ChiefsPlanet - View Single Post - Other Sports Big 10 Report: Conference Realignment

Frazod · 06-12-2010, 12:08 AM

This one should make all our KU friends happy.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont....92f8114a.html

Sources: UT, Tech, OU, OSU set to exit Big 12; Pac-10 eyeing Kansas if A&M can't commit

12:54 AM CDT on Saturday, June 12, 2010

By CHUCK CARLTON / The Dallas Morning News
ccarlton@dallasnews.com AUSTIN – Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are poised to usher in a new era of college athletics, a major realignment that could gut the Big 12 and lead to the nation's first megaconference.

The four South Division members of the Big 12 Conference are planning to exit to the expanding Pacific-10 conference next week, multiple sources familiar with the process confirmed Friday.

Texas A&M's situation remained in a state of flux. Sources indicate that the school remains divided about going to the new Pac-16 or pursuing a bid to the Southeastern Conference.

The Aggies were strongly invested in the survival of the Big 12. But the league now stands on the verge of losing at least half its members. Nebraska officially departed to the Big Ten on Friday. The Cornhuskers will begin Big Ten play in 2011, one year earlier than expected.

One Big 12 source expressed overall caution, pointing to the fluidity of the situation.

While Texas and Texas Tech each scheduled board of regents meeting on Tuesday to consider realignment and possibly authorize conference movement, A&M had not announced any such session.

The Aggies may not have much time. Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott was en route from Colorado to the states of Texas and Oklahoma with invitations in hand, a source familiar with the process confirmed. If the Aggies cannot commit, the Pac-10 is prepared to invite Kansas with its great basketball tradition. While the Jayhawks are desperate to find a landing spot, they would have to leave in-state rival Kansas State, a political problem.

Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and either Kansas or Texas A&M would join Arizona and Arizona State in an eight-team eastern division designed to reduce travel issues. Scott also plans a Pac-10 television network that could help generate $20 million per team per year.

"We're still working through the issues," Texas A&M president R. Bowen Loftin told The Associated Press. "We're also waiting to see what happens with other schools. We were very happy to stay in the Big 12, the way it was. It's changing now, and we need to figure out what that means.

"The Big 12 is not what it was, and we have to think about its future and ours."

Loftin said he was aware of A&M's traditions. A move to the SEC would potentially threaten the longstanding rivalry with Texas.

Some connected with A&M are ready.

"There was a time when I really felt like Texas and Texas A&M should be in the same conference ... but at the same time I think Texas A&M is now big enough to stand on its own," regent and Aggie football legend Gene Stallings told syndicated radio host Paul Finebaum. "We don't necessarily need to be piggy-backed by anyone else."

But Texas A&M has to be certain about an SEC bid. The SEC would have to add a team to balance A&M in its divisional setup and would require more money from its TV partners. Maryland and North Carolina from the Atlantic Coast Conference could be possibilities.

A miscalculation could leave A&M high and dry like Missouri, which had hoped for a Big Ten bid. Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany told Big 12 counterpart Dan Beebe that he was not anticipating adding any other Big 12 schools, Beebe said.

Texas officials declined to comment, citing the upcoming regents meeting.

"Our goals and hopes all along have been to keep the Big 12 Conference intact," athletic director DeLoss Dodds said in a statement. "The league has been great for its members. We also have been honorable, up front and forthright with regard to our work and responsiveness to all the possible and now definitive changes to conference landscapes."

Dodds said it would be "premature and inappropriate" to speculate about the regents' decision. Texas would work through the weekend to evaluate its options, he said.
But that decision has been made, sources indicated. That led to commitments from Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Tech, as well.

Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione had said the Sooners were linked with Texas, citing their long-standing rivalry. Dallas billionaire and Oklahoma State booster T. Boone Pickens, who donated $100 million to the UT system in 2007, told the Tulsa World that the Cowboys would follow Texas and Oklahoma.
Oklahoma State released a statement Friday, saying in part: "We are pleased Oklahoma State University has opportunities and we believe it is a reflection of the strength of our overall athletic and academic programs."
The Big 12's Beebe, struggling to hold together his league, pledged to keep working. He said he was still convinced the remaining teams in the conference constituted value.

"There's been a lot of speculation about people going west," Beebe said. "I'm going all the way to the final whistle. I'm playing it out as hard and fast as I can."
Baylor President Kenneth Starr and athletic director Ian McCaw held a news conference Friday. The Waco school has been the most aggressive in trying to maintain the conference. For the moment, Baylor would be left out of any conference scenarios, along with Kansas State, Iowa State and Missouri.

"Personally, I think that each and every one of the 10 institutions is better served remaining in the Big 12 than leaving for another conference," McCaw said. "I genuinely believe that, and I am not alone in that opinion."

But right now it's a minority opinion in the Big 12. Less than two weeks ago, the schools convened in Kansas City for the spring meetings hoping for a show of unity. Now the league's very survival is at stake, and college athletics is changing daily.

"I've never seen anything happen this fast ... kaboom," former Texas football coach David McWilliams said Friday.

06-12-2010, 12:08 AM	#4939
Frazod Did you hear what I said? Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $-556615	This one should make all our KU friends happy. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont....92f8114a.html Sources: UT, Tech, OU, OSU set to exit Big 12; Pac-10 eyeing Kansas if A&M can't commit 12:54 AM CDT on Saturday, June 12, 2010 By CHUCK CARLTON / The Dallas Morning News ccarlton@dallasnews.com AUSTIN – Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are poised to usher in a new era of college athletics, a major realignment that could gut the Big 12 and lead to the nation's first megaconference. The four South Division members of the Big 12 Conference are planning to exit to the expanding Pacific-10 conference next week, multiple sources familiar with the process confirmed Friday. Texas A&M's situation remained in a state of flux. Sources indicate that the school remains divided about going to the new Pac-16 or pursuing a bid to the Southeastern Conference. The Aggies were strongly invested in the survival of the Big 12. But the league now stands on the verge of losing at least half its members. Nebraska officially departed to the Big Ten on Friday. The Cornhuskers will begin Big Ten play in 2011, one year earlier than expected. One Big 12 source expressed overall caution, pointing to the fluidity of the situation. While Texas and Texas Tech each scheduled board of regents meeting on Tuesday to consider realignment and possibly authorize conference movement, A&M had not announced any such session. The Aggies may not have much time. Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott was en route from Colorado to the states of Texas and Oklahoma with invitations in hand, a source familiar with the process confirmed. If the Aggies cannot commit, the Pac-10 is prepared to invite Kansas with its great basketball tradition. While the Jayhawks are desperate to find a landing spot, they would have to leave in-state rival Kansas State, a political problem. Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and either Kansas or Texas A&M would join Arizona and Arizona State in an eight-team eastern division designed to reduce travel issues. Scott also plans a Pac-10 television network that could help generate $20 million per team per year. "We're still working through the issues," Texas A&M president R. Bowen Loftin told The Associated Press. "We're also waiting to see what happens with other schools. We were very happy to stay in the Big 12, the way it was. It's changing now, and we need to figure out what that means. "The Big 12 is not what it was, and we have to think about its future and ours." Loftin said he was aware of A&M's traditions. A move to the SEC would potentially threaten the longstanding rivalry with Texas. Some connected with A&M are ready. "There was a time when I really felt like Texas and Texas A&M should be in the same conference ... but at the same time I think Texas A&M is now big enough to stand on its own," regent and Aggie football legend Gene Stallings told syndicated radio host Paul Finebaum. "We don't necessarily need to be piggy-backed by anyone else." But Texas A&M has to be certain about an SEC bid. The SEC would have to add a team to balance A&M in its divisional setup and would require more money from its TV partners. Maryland and North Carolina from the Atlantic Coast Conference could be possibilities. A miscalculation could leave A&M high and dry like Missouri, which had hoped for a Big Ten bid. Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany told Big 12 counterpart Dan Beebe that he was not anticipating adding any other Big 12 schools, Beebe said. Texas officials declined to comment, citing the upcoming regents meeting. "Our goals and hopes all along have been to keep the Big 12 Conference intact," athletic director DeLoss Dodds said in a statement. "The league has been great for its members. We also have been honorable, up front and forthright with regard to our work and responsiveness to all the possible and now definitive changes to conference landscapes." Dodds said it would be "premature and inappropriate" to speculate about the regents' decision. Texas would work through the weekend to evaluate its options, he said. But that decision has been made, sources indicated. That led to commitments from Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Tech, as well. Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione had said the Sooners were linked with Texas, citing their long-standing rivalry. Dallas billionaire and Oklahoma State booster T. Boone Pickens, who donated $100 million to the UT system in 2007, told the Tulsa World that the Cowboys would follow Texas and Oklahoma. Oklahoma State released a statement Friday, saying in part: "We are pleased Oklahoma State University has opportunities and we believe it is a reflection of the strength of our overall athletic and academic programs." The Big 12's Beebe, struggling to hold together his league, pledged to keep working. He said he was still convinced the remaining teams in the conference constituted value. "There's been a lot of speculation about people going west," Beebe said. "I'm going all the way to the final whistle. I'm playing it out as hard and fast as I can." Baylor President Kenneth Starr and athletic director Ian McCaw held a news conference Friday. The Waco school has been the most aggressive in trying to maintain the conference. For the moment, Baylor would be left out of any conference scenarios, along with Kansas State, Iowa State and Missouri. "Personally, I think that each and every one of the 10 institutions is better served remaining in the Big 12 than leaving for another conference," McCaw said. "I genuinely believe that, and I am not alone in that opinion." But right now it's a minority opinion in the Big 12. Less than two weeks ago, the schools convened in Kansas City for the spring meetings hoping for a show of unity. Now the league's very survival is at stake, and college athletics is changing daily. "I've never seen anything happen this fast ... kaboom," former Texas football coach David McWilliams said Friday.
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