Big 12 Death Watch Open Thread
by Jon Johnston on Jun 4, 2010 7:59 AM CDT
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PrintI imagine that at the beginning of yesterday you were getting really tired of the constant conference realignment talk. Then Chip Brown happened. Then Colorado Athletic Director Mike Bohn all but confirmed Brown's article. Then Steve Sipple wrote an article, released online late last night, that gave even more reason to believe that our conference is on death watch today.
I thought about writing something about it, but it'd be about the same stuff Sipple wrote - "This is what it's like watching a conference die" kind of sentiment. Rather than do that, consider this a Big 12 Death Watch Open Thread.
Rather than try to keep up, posting articles or breaking news when it comes available, please post anything you hear (or find online) in the comments section. That way we can all stay abreast of what's going on. Nebraska is in a potentially precarious position. If the Pac 10 rips apart the Big 12, we might be scrambling to make sure we can become part of the Big 10. Or we could get left out in the cold...
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DEATH TO THE BIG 12 | Upon Further Review
Every other team anywhere near the Midwest that does not already belong in the Big 10 or SEC or Pac-10 would (or at least should) be thrilled to be in the same conference as KU and KSU, so let’s see what we can do with that.
And that list includes?????
If report about Pac-10 is true, Big 12 may be in jeopardy
This guy just woke up.... from Memorial Day, apparently.
Big 12's silence punctured by the sound of a league breaking apart
You have to love this:
The pithiest quote of the day may have come when Blair Kerkhoff of the Kansas City Star asked Texas A&M athletic director Bill Byrne about the reported Pac-10 plans. "You actually believe I read Orangebloods.com?" Byrne asked.
Now, that could ultimately just give Texas and other Big XII schools the political cover necessary to bolt to the Pac-10 en masse as rumored, but let me be clear on this one: THERE IS NO SCHOOL MORE LIKELY TO END UP IN THE BIG TEN THAN NEBRASKA.
I don't know who this guy is, but he writes well. He makes sense. Funny this is, he does it well enough that he's gained credibility. I wonder if he reads Orangebloods.com?
Still, only interest on the part of Texas, mighty Texas, makes the whole thing fly. Texas and only Texas can save the Big 12 by staying put. That would be the same Texas that inspired jealousy from other Big 12 members for earning a bigger TV revenue share than the other schools.
I'm wondering if he was on his knees when he wrote this.
Pettiness, Paranoia and Pollyannas
Sam McKewon gives us his take on things. He's right - this conference is full of people who can't keep their story straight, but there's a reason for that. Mistrust.
Berry Tramel: Pac-16 is the answer for OU, OSU
I'm in Byrne's band. Never read orangebloods.com. So I can't comment on the credibility of the Rivals website. But I can comment on what should happen if it's true.
Well, holy shit! I'm in the same club with Bill Byrne, Frank the Tank and Berry Tramel, because I don't read Orangebloods.com either. I await their dinner invitations! (I"m guessing Frank would be the only one I'd feel comfortable with, though.)
Hey, wait a minute. Berry Tramel doesn't read Orangebloods.com? He didn't read Chip Brown's article? Talk about talking a shot at an old colleague or perhaps it's just jealousy.
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From what I've read of Frank the Tank's stuff before
He’s one of the most knowledgeable writers out there on how the business and politics of college football work. That he thinks so highly of the Huskers’ chances to land in the Big Ten is pretty encouraging.
Message for Jim Delaney
Mr. Delaney, if you ARE actually getting daily clippings from various blogs and news article — I hope you get this one.
I’m starting to think the Big Ten is being snookered by Texas and Notre Dame.
It is now Tuesday, June 8th, three days before the Friday, June 11th deadline for Nebraska & Missouri. The fact that Nebraska, Missouri, and Rutgers have not been issued invites leads me to think that what Chip Brown at Orangebloods.com has reported is in fact the case. That the Big Ten is furiously trying to get a committment from Notre Dame in these days before the Big XII deadline. And more importantly, should that commitment happen then the Big Ten expansion will stop at twelve members.
I ask you to consider who is that non-Big Ten AD that Brown says is his source. I’d bet my next paycheck that it’s DeLoss Dodds. I’ve said before that both Texas & Notre Dame are hoping the Big Ten’s expansion plans fail. Now, however, I think both schools are being proactive in ensuring those plans fail.
It’s aleady been proven that there has been communication between the Big Ten and Texas. And a representative who was foolish enough to discuss that communication via email, might also have been foolish enough to discuss some of the conference’s goals and strategies with the Texas president. (Thanks Gordon Gee.)
That PAC-10 invite was very timely, don’t you think? Beebe had no leverage to issue an ultimatum prior to Larry Scott’s announcement. All of a sudden though, the Big XII’s ultimatum now has some teeth. But how in the hell does the PAC-10 get Stanford to go along with admitting Texas Tech (a Tier 3 school) to the conference when as recently as 1996 they rejected Texas because of academics. Or maybe the PAC-10 merger with the Big XII-South is a red herring devised to create leverage. Maybe this plan is a by-product of the recent PAC-10/Big XII tv network discussions. Should both conferences remain intact then that tv network can proceed as planned.
Which brings me to Notre Dame. It’s crystal clear to everyone that the Notre Dame community is vehemently opposed to joining the Big Ten. Yet Jack Swarbrick has stated that ND might have to join a conference if a "seismic change occurred in the college football landscape." If the Big East dissolves as a result of the Big Ten creating a super-conference, most college football analysts would qualify this as such a "seismic change". It has also been common knowledge that Big Ten expansion doesn’t occur without a signature school. Currently, that signature school is believed to be Nebraska.
So how does Jack Swarbrick prevent the Big Ten from raiding the Big East thereby forcing Notre Dame’s hand? The answer is that Notre Dame involves the Big Ten in complicated and lengthy discussions which prevents the Big Ten from issuing invitations to Nebraska, Missouri, & Rutgers before the Friday deadline. Should this strategy work, I believe Nebraska will comply with that loyalty oath thinking that the Big Ten is not sufficiently interested in them. At least not to the degree that the Cornhuskers would risk becoming orphaned from a conference.
Is this a pretty crazy conspiracy theory? Sure. But if you ask Husker fans they’ll tell you that this is totally within Texas’ modus operandi. Moreover, it’s one of the reasons Nebraska doesn’t want to be in a conference with them anymore.
Is Notre Dame capable of this kind of duplicity? I think they are given that the ND community believes the Big Ten is using underhanded tactics to force them to do something they have no interest in doing.
Would Nebraska renege on the oath once the Big Ten issues an invitation? Most Husker fans will tell you that Osborne is widely regarded as a man of honor and class. No I don’t think he would go back on his word. Plus, I think the pleas of Kansas, Kansas State, & Iowa State are having an effect on Osborne and the Huskers.
So Mr. Delaney, if an agreement is not reached with Notre Dame by close of business today — then tomorrow morning I’d contact John Marinatto and Dan Beebe and by noon tomorrow I’d publicly announce invitations to Nebraska, Missouri, and Rutgers.
Don’t let Texas and Notre Dame benefit from this elaborate con job.
cows
"Someone described to me a photo they have in their office," Beebe said here at the InterContinental hotel, where the league’s athletic directors have been gathered since Tuesday for their annual meetings. "They have four cows and a fence, and every cow is eating over the other cow’s fence thinking that there’s some better grass over there."
What if they’d have had that picture of dogs playing poker?
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What kind of domino effect are we looking at here?
It’s been the general consensus so far that if the PAC-10 raids the Big 12, the Big 10 makes its move and absorbs Nebraska, Notre Dame, and Mizzou, at least, possibly Rutgers and Pitt. Of course, this leaves KU, KSU, and Iowa State in the cold. I’m primarily worried about what happens to Nebraska, but what about these other schools? Is KU playing basketball in the Mountain West?
"I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it."-George Bernard Shaw
ISU and KSU
may be just screwed. Their best hope is the Big 12 stays together. KU – who knows? I suspect they won’t be left out, but…. I don’t think they’ll get a better option that the big 12 currently offers them either.
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Osborne
Nebraska athletic director Tom Osborne has called a mid-morning meeting Friday in Lincoln with Husker staff/coaches — I’m not sure if it’s just football staff, or all staff — to apprise them of “latest developments” on the conference realignment front.
Go Big Red Nebraska!
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As an Iowa fan, I think it would hurt us a lot if ISU was in the Big 10.
If they were downgraded to a mid major I think our program, resources and prestige would grow that much more.
However for their sake, if this thing shakes out, I hope they end up in the MWC with the Kansas schools and Boise St, which will then give the MWC more of a chance at being an AQ conference.
I look forward to Nebraska joining the Big 10 and competing with Iowa, Wisconsin and possibly Notre Dame for the Big 10 West.
Contingency planning
Suppose that the Big 12 does fold, and the Big Ten doesn’t take Nebraska for some reason. What should the Huskers do? Should we try to swing it for a few years and hope that the megaconference trend collapses in on itself, or should we try to form a new conference. Who would we go after if we started a new conference? BYU, Boise St., Cincinnati?
by Trey Hillman's Chin on Jun 4, 2010 10:25 AM CDT reply actions
swing it for a few years
as an independent, that is
by Trey Hillman's Chin on Jun 4, 2010 10:26 AM CDT up reply actions
If we are really in play w/o the big ten
I would like to believe the SEC would give us a call, but hell, I really dont know. Perlman and Osborne just have to make something work. I dont care who, but I want to be in a serious BCS league and I want stability.
Might I suggest that my brothers to the west
start boning up on their big ten knowlede. A great place to start is:
www.rivalryesq.com
It is a great all Big 11 blog here at SB Nation.
I really do believe that all of the jealousy that arises from the monster that is Texas has pushed the Big 12 over the cliff and there is little chance to bring it back.
On the bright side of this for NU is that between ESPN and the BTN the ability to watch the Huskers on television ( with good production value) will make the PPV and Fox Sports bullshit obsolete.
I am hoping for this because I really think that the Lincoln to Iowa City trek that my friends and I will start is gonna be awesome.
I learned a great many things in the Marines that helped me as a football coach. The Marines train men hard and to do things the right way, just as a football team must train. - Hayden Fry
by NileKinnickIronman on Jun 4, 2010 10:29 AM CDT reply actions
I'm with ya, pick me up in Des Moines..
I’ll bring the good eats!
"Not the victory but the action; Not the goal but the game;
In the deed the glory"
GO BIG RED!
check it out
Ohio State University President E. Gordon Gee sent an e-mail to Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany on April 20 saying that he had spoken with Texas President William Powers.
“I did speak with Bill Powers at Texas, who would welcome a call to say they have a ‘Tech’ problem,” Gee wrote in an e-mail that was among several obtained by The Dispatch through a public-records request for documents and correspondence related to Big Ten expansion proposals.
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If you guys are up for a laugh
I strongly suggest this post. You may not agree with its characterization of your schools, but damn if it isn’t funny.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Jun 4, 2010 11:44 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
That is simply brilliant.
I am fucking laughing so hard I am drowning in my Beam and Coke.
I learned a great many things in the Marines that helped me as a football coach. The Marines train men hard and to do things the right way, just as a football team must train. - Hayden Fry
by NileKinnickIronman on Jun 4, 2010 9:05 PM CDT up reply actions
is
everyone sick of seeing the same AP photo of Beebe everywhere?
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If you are Beebs, and everything happens as is being written, what do you do? You will have 4 schools that generate next to $0 with exception to Kansas basketball. This should be titled “Dan Beebe Suicide Watch.”
Between Frank The Tank, Chip Brown, Sipp, the OWH writers, Bohn, and the Washington athletic director, something is going to happen in the next 7 days.
I’ll just be happy to watch NU’s non-conference games for “free!”
Hang 'em!!!
by Screwface on Jun 4, 2010 2:52 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
is the fate
of the Big 12 in our hands????
Berry Tramel thinks so.
http://www.newsok.com/is-nebraska-on-the-clock/article/3466077?custom_click=lead_story_title
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Iowa State releases statement on Conference Realignment
Dear Cyclone alumni, fans and friends of the University,
This week, we participated in the Big 12 Conference spring meetings in which a major topic of discussion was potential conference re-alignment. With the immense speculation and media attention given to this issue, we felt it was important for you to hear directly from us.
We believe the Big 12 Conference is the perfect fit for Iowa State University. We are committed to our membership in the Big 12, and we are optimistic that the conference will remain intact. However, we also recognize that the long-term viability of the Big 12 Conference is not in our control – it is in the hands of just a few of our fellow member institutions.
Iowa State and several other members of the Big 12 Conference are especially vulnerable under some of the re-alignment scenarios currently circulating, particularly one involving expansion of the Pac-10. We are doing everything in our power to represent the best interests of Iowa State in these discussions, but we also are sensitive to the huge uncertainty that has been created and recognize that the situation could evolve in directions that are not aligned with our interests.
We understand and share your concerns about Iowa State athletics and the Big 12 Conference. We are still optimistic that the Big 12 will remain intact and continue to be one of our nation’s premier athletics conferences, but we must be ready to act if that does not prove to be the case. We will keep in touch as the situation unfolds, and we appreciate your understanding.
Go Cyclones!
Dr. Gregory Geoffroy
President
Jamie Pollard
Director of Athletics
They sound pretty well defeated…
JD’s like, "you want some fucking pitching? Here’s all the pitching you can stand. Now choke on it, bitches!"- RCCook
Cue Sad violin...
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Jun 4, 2010 5:25 PM CDT up reply actions
that's because
they know it’s not in their hands.
it sucks having your future decided one way or another when you have no control on the outcome.
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As a Hawkeye...
….I say FUCK EM. Tired of them. God damn stupid CY on every ISU vanity plate I see. Get something original. And if your mascot is a Cyclone then the stupid cardinal makes no sense. I need another drink. FUCK THEM.
I learned a great many things in the Marines that helped me as a football coach. The Marines train men hard and to do things the right way, just as a football team must train. - Hayden Fry
by NileKinnickIronman on Jun 4, 2010 9:08 PM CDT up reply actions
I should feel bad,
but my alcoholism mixed with the 2002 perfect season going bye, bye at their hands won’t let me. And my terrible experience at that shit hole of a stadium in Lames dosen’t help either.
I learned a great many things in the Marines that helped me as a football coach. The Marines train men hard and to do things the right way, just as a football team must train. - Hayden Fry
by NileKinnickIronman on Jun 4, 2010 11:48 PM CDT up reply actions
The Austin-American Statesman is now reporting that the A&M athletic director has informed his coaches and staff that they are, in fact, going to the “Pac 10”…
I’ll post a link momentarily.
Hang 'em!!!
by Screwface on Jun 4, 2010 5:25 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
Ok, what I heard was that a UTexas beat writer Tweeted about Bill Byrne informing his staff. This was apparently originally reported by a College Station radio station. Unsportsmanlike Conduct on KOZN Omaha was the first place I had heard this.
Hang 'em!!!
by Screwface on Jun 4, 2010 5:53 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
this one????
http://twitter.com/kbohls/status/15440730037
Key word: “may”
not “will”
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“I’m told A&M AD Bill Byrne has told his staff, coaches the reports the Aggies may go to the Pac-10 are true, but he didn’t return a call.” Yes, that one.
Hang 'em!!!
by Screwface on Jun 4, 2010 6:26 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
This could be interpreted two different ways.
Hang 'em!!!
by Screwface on Jun 4, 2010 6:31 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Kirk Bohls adds
Just talked to a highly placed Big 12 source, who said, “If I were a betting man, I’d bet (Texas, A&M, Tech) will be in Pac-10. It’s 60-40.”
We have a Blankman sighting!
nice site.
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SEC
I think the SEC will make the next/first move. Being as they believe that they are the greatest conference, they will want to make sure they have the first pick on the best available teams.
I think they have been waiting/hoping the Big 10 expands and takes Nebraska, Missouri, Rutgers, etc, and that would give them an opportunity to go for Texas without looking like a home wrecker (or conference wrecker). Delany’s comments at the Big 10 meetings made me think that the Big 10 is after Texas as their top priority. I personally don’t believe that the Big 10 cares about Missouri (all you hear is Missouri fans begging to join the Big 10) and Nebraska would just be a consolation prize for them. With Texas in the Pac-10 spotlight now, and the comments from the Big 10 about moving into the sun belt, if the SEC wants Texas, they will have to take them now.
The dominoes have started falling and they will fall a lot faster from here on. Once Texas moves the picture will start to become clear.
One thing that bothers me from this latest talk about teams from the Big XII to the Pac-10 is the academic requirements. In order for the Pac-10 to expand it has to be unanimous between all of the schools in the conference and I have a hard time believing that some of the schools rumored to be leaving the Big XII for the Pac-10 would be accepted.
If I checked out another girl (Neb/Missouri “looking” at the big 10), my girl would probably respond to that action by checking out another man (Big XII south teams looking at another conference). This marriage does appear to be over, though. Just a matter of time.
That's great, it starts with an earthquake
birds and snakes, an aeroplane -Lenny Bruce is not afraid
and I feel fine.
You can't possibly be a scientist if you mind people thinking that you're a fool.
~Wanko the Sane
Big Red Kool-aid Drinker @ Corn Nation
Latest from Kirk Bohls @ the Austin American-Statesman
Two highly placed Big 12 school officials told me Nebraska and Missouri have been given a deadline of Friday to decide their futures.
http://twitter.com/kbohls/statuses/15523069171
Is this next week going to be fun or what?
One more thing to consider.Most Texas fans would loath going with the PAC 10.This would a massive culture clash.Big 12 is a natural fit.Deloss Doods would have to consider the temperature of the fan base.Nebraska is actually in the drivers seat here to break up the Big 12.Hey – if you go to the big 10, you can go back to the run game,but no partial qualifiers.
Augustin is more like southern California than any other place in the Big 12
It is the Aggies that will be in for an extreme culture shock
JD’s like, "you want some fucking pitching? Here’s all the pitching you can stand. Now choke on it, bitches!"- RCCook
Baylor regent, " ... influence a bunch of corn shuckers."
Wrote Baylor regent Buddy Jones late last week to a number of unidentified recipients:
We cannot let the other schools in Texas (A&M, U.T., Tech) leave the Big XII WITHOUT BAYLOR BEING INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE. Long and short – if U.T., A&M and Tech demand that any move to any other conference include ALL TEXAS BASED TEAMS from the Big XII, we are golden. We need to be in a PACKAGE DEAL!
He later implores the recipients to contact a number of administrators, former and present, to follow his lead and deliver a message on behalf of the university: Don’t leave behind the history and traditions and split up the schools in Texas that have been long bound together.
The next day, he wrote:
Just an update. It appears the entire Big XII axis turns on what Nebraska will do viz a viz the Big 10. It’s hard enough get the home teams to stick tight . But harder still to influence a bunch of corn shuckers.
Thanks for all you are doing.
This is exactly what is wrong with the Big 12…hope we get our ticke to ride very soon.
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