Big 10 Report: Conference Realignment

[Mr. Laz]

A source in St. Louis familiar with the situation told NewsCenter 16 Thursday afternoon that Missouri will leave the Big XII and soon join the Big 10. Other schools expected to follow the Tigers are Syracuse, Pitt, Rutgers and Nebraska.

Many have speculated that such an expansion would include Notre Dame but ND athletic director Jack Swarbrick told me today that the Irish prefer to stay independent in football and in the Big East for other sports. Swarbrick said maintaining football Independence is such a part of what Notre Dame is.

He went on to say the Big East is a great partner for the University in other sports.

"We do have to monitor what is going on," Swarbrick said. "There will be significant shifts. "Hopefully we can navigate them by keeping our football independent and keeping our Big East affiliation because that is what we care about."

The move of Syracuse, Pitt and Rutgers to the Big Ten from the Big East could categorically change the landscape of the Big East itself. Thus, what Swarbrick is referring to when stating the University must continue to monitor what is going on.

The interview with Swarbrick was done before the late afternoon announcement.

http://www.wndu.com/sports/headlines/92447574.html

[KcMizzou]

Originally Posted by billay

Hey Big Tweleve see ya bundle of stickss

We've come full circle.

[KcMizzou]

Greg Hall

KIETZMAN'S SOMETIMES TWISTED VIEW OF REALITY

Posted 5-13-10

“I think we need to come to terms with that when we meet in Kansas City. I think we need to have a very frank conversation about where we’re going and who’s going to be on the plane when we take off. I will be very direct.”
Dan Beebe, Big 12 commissioner, when asked by Kevin Kietzman if he plans to directly ask Missouri and Nebraska what their plans are for staying or going, 810 AM
GH: Kietzman promoted his interview with Beebe throughout Wednesday’s show and delivered it in primetime drive-time at 5:00 PM. This was a Beebe we have not heard before. This Beebe sounded like he was aware his conference is under siege. But Kietzman’s interpretation of what Beebe said after he was off the air was far more entertaining and dramatic. It just wasn’t accurate. Read on.

“At the end of the day I think they are going to find that (the Big 12) is the best place for them. It’s not perfect perhaps, but for the whole moving ahead.”
Dan Beebe, on keeping the Big 12 intact, 810 AM
GH: Beebe’s strongest comment was his initial statement about needing to know who is going to be on the plane when we take off. The bulk of the rest of the interview was about keeping the conference together and how aligning with the Pac 10 could be a solution. But Kietzman, as only Kietzman can, put his own spin on Beebe’s words after Beebe was gone. Read on.

“What I heard him say is; ‘If you’re leaving, we don’t need you! Just get out of here!’ He said we are tired of this nonsense and we are tired of hearing this stuff!”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: This is why few in the media who know Kietzman’s work believe he has solid “multiple” sources telling him the Big 10 has made initial offers to MU and NU. KK hears what he wants to hear – even if it was never said. Read on.

“It would be a shame, given that all boats have risen with this tide in the Big 12 – that anybody would think they are going to have a better future somewhere else.”
Dan Beebe, on the conference losing any schools, 810 AM

“(Missouri) has been offered and they can leave. … I think that was the point of (Beebe’s) comments – to poke a stick at Nebraska and Missouri! I think he was on the radio in Kansas City drawing a line in the sand between K-State & Kansas fans and Missouri & Nebraska fans!”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: Either my radio is broken or KK has far better hearing than I. I think the last thing Beebe wants is for MU and NU to bolt – and he sure as hell was not on WHB to ignite a riot between the Kansas schools, the Tigers and Huskers. Few things are more entertaining than listening to Kevin’s interpretation of an interview after you just heard the interview. It gives you a window into his odd, twisted view of what he considers reality.

“I think there’s a big issue besides athletics. That is that all the institutions in the Big 10 are AAU institutions and so are Nebraska and Missouri.”
Dan Beebe, 810 AM
GH: Beebe tried to steer KK from his myopic viewpoint and made some sense discussing what all the sports talk is overlooking – this move is viewed by MU and NU as a free and immediate academic upgrade for their 150-year-old institutions. BTW, Colorado, Texas and Kansas are the other AAU institutions who are also members of the Big 12.

“I have raised that issue (of equal revenue sharing) since I’ve been here and the board has continued to decide to stay where it is. They’ve said, ‘Look, this was the deal when we came in (the conference) and if you try and change it you’re reneging on the deal and we’re not going to stand for that.’ So in-between is caught the commissioner. They say a deals a deal. The Pac 10 doesn’t have (equal revenue sharing) and we don’t have it.”
Dan Beebe, 810 AM
GH: Beebe killed off all hope that the Big 12 would rethink their tilted revenue-sharing plan. This is not a good thing if you are not Texas, Nebraska or Oklahoma.

“I think we’ve got a bright future ahead of us. I just hope that everybody will accept that’s where we need to go.”
Dan Beebe, 810 AM

“I honestly believe what happened the last couple of days was that Beebe called (Jim) Delany and asked him what about this report (that the Big 10 had made offers to MU and NU) and Delany said, ‘Yeah, it’s true.’ ”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: The more Kietzman talked after the interview, the more his imagination grew – and the better his story got. My only question is how he was able to get that close to the mic as his nose grew with each new fabrication.

“I tell you, I see Kansas State and Kansas fans arm-in-arm right now – which is something you never see. I see people galvanize! People need each other now more than they ever thought they needed each other.”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: Kietzman’s first caller after his interview with Beebe told KK he wanted to “challenge” him about his comment that Kansas and K-State fans were now arm-in-arm to fight for the Big 12. Kietzman promptly told the caller that was not the topic and hung up on him. KK was not about to allow anyone to ruin his afternoon with a reality check.

“I think that would be a difficult challenge after their long, long history. That isn’t something that’s been on the table. … Thinking of it is a whole lot different than there being a great reality to it. My wife thought she was going to get George Clooney but she ended up with me.”
Dan Beebe, when asked by Kietzman if he thought the Big 12 could replace the Big 10 as the Pac 10’s Rose Bowl opponent, 810 AM
GH: Alas, another Kietzman innovation shot down by reality. Maybe there is still hope for his idea to start the bullpen pitchers and finish the game with the starter.

“If the Big 12 were able to add Arkansas, Memphis and Louisville, that would be a stronger conference than the Big 12 has ever been!”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: Waiter, I’ll have what he’s having.

“I gotta say this, Leebs [Todd Leabo], I think we’re having one of our better weeks here in a long, long time. We are able to bring stories and bring things to life. And this particular hour with the interview with Dan Beebe was one of the finer moments. This has been a watershed week in this story!”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: No, this is not a quote from Nick Wright. I was tremendously entertained as well, Kietz. Just not quite in the way you intended.

“It looks like Kietzman was dead on in this story.”
Jack Harry, during his Wednesday night sportscast, TV 41
GH: With affirmation like this from Mad Jack, what more needs to be said?

[healthpellets]

great read. thanks! who is this Greg Hall?

[patteeu]

Originally Posted by healthpellets

great read. thanks! who is this Greg Hall?

He's a sports media critic. He used to work for the Kansas City Star. He left them and spent a brief time on sports talk radio before moving on to become a columnist for various internet (e.g. KC Confidential) and small local paper outlets (e.g. Platte County Landmark).

[kepp]

Good read, thanks. Kietzman obviously took some liberties with his interpretations, but what I think GH didn't consider is Beebe's intellect and attitude (both seemingly lacking). IMO, with that factored in, KK isn't too far off.

[ArrowheadHawk]

kepp *hearts* KK

[kepp]

Originally Posted by ArrowheadHawk

kepp *hearts* KK

Recently, yes

[kepp]

http://dennis-dodd.blogs.cbssports.c...ogEntryListCnt

Someone's finally done it. Bravo, to the Columbia Missourian for filing a Freedom of Information ACT request with the University of Missouri.

The intent was to see if there has been any communication between the school and the Big Ten. But as you can see if you read the school's response, Missouri may have provided key information about the Big Ten negotiations by denying the request.

The school said it was protected from releasing any information that includes "sealed bids and related documents until the bids are opened," or "documents related to a negotiated contract." While Missouri would not confirm or deny whether such documents exist, that is its stance. The paper's attorney said the school's response was "correct, as long as you have contract negotiations going on."

We may have found the first smoking gun in the Big Ten expansion shoot out.

The Big 12 spring meetings are June 1-4 in Kansas City where commissioner Dan Beebe has promised to find out "who's on the plane when it takes off."

[Sully]

I'm glad someone posted GHall stuff.
I've missed that guy the past few years, as I just stopped looking for his columns.

[Braincase]

Well, if you can't beat 'em, join a different conference. At least you'll get paid more to be a sparring partner.

[Titty Meat]

Originally Posted by Braincase

Well, if you can't beat 'em, join a different conference. At least you'll get paid more to be a sparring partner.

Has KU ever beat a good team from the south?

[POND_OF_RED]

Originally Posted by kepp

The Big 12 spring meetings are June 1-4 in Kansas City where commissioner Dan Beebe has promised to find out "who's on the plane when it takes off."

For some reason this just reminds me of Jim Breuer in Half Baked. "Who's coming with me?"

The "plane" he speaks of might not stay in the air too long. I'm guessing the only ones who are going to stay on board are the only ones who don't have other offers.

[kepp]

Originally Posted by POND_OF_RED

The "plane" he speaks of might not stay in the air too long. I'm guessing the only ones who are going to stay on board are the only ones who don't have other offers.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Braincase

Well, if you can't beat 'em, join a different conference. At least you'll get paid more to be a sparring partner.

That's so far from the motivation for this move, it isn't funny.

I've seen a lot of ku fans make this argument. If it's just about moving to a conference where Missouri can "beat em," why is traditional Big 8/12 powerhouse Nebraska moving as well?

It's about dollars and academics. The athletics are a secondary concern. The athletic department doesn't run the university, and it isn't the group that will make this decision for Missouri.

As for Dan Beebe... who wants to be on a plane that is destined for a crash burn? I would LOVE to see him trying to "play hardball" in the conference negotiating room. Would love it.

That would be an interesting meeting. I'm thinking maybe Lou Perkins will get "classy" again and spew profanities at Alden and Osborne.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

That's so far from the motivation for this move, it isn't funny.

I've seen a lot of ku fans make this argument. If it's just about moving to a conference where Missouri can "beat em," why is traditional Big 8/12 powerhouse Nebraska moving as well?

It's about dollars and academics. The athletics are a secondary concern. The athletic department doesn't run the university, and it isn't the group that will make this decision for Missouri.

As for Dan Beebe... who wants to be on a plane that is destined for a crash burn? I would LOVE to see him trying to "play hardball" in the conference negotiating room. Would love it.

That would be an interesting meeting. I'm thinking maybe Lou Perkins will get "classy" again and spew profanities at Alden and Osborne.

Don't respond. Honestly, if it is down to that being their angle, you've already won the argument. KU fan can't comprehend a school making a decision based in large part on academics and it isn't difficult to understand why.