over the weekend, a new group of Texas stakeholders made a very aggressive push to the Big Ten conference to invite UT to the conference in the short term. The scenario proposed would involve the start of athletic competition in the conference by UT as early as 2012. This group did include official representatives of the university, along with other influential boosters. In response, the conference expressed the need to speak with only one consistent, designated group of UT representatives.

Separately, the more familiar UT representatives, who have conducted conversations with the Big Ten in the past, reaffirmed the approach that Texas should not initiate the breakup of the Big XII conference in order to join the Big Ten for political considerations. These representatives once again stated to conference officials that membership in the Big Ten conference (in accord with the terms presented last week) remains Texas' preferred conference affiliation option. The Big Ten also strongly impressed upon this group of UT representatives the need for university representatives to conduct conversations with the conference in one unified voice.

However, in discussions related to the terms presented, the Big Ten responded favorably. The Big Ten is preliminarily in agreement, particularly with the scheduling considerations and the "approximate" target date of 2014 for affiliation. The conference also strongly affirmed that it will not allow third parties, especially third party television networks not controlled by the conference or the universities, to dictate or strongly influence the terms of membership in the conference for either school. The conference expressed its displeasure with the manipulative reporting disseminated by certain television networks.

Conference officials believe that significant potential synergies exist between the Longhorn Network and the Big Ten Network. The officials expressed the belief that all of the expanded conference's stakeholders can achieve this potential with greatly reduced third party network involvement. Each network would gain significant opportunities to independently grow and expand together, under the control of the Big Ten Conference and its expanded institutional membership (and specifically NOT through control delegated to third party television networks). The super network that would result from this affiliation could dictate the terms of viewership in a way that ultimately benefits the mission of the expanded conference and its schools, along with their supporters. The Big Ten will remain open to any arrangement, including the formation of regionalized "Big Ten Networks," that ultimately achieve this goal.

Big Ten officials initiated conversations with Notre Dame stakeholders to keep them apprised of the discussions with both groups of Texas representatives.

Also over the weekend, a group of representatives from the University of Oklahoma again contacted the Big Ten regarding the potential for their own membership in the conference, in what was characterized as a "last ditch effort." The Big Ten once again respectfully informed that group that the Council of Presidents and Chancellors has already ruled out the addition of either Oklahoma school, primarily over concerns related to academic fit within the conference.

Hmm... No love for OU in B1G country?

[myboynoah]

Purple Book Cat: Conference Officials Meet; New Texas Faction Strongly Pushes for B1G Invite...

Hmm... No love for OU in B1G country?

More I think they don't want OKSU. Is the B1G okay with this guy dumping this stuff out there like this?

[myboynoah]

DanBeebesBriefCaseTwitter

Sigh Dan left me in the Burger King bathroom again

That made me laugh. What a joke.

[MarkGrace]

OU beat writer on the Board of Regents vote.

Untrue RT @TheJustinBecker I heard a rumor the OU board of regents voted unanimously to try and go to the PAC 12. True?

https://twitter.com/#!/Jake_Trotter/...01183766446080

[myboynoah]

OU beat writer on the Board of Regents vote.


https://twitter.com/#!/Jake_Trotter/...01183766446080

As of today.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Purple Book Cat: Conference Officials Meet; New Texas Faction Strongly Pushes for B1G Invite...



Hmm... No love for OU in B1G country?

Wow.

So are they doing this in response to OU's actions or the other way around?

[Jeff Lebowski]

Also over the weekend, a group of representatives from the University of Oklahoma again contacted the Big Ten regarding the potential for their own membership in the conference, in what was characterized as a "last ditch effort." The Big Ten once again respectfully informed that group that the Council of Presidents and Chancellors has already ruled out the addition of either Oklahoma school, primarily over concerns related to academic fit within the conference.

Fascinating.

So do you think the PAC-12 is inclined to accept two schools that have been repeatedly rejected by the B1G due to poor academic fit? Could OU be left behind when all this is over?

I suppose they could end up in the SEC if all else fails.

[myboynoah]

Fascinating.

So do you think the PAC-12 is inclined to accept two schools that have been repeatedly rejected by the B1G due to poor academic fit? Could OU be left behind when all this is over?

I suppose they could end up in the SEC if all else fails.

No, I think the PAC-12 invites them anyway. Do the B1G and PAC-12 have some kind of agreement only to invite schools the other approves of?

I think the SEC makes more sense for OKU and OKSU than the PAC-12 or B1G. Of course, the Big-12 makes the most sense, but it looks like that is a goner.

[Omaha 680]

So do you think the PAC-12 is inclined to accept two schools that have been repeatedly rejected by the B1G due to poor academic fit?

That was my thought as well.

You have to wonder what Texas is doing if this is true. They have been very public about their desire to hold the Big 12 together. So is contacting the Big Ten a contingency plan, or are they putting they playing the same game as OU, trying to pressure on them to stay in the Big 12 while OU pressures Texas to come to the PAC? Maybe Texas really is the key to Oklahoma's inclusion in the PAC and they know it.

It has to suck being the rest of the Big 12 being at the mercy of what these two decide. Oh wait....we're in a similar boat.

[Uncle Ted]

Fascinating.

So do you think the PAC-12 is inclined to accept two schools that have been repeatedly rejected by the B1G due to poor academic fit? Could OU be left behind when all this is over?

I suppose they could end up in the SEC if all else fails.

It is interesting to note that all the schools in the B1G are members of the AAU (or, in the case of Nebraska, a former member as of this year).

[Babs]

Fascinating.

So do you think the PAC-12 is inclined to accept two schools that have been repeatedly rejected by the B1G due to poor academic fit?

Oklahoma is ranked ahead of Utah academically, and has considerably more to offer athletically, so I don't see why not.

As far as the Big Ten goes, I imagine their concern must be Oklahoma State. They already let Nebraska in, and Oklahoma is the equivalent academically . . . ranked a few spots behind in undergrad curriculum, but ahead wrt grad school programs.

[Uncle Ted]

As far as the Big Ten goes, I imagine their concern must be Oklahoma State. They already let Nebraska in, and Oklahoma is the equivalent academically . . . ranked a few spots behind in undergrad curriculum, but ahead wrt grad school programs.

Apparently, Nebraska's membership in the AAU was a important factor. So I wonder if they are going to kick Nebraska out now given they are no longer a member.

[Babs]

Apparently, Nebraska's membership in the AAU was a important factor. So I wonder if they are going to kick Nebraska out now given they are no longer a member.

ohhhh. Yeah, a couple of the conferences take that pretty seriously. I didn't realize UNL was a member. ATM apparently joined a couple of years ago, only a hundred years after the other schools. lol.