The Big 12 has drawn a line in the sand for at least two member schools.
The conference, amid a chorus of story lines that would all significantly change the face of big-league college sports, has imposed a deadline of Friday for Nebraska and Missouri to state their intentions on whether they intend to bolt for the Big Ten, with the possibility of an extension for a decision by next Tuesday, The Austin American-Statesman has reported, citing two sources.
"Nebraska has until 5 p.m. on Friday to tell us what they're going to do," one school official said, according to the The American-Statesman. "The same deal for Missouri. They have to tell us they're not going to the Big Ten."
ESPN: Huskers, Mizzou face ultimatum
This one looks to be moving quickly. I find the sense of urgency within the Big XII very telling. I think they know that if both Nebraska and Missouri leave, they suddenly have to question whether or not they can even remain a viable conference moving forward. If they fall down to ten teams then they have to scramble to add two more (remember, you cannot have a conference championship game with ten games) and in that case the odds are probably that more of their teams either go to the Pac-10 or the SEC and that the conference as a whole crumbles.
And also, I think if the Big Ten can legitimately get Nebraska and Missouri, moving to 16 teams is an inevitability, which will undoubtedly push the hand of the SEC to expand as well. In the grand scheme of things, getting teams from the East -- like Pitt, Rutgers, and whoever else -- will be a relative breeze compared to snagging Nebraska and Missouri, so if they can get those two then this whole deal is signed, sealed, and delivered.
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The word around here
according to several sources is that the drop-dead date was because of NU’s flirtations, not Mizzou. Mizzou is the one who everyone thought was making eyes at the B10, but apparently Dr. Tom has been pretty covert in trying to attach to that teat, as well…with Texas threating to blow the whole damned thing up.
And, I don’t blame them: they’ve been on the losing end of several 11-1 votes, most notably rotating the championship game and academic requirements. The B12 south is a cancer; why anyone would want to involve themselves with the Texas Legislature and the Petrino-esque, petulant Longhorns is beyond me.
"Hush now, let it go now. I know it's time to go. Time to let this fall from my hands" VNV Nation, "From My Hands"
by Stuck in the Plains on Jun 6, 2010 11:58 AM CDT reply actions
I don't see why
the Big Ten becoming the Big Sixteen would force the hand of the SEC. I would figure that as long as none of the SEC schools realign with another conference, the SEC would try to keep things the way they are. Especially because of recent success and because it seems like watching a 16 team megaconference to see if it would be successful would be smart before jumping right into a format like that.
"I'm no miracle man. I guarantee nothing but hard work." --Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant
We are in competition with
all other conferences for the TV money. If we are left with only 12, and they have 16, we are going to lose.
It is really the same thing that happens in business. You might be doing really good with stores in just 10 states, but if a competitor from another region comes into your state, you better be moving into their state.
The new Big 16 will eat into our market. We will expand to counter.
I hate the NCAA more than UT & AU combined. At least with UT & AU you got a fighting chance.
Aren't we set with both ESPN and CBS for the next 12 to 15 years?
I don’t see how the Big 16 could “eat into our market” unless the SEC’s TV payouts somehow scale with viewership.
Take the long look.
ESPN is hooked up with us now, but it will run out one day, and what then?
And, if ND goes to the Big 10/11 they will eat into our market even in the South.
But the main place we will lose market share is nationwide. We will still have plenty of viewers in Montgomery, but we will lose viewers in St. Louis. You have to remember a lot of our games are seen nationwide. That is going to change, especially if Texas goes to the Pac 10. We will become less national, and more regional.
Right now we rule CF. Why do you think these other conferences are expanding? They want to rule.
And, since we seem destined to expand into our own geographic area, while the Pac 10 is expanding into Texas, well the Pac 10 is going to rule one day. Rule at least on the money side of things.
At least if we get VT we do expand our area a bit.
I hate the NCAA more than UT & AU combined. At least with UT & AU you got a fighting chance.
Trying to anticipate the landscape of college football 10 to 15 years from now seems
more like random guessing to me. Unless we can renegotiate our contracts sooner rather than later, there is no reason to try to set ourselves up for the next TV contract by promptly responding to a move by either the Big 10 or Pac 10. At least where television revenue is concerned, which is what I really had in mind in my first post as opposed to television markets. Your point about national exposure versus regional is interesting, but should that be the driving factor for expansion? I guess it is if it is directly related to revenue over the next 10 years, which may be the case since I have no idea what the particulars of our TV contracts are. But I doubt that is the case since Silve stated that expanding our geographic footprint was not a factor for expansion.
I'm curious
What does “stating your intentions” mean? Seems to be kind of vague language. In my dealings with college athletics, the gears turn slow. I doubt the Big 10 will extend any invite until late in the calendar year, but really, what’s to keep Nebraska, Missouri, or anyone else from accepting an invite in the future, regardless of any sort of statement of intentions now? If I was them, I’d be miffed at the ultimatum being placed to me at all, especially when the other conference members haven’t been asked to make similar declarations of their intentions. And if widespread media speculation has any accuracy, several other members are having talks with the Pac 10, SEC, and each of their members.
Yeah, the whole thing sounds very vague.
Setting themselves up for a “I guess I have to say it” moment. Even if they say they’re not going anywhere, so what? Is it binding in any way??
I just want to see video
of Camp Randall and Madison when Mizzou fans travel there for a home game. A certain section of the fanbase will not be happy playing on a former Yankee POW camp and the remainder will be tempted to enjoy themselves too much in an atmosphere which is markedly more forgiving than the police presence in Mizzou. Talk about culture shock for everybody! At least the Mizzou faithful will get good beer and brats
What does "stating your intentions" mean?
I think it’s really more of a hollow threat than anything. I mean, seriously, what if they don’t state their intentions (or, conversely, if they do but lie)? What are you going to do, pre-emptively kick them out of the conference? Again, I think it’s a hollow threat.
At this point, I think it’s just every man for himself. I think just about every major program in the Big XII is planning for the possibility that the conference implodes.
"Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself." -- Milton Friedman
by outsidethesidelines on Jun 6, 2010 1:34 PM CDT reply actions
The conference wants binding, legal commitment
not just hollow statements. Something with real teeth for ditching the B12 and/or flirting with other conferences.
"Hush now, let it go now. I know it's time to go. Time to let this fall from my hands" VNV Nation, "From My Hands"
by Stuck in the Plains on Jun 6, 2010 1:42 PM CDT up reply actions
And if so
Shouldn’t that apply to all its members? Not just Nebraska and Missouri? Particularly if many of the other members are having talks with other conferences and schools as well?
Well, this link
Sheds some light perhaps. Looks like there was some sort of vote..
“As Orangebloods.com reported Saturday, nine schools were willing to commit to the Big 12’s future last week in Kansas City, and three weren’t – Nebraska, Missouri and Colorado.”
This makes me think...
…that Utah and Colorado are the PAC-10 new additions come time, that someone like TCU will probably be in the BIG-12 to get back to 10 members and have two wild cards, and the Big-Integer gets NU, UM and a few Big East teams to be named later.
Anything else might just shake the landscape to super-conferences, and God forbid that happening.
It's not what you've done but what you are doing that matters.
And the roses in this grand ol' stadium are once again Crimson. - Eli Gold, CTSN Broadcast of the BCS Championship Game at the Rose Bowl, 1-7-2010
by AlabamaJammer on Jun 6, 2010 2:46 PM CDT up reply actions
Written contracts my man, contracts.
Do you think they just dole out the TV $$ based on oral assurances?
"Hush now, let it go now. I know it's time to go. Time to let this fall from my hands" VNV Nation, "From My Hands"
by Stuck in the Plains on Jun 7, 2010 1:39 PM CDT up reply actions
Big 12 is going to implode.
Kansas, KState, Colorado and Iowa State are going to be left in the cold. They will be the real losers in this deal. Where do they go- some 2nd rate place like the WAC? There is no way they have the same deal as before.
Kansas, one of the top Basketball programs in the country, is going to suffer by not being in the Big 12.
I hate the NCAA more than UT & AU combined. At least with UT & AU you got a fighting chance.
I dunno...
…historically, the Big 8/Big 12 has been a weak to average basketball conference. I don’t think KU will be much worse off no matter where they land….
"High standards come from passion within...." --Coach Nick Saban
by NiceLittleSaturday on Jun 7, 2010 3:23 PM CDT up reply actions
Texas and Oklahoma have generally been Top 25 teams over the past 10 years,
from what I remember. And A&M too a good bit of the time. Don’t really know about the rest of the conference.
I think they’ll be OK wherever they end up, but will have at least some drop off in competition. I’m actually kinda surprised the Big 10 hasn’t given them any consideration.
I guess...
…I just look at the fact that the last Big 12 team to win a national title was KU in 2008, then before that it was…KU in 1988, then it was…KU in 1952…not exactly dominance, even for the Jayhawks.
On the other hand, the ACC has won five titles just in the past decade. The SEC has won five since 1994. The Big East has six winners since 1984. The Big Ten has three titles since 1987. Even the Pac 10 has won a couple of title since Wooden stepped down at UCLA.
All I’m saying is that, wherever they end up, it won’t be a big step down, if it is one at all. I’m really not sure that they will suffer. To the contrary, they’ll get to continue what they’ve done in the Big 12/8: rack up conference titles against weak competition.
"High standards come from passion within...." --Coach Nick Saban
by NiceLittleSaturday on Jun 7, 2010 11:38 PM CDT up reply actions
My money for "stating your intentions"
probably refers to a contractual clause in the conference agreement for upfront, good faith communications between members of the conference concerning future plans that affect the constituency of the conference or could affect its future well-being.
WTF..
.. This is like telling an angry girlfriend, who you don’t want to break up with, that she has a week to “state her intentions”.. Take it from me, when you do that.. You get broke up with..
...RMFT..
by MC Flyballs on Jun 6, 2010 2:02 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
Maybe...
…unless you’ve got an awesome car, lots of cake, and no one else is ready to commit to her….
"High standards come from passion within...." --Coach Nick Saban
by NiceLittleSaturday on Jun 7, 2010 3:24 PM CDT up reply actions
Any reason at all to think the Big 12 is serious about the ultimatum?
What are they gonna do, kick Nebraska out of the conference if they don’t answer? Seems like a big joke to me.
I could see them saying goodbye to one or two of them...
…and usher in TCU and SMU to replace them. Maybe just TCU and Colorado State? Some combination.
It's not what you've done but what you are doing that matters.
And the roses in this grand ol' stadium are once again Crimson. - Eli Gold, CTSN Broadcast of the BCS Championship Game at the Rose Bowl, 1-7-2010
by AlabamaJammer on Jun 7, 2010 10:11 PM CDT up reply actions
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