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]

Originally Posted by BWillie007

Oh god, that scenario sounds awesome. But it's probably just a bunch of BS for speculation. But it makes sense.

You'd have no problems with KU road games starting at 9pm CT?

[KChiefs1]

http://newsok.com/article/3468314#ixzz0qhyruKHZ

Joe Castiglione sounded down the other night when we talked. Really down.

Maybe it's the 16-hour days required when your conference has hit an iceberg and your school's future sits squarely on your shoulders.

But Castiglione sounded grim not from fatigue, but from regret. Regret that the Big 12 was endangered, and salvation seemed near impossible. Joe C. talked bravely that he would fight on to try and save the league he helped found as the Mizzou athletic director and helped dominate as the Oklahoma AD.

I wish we had been speaking in person. Not to offer him a comforting hand on the shoulder, but to shake some sense into him.

Save this shipwreck of a conference? Why on turf would anyone want to do that?

A 10-team league, down from 12 and missing one of its three marquee members, trying to stay together after all the backbiting and threats and ultimatums? Ask Texas Tech and Oklahoma State to give up their life rafts to help out Missouri, whose governor took pot shots at their academic standing?

Try to keep these 10 schools together, knowing several will remain hot tickets on the conference market? Think about keeping the doors open, knowing a Texas or an Oklahoma or an A&M could bolt in a year or two, only this time the cushy fallback position of the Pac-10 might be unavailable to others?

That's no way to live. That's no way to conduct business. That's no way to watch out for your school.

Sure, the left-out universities — call them the Oceanic Five; they're about to be Lost — are begging and pleading for some kind of reconciliation.

There could be a last-ditch meeting Monday, just to see if a television network can promise enough money to keep Texas in the fold.

And Kansas, Iowa State and Kansas State figure to receive all kinds of empathy. They did nothing wrong. They were good people, good competitors and good conference members. That's the rotten part of this drama. The damage done to those old friends.

Missouri and Baylor will draw no such emotion.

Baylor played politics to get into the Big 12 and has resorted to politics to get out of the Big 12. But Baylor campaigned in the wrong state; it wasn't Texans who needed convincing so much as Californians. The Pac-10 wanted Colorado instead and quickly scooped up CU in part to end the talk out of Baylor.

And Missouri started all this mess by throwing itself at the Big Ten. Every Big 12 school went on red alert from that point; some found an exit strategy.

And the Pac-10 clearly is the best option for the four or five Big 12 schools headed West. No way to know if the Pac-10 will work out any better for the Oklahoma and Texas schools, but no way it could work out worse.

Name-calling and finger-pointing and warnings and resentment. Any school with an option should run from the Big 12. Run far and run fast.

When you hit the iceberg, you save yourself and maybe a pal or two.

You don't try to save the boat.

Don't leave mad. Just leave.

[bowener]

And Missouri started all this mess by throwing itself at the Big Ten. Every Big 12 school went on red alert from that point; some found an exit strategy.

I honestly cannot remember at this point, but did MU officially ever throw itself at the Big Ten in anyway? Or was it all fan sites and online articles and conjecture that started up this stuff? What was the singular moment that pushed tushed this turd out?

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

http://newsok.com/article/3468314#ixzz0qhyruKHZ

Don't go away mad.

Just go away.

[KcMizzou]

Originally Posted by bowener

I honestly cannot remember at this point, but did MU officially ever throw itself at the Big Ten in anyway? Or was it all fan sites and online articles and conjecture that started up this stuff? What was the singular moment that pushed tushed this turd out?

Mizzou has never said a damned thing, other than "We're proud members of the Big 12."

[bowener]

Originally Posted by KcMizzou

Mizzou has never said a damned thing, other than "We're proud members of the Big 12."

Sadly that is all that I can remember. I was wondering if there was something from 6 months back or more where Mizzou publicly said they would like to leave, but I haven't found anything but fan commentary or journalists (probably mizzou grads) writing about it in online articles.

[Buck]

Originally Posted by BWillie007

No, no they aren't. The ACC and Big East aren't good, but usually are better than the MWC. Especially in perception as well, and perception is more important than in actuality.

Most people would concede that the ACC is almost always better than the Big East, and the Big East has been much better in football in recent years. Last year the Big East was 4-2 in bowls and I think beat some SEC teams. ACC was 2-3 and played formidable in losses. The MWC is the last resort for any teams in the Big 12. Alot of fans like KSU are already conceding to the MWC, but I really do think they might be able to play off their recent basketball success and get into a Big East/Conf Usa/Big 12 North merger of some sort.

Are you serious? I think you are not giving credit where it was due.

Heres the final AP rankings of 4 MWC teams last year. I know Boise St wasn't in the MWC last year, but they are now so I am including them.

MWC
4. Boise St.
6. TCU
12. BYU
18. Utah

ACC
10. Virginia Tech
13. Georgia Tech
19. Miami (FL)
24. Clemson

Big East
8. Cincinatti
15. Pittsburgh
25. West Virginia

PAC 10
11. Oregon
22. USC


As far as the Big 12, SEC, and Big 10 go, I'll list them too

Big 12
2. Texas
14. Nebraska
21. Texas Tech

SEC
1. Alabama
3. Florida
17. LSU

Big 10
5. Ohio State
7. Iowa
9. Penn State
(14. Nebraska)


Arguably, the MWC had the 3rd best conference behind the SEC and Big 10.

Holler at your boy.

[Buck]

Not going to list all the conferences for the 2008 season, but here is the MWC standings for that year.

2. Utah
7. TCU
11. Boise St
25. BYU

[KcMizzou]

Originally Posted by bowener

Sadly that is all that I can remember. I was wondering if there was something from 6 months back or more where Mizzou publicly said they would like to leave, but I haven't found anything but fan commentary or journalists (probably mizzou grads) writing about it in online articles.

They've done the smart thing, and kept their mouths shut.

But, that hasn't stopped the blame from coming. Nebraska went out of their way to blame Mizzou for the demise of the Big XII. There's always been a feeling that Mizzou would like to join the Big Ten. And the media's jumped all over it. Now that NU is in, and Mizzou isn't... it's time to pile on.

Nebraska and Mizzou were given that ultimatum... Why? Clearly Texas and it's entourage was also looking around. Colorado had a foot out the door, and was wearing track shoes...

The ultimatum was given because Texas knew NU and MU were both "invited" to the Big 10... and they liked what they had.... being the big bully on the block. Now, they'll be just another team in the Pac 10.

Missouri will still end up in the Big 10. Being first is not important.

(Or we'll all end up kissing Texas' ass in what remains of the Big 12 for a year or three.)

[Archie Bunker]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=5279963

Sources: SEC covets Texas, OU

The Southeastern Conference, reportedly keen on adding Texas A&M amid the onrush of a Big 12 shakeup, would be just as interested in luring Texas and Oklahoma but doesn't see either as a realistic option, sources with knowledge of the SEC's maneuverings have told ESPN and ESPN.com.

An SEC athletic director told ESPN.com's Mark Schlabach that the SEC's first choice would be adding the Longhorns, but might consider taking Texas A&M because it expands the league's footprint into the Dallas and Houston TV markets.

Given the fact that Texas A&M may be the only Big 12 school the SEC could add, the league was prepared to make the move even if Texas and Oklahoma went elsewhere.

"We've got to be diligent in evaluating this," another SEC athletic director told ESPN.com's Schlabach. "We can't just add teams who are going to split the pie without adding anything substantial to the pie."

Adding the Aggies would provide SEC West member Arkansas with a natural rival, which the Razorbacks have lacked since joining the league in 1992 from the Southwest Conference.

Looking beyond the Big 12 for expansion, specifically to the ACC for schools such as Georgia Tech, Clemson, Florida State or Miami, was not in the SEC's plans, sources told ESPN.

The sources saw no way the SEC would raid the ACC and added serious doubt that Virginia Tech could be pried away from Virginia.

The idea the SEC would go after Kansas was also dismissed, though a KU source said that would be a preference for the Jayhawks.

Big 12 sources continued to suggest to ESPN on Saturday that the addition of five more Big 12 teams to the Pac-10 is the most likely scenario after Colorado's move. The exodus could begin as early as Tuesday, but nothing has been finalized.

A source with knowledge of Oklahoma's future told ESPN on Saturday the Sooners had not committed to the Pac-10.

However, Oklahoma president David Boren and athletic director Joe Castiglione had a meeting Saturday with Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott and deputy commissioner Kevin Weiberg, the school said in a statement. OU's Board of Regents plans to meet Wednesday afternoon to weigh conference options.

Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds said Saturday the Longhorns were still considering "all options."

One plan still on the table was to keep the 10 remaining Big 12 schools together and reposition the conference for the future.

A source familiar with the Sooners said there was compelling information the Big 12 would still be very strong. The Big 12 could remain at 10 or add teams, which the source said would be a choice to be made later and carefully reviewed.

Officials from five schools -- Kansas, Missouri, Kansas State, Iowa State and Baylor -- had a conference call on Saturday, the Kansas City Star reported. The schools agreed they would like to continue as members of the Big 12.

[Buck]

All I know is that all of this shit better lead to a playoff system because there is no way that these teams are going undefeated anymore.

[Titty Meat]

Originally Posted by Archie Bunker

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=5279963

Sources: SEC covets Texas, OU

The Southeastern Conference, reportedly keen on adding Texas A&M amid the onrush of a Big 12 shakeup, would be just as interested in luring Texas and Oklahoma but doesn't see either as a realistic option, sources with knowledge of the SEC's maneuverings have told ESPN and ESPN.com.

An SEC athletic director told ESPN.com's Mark Schlabach that the SEC's first choice would be adding the Longhorns, but might consider taking Texas A&M because it expands the league's footprint into the Dallas and Houston TV markets.

Given the fact that Texas A&M may be the only Big 12 school the SEC could add, the league was prepared to make the move even if Texas and Oklahoma went elsewhere.

"We've got to be diligent in evaluating this," another SEC athletic director told ESPN.com's Schlabach. "We can't just add teams who are going to split the pie without adding anything substantial to the pie."

Adding the Aggies would provide SEC West member Arkansas with a natural rival, which the Razorbacks have lacked since joining the league in 1992 from the Southwest Conference.

Looking beyond the Big 12 for expansion, specifically to the ACC for schools such as Georgia Tech, Clemson, Florida State or Miami, was not in the SEC's plans, sources told ESPN.

The sources saw no way the SEC would raid the ACC and added serious doubt that Virginia Tech could be pried away from Virginia.

The idea the SEC would go after Kansas was also dismissed, though a KU source said that would be a preference for the Jayhawks.

Big 12 sources continued to suggest to ESPN on Saturday that the addition of five more Big 12 teams to the Pac-10 is the most likely scenario after Colorado's move. The exodus could begin as early as Tuesday, but nothing has been finalized.

A source with knowledge of Oklahoma's future told ESPN on Saturday the Sooners had not committed to the Pac-10.

However, Oklahoma president David Boren and athletic director Joe Castiglione had a meeting Saturday with Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott and deputy commissioner Kevin Weiberg, the school said in a statement. OU's Board of Regents plans to meet Wednesday afternoon to weigh conference options.

Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds said Saturday the Longhorns were still considering "all options."

One plan still on the table was to keep the 10 remaining Big 12 schools together and reposition the conference for the future.

A source familiar with the Sooners said there was compelling information the Big 12 would still be very strong. The Big 12 could remain at 10 or add teams, which the source said would be a choice to be made later and carefully reviewed.

Officials from five schools -- Kansas, Missouri, Kansas State, Iowa State and Baylor -- had a conference call on Saturday, the Kansas City Star reported. The schools agreed they would like to continue as members of the Big 12.

This would make the most sense. The SEC would make the Bg Ten look like a cupcake confrence.

[Titty Meat]

The only thing Mizzou said was it would listen to the Big Ten. Which then created alot of speculation.

[DenverChief]

Originally Posted by Archie Bunker

Officials from five schools -- Kansas, Missouri, Kansas State, Iowa State and Baylor -- had a conference call on Saturday, the Kansas City Star reported. The schools agreed they would like to continue as members of the Big 12.

Interesting...I don't think Colorado State Should be left out of the realm of possibilty ..I think the Big 12 stays and raids the MWC rather than the other way around

Conference Expansion: A Look At How the Big 12 Can Still Be Saved

by Drew Gatewood
Written on June 10, 2010

Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images
The Big 12 is on the ropes right now as it fights for its conference life. “If Nebraska leaves, this conference is dead,” said an anonymous high-ranking Big 12 executive. There are reports all over the news confirming this, with talks of half the conference jumping ship to the Pac 10.


The remaining teams in the Big 12 need to act quickly if they have any hope at salvaging the battered conference. Rumors already swirl of talks including BYU and Air Force, but it will take more than that to keep the conference together.


The Big 12 has options for teams to add, but the respect of the conference will take a hit with Oklahoma and Texas heading west to the Pac 10. Even if the conference adds some new members, it still might not be enough to compete with the images and revenues of the “super-conferences”.
For several season, the non-BCS teams have said they want a legitimate shot at the BCS title. With all the expansion going on, they should get their chance. Well, that is if the Big 12 stays together. Many of these BCS busters are a perfect fit regionally to be absorbed right into the Big 12, potentially saving the conference.


The Big 12’s likely remaining members are Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State, Baylor, and possibly Missouri. If Missouri leaves, that will be eight teams the conference is down. Could the conference add eight teams? Yes, but they probably won’t.


Here is a look at the possible candidates for a conference desperate to stay afloat.

TCU: The Horned Frogs are in Ft. Worth, right next to Dallas. This was right in the middle of former Big 12 country and will be a large market, something the conference desperately needs. TCU has been dominant in the MWC over the past few seasons and can become an instant contender in the conference.

BYU: The Cougars are very similar to TCU as far as talent level for football. They would be a very good add, and in fact have already been asked if they would be interested in joining the conference. They don’t bring much of a market for additional revenues, but will help maintain the respect of the conference.

Utah: The Utes already have shown some worth on the big stage of the BCS when they knocked off Alabama. They could be part of the four-team sweep as the Big 12 raids the Mountain West.

Boise State: The Broncos have almost become a staple in the BCS over these past five seasons. They bring a lot to the table in football, but not in much else. They are improving their academics but still have some work to do. The Big 12 needs the publicity and Boise State would provide that, making this a possible option.

Air Force: This is the second team the Big 12 is looking at officially adding. Regionally it makes sense and the Falcons bring some very respectable academic standards with them. They have been very competitive athletically and would be a decent addition to begin rebuilding the conference’s respectability.

Houston: The Cougars would jump at the chance to join the Big 12 and they would bring the Houston market with them. This would help solidify the state of Texas, along with adding TCU, and help keep the conference relevant as far as media exposure goes. Houston has been very good in Conference USA and could compete in the new Big 12, but not with the same success it’s recently had.

Notre Dame: If the Irish want to be stubborn with the Big Ten they will be left out in the cold as far as joining a conference. The Big 12 may be the only option at that point if the ACC/Big East declines them as well. The Irish bring academics, revenue, and tradition to the table. Would this be a likely addition? Probably not. But it should not be overlooked.

Cincinnati: The Bearcats may not be an automatic addition into the new ACC/Big East merger. They have good academics and a decent athletic program, but the football stadium is small and Ohio State still controls most of the state of Ohio’s revenue. Adding Cincinnati would expand the existing footprint of the struggling conference, increasing its exposure.
If the Big 12 is going to survive with its new members, conference revenue and exposure are going to be huge factors. Adding cities like Houston, Dallas/Ft. Worth, and possibly Cincinnati would be a necessity for the conference's livelihood.


The Big 12 currently has many of its games covered on ESPN and the Versus network, but with the conference splitting in half, it is very likely that Versus would cover mostly Pac 10 games. This is something Versus regularly does anyways, and with the addition of Texas and Oklahoma, that coverage would be largely focused on the Pac 10.
Bringing in a TV deal for the conference with either ESPN, Versus, or starting a Big 12 Network would be another conference necessity. The “super-conferences” will have a leg up on TV coverage, but the conference will have to at least attempt to get a contract to keep up if it has a chance at surviving.


The remaining Big 12 teams will have their work cut out in order to survive the exodus of half of the original conference’s teams. The problem is three-fold in that it needs to add multiple teams, increase the conference footprint in doing so, and increase media exposure. All three problems will have challenges, and all the problems will have to be conquered if the conference has a chance to survive.

[DenverChief]

Another

With each day that passes it appears as if the Big 12 Conference moves one step closer to extinction.
However, a scenario emerged Saturday that might go a long way toward saving the conference

An ESPN.com report early Saturday morning quoted Mountain West Conference commissioner Craig Thompson as saying that the MWC was frothing at the mouth to scoop up whatever Big 12 schools might remain should Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State head to the Pac-10, as expected.

Sources within the Mountain West, however, told the Journal-World late Saturday night that the exact opposite actually could happen. Instead of the MWC taking the Big 12’s castaways — Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Iowa State and Baylor — the Big 12 could absorb all 10 members of the Mountain West, including newly acquired Boise State, and move forward as a revamped Big 12.



“That has some merit because it would allow the remaining Big 12 schools to protect things like their NCAA Tournament basketball shares and the automatic qualifying bid to the BCS,” the source said. “If that’s how this goes down, I know that both sides are going to be very sensitive to how that part’s handled so that it doesn’t jeopardize the BCS bid or any of the basketball shares that those schools have earned.”


That alone, along with the other advantages that would come with the Big 12’s leftovers sticking together, such as geography, friendly time zones and tradition, could be enough to make the offer appealing to those schools that remain. One other potential benefit of staying with the league and adding the MWC schools would be the fact that the Big 12 — whatever it would be called from here on out — would be around to collect the departure penalty payouts from the schools that leave.


As for the Mountain West schools, which, like the Big 12, have been together barely more than a decade, the idea of leaving the MWC behind would not be tough to swallow, the source said.


“With the opportunity to become a BCS conference, nearly immediately, and the fact that this conference, which has been on a united front throughout this whole thing, would remain united, I think the sentimentality carries very little weight,” the source said. “I think in a lot of ways it’s a best-case scenario for everyone involved.”


The kicker, of course, is that, as of now, the Big 12 still has 10 teams in it, with only Colorado and Nebraska out the door for certain. That could all change as soon as Tuesday, when four Big 12 south schools reportedly will announce their defection to the Pac-10.


Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott and deputy commissioner Kevin Weiberg visited with Oklahoma and Oklahoma State officials in person Saturday, ostensibly with invitations to join the league. Up next is a trip to Texas A&M, Texas and Texas Tech today. An OU press release described Saturday’s meeting with president David Boren and AD Joe Castiglione as “very cordial and informative. It would not be appropriate to comment further on the content of the meeting at this time. There will be a special meeting of OU’s board of regents Wednesday to weigh possible conference options available to the university.”


The press release had most pundits 100 percent convinced OU is Pac-10 bound.


The wildcard here remains Texas A&M. The Aggies originally were in the proposal outlined by the Pac-10, however, A&M has since become torn over whether to join its Big 12 brothers in heading west or set out on its own into the SEC. NBCsports.com reported Saturday there were enough votes of A&M regents to approve a move to the SEC.


There are conflicting reports whether the SEC would want A&M and ESPN reported Saturday that the league was not interested in KU, though some KU officials have been intrigued by the possibility of joining that league.
There’s also been talk of KU, K-State, Missouri and Iowa State joining the Big East but that has yet to build up much steam nationally.


Should A&M head to the SEC, that would leave Kansas in an interesting position of whether to pursue becoming the 16th school in the Pac-10 or to stick with the potential Big 12/Mountain West merger that seems to be gaining momentum.


A source confirmed to the Journal-World reports that officials from KU, K-State, Missouri, Iowa State and Baylor met via teleconference on Saturday to discuss the possibility of remaining with the Big 12 via merging with the Mountain West. The athletic directors may meet Monday to ask questions of TV officials about possible contracts and what they would be worth for such a league.


Although the losses of Texas and Oklahoma would be tough to stomach, taking on the Mountain West schools could actually expand the markets the Big 12 reaches, especially if the Big 12’s five and the MWC’s 10 went after Houston or SMU, as the source indicated they would, as the 16th team in the revamped Big 12.


That, in effect, would be creating the very thing that current Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe has warned against throughout the entire realignment process. It would be interesting to watch if, with his conference saved, Beebe would be willing to oversee one of the 16-team power conferences he’s lobbied against in recent weeks.


“I think it’s something that we, as a community of leaders, better be very careful about,” Beebe said. “I think if we come to a day where there are four 16-member conferences and there’s a clear departure of those conferences from the rest of the institutions in higher education and athletics, that it’s going to be a sad day and it’s going to be very difficult to not have a lot more intervention and legal issues attached to those institutions.”

http://www2.kusports.com/news/2010/j...r-save-big-12/