Dude...

giggle

Whats the spread gonna be on the first KU vs USC football game? -21

More like a big time game of liars poker blew up in their face. :shake:

What else can they say right now?

Barfknecht: Battle came down to TV rights

By Lee Barfknecht

Come to find out that on the subject of conference realignment, it was Texas that was all hat and no cattle.

For weeks, as rumors erupted nationally about schools wanting to change leagues, high-ranking UT officials repeatedly said their No. 1 priority was to keep the Big 12 intact.

Then, at the recent league meetings, the Longhorns' own loyalty was tested.

The challenge came from Nebraska, which was under internal league pressure to pledge its own deep allegiance to the Big 12.

“There is only one way that you can truly commit long-term to a conference,'' NU Chancellor Harvey Perlman said. “You assign the media rights to your athletic contests to the conference for the long term.''

Perlman asked if all Big 12 schools would be willing to do that.

Texas, which has been drooling over the projected money it might make from creating its own TV network, balked.

In fact, Perlman said, UT “made it clear they were not willing to do that.''

In a nutshell, you now know why Nebraska joined the Big Ten on Friday and turned away from a continuous line of athletic alliances — the Missouri Valley, the Big Six, the Big Seven, the Big Eight and the Big 12 — it had been a part of for 103 years.

The jungle-like landscape that college athletics has turned into the past 25 years over the scramble for TV money is only getting more dense and dangerous.

Finding long-term stability and cooperation, while still competing at a high level, is the true golden ticket.
Nebraska couldn't find that mix in the Big 12.

Missouri, from the time Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany revealed in December that his league wanted to expand, campaigned long and loud for a spot there. Colorado has had regular dalliances with the Pacific 10, and consummated that relationship Thursday by accepting that league's invitation.

And Texas has been the subject of speculation during the 14-year history of the Big 12 as a candidate for the Pac-10, Big Ten and Southeastern Conferences.

Nebraska put its fellow Big 12 members on the spot, too, when reports were acknowledged during the league meetings that six schools were in talks with the Pac-10.

Perlman and Athletic Director Tom Osborne asked if Missouri or Colorado left, would the other six stay in the Big 12. Those six said yes.

But when the six were asked if they would stay if both MU and CU left, there was no commitment.

On Wednesday, Perlman talked by phone with Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe. The conversation didn't go well.

Perlman was told he needed to make an “unequivocal, total commitment'' to stay in the Big 12 through at least 2016. (That date is key because that is when the Big 12's current ABC/ESPN broadcast deal expires).

“Neither Tom nor I thought that was a very long-term commitment to the Big 12,'' Perlman said. “And we thought that our obligation to the University of Nebraska was to protect it from the vulnerabilities of being without a conference altogether.''

So much for the idea that Nebraska was a premier member of the Big 12. The Huskers hardly could have been big-timed more than they were in the past 10 days.

Will things be better in the Big Ten?

Things were all smiles and handshakes Friday when Delany arrived in Lincoln for the welcome press conference.

He talked of the culture fit. He talked of how revenue is distributed evenly. He smartly noted that Nebraska has suffered in the past from being on the losing end of 11-1 votes on major issues in the Big 12.

“I can count on one hand the number of votes I can recall in the past 10 years,'' Delany said. “Sometimes we have some good knockdown drag-outs.

“For the most part, our people in the minority, when a majority emerges, they get it in the long run.''

Everyone involved Friday was drinking information out of a fire hose. There was a lot to swallow in a short period of time.

But Nebraska to the Big Ten just feels right. The Huskers have nothing to lord over the Big 12, and nothing to apologize for in leaving.

NU wins academically. NU wins athletically. NU wins financially. And NU never has to fear conference realignment again. It's a deal any school in the country would have made.

Mountain West looking more attractive with the addition of Boise State. I'll look forward (not really) to watching them trounce the Lobos.

Not sure WTF you're laughing about.

If anyone is "****ed", it's ISU.

Getting ready to start on their 3rd. If the Pac 10 had any brains at all they would invite every one but Texas.

Yep the Conference USA is probably the best scenario for the clones..... or there is always the MVC :evil:

They will do pretty well in the big east.

LMAO

Maybe so, but I think the Big 10 ship sailed when the Nebraska chancellor blasted the gov. of Missouri and Mizzou itself.

If Mizzou does end up going to the Big 10 (twelve) with all of the shit Nebraska talked... they become Mizzou's biggest conference rival.

Well, we'll see.

I don't think that ship's sailed just yet.