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Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe speaks during a radio interview at the NCAA college football Big 12 Media Days, Tuesday, July 26, 2011, in Dallas.
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Reader poll
Do you think Texas A&M should remain a part of the Big 12 conference?
- Yes. 48% 832 votes
- No. 51% 897 votes
1729 total votes.
A day that began with rumors of Missouri joining Texas A&M in bolting the Big 12 Conference for the SEC ended with one message: The Big 12 wants to stay together, preferably with A&M on board.
In a statement released Saturday night, the Big 12 said it “strongly conveyed to Texas A&M its unanimous desire that it remain a Big 12 member, and acknowledged its value to the Conference.” In addition, the statement said the league “is prepared to aggressively move forward to explore expansion opportunities” and “recognizes the strength of the Big 12 Conference national brand and the opportunity to capitalize on it.”
Later Saturday night, Kansas University Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little released her own statement, which came after a conference call of Big 12 presidents and chancellors that followed a similar call between the Big 12’s athletic directors and commissioner Dan Beebe.
“The University of Kansas is committed to the Big 12 Conference and its success,” Gray-Little’s statement read. “We fully support the efforts of the conference to remain strong and competitive, including the active pursuit of additional membership in the event of a departure.”
Not surprisingly, Gray-Little’s words echoed those uttered by KU athletic director Sheahon Zenger on Friday.
“Sheahon Zenger and I have been in regular contact with conference board members, the commissioner and others to ensure KU’s interests are protected,” Gray-Little continued. “We are going to do what is in the best interest of the university (and) our student-athletes and fans. Maintaining a vibrant Big 12 is in KU’s best interests.”
KU’s two most visible leaders have worked closely together on this matter during the past few days.
As for the specifics of Saturday’s activity, sources with knowledge of the conference call between the ADs and Beebe told the Journal-World that the tone of the call was pleasant and more about solving the problem together than picking each other apart.
“I think nine (member schools) is an option,” UT AD DeLoss Dodds told Kirk Bohls of the Austin (Texas) American-Statesman. “I think nine are solid. I think 10’s a good number. In my mind, we’d try to stay at 10. If we had to, we’d go to 12.”
Sources said it was believed by all parties involved that the Big 12 would survive as long as everyone was up front and honest.
Because of its recent track record of wanting to leave the conference, one school that has to be looked at twice is Missouri. Despite rumors of Mizzou being bound for the SEC, several media outlets reported that the Tigers seemed committed to the Big 12. Asked by reporters if MU had entered into talks with the SEC, Missouri AD Mike Alden said: “No. The answer to your question is no. I want to make sure: no.”
With the Big 12 in turmoil yet again, administrators at other schools, such as BYU, Louisville and others, were called upon to answer whether they would be interested in joining the Big 12 should the opportunity present itself. Each gave the same answer: We’re happy with where we are.
With a meeting of Texas A&M’s board of regents looming Monday, and Texas lawmakers set to meet Tuesday, one source said the whole thing boils down to one simple truth. “If it’s A&M’s decision, they’d be gone. But nothing’s a done deal.”
One of the biggest reasons why is the presence of the Texas legislature, which has a strong interest in keeping Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech together.
Although some reports have indicated that Monday’s meeting of A&M’s board of regents could include a vote to accept an invitation from the SEC, no actual offer has been confirmed, and one Texas lawmaker said any such action would be frowned upon.
“It’s my understanding, based upon conversations with A&M officials, that the A&M Board of Regents is meeting to authorize the president to enter into negotiations with the SEC, assuming the SEC extends an offer to A&M to join the conference,” Rep. Dan Branch said. “It is not my understanding that they are meeting to complete or accept an offer to the SEC. To finalize such an action before giving legislators a chance to ask some questions would be inappropriate, highly inappropriate.”
Comments
ahpersecoachingexperience 1 year, 9 months ago
I'll try to find it before the ambien kicks but the "sec source" said they will peruse a 14th team and it will not be a school that is currently in the same state as other sec schools. Meaning Mizzou or va Tech.
I would still love to see ku, MU, OU, and Osu (big 8 blood) swing a deal into the PAC or big 10. Leave Texas standing there all alone with nobody to play on their pretty little network.
baldwinjhawk 1 year, 9 months ago
It should read TEXAS A$M.
wissoxfan83 1 year, 9 months ago
I DON'T want KU in the Pac 10. I sure don't want to stay up til midnight on weeknights watching a game at Arizona or Oregon or wherever.
jhawkdan42 1 year, 9 months ago
+one million and one!!!
kushaw 1 year, 9 months ago
I actually like that idea ahperse. I'm not sure which 3 of the Big 10 you go with, but I think any of the 4 between Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and or Illinois to go along with KU, MU, OU, OSU, and Nebraska would be pretty sweet However, I'm sure a couple of those Big East schools would have a say in that equation as well.
ahpersecoachingexperience 1 year, 9 months ago
Less likely in the big10 because they wouldn't pick up any new tv markets. But it could be gold for the PAC ( kc, stl, okc, maybe Chicago and Dallas). Throw in cu, ut, and the az schools and there is your division, travel isn't that bad, you have rivals still playing, Someone get Zenger on the phone for me...and get me someone while I'm waiting!
LAJayhawk 1 year, 9 months ago
You couldn't hear a dump truck driving through a nitroglycerin plant.
runningbeakers84 1 year, 9 months ago
Like any East Coast recruits will stay up until midnight to watch KU Hoops vs Oregon State. Not sure the PAC 10 is gold. Maybe pewter. If no Big 10, then the current Big 12-2 needs to find a couple of schools.
ahpersecoachingexperience 1 year, 9 months ago
1) you'd still have 4 teams in the central time zone
2) you'd play a couple of preseason games back east
3) you we already have a strong east coast recruiting presence, this now gives us the west coast too.
4) Recruits aren't going to watch those 40 point big 10 games either!
ahpersecoachingexperience 1 year, 9 months ago
Or add Devry and "The" University of Phoenix. They seem to have a national following and huge alumni base.
wincojhawk 1 year, 9 months ago
Funny s#!t, man!
Torisen 1 year, 9 months ago
Remember that we learned last year - KU has limited options because they're tied to K-State.
trojanhawk 1 year, 9 months ago
KU is NOT tied to KSU. Football and TV sets are the limiting factors.
jayhawk_sean 1 year, 9 months ago
The only thing that makes sense is for the Big 10 to absorb the rest of the Big 12 North Teams, and allow everyone from Oklahoma on south to split and do whatever they want. What would even be more hilarious is since aTm is trying to run and hide from UT, it would be awesome if UT accepted a bid into the SEC as well.
trojanhawk 1 year, 9 months ago
You think the Big Ten wants ISU and KSU? They probably don't want KU and MU either, even with their decent academic reputations.
jayhawk_sean 1 year, 9 months ago
Granted they bring the least amount to the table out of anyone, but you keep the ksu -KU rivalry together, and then the isu-iu rivalry would now be a conference affair instead of being scheduled as a non-con game. Also, the KU-mu rivalry stays intact, and then the Illinois-mu rivalry becomes in-confernce instead of non-con. Travel accomodations aren't as bad. Hell, even keep the OU's and UT's in conference and just make a Midwestern Super-Conference.
konzahawk 1 year, 9 months ago
Why would the Big Ten care about the KU-KSU rivalry?
Sybesma 1 year, 9 months ago
The SEC or the PAC 12 won't take UT with the Longhorn Network according to their bylaws. I would love to see KU and Misery (if they don't go to the SEC, which would be foolish if they didn't, and they are foolish) to to the BIG 10 with Notre Dame and and east coast team which is a market the BIG 10 would like to tap into. Such as Syracuse. Those four teams improve football and basketball and create a large new TV market.
LAJayhawk 1 year, 9 months ago
Local LA news reported this evening on rumors that the Pac 12 is looking to pick up 4 of the remaining Big 12 schools to become a super-conference. Apherse may actually be dead on b**ls accurate (it's an industry term). Tait's report of OU, OSU, and KU earlier could easily combine with MU to make a very feasible Pac 16, which would make their media market insanely widespread. It would be extremely profitable, and they would move into the Midwest which would allow their games to be played at times other than 11 PM to the rest of the country.
Pac 16 actually makes a ton of sense. The only thing better would be Big 12 staying together, picking up Notre Dame and a two other schools for the time being. Then adding another 4 to become a super-conference of its own in the not too distant future.
Either two options would be best case for KU with a long profitable future.
Pitthawk34 1 year, 9 months ago
Good info...Keep the local LA updates coming!
kushaw 1 year, 9 months ago
I would take either of those options....Pac 16 or Big 16 (10). With that said, I'm not confident in Beebe and the Big 12 tied with Texas. Beebe should have spent the past year trying to expand the conference instead of being satisfied at 10 schools.
I wouldn't mind going to the Pac 16 so so we could play Zona twice a year and kick the ever living hell out of them.
LAJayhawk 1 year, 9 months ago
Shaw, I agree it's not what I would dream about, but it's the best solution for us in the current climate. If the Big 12 is going to dissolve, Pac 16 would be the best option, especially considering we would regularly play OU and MU schools (if that was the 4 taken). Personally I think Big 12 actually having 12 schools is best for KU, but if the conference really wants to remain solvent, they need to expand. Super-conferences are the future (unfortunately), so to not be raided, they need to be aggressive and predatory. Otherwise, give up and head to the Pac 16, probably saying goodbye to KSU and maybe MU.
Picking up Notre Dame, however, would be a giant step forward in securing the Big 12's future. Let's hope that happens.
kushaw 1 year, 9 months ago
I also wonder if the Pac 10 is regretting inviting Utah the mix because of their impatients to get to 12 schools?
LAJayhawk 1 year, 9 months ago
Yeah. Clearly Utah was their fallback option to get to 12 when the other Big 12 schools dropped out last go around. Utah does give them another market, but obviously they want to move into the Midwest and Southern plains. Moving all the way into the St Louis market would be a gigantic gain for them for so many reasons.
ahpersecoachingexperience 1 year, 9 months ago
Deal: I stay in your house in the hills when we play USC. You stay in my cardboard box when they play asu.
LAJayhawk 1 year, 9 months ago
"Looks like heaven's easier to get into than Arizona State."
--Ned Flanders
rob4lb 1 year, 9 months ago
Pac 12 needs to figure out how to get into the Texas market if they expand.
ahpersecoachingexperience 1 year, 9 months ago
People are forgetting that OU brings Dallas. And with Osu and KU they would have enough to get a network on in Dallas.
rob4lb 1 year, 9 months ago
By that logic, Nebraska claims they brought KC market to the Big 10. There is a huge alumni base for OU (and for KU for that matter) in Dallas and Houston, but not as big as one of the local schools.
Hornhawk 1 year, 9 months ago
I remain hopeful that current KU student interests fit somewhere in the discussion of conference affiliation. Schools need local rivalries. I wonder if the Big East/Pac<13.5 scenario is as appetizing to students as it is to well-financed alumni or those living far from the heartlands. The Longhorn/Aggie or Jayhawk/Polecat/lessercat loathing makes for yearlong rancor and bragging rights. We need antagonists (see Aperse)..Life is adversarial. I get the import of a potential UConn/KU hoops matchup; but is it something you'll lose sleep over, unless it's during March Madness. How many airport gropings would you endure for a tepid game in a half-filled Eastern multi-sport, off campus stadium (especially when you could run the track at home). Who's up for a road trip to Pullman or Corvallis.
oxcaljayhawk 1 year, 9 months ago
First, hopefully you're going to be an alumni much longer than you're going to be a student. Also, you may end up living far from KU and will celebrate each time they come even remotely close and will make that road trip. Finally, it's been my experience that AFH has far more student seating than other major programs (UCLA hardly has any any), so the current students have the advantage there.
LAJayhawk 1 year, 9 months ago
Yep. There is a significant KU presence out here. Last time I was at the Galen Center for the USC/KU game, we had roughly 2,000 or so KU fans in attendance. Rock Chalk chant echoed through the hallways. USC fans were quite amazed.
rob4lb 1 year, 9 months ago
Not about basketball. How many KU fans would show up for a football game against San Diego State or UCLA. I imagine there was a decent contingent of K-State fans when they played UCLA few years ago.
LAJayhawk 1 year, 9 months ago
They will or won't show up anywhere depending on how good they are. How many will show up in Aimes, IA if the football team stinks?
Point is, we have a strong presence in the LA area.
JHWKDW 1 year, 9 months ago
Is this look pitiful or what?You know I remember alot of people who complained about the NFL and the players and owners and their greed this is exactly like that and is nothing but childish bickering!Pathetic!This crap going on with A&M and Texas makes the NFL issue look small in comparison!
You know there are alot of people out there struggling and this economy is so down and Texas and Texas A&M are having pardon the phrase but are having fight over whos penis is larger sorry if it offends anyone but it is what it is!I mean they are going to get alot of money and it aint enough especially for A&M!There are alot of people that would love to have a steady paycheck and then they see these guys acting like babies boo hoo IF I dont get what I want Im taking my toys and going home!When is enough enough?It aint like the schools have to pay athlete like Peyton Manning,A-Rod,Lebron James,,David Beckham,or a Sydney Crosby salary!Ive had enough of this childish crap you guys are getting paid shut up and lets just play sports!
Id have to agree with Ahperse partially If it goes down Id like to see KU and MU go to the Pac 12.A day with no KU MU Border war or no Missouri rivalry is like a day without sunshine!The Pac 12 would love our rivalry! The one thing I disagree with on Ahperse is Id like to see Texas Tech and I believe The Pac 12 will add Hawaii if they can along with the three I mentioned I heard they want Hawaii!So those 4 would be a good add to the Pac 12 KU MU Tex Tech And Hawaii!
Sad our great Conference may break up due to such pitiful circumstances!
hawks1fan 1 year, 9 months ago
i think if KU had to go to a different conference i think they would be dominate in the big east. But i can see them in the pac 12 or whatever they would call themselves
Hammertoe 1 year, 9 months ago
Dominate the Big East?
jhox 1 year, 9 months ago
Alden's comment, and adamant "no" (in relation to talks with the SEC) is actually pretty encouraging. The Big 12 could go on with the loss of A&M, but not if they lost both A&M and MU. I'd replace A&M with Houston. With Big 12 exposure and resources, they could be a formidable program. I'd start serious talks with Notre Dame (pointing out the fact that no other major conference would allow them an independent network.) If there would be any benefit in expanding West, start talks with BYU and Boise and try to get this conference back to 12.
Brock 1 year, 9 months ago
Houston is a nose-picking commuter-school. It would be like losing UCLA and replacing it with Long Beach State.
Bear86 1 year, 9 months ago
Fore!!!!!!!!!!!!
LAJayhawk 1 year, 9 months ago
Notre Dame. If we lose A&M and want a chance at the conference surviving, Big 12 needs a really big score.
Notre Dame. Bet the farm.... or in this case, the future of the conference. If that doesn't happen, start printing Pac 16 shirts....
rob4lb 1 year, 9 months ago
I think BYU would be an acceptable replacement for A&M. I can't think of another school to replace MU if they also leave.
Sybesma 1 year, 9 months ago
The Big 12 is dying before our eyes. Last year the remaining 10 teams made a commitment to the Big12 and today the commitment is being tested. It's every school for themselves. The ones left out to dry are the ones who believed the commitment from the other presidents. This is the most pivital time in KU basketball history. If we are left without a major conference I hate to think what kind of future the program has.
mustlehustle 1 year, 9 months ago
If you check your history, the majority of Big 12 Teams started in the Missouri Valley Conference ( Kansas 1907-1928) and I still contend with the Athletic Director for Kansas' ties to MVC having come from Illinois State, the addition of Kansas, Kansas State, Louisville, Memphis, Houston and Baylor, (add SMU and Houston and make it 18 teams) Iowa State makes that a 16 member conference, allows Kansas to be favorite each year in football (unlike any chance they would have in the Big 10 or Pac 12)
It makes the State of Kansas stronger with now 3 teams in the same conference, gives Iowa 2 schools, it groups two schools from Kentucky, Tennessee into the Conference, as well as maintains the Texas recruiting pipeline by keeping, 2 schools in Texas for recruiting purposes (4 schools if expanded to an 18 team conference)
If an 18 team conference, that gives you "9" teams in each division, it keeps your schools centrally grouped for fan purposes, it allows for a "super conference" to emerge that would be competitive in football...and would also be considered a very strong conference during basketball season.
kureader 1 year, 9 months ago
LOL
JayDocMD 1 year, 9 months ago
+1
rockchalk1990 1 year, 9 months ago
Now that is commitment!!!
kushaw 1 year, 9 months ago
That's the type of determination we need from Beebe!
oxcaljayhawk 1 year, 9 months ago
+1
ahpersecoachingexperience 1 year, 9 months ago
If the united states was attacked by bombs and everyone died except the schools you mentioned...nah, still a bad idea.
HighEliteMajor 1 year, 9 months ago
That's right, let's go back to our roots .. re-install peach baskets, no facemasks on the helmets, and crap in a "closet" behind the house. I'll let you dig the hole. Ah, the good old days.
What is really unfortunate, even under this short-sighted suggestion, we'd still finish 8th or 9th in football.
LAJayhawk 1 year, 9 months ago
"What is really unfortunate, even under this short-sighted suggestion, we'd still finish 8th or 9th in football."
This made me laugh out loud.... until I started weeping....
Well done.
nuleafjhawk 1 year, 9 months ago
Forget the idea of conferences all together. Let every team in America be independent - everyone will be their own conference champion every year. The banner printing people will have a heyday. Then at the end of the year, the teams with the best records could get together at a centrally located destination - say Worlds of Fun, have a picnic and draw a name out of a hat to see who is the National Champion.
dynamitehawk 1 year, 9 months ago
Not sure how things are going to turn out, but one thing is for certain: Dan Beebe's mole on his face freaks me out.
rockchalk1990 1 year, 9 months ago
It's really more like he has a face on his mole!
ahpersecoachingexperience 1 year, 9 months ago
Aaaaaaaaaand ummmmmmmmmm
How does the big12 commissioner still have his job?
hawksince51 1 year, 9 months ago
He is safe--what more qualified person would want the job?
rob4lb 1 year, 9 months ago
The Big 12 commissioner is Deloss Dodds.
shufly 1 year, 9 months ago
The white towels of A&M - When the going gets rough, surrender.
hawksince51 1 year, 9 months ago
Again we enter the favorite sports season of the Big 12 (now 10, soon to be 9 or less) which is "grab the money and run."
kumiler 1 year, 9 months ago
A&M out, TCU in? They at least would offer a strong addition in football.
No matter what happens, the Big 12 needs a new name if it stays under 12 schools. Just stupid otherwise.
I for one would love to simply go back to the Big 8 - KU, KSU, ISU, MU, OU, OSU and pick up two new bodies (open to suggestions).
I agree - we must keep Mizzou no matter what or life simply wouldn't be worth living.
kushaw 1 year, 9 months ago
Texas won't invite SMU or TCU. At least they don't want them into the mix. Less Texas schools that have to compete with the Longhorns is their motto. Legislation is the only thing that kept A&M, Tech, and Texas together so far over the years.
texashawk10 1 year, 9 months ago
I could actually see UT being fine with SMU in the Big 12. SMU has deep pockets, but not a good enough atthletic program to actually compete with Texas or Oklahoma in football.
TCU will never get an invite to the Big 12 until there is a commisioner who says screw you Texas, you're TV deal means you can't go anywhere so I'm going to do what's in the best interest of the conference not UT.
njjayhawk 1 year, 9 months ago
Bernie Gray-Little’s public statement is an embarrassment and highly disappointing, and by comparison alone, elevates the nursery rhyme “Humpty Dumpty” to an immortal national policy speech. This was the opportune time for Bernie GL to blast the ego and greed of UT and grind Bevo to hamburger in the press, plus rip Missery and Manure U as Big 12 weak sister wanna be’s, and tag TA&M as a repugnant traitor.
kushaw 1 year, 9 months ago
She came from UNC didn't she? Figures!
milehighhawk 1 year, 9 months ago
Yeah, that sounds incredibly productive and befitting of a chancellor.
rob4lb 1 year, 9 months ago
What possible good would that do other than makes some of us feel good. Everything she said 100% appropriate.
LAJayhawk 1 year, 9 months ago
And why couldn't she have taken a dump on Rick Perry's desk and wiped with the Texas State Constitution? Is defecation and desecration really too much to ask of our chancellor?
Come on, BGL. Trash it up a little. njjayhawk is cravin' some disrespect. Don't let him down.
Brock 1 year, 9 months ago
TCU is about the size and population of Washburn.
HighEliteMajor 1 year, 9 months ago
But it has a huge advantage .. it's not in Topeka.
ahpersecoachingexperience 1 year, 9 months ago
Seriously, this is when you need that sly ad to float some info (errr lies) to reporters. Put it out there that the ok school, mu, and ku are tired of Texas and looking at the PAC. Driving up the interest of the existing PAC schools fans and beating down Texas at the same time.
oxcaljayhawk 1 year, 9 months ago
I'd love for that to happen. The only thing UT understands is hardball negotiating tactics. Make 'em think the only thing on TLN will be UT v. Sam Houston State and UT-Arlington.
djhawk75 1 year, 9 months ago
If the opportunity to join another BCS conference comes to KU we should take it. It doesn't matter which one. We just need get out of this dump before we're left hanging again.
rob4lb 1 year, 9 months ago
PAC12 or Big 10 - yes. Big East-no, That will always be an option and no need to prematurely jump ship. Plus who wants to go to a conference with 20 basketball members?
jgkojak 1 year, 9 months ago
Some thoughts...
No... KU should not leave the B12 - I frankly don't gie a rats ass that TX has its own network- good for them.
MU would be foolish to go to the SEC - they lose Nebraska and finally get a reasonable path to a BCS bowl/Nat. Champtionship (no title game) and they want to go play LSU, Alabama, FSU every year?
You want a Pac 16 with KU -- so you enjoy watching the majority of your KU road games at 1100pm?
Houston, Memphis and Louisville are just UMKC on steroids - they are not academically comparable to any B12 school.
There are only 4 realistic possibilities to replace A&M: 1. BYU- I know they said NO, but they'd jump at the chance when the offer is made - they also have a national following 2. Air Force - geographically sound, a specialtyschool with a nat. following and great academics. Gets B12 back into CO - where AF is as popular as CU. 3. Notre Dame - should be Beebe's first call - and would be a step up from A&M - MU would not leave if ND came on board. What's in it for them? A conference where they get to keep their own network (and a more reasonable basketball situation) - hell, I'd match the b-east offer - play B12 for all sports, stay Indy in football if that gets them on board at first. 4. Arkansas - could they be lured to be a UT rival now that A&M is gone?
I could live with a B12 featuring AF or BYU just fine.
Brock 1 year, 9 months ago
Arkansas struggled for years to get a divorce from Texas. Why would the Pigs want to reconnect with the Horns now?
eastTXjayhawk 1 year, 9 months ago
Actually, the U of H has one of the top Optometry programs in the nation, but Brock is right, it's a huge commuter school.
rob4lb 1 year, 9 months ago
Academically, Houston is just as good as many other Big 12 schools. There is a lot of oil money that has poured into alot of their programs. But as a commuter school, they do have a strong fan base.
wissoxfan83 1 year, 9 months ago
The Big 10 has wanted Notre Dame for decades and to no avail. Why do you think they would go to the BIg 12? And FSU is not in the SEC, they're an ACC team, just sayin!
LAJayhawk 1 year, 9 months ago
ND has not gone to the Big 10 because they would have to give up their lucrative NBC contract. The Big 12 has the real possibility of allowing ND to keep that contract, as Texas -- and OU eventually -- will have their own networks. It would be the best of both worlds for Notre Dame: be a part of a BCS conference along with the revenue sharing involved AND keep their contract. It would certainly be a deal that would be tough to pass up.
Getting Notre Dame should be goal #1 if the Big 12 really wants to stay viable.
inteldesign 1 year, 9 months ago
Everyone else must be as skeptical as I am that the conference tries seriously to expand. Why? Texas apparently doesn't want the competition. They have enough trouble with KSU.
“I think nine (member schools) is an option,” UT AD DeLoss Dodds told Kirk Bohls of the Austin (Texas) American-Statesman. “I think nine are solid. I think 10’s a good number. In my mind, we’d try to stay at 10. If we had to, we’d go to 12.”
If we had to? Is this conference going to last with 9 members? That is the main question. My guess is Misery will deny they are looking right up until the moving van pulls up. So, with eight will we survive? OU has already said if MU leaves, they are looking elsewhere.
Therefore, we are extremely gullible if we think we will stand at 9 and that this conference will survive without expanding. Expansion is not an option. I hope the Big12 gets that now. Tell Texas its non-optional or you can go independent right now.
eastTXjayhawk 1 year, 9 months ago
UTA is the largest school in the nation without a football team (~34k, which makes it bigger than KU, which may be the 2nd largest univ. without a football team.) However, they did just join the WAC...which, as crazy as it sounds, is a step up from the Southland Conference...and, in case you wondered (and you didn't), there are some openings in the Southland...we'd still probably lose to SFA in football.
Thus ends your UTA history lesson for the day.
ahpersecoachingexperience 1 year, 9 months ago
Big 12. 2 divisions. Legends and leaders, errrr...
Sinners: Ku MU Osu OU Tx ISU
Saints Baylor ND Tcu Smu Air Force K-state (right wing fan base qualifies thenm)
inteldesign 1 year, 9 months ago
I see KU as more of a Saint and KSU as more of a sinner. You also left out the College of Cardinals. Don't they have a team?
fihsch 1 year, 9 months ago
The first thing BigXII needs to do is to replace Dan Beebe with someone who has vision and leadership. Instead of reacting to things that are constantly "happening" to us, let's have a leader that will determine what will happen next.
TwistedFish31 1 year, 9 months ago
ESPN is reporting that the SEC voted against giving an invite to A&M. So last year pitiful mizzou looked like chumps...now A&M does! Good!
TwistedFish31 1 year, 9 months ago
ESPN is reporting that the SEC voted against giving an invite to A&M. So last year pitiful mizzou looked like chumps...now A&M does! Good!
jhawkrulz 1 year, 9 months ago
If that is true, I hope that the Big Xii votes them out!
jhawkrulz 1 year, 9 months ago
I mentioned this before, but this round it is more important.
People ask why Notre Dame would come to the Big XII rather than go to Big Ten? The answer is simple, they could start their own Irish Network, basically, the same reason that the Big XII exists still (Longhorn network). Now it gets even more interesting because with the new contract in place, UT actually can't join another conference, no other BCS conference allows this type of setup.
Last year the scenario was the Pac-10 was seeking 6 teams and KU was usually left out of the mix, not if it was to go that Pac-16 scenario that wouldn't be the case because UT can't join.
I'll tell you, I love the Big XII and I hope that it survives, we get a lot of money based on this conference, but if this is going to be annual event, I would agree get a stable partner (Notre Dame) or KU needs to start looking before we are squeezed out. Colorado was fearful of being squeezed out last year, so they made the leap. KU needs to be more agressive.
TwistedFish31 1 year, 9 months ago
Now that the SEC has said "No Thanks" to A&M begging to go to their conference how the Aggies will respond. They look as stupid as mizzou did last year.
AZHawk72 1 year, 9 months ago
What should be done is simple:
Kansas Kansas-St Missouri Iowa-St. Oklahoma Oklahone-St
Texas Texas A&M Texas-Tech Baylor TCU Houston
Just quit screwing around and get it done. Back-up plan is Air Force and Cincinnati to the north, kicking the Okies to the south. Notre Dame has turned down the Big 10 for 20 years while BYU has declared its independence to be "like Notre Dame." Sure, Houston is a commuter school--Arizona State is an even bigger commuter school, yet the PAC would cringe it this massive media market was cut loose. Don't let these bull slingers sway you as it's all about the numbers. Houston and TCU are housed in two of the largest media markets in the country, and Texas doesn't want more compeition for the state's top players, which is exactly why we should do it.
jayhawkjim80 1 year, 9 months ago
Been out of town the past two and a half days, so I am late to this party, but I have some ideas for some of the comments here.
First, like most of us, I think we would prefer the Big 12 stay together. I think most would rather add schools than subtract or stay the same.
I like AZHawk's plan, but unfortunately UT will never go along with it. However, I also agree with those that say UT is beginning to get themselves boxed in as far as being able to have their network any place other than the Big 12, so it is possible they may not have much of a choice in the matter, particularly if the Irish continue to say no.
As far as what would happen if we did have to move, I have said for a year that the Pac 10-12 (whatever) would be the best option for us. The comment earlier by wissoxfan regarding games being on late really isn't that big of a deal to me. The Royals tried the same argument during the late '90's during realignment, and they blew it because that's where all their rivalries from their heyday's were (Angels, A's, Rangers, etc).
The late night games are only four times a year (Wed-Thurs games). Saturday or Sunday games likely on during day or early evening most of the time. We have been playing a game or two a year like this for most years already, what's a couple more? Games in Arizona not an issue, they are in mountain time zone, as is CU & Utah. During football, there might be a game or two late, but who cares - it's the weekend and it's football season. Some of those teams have to come here.
There are some semblance of rivalries already in place. CU, we have that one for many years. Arizona and UCLA are already somewhat of a rival in basketball, and we have had games with USC & Cal recently also. I think these teams would be great rivals for our fan base to see. Plus whatever other teams from the current Big 12 go there, and you have more rivalries in place.
I do agree we need to stay on top of this and be proactive, and not wait for one or more schools to break off. We need to have a plan in place and work those people in case the Big 12 doesn't stay together. I still hope that can be worked out going forward, and that we add some schools as well. Rock Chalk!!
Hornhawk 1 year, 9 months ago
KU had football games years ago in Lawrence with UCLA and with Oregon in the 80s. They allegedly were dropped because they were less lucrative than local teams.
Hornhawk 1 year, 9 months ago
Not UCLA. Cal and a long home and home with Washington State and later Oregon.
lv70 1 year, 9 months ago
Ok, we now know the SEC said no thanks to A&M. it's time to to make the the Big 12, Big. It's time to strenthen it to the point that people threatening to leave can leave. The sun belt will remain supreme going forward so we must stay here, to even think about the PAC 12 is idiotic. Let's make this work.
ahpersecoachingexperience 1 year, 9 months ago
This is more of a "timeout" than "game over"
FreddyD 1 year, 9 months ago
Is that Dan Beebe or Ernie Johnson in that picture?
That's the problem with the Big 12, Ernie Johnson needs to stay away from trying to run a BCS Conference and stick to Inside the NBA on TNT...
icthawkfan316 1 year, 9 months ago
Quickly browsed thru the comments so not sure if this has been thrown out there, but something I'd like to see is for the big 12, with however many members are left standing and actually wanting to be in the big 12, to go the route of the Big East - start collecting basketball schools. First grab Memphis & Butler. I like the idea someone had of picking up TCU, who would upgrade our football cred over losing A&M. If A&M does leave, adding those 3 would give us 12 again. Another idea team to consider - Indiana. That would give the conference another tradition-rich basketball school, and they might be open to it because they will likely never compete with the Big 10 teams in football. Other Big 10 schools would be nice adds too, I just don't know the likelihood of any of the other teams (the desirable teams...they can keep Northwestern) wanting to join up because most have had some modicum of success in football. The next school out of that conference that combines basketball success and a lack of football tradition might be Illinois.
Anyway, just spitballin'. I know it might not take into account economic factors like new TV markets and whatnot, and it's pretty much sacrilege to speak of realignment while throwing the cash cow that is football off to the side as an afterthought, but maybe it should be considered as a plan B. It's going to be hard to lure any credible football schools here, and if we wait til schools just keep leaving for greener pastures one by one it might be too late to form any kind of respectable conference. And then what? Say A&M leaves, then Misery. We're down to 8. Then say the SEC or Pac-10 offers Texas and/or Oklahoma...we're a school without a legit conference, begging to be let into Conference USA or something.
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