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

[Bambi]

Originally Posted by BryanBusby

haha

[Crush]

Originally Posted by bowener

That is exactly what I have assumed. What exactly do they have to do to get kicked out officially though? Do nothing? Sit back and take no phone calls or something?

edit:

I have been wondering too if they haven't been trying to negotiate with the Big 10 to try and help pay their buy out as a package deal for the 2 schools and then maybe it becomes a "hospital and private insurance" type of analogy, where Big 10 Lawyers sit down with Big 12 lawyers and negotiate the "proper" price of the buyout and the repayment plans and time table for it... seems like that would be something that takes a while, and something you want to keep private.

They might have to personally go to Austin and take a shit on Dodds's desk.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by ChiefsNWildcats

Wow, that would be insane. Tigers go from a position of power to one of us have-nots in a hurry if that turns out to be true.

That's exactly what I was worried would happen as soon as the Pac-10 started sniffing about.

MU needed this thing to go through for them quickly once the Pac-10 card was played.

It's been a pretty logical sequence all along. I still think MU ends up in the B10, it makes a lot of sense for all involved. But we're gonna have to sweat for a long while first.

[ArrowheadHawk]

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2010/ju...issour/?sports

Kansas Board of Regents reaches out to Nebraska, Missouri
Letter pleads with NU, MU as report surfaces that Nebraska is leaning toward Big Ten


By Matt Tait
June 9, 2010


The Kansas Board of Regents, the governing body for Kansas University and Kansas State University, on Wednesday released a letter it sent to the Nebraska Board of Regents and the Missouri Board of Curators earlier this week regarding the future of the Big 12 Conference.

The letter addressed recent rumors and the board's concern that Nebraska University and Missouri University might be exploring the possibility of expanding into the Big Ten Conference in the near future.

"Our universities, their students and alumni, and our states have all greatly benefited from over a century's worth of tradition and healthy competition," said Regent Jill Docking of Wichita, the Chair of the Kansas Board of Regents. "We have asked the Nebraska and Missouri governing boards to join us as partners to address the
challenges associated with the evolution of intercollegiate athletics rather than setting off as individuals. The very future of the Big 12 may rest in the hands of these two boards, and we hope their decisions will honor the long-term partnership we've had with these schools."

KU chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little also reached out to both schools recently in hopes of talking them into sticking with the Big 12 into the future.

The Big 12 has set a Friday deadline for both schools to declare their intentions. Neither school has received an official invitation from the Big Ten yet, however a recent report indicated Wednesday that Nebraska might be leaning toward heading to the Big Ten.

The following is a direct copy of the letter that was sent by the Kansas Board of Regents. It was signed by Docking, vice chair Gary Sherrer and president and CEO Dr. Andy Tompkins.

Letter from Kansas Board of Regents

To the Nebraska Board of Regents and the Missouri Board of Curators:
On behalf of the Kansas Board of Regents, the governing board of Kansas State University (K-State) and the University of Kansas (KU),
we write to you regarding the future of the Big 12 Conference. It is our understanding, that after 14 years of Big 12 membership, you are
now considering departing for a different conference. We strongly urge you to retain your Big 12 membership thus preserving, among other things, a long tradition of healthy competition that benefits our universities, their students and alumni, and our states.

We are unwavering in our belief that the best course for K-State and KU is continued joint membership in the Big 12. Over the past 14 years, Big 12 universities have displayed consistent success both on the field and in the classroom. The intense competition that has taken place in the athletic arena has carried over into the academic classrooms, thus strengthening the core academic missions of the 12 member universities. In addition, Big 12 membership has allowed our student athletes to avoid excessive time out of class due to the geographic proximity of the member universities - a vitally important attribute that not all conferences possess.
While the Big 12 member universities have undoubtedly benefited from the past 14 of years of partnership, Nebraska, Missouri, K-State, and KU are in a unique position to be able to point to over a century's worth of tradition. The KU/Missouri football rivalry dates back to 1891, while the KU/Nebraska rivalry dates back to 1892. The K-State/Missouri football rivalry dates back to 1909, while the K-State/Nebraska rivalry dates back to 1911. All four universities had become members of the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association by 1913, and this valuable partnership continued through the life of the Big 8 Conference and continues today in the Big 12.

The evolution of intercollegiate athletics will continue to present challenges to our universities, but we believe we can best meet those challenges as partners rather than as individuals. Again, we strongly urge you to retain your Big 12 membership by renewing your commitment to the Conference. The Kansas Board of Regents stands ready to meet with you; this issue is of paramount importance not only to our universities, their students and alumni, but also to our states.

[Bambi]

Originally Posted by ArrowheadHawk

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2010/ju...issour/?sports

You know what I'm sick of this shit. The MU fans have convinced me. Why the **** does KU still want to stay as a Texas minion?

And these dumb politicians of ours with this begging nonsense.

SEC, ACC, Big East, Big 10 (if they keep expanding), or even MWC would be better at this point.

[Brock]

Yeah, I bet that convinces them.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by kepp

I really don't think Notre Dame would give up their independence just to join another 12 team league. The only way they do it, IMO, is if they see that everyone is moving to super-conferences and that this is their last chance to get on the wagon. But you're right in that they do hold a lot of power right now.

What does a Big 10 team make right now 20-22 million? That is more than Notre Dame's exclusive deal w/ NBC...so they would be coming out ahead..and if you include now a championship game and the increased revenue from ND would actually probably increase that #

[Mr. Plow]

Originally Posted by Wickedson

You know what I'm sick of this shit. The MU fans have convinced me. Why the **** does KU still want to stay as a Texas minion?

And these dumb politicians of ours with this begging nonsense.

SEC, ACC, Big East, Big 10 (if they keep expanding), or even MWC would be better at this point.

Well, if the Big 10 & Pac 10 expand to 16 teams, that is going to affect some other conferences as well. So, there is always that possibility.

[ArrowheadHawk]

Originally Posted by Wickedson

You know what I'm sick of this shit. The MU fans have convinced me. Why the **** does KU still want to stay as a Texas minion?

And these dumb politicians of ours with this begging nonsense.

SEC, ACC, Big East, Big 10 (if they keep expanding), or even MWC would be better at this point.

Because it's better than being in the MWC,CUSA or Sunbelt Conference.

[Bugeater]

http://www.foxsportsohio.com/06/09/1...41&feedID=3725

Reports: Nebraska to Join Big Ten

By Jeff Seemann
Fox Sports Ohio
June 9, 2010
After a weekend of denials and hushed discussions, the Big Ten will expand to 12 teams as early as Friday. Reports are emerging that the Nebraska Cornhuskers will become the 12th team in the league.

A source close to the situation has told Fox Sports Ohio that The Big Ten has offered an invitation to Nebraska. to become the 12th member of the elite conference.

Over the weekend, the Big 12 Conference demanded a loyalty pledge from all of its' members, and only 9 teams complied. Two of the three holdouts, Nebraska and Missouri, were given until this Friday to decide if they wanted to stay in the league, and the ultimatum has apparently pushed the Huskers into the Big 10.

“I think before too long — I don't know exactly what that time frame is — we'll be able to put this to bed,'' said Nebraska Athletic Director Tom Osborne, “because I'm getting tired of it.''


(more info at the link)

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

This entire ordeal is depressing.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by Wickedson

You know what I'm sick of this shit. The MU fans have convinced me. Why the **** does KU still want to stay as a Texas minion?

And these dumb politicians of ours with this begging nonsense.

SEC, ACC, Big East, Big 10 (if they keep expanding), or even MWC would be better at this point.

Better to rule in hell than serve in heaven? I don't know. In a lesser conference, we could kiss those Fox Sports Net Saturday games goodbye. That would suck. OTOH, we wouldn't have to worry about getting creamed 70-3 by some giant program that has 10 times the resources to draw on than we do.

[ArrowheadHawk]

http://www.isutobig10.com/

While the Big 12 (and the Big 8 before it) is prominent in collegiate wrestling, it's suffered along with many conferences as they sport has been eliminated at many schools due to budget constraints. That's not the case in the Big Ten - where wrestling is as vibrant and important as ever.
Iowa State is one of the most prominent wrestling institutions in our country. We have won multiple national titles, matriculated the two most successful collegiate wrestlers (see earlier post on ISU alumni in the Big Ten) of all time, and are a historic partner and rival of the Hawkeye wrestling program.
If the Big 12 disbands and ISU joins a conference other than the Big Ten it's likely the sport may need to be cut which will hurt wrestling nationally thus diminishing a proud tradition of the Big Ten.

[luv]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

http://www.foxsportsohio.com/06/09/1...41&feedID=3725

Reports: Nebraska to Join Big Ten

By Jeff Seemann
Fox Sports Ohio
June 9, 2010
After a weekend of denials and hushed discussions, the Big Ten will expand to 12 teams as early as Friday. Reports are emerging that the Nebraska Cornhuskers will become the 12th team in the league.
A source close to the situation has told Fox Sports Ohio that The Big Ten has offered an invitation to Nebraska. to become the 12th member of the elite conference.


(more info at the link)

Ooooo..will MU be lucky #13?

[kepp]

Originally Posted by BWillie007

What does a Big 10 team make right now 20-22 million? That is more than Notre Dame's exclusive deal w/ NBC...so they would be coming out ahead..and if you include now a championship game and the increased revenue from ND would actually probably increase that #

I don't think its all about the money for ND. They care substantially about what their alumni think and for them to make a move they would need to see serious benefits for joining along with serious consequences for not joining. A 12 team league just doesn't give them that.