[HemiEd]

Originally Posted by alnorth

All that said, I think Neinas' public statements that basically signalled a possible unwillingness to bend on the 2 year 90% penalty is stupid. The conference gains nothing from this, either they have the right to the penalty or not. Feel free to talk behind the scenes, but they shouldn't be publicly waving it in MU's face like this.

If MU were to voluntarily decide not to leave, they would need to do so out of a perceived position of strength, as if they were magnanimously doing it for the good of the rivalry. Now, if MU doesn't leave (and people in the SEC don't come out saying they didn't want MU or something), some might perceive that the Big 12 bullied them into staying because of the penalty.

Because of this bonehead move by the commissioner, I think Mizzou only stays if the SEC decides they'd rather have an East team to balance out the divisions, leaving MU with no options, but still pissed at the Big 12 and ready to leave ASAP, basically another TA&M situation.

Bingo