New Conference re-alignment thread

[Saulbadguy]

The old one has AIDS.

Anyways, Chip Brown from Orangebloods.com reports OU may apply to the Pac-12 by the end of the month.

Oklahoma will apply for membership to the Pac-12 before the end of the month, and Oklahoma State is expected to follow suit, a source close to OU's administration told Orangebloods.com.

Even though Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott said Friday the Pac-12 was not interested in expansion at this time, OU's board of regents is fed up with the instability in the Big 12, the source said.

The OU board of regents will meet within two weeks to formalize plans to apply for membership to the Pac-12, the source said.

Messages left Sunday night with OU athletic director Joe Castiglione and Oklahoma State athletic director Mike Holder were not immediately returned.

If OU follows through with what appears to be a unanimous sentiment on the seven-member Oklahoma board of regents to leave the Big 12, realignment in college athletics could be heating back up. OU's application would be matched by an application from Oklahoma State, the source said, even though OSU president Burns Hargis and mega-booster Boone Pickens both voiced their support for the Big 12 last Thursday.

There is differing sentiment about if the Pac-12 presidents and chancellors are ready to expand again after bringing in Colorado and Utah last year and landing $3 billion TV contracts from Fox and ESPN. Colorado president Bruce Benson told reporters last week CU would be opposed to any expansion that might bring about east and west divisions in the Pac-12.

Currently, there are north and south divisions in the Pac-12. If OU and OSU were to join, Larry Scott would have to get creative.

Scott's orginal plan last summer was to bring in Colorado, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State and put them in an eastern division with Arizona and Arizona State. The old Pac-8 schools (USC, UCLA, Cal, Stanford, Oregon, Oregon State, Washington and Washington State) were to be in the west division.

Colorado made the move in June 2010, but when Texas A&M was not on board to go west, the Big 12 came back together with the help of its television partners (ABC/ESPN and Fox).

If Oklahoma and Oklahoma State were accepted into the Pac-12, there would undoubtedly be a hope by Larry Scott that Texas would join the league. But Texas sources have indicated UT is determined to hang onto the Longhorn Network, which would not be permissible in the Pac-12 in its current form.

Texas sources continue to indicate to Orangebloods.com that if the Big 12 falls apart, the Longhorns would consider "all options."

Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe held an emergency conference call 10 days ago with league presidents excluding Oklahoma, Texas and Texas A&M and asked the other league presidents to "work on Texas" because Beebe didn't think the Pac-12 would take Oklahoma without Texas.

Now, it appears OU is willing to take its chances with the Pac-12 with or without Texas.

There seemed to be a temporary pause in any possible shifting of the college athletics' landscape when Baylor led a charge to tie up Texas A&M's move to the Southeastern Conference in legal red tape. BU refused to waive its right to sue the SEC over A&M's departure from the Big 12, and the SEC said it would not admit Texas A&M until it had been cleared of any potential lawsuits.

Baylor, Kansas and Iowa State have indicated they will not waive their right to sue the SEC.

It's unclear if an application by OU to the Pac-12 would draw the same threats of litigation against the Pac-12 from those Big 12 schools.

Stay tuned.

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by Mr. Plow

This was proven as fact this past weekend at Worlds of Fun.

That was a funny discussion....and part of the reason I posted what I did.

I really just did it to tick off Wickedson.

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by Wickedson

Why would he cover the SEC?

KC is a KU town anyway.

Originally Posted by Wickedson

Are we really going to get into a discussion about whether KC has more KU or MU fans??

Did you really just post these back to back?

[Crush]

I am getting a little tired of Dr. Brooks Travis.

[Bambi]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

Did you really just post these back to back?

huh?

I state KC is a KU town, which it is.

Some people objected to that.

hence the clarifying question

was it really that tough?

Where's that KC Star post from a few pages back? Wasn't KU fans % a good double digit higher than MU's?

[eazyb81]

Originally Posted by Crush

I am getting a little tired of Dr. Brooks Travis.

Dude definitely got his money's worth this month.

[Bambi]

Originally Posted by Saulbadguy

The KC Star thinks Kansas City is a KU town. They also prove that K-State fans are younger, richer, better looking, and less bandwagon-y than both fanbases.

oh yeah, here.

I'm not saying this to rub anything in. Just figuring that KK would see no reason to discuss the SEC if MU were to go there.

The majority of people won't care.

[Al Bundy]

During basketball season part of KCMO roots for KU, but during football season it isn't even close.

[mnchiefsguy]

KK has completely lost it. Saying the SEC is nothing but a bunch of cheaters and Mizzou should be careful with what they might be getting into. He is serious denial.

[Mr. Plow]

God damnit. I just want a simple "Yes, we are looking at other conferences" or "No, we are committed to the Big 12 and it's impending doom".....and I'm a ****ing KU fan damnit.

[mnchiefsguy]

Originally Posted by Wickedson

oh yeah, here.

I'm not saying this to rub anything in. Just figuring that KK would see no reason to discuss the SEC if MU were to go there.

The majority of people won't care.

If KK ignores Mizzou and the SEC, he will be off the air in a couple of years. Can't not talk about Mizzou and expect to survive. Even 610, the official KU station, talks about Mizzou.

[Bambi]

Originally Posted by mnchiefsguy

If KK ignores Mizzou and the SEC, he will be off the air in a couple of years. Can't not talk about Mizzou and expect to survive. Even 610, the official KU station, talks about Mizzou.

Although some outlets will still obviously talk MU you will have to admit that the focus in the KC area will still be with the Big 12.

The SEC is so completely foreign in geography and culture that I can't really see Petro breaking down Auburn-Ole Miss in anticipation of next weeks matchup with Mizzou.

KK won't talk about them simply out of spite.

That's just my opinion though.

[Crush]

GabeDeArmond Gabe DeArmond



#Mizzou AD Alden just emerged from meeting room. Don't know if that means meeting over or he needs a break

[Crush]

GabeDeArmond Gabe DeArmond



Alden back into meeting room. Has lasted more than 3 hours now

[Mr. Plow]

Originally Posted by Crush

GabeDeArmond Gabe DeArmond



Alden back into meeting room. Has lasted more than 3 hours now

MU fans - do you see this as a good sign or bad sign that the meeting has lasted so long?

[mnchiefsguy]

Originally Posted by Wickedson

Although some outlets will still obviously talk MU you will have to admit that the focus in the KC area will still be with the Big 12.

The SEC is so completely foreign in geography and culture that I can't really see Petro breaking down Auburn-Ole Miss in anticipation of next weeks matchup with Mizzou.

KK won't talk about them simply out of spite.

That's just my opinion though.

If Auburn-Ole Miss effects Mizzou in the stands, or if they are all fighting for a bowl spot, then hell yes Soren better be breaking it down. Tiger fans will expect it. If WHB just wants to broadcast in Leawood and Overland Park, that is fine, but expect their listener ship to plummet.