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

[Lzen]

Kansas University athletic director Sheahon Zenger is having one of those Jerry Maguire moments right about now.
Sitting in front of Zenger, who’s been on the job all of eight months, are two very different options. Option 1: Join the masses in the relentless pursuit of the almighty dollar while doing whatever it takes to reach that end. Option 2: Stick to your guns, lean on your morals and hope that, somehow and someday, the very thing you’ve spent your entire life believing in — the good of man — will be enough to keep KU afloat once this conference realignment madness comes to a close.
Time to call Rod Tidwell.
While Zenger has stood tall, remained honest with everyone and, perhaps to a fault, taken the word of his fellow Big 12 ADs to be worth something, presidents and administrators at other Big 12 institutions, as well as in conferences around the nation, have been scheming. All apologies for the negative connotation that automatically comes with the word, but you know the saying. If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, right?
On the outside, nervous KU fans and probably even a few of KU’s coaches, likely are wishing that Zenger would do more. Call the Pac-12 and beg for a spot. Tell ’em how much more attractive KU is than Texas Tech. Dial up the Big Ten and explain to them all of the wonderful cultural and academic offerings that KU would bring. Hammer home to anyone who will listen the point about KU’s hoops program being truly elite, one of the best of all-time, a program with unparalleled tradition. All true. All irrelevant at the moment.
I’m not saying that Zenger shouldn’t be making calls. In the wake of last weekend’s comments from Oklahoma president David Boren, it’s safe to assume KU’s AD is making and taking a lot of calls these days. What I am saying is that panicking would be the worst move for Kansas right now. The conferences in question know exactly what KU brings to the table. Some like it. Others are merely luke warm about it. But it’s there. Groveling, pleading or, worse yet, mud-slinging only will harm KU’s image. And right now, in a situation driven by very little substance, image is everything.
With a new conference and another sexy scenario entering the picture almost every hour now, it doesn’t take a genius to see how fragile things are. A wink and a deal one minute can be blown to bits the next. Wanna know the easiest way for an AD to make sure the second part of that equation happens? Have him start running his mouth and beating his chest about what a great deal he pulled off. Poof! Gone.
But Zenger won’t do it. And it’s a smart move. Not for him, but for KU. By staying patient and in tune with everything that's going on out there, the Jayhawks are ensuring that they'll be fine when all this is over. More than a few people in the conference have told me that. So why mess it up by gravitating toward the spotlight?
While it may make some nervous and cause others to scratch their heads or pull their hair out, Zenger’s playing this thing just right. On the surface, Kansas is loyal to the Big 12 and, if circumstances allow, always will be. But a few layers deeper, there’s real action taking place and, believe it or not, both Zenger and KU chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little are right in the middle of it.
Remember, Zenger’s an old football coach. The man knows how to fight. Although it may look like he’s passively standing by, that’s anything but the case. There's a lot at stake here — both in terms of KU's position in the future of college athletics and legal ramifications — and a misstep one way or the other could not only jeopardize KU's spot at the big boy table but also could cost the university and/or the Big 12 a ton of money.

Here’s the deal; regardless of what Zenger does or does not do in the next couple of weeks, all that matters is how this thing turns out. If KU lands on its feet in one of the so-called power conferences — be it the Big East, Pac-12, Big Ten or even the Big 12 — then all of the anxiety many are feeling will be forgotten. Don’t buy it? Come talk to me in four or five weeks and I’ll ask you what happened in Kansas State’s football opener this weekend. Sure, the Wildcats’ 10-7 escape at home against Eastern Kentucky is fresh and kind of funny right now, but K-State won. And that’s all we’ll remember. The same would’ve held true a year ago had the Jayhawks found a way to sneak past North Dakota State, 10-6, 9-6, 8-6, whatever.
And that’s where we’re at with conference realignment, too.
Just before Jerry Maguire had his moment of clarity, the young son of a high-profile client who had just suffered a serious injury uttered a few choice words to the hot-shot sports agent. Born from the feeling that followed was Maguire’s mission statement: “The Things We Think and Do Not Say.”
At this point, I’m not sure if the Big 12 is going to survive or not. A week ago, I would’ve said yes. Two days ago I would’ve said no way. There’s a lot of talk regarding the league’s uncertain future right now. But it’s the things that aren’t said that could shape how this whole thing turns out. That includes pulling back on phrases like “Show me the money.”
I know this isn’t Hollywood. But you have to admit, it kind of feels like it.


http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/tal...onference-rea/

[whoman69]

Originally Posted by |Zach|

What exactly would you be doing right now. Remember this is doing something you can control and act upon as the AD of KU.

I'd be trying to make sure the conference was getting other members lined up to keep it alive. Otherwise they will be all looking for leftovers. KU is in a bit of a better situation than ISU because of their basketball history. Still I would want a backup strategy.

[|Zach|]

Originally Posted by whoman69

I'd be trying to make sure the conference was getting other members lined up to keep it alive. Otherwise they will be all looking for leftovers. KU is in a bit of a better situation than ISU because of their basketball history. Still I would want a backup strategy.

The conference is not being kept alive. Aside from that...I agree. I don't understand how rerun assumes this isn't being done?

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Bo's Pelini

Why wasn't Beebe ever fired?

Simple answer: Texas badly miscalculated this thing.

They thought they had the ship righted and things stabilized their own little pet conference. Dan Beebe is a Texas stooge and they were certain he'd done his 'job' in creating their fiefdom.

As it turned out, Texas was terribly terribly wrong and Beebe inadvertently detonated the conference. By the time Texas realized it had all come apart, things were too far gone.

With a real commissioner in place rather than a UT puppet, the Big XII would have immediately moved to assuage Nebraska (and MU's) angst. They'd have been able to keep the XII intact and if they felt the need to expand, they could've used their traditional ties and geography to secure a major player like BYU.

Beebe didn't get fired because he did exactly what Texas told him to do. Unfortunately, dancing to that tune has dissolved the XII. Nicely done, asswipes. Very nicely done.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by Bo's Pelini

Why wasn't Beebe ever fired?

Because he was a Texas 'Yes' man and UT ran the conference.

[|Zach|]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

With a real commissioner in place rather than a UT puppet,

I don't disagree with any of this post but I still think that the way Beebe dealt so favorably with the interests of Texas has more to do with the structure of the conference he inherited.

[|Zach|]

How could anyone become and keep the job of Big 12 commish and tell Texas to go **** themselves. It was an unsustainable situation.

Texas is mad dickish for being selfish and over playing their hand and other schools were naive to agree to it. It seems.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by |Zach|

I don't disagree with any of this post but I still think that the way Beebe dealt so favorably with the interests of Texas has more to do with the structure of the conference he inherited.

Which again excuses him for being reactive.

He had to know better than anyone how shaky the whole thing was. He had to know that Nebraska was looking to bolt and that tensions were running high.

He needed to get ahead of this thing. He needed to be talking to Texas like he was the adult in the room instead of just another petulant teenager trying to talk down a bunch of other petulant teenagers. It essentially turned into a high shool lockerroom fight with no coach involved anywhere to assuage egos before they got too far out of hand.

WTF was he doing as the XII commissioner if he wasn't trying to stay ahead of this mess?

[Titty Meat]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Simple answer: Texas badly miscalculated this thing.

They thought they had the ship righted and things stabilized their own little pet conference. Dan Beebe is a Texas stooge and they were certain he'd done his 'job' in creating their fiefdom.

As it turned out, Texas was terribly terribly wrong and Beebe inadvertently detonated the conference. By the time Texas realized it had all come apart, things were too far gone.

With a real commissioner in place rather than a UT puppet, the Big XII would have immediately moved to assuage Nebraska (and MU's) angst. They'd have been able to keep the XII intact and if they felt the need to expand, they could've used their traditional ties and geography to secure a major player like BYU.

Beebe didn't get fired because he did exactly what Texas told him to do. Unfortunately, dancing to that tune has dissolved the XII. Nicely done, asswipes. Very nicely done.

**** Texas.

[Lzen]

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/colle...UhWEeCUtGv7dNPBig East looking for 12 teams in football


By LENN ROBBINS
Last Updated: 8:43 AM, September 6, 2011
Posted: 2:11 AM, September 6, 2011

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- It's all about Nov. 1, 2012.
That's the date the Big East Conference becomes a TV free agent. The league's goal is to be able to present such a solid, far-reaching and valuable product that it lands a deal in the neighborhood of the $4 billion package recently signed by the Pac-12.
So when you hear Big East and wonder why schools such as Missouri, Kansas and Kansas State are being mentioned, think Midwest TV markets. Maps are just a piece of paper with lines.
With Texas A&M poised to join the SEC, the Big East is looking to add those three Big 12 schools and grow to 12 football schools and swell to 20 in basketball.



If that seems unwieldy, think outside the box.
The Big East has studied the creation of four five-team divisions in basketball and two divisions -- East and West -- in football, The Post has learned.
In basketball it could mean each school having home-and-home games with the other four schools in its division and then playing crossover games from schools in other divisions. Some schools wouldn't play each other in a given year.
Football would split along geographical lines with Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Cincinnati, Louisville and TCU in the West Division, and UConn, Rutgers, Syracuse, Pitt, South Florida and West Virginia in the East.
Division winners would meet in a true conference championship game, with a BCS bowl game on the line.
The basketball splits likely would create some division but unless the non-FBS football schools (Georgetown, St. John's, et al) are willing to risk the very real possibility of the FBS football-playing schools breaking away, they'll agree to expansion and the new formats.
The non-football schools are very willing to accommodate the football schools for the sake of the league, several sources told The Post. A big check from TV revenue would assuage any hurt feelings.
These changes, of course, hinge on the Big 12 falling apart, which seems likely. With Texas A&M headed to the SEC, the Big 12 is down to nine schools with Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas and Texas Tech likely leaving for the Pac-12.
When one considers the Pac-12 would then grow to 16 teams in football and basketball, the 12-and-20 makeup of the Big East doesn't seem so radical.
John Swofford, commissioner of the ACC, all but shot down a report out of Austin that his league was interested in taking Rutgers, Syracuse, UConn and Texas.
He also alluded to the reason why the Big 12 is in trouble is because of the Longhorn Network and the uneven distribution of TV monies.
Swofford was asked if he would bring in any entity that created uneven distribution.
"I don't think that you ever say never about anything these days but that has been a very strong principle in our league since the middle '80s," he said. "I think that it's one that has a lot to do with the stability of conferences."
The two main potential stumbling blocks focus on Missouri. Missouri dearly covets an invite from the Big Ten, which recently invited Nebraska and showed little interest in the Tigers. That could change, though the Big Ten has only added two schools -- Penn State and Nebraska -- in the last 30 years.
The second scenario has Missouri going to the SEC as that school's 14th member. But Missouri does not see a good cultural fit with the SEC and might prefer the Big East. But by coming to the Big East with Kansas and K-State, Missouri maintains its relationship with two rivals.
lenn.robbins@nypost.com


Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/colle...#ixzz1XHqYZeeR

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by |Zach|

How could anyone become and keep the job of Big 12 commish and tell Texas to go **** themselves. It was an unsustainable situation.

Texas is mad dickish for being selfish and over playing their hand and other schools were naive to agree to it. It seems.

You can do it without telling them to **** themselves.

You could reach out to schools like BYU and maybe Louisville and then go to Texas and say "hey, expansion is happening and if you want to keep this conference healthy and safe, we'll need you to make some concessions. These guys aren't coming on board if you don't make things more palatable for them"

Then you point to OSU in the B1G and Alabama in the SEC and USC in the PAC and point out that these are all 'crown jewel' programs that don't get to run roughshod over their conference - why should UT? You rally the rest of the conference around you and get them all to come to the table and work together to put something in front of Texas that will get them to come around.

In short - you do your !@#$ing job. You stay ahead of this disaster before it comes to a head. The man likely draws a 7 figure salary for his 'efforts' as the Commissioner, I don't think it's unreasonable to ask him to actually listen to the concerns of his constituent schools and work actively to address them.

He clearly didn't. He was comfortable worshiping at the altar of UT and failed the other 11 schools in the conference (and ultimately, UT as well).

He absolutely deserves to get his ass kicked for this.

[DJ's left nut]

Honestly - I don't hate the East/West in the Big East idea as much as I thought I would.

There's something appealing about keeping our regional rivals while also being the big dick in charge of a BCS conference.

Our Texas recruiting would suffer, but it wouldn't be insurmountable. And it might be better than getting butt-****ed by the SEC for a decade (though the divisions could split in a manner that favors MU in the SEC).

Whatever - just give me a healthy conference and let my football program continue to develop. This program has become a legitimately strong program and I desperately want that to continue.

[Pants]

Originally Posted by Lzen

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/colle...UhWEeCUtGv7dNPBig East looking for 12 teams in football


By LENN ROBBINS
Last Updated: 8:43 AM, September 6, 2011
Posted: 2:11 AM, September 6, 2011

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- It's all about Nov. 1, 2012.
That's the date the Big East Conference becomes a TV free agent. The league's goal is to be able to present such a solid, far-reaching and valuable product that it lands a deal in the neighborhood of the $4 billion package recently signed by the Pac-12.
So when you hear Big East and wonder why schools such as Missouri, Kansas and Kansas State are being mentioned, think Midwest TV markets. Maps are just a piece of paper with lines.
With Texas A&M poised to join the SEC, the Big East is looking to add those three Big 12 schools and grow to 12 football schools and swell to 20 in basketball.



If that seems unwieldy, think outside the box.
The Big East has studied the creation of four five-team divisions in basketball and two divisions -- East and West -- in football, The Post has learned.
In basketball it could mean each school having home-and-home games with the other four schools in its division and then playing crossover games from schools in other divisions. Some schools wouldn't play each other in a given year.
Football would split along geographical lines with Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Cincinnati, Louisville and TCU in the West Division, and UConn, Rutgers, Syracuse, Pitt, South Florida and West Virginia in the East.
Division winners would meet in a true conference championship game, with a BCS bowl game on the line.
The basketball splits likely would create some division but unless the non-FBS football schools (Georgetown, St. John's, et al) are willing to risk the very real possibility of the FBS football-playing schools breaking away, they'll agree to expansion and the new formats.
The non-football schools are very willing to accommodate the football schools for the sake of the league, several sources told The Post. A big check from TV revenue would assuage any hurt feelings.
These changes, of course, hinge on the Big 12 falling apart, which seems likely. With Texas A&M headed to the SEC, the Big 12 is down to nine schools with Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas and Texas Tech likely leaving for the Pac-12.
When one considers the Pac-12 would then grow to 16 teams in football and basketball, the 12-and-20 makeup of the Big East doesn't seem so radical.
John Swofford, commissioner of the ACC, all but shot down a report out of Austin that his league was interested in taking Rutgers, Syracuse, UConn and Texas.
He also alluded to the reason why the Big 12 is in trouble is because of the Longhorn Network and the uneven distribution of TV monies.
Swofford was asked if he would bring in any entity that created uneven distribution.
"I don't think that you ever say never about anything these days but that has been a very strong principle in our league since the middle '80s," he said. "I think that it's one that has a lot to do with the stability of conferences."
The two main potential stumbling blocks focus on Missouri. Missouri dearly covets an invite from the Big Ten, which recently invited Nebraska and showed little interest in the Tigers. That could change, though the Big Ten has only added two schools -- Penn State and Nebraska -- in the last 30 years.
The second scenario has Missouri going to the SEC as that school's 14th member. But Missouri does not see a good cultural fit with the SEC and might prefer the Big East. But by coming to the Big East with Kansas and K-State, Missouri maintains its relationship with two rivals.
lenn.robbins@nypost.com


Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/colle...#ixzz1XHqYZeeR

I quite like that to be honest.

I honestly think I would prefer that to the PAC-12. The fact that KU fans wouldn't be able to complain about the EAST COAST MEDIA BIAS anymore is a huge plus.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

You can do it without telling them to **** themselves.

You could reach out to schools like BYU and maybe Louisville and then go to Texas and say "hey, expansion is happening and if you want to keep this conference healthy and safe, we'll need you to make some concessions. These guys aren't coming on board if you don't make things more palatable for them"

Then you point to OSU in the B1G and Alabama in the SEC and USC in the PAC and point out that these are all 'crown jewel' programs that don't get to run roughshod over their conference - why should UT? You rally the rest of the conference around you and get them all to come to the table and work together to put something in front of Texas that will get them to come around.

In short - you do your !@#$ing job. You stay ahead of this disaster before it comes to a head. The man likely draws a 7 figure salary for his 'efforts' as the Commissioner, I don't think it's unreasonable to ask him to actually listen to the concerns of his constituent schools and work actively to address them.

He clearly didn't. He was comfortable worshiping at the altar of UT and failed the other 11 schools in the conference (and ultimately, UT as well).

He absolutely deserves to get his ass kicked for this.

Beebe makes $997,000 as of 2009.

And good post - spot on.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Honestly - I don't hate the East/West in the Big East idea as much as I thought I would.

There's something appealing about keeping our regional rivals while also being the big dick in charge of a BCS conference.

Our Texas recruiting would suffer, but it wouldn't be insurmountable. And it might be better than getting butt-****ed by the SEC for a decade (though the divisions could split in a manner that favors MU in the SEC).

Whatever - just give me a healthy conference and let my football program continue to develop. This program has become a legitimately strong program and I desperately want that to continue.

This.