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

[KChiefs1]

http://www.huskerextra.com/articles/...f193106110.txt

Multiple Texas media outlets reported Saturday night that Nebraska and Missouri have two weeks at the most to decide if they want to remain in the Big 12 Conference or instead entertain potential offers from the Big Ten.

Nebraska athletic director Tom Osborne told the Journal Star on Saturday night that he was unaware of the deadlines presented in the stories.

“I really don’t know what the final parameters are,” Osborne said. “I really can’t comment. The agreement when I left (the Big 12 meetings) Thursday was that (conference commissioner) Dan Beebe and (Texas president) William Powers would do the speaking.”

The Austin-American Statesman cited “two highly placed officials of two Big 12 schools” who said Nebraska was told at this past week’s Big 12 meetings in Kansas City, Mo., that it has until 5 p.m. this Friday to say what it is going to do.

One official told The Statesman it’s possible that deadline could be extended to June 15.

Beebe told reporters after the Big 12 meetings’ conclusion Friday that he wasn’t going to discuss any deadlines on when he’d want commitments from schools.

“A process has been set,” he said. “It’s firm, but I’m not going to engage in what that is.”

Osborne was asked if it was possible that a deadline was set without him knowing, given that he left Kansas City on Thursday before the school presidents’ final meeting Friday.

UNL chancellor Harvey Perlman declined comment after Friday’s meeting and couldn’t be reached Saturday night.

“I really haven’t had a chance to have an in-depth discussion with Harvey since Friday,” said Osborne, adding that they’ve spoken only briefly since the meetings ended.

Orangebloods.com, a Texas Longhorns site that is part of the Rivals.com network, reported anonymous sources saying that Nebraska is seen as critical to holding the Big 12 together by the schools determined to keep the league alive.

Orangebloods is reporting that Missouri, Nebraska and Colorado are the three schools holding up the Big 12 from moving forward as a conference.

Two sources told the website that Missouri is eagerly hoping for an invitation from the Big Ten, while Nebraska appears to be on the fence about whether to hold out for a possible Big Ten invite or move back to the table with the nine schools determined to keep the Big 12 alive.

If Nebraska were to part ways with the Big 12, it reportedly could open the door for the Pac-10 to target six Big 12 schools: Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Colorado or Baylor.

Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany will meet with his conference chancellors and presidents today in Park Ridge, Ill.

Delany said a couple weeks ago that a Big Ten decision on expansion was still months away, adding that “if you think there will be any earth-shattering announcements on June 6, I don’t think you’ll get them.”

It remains to be seen if recent news will change Delany’s timetable in any way.

Osborne did hold a Friday morning meeting with athletic department staff and coaches to apprise them of the latest developments on the conference realignment front.

On Saturday night, Osborne told the Journal Star: “Eventually all the facts will come out.”

[Titty Meat]

See ya bundle of stickss

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by healthpellets

So they are trying to push mizzou and Nebraska to make a decision which they don't really have any control over. Nice work Dan.

it's a good idea imo

why let Nebraska and MU just sit there and wait for the best thing for them to shake out? Make theme decide now when there is some risk for them.

right now Neb/MU can just sit there and wait for a solid commitment from the Big 10 or a merge from the Pac-10 ... whatever. No risk they can just take the best offer. Make them commit now and they have to take a risk. Leave the Big 12 and then have the Big 10 go in another direction? Leave the Big 12 and then have a better deal come in with the Pac-10?

force their hand instead of just letting Neb/Mu be in the power seat


****'em ... decide now or we kick your ass out and fine a replacement.

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by Laz

****'em ... decide now or we kick your ass out and fine a replacement.

If they could be replaced, this wouldn't be a discussion. If they leave, the Big XII is history. Do you really think they're going to get kicked out? Even if every team in the South plus Colorado tried to vote MU and Nebraska out, there wouldn't be enough votes for it to pass, anyway.

KU, K-State, and Iowa State are completely screwed.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

If they could be replaced, this wouldn't be a discussion. If they leave, the Big XII is history. Do you really think they're going to get kicked out? Even if every team in the South plus Colorado tried to vote MU and Nebraska out, there wouldn't be enough votes for it to pass, anyway.

KU, K-State, and Iowa State are completely screwed.

The Big 12 can replace MU and Nebraska and i believe the ultimatum indicates that the vote has already taken place ... at least informally.

you expect the Big 12 just to sit there and be held hostage on the whim of MU/Neb? Just sit around and hope and beg them to stay?

Right now both MU/Neb have one foot out the door and our straddling the fence, playing both sides. Looking for a new deal with the Big 10 without burning the bridge with the Big 12 in case it doesn't work out.

Now the Big 12 is forcing them to make a decision and take a risk. Commit to the Big 12 and tell the Big 10 to get lost or leave the Big 12 and risk ending up with nothing if the Big 10 goes another direction.

only move the Big 12 has concerning MU/Neb since they have already decided to not restructure profit sharing.

[luv]

Originally Posted by Laz

it's a good idea imo

why let Nebraska and MU just sit there and wait for the best thing for them to shake out? Make theme decide now when there is some risk for them.

right now Neb/MU can just sit there and wait for a solid commitment from the Big 10 or a merge from the Pac-10 ... whatever. No risk they can just take the best offer. Make them commit now and they have to take a risk. Leave the Big 12 and then have the Big 10 go in another direction? Leave the Big 12 and then have a better deal come in with the Pac-10?

force their hand instead of just letting Neb/Mu be in the power seat


****'em ... decide now or we kick your ass out and fine a replacement.

Which would you choose if KU was in the same situation?

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by Laz

decide now or we kick your ass out and fine a replacement.

Yeah, that's not going to happen.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by healthpellets

So they are trying to push mizzou and Nebraska to make a decision which they don't really have any control over. Nice work Dan.

disagree, it is probably the best, and very clever move to possibly keep the conference alive. As reported earlier, no one really cares about Missouri, this is about Nebraska. Nebraska has no idea if they will get a Big 10 invite.

The southern schools have basically turned it around on them: "commit now, or we will destroy the conference and you will be left adrift praying that a Big 10 offer is coming."

From the Big 12's point of view, it is completely unacceptable to have this situation where schools might or might not leave. Television contracts have to be negotiated soon, and we will not get anything but a crap deal if this is not firmly resolved. We need to know for sure right now. Shit or get off the pot. If the conference is going to die, let it die sooner rather than later so the other schools can have more time to figure out their futures.

From Nebraska's view this goes from a great easy-going situation where they could sit back knowing they are in the Big 12 now, but possibly could get an option to move later, to having to make a decision now: are you willing to take a gamble on the hope that the offer is coming? If they roll the dice, the south leaves for the PAC 10, and the Big 10 decides they only want 1 school, Nebraska is thoroughly hosed.

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Yeah, that's not going to happen.

Exactly. There is a 0% chance that the Big XII will kick MU and Nebraska out of the conference and replace them with 2 new schools.

There is about a 25% chance that the southern schools bolt for the PAC-10 if MU and Nebraska don't make up their mind before long.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by alnorth

are you willing to take a gamble on the hope that the offer is coming?

I highly doubt that the situation is so ambiguous for those in power. The decision makers at the universities almost assuredly know what offers have been or will be made.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

I highly doubt that the situation is so ambiguous for those in power. The decision makers at the universities almost assuredly know what offers have been or will be made.

Those offers have not been made, or we'd be seeing a press conference in Columbia right now. I'm taking the Big 10 at their word that they haven't made up their mind on even how many schools they want, much less who. I'm sure some schools in the Big 12 and Big East are aware there is interest, but no real promises.

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

I highly doubt that the situation is so ambiguous for those in power. The decision makers at the universities almost assuredly know what offers have been or will be made.

Even if they don't, Nebraska just tells the Big XII that they are staying. If the offer from the Big 10 comes...see ya.

[kstater]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Yeah, that's not going to happen.

It's a bluff that could be plausible if called on.

[KChiefs1]

ESPN Bottomline just reported this:

"According to reports, Nebraska and Missouri have been invited to join Big Ten, and Pac-10 is planning to invite Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and Colorado."

Is it now official?

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by alnorth

Those offers have not been made, or we'd be seeing a press conference in Columbia right now. I'm taking the Big 10 at their word that they haven't made up their mind on even how many schools they want, much less who. I'm sure some schools in the Big 12 and Big East are aware there is interest, but no real promises.

Not me, but we can agree to disagree.