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.

[Saul Good]

Big East brass has been told by WVU brass that they were turned down. That may have been an informal thing, but it sounds like they are out for now. Rumor is they might not have been in the SEC's top 3 even if they go to 16.

[Saul Good]

Gabe D just started a thread on Power Mizzou saying that he is sitting down to write a realignment article that everyone will want to read. This was about 15 min ago.

[duncan_idaho]

Looks like Mizzou is headed south... nothing final yet, but that's the appearance.

[eazyb81]

SEC would be amazing. Hope it turns out to be true. OU needs to hurry up and shit or get off the pot.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

Gabe D just started a thread on Power Mizzou saying that he is sitting down to write a realignment article that everyone will want to read. This was about 15 min ago.

That article appears to be up.

[Saul Good]

Gabe has been very consistent in saying that all of his posts were speculation. Not this time. He said that he's hearing from sources within Mizzou that the SEC is there if they want it.

Now, its just a matter of breaking up this cluster**** of a conference. OU needs to GTFO so that we can make our move.

[Pitt Gorilla]

At this point, MU remaining in the Big 12-2-1 would be disappointing.

[OnTheWarpath15]

http://missouri.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1267857

Over the last few weeks, rumors have swirled about the future homes of nearly every school in the Big 12 Conference. Missouri has been viewed as a team that may not wield the power in realignment of an Oklahoma or a Texas, but likely has more options than the likes of Baylor and Iowa State.

The Tigers have been tied in some fashion to the Big Ten, the Big East, the PAC-12, the Southeastern Conference and even the ACC over that period of time. But all signs are now pointing one direction for the Tigers.

PowerMizzou.com has learned through sources that Missouri is squarely in the SEC's crosshairs as the potential 14th team. Our sources have indicated that the SEC wants Mizzou as No. 14, but is willing to wait on the implosion of the Big 12 Conference before making any moves if necessary.

The centerpiece as far as the Big 12 situation goes right now is Oklahoma. The University's Board of Regents yesterday authorized president David Boren to explore all options with regard to conference affiliation. Sources in Oklahoma have indicated that there is "almost nothing" that could keep the Sooners in the Big 12 at this point. While the door is not completely shut, sources indicated that chances are incredibly slim Boren and Oklahoma could be convinced to stay in the conference.

The Sooners leaving would likely be the death blow for the Big 12. Sources have indicated that there are people in positions of power at Mizzou who still have an interest in holding the league together as of today. However, if the Big 12 goes away, the SEC is the preferred choice of those directly involved with Missouri athletics.

Can the Big 12 survive, even without Oklahoma? There is no doubt Texas is the power broker in the league. The Longhorns, who has eyed the ACC and the PAC-12, has said it will make a conference decision within two weeks. There is a growing sentiment around Missouri to make the move to the SEC, especially if the Oklahoma schools are gone.

"Why would Texas commit to the Pac-12 any sooner than they absolutely have to, if UT really wants the Big 12 to survive," a Big 12 administrator told Orangebloods.com yesterday.

It has been clear that the Longhorns' top wish would be keeping the Big 12 intact. However, that becomes far less likely if Oklahoma and Oklahoma State depart. Still, Texas could attempt lean on Missouri to stay even if those two leave.

Sources with knowledge of Missouri's situation told PowerMizzou.com that the SEC is willing to wait on the Tigers and to let the situation with the Big 12 play out before making a move.

Indications from multiple sources around Mizzou are that the SEC is the likely landing spot if the Big 12 goes away. In addition, sources said, there are many around Mizzou who would prefer to make the jump regardless of the future of the Big 12 or the ultimate decision of the Oklahoma duo.

West Virginia has also been mentioned as a potential target for the 14th team in SEC expansion. However, reports have surfaced over the last 36 hours that the Mountaineers may have been put on hold by the league. Brett McMurphy, a national college football writer for CBSSports.com tweeted this morning "Multiple Big East sources said they have been told by WVU officials that WVU rejected by ACC & SEC."

PowerMizzou.com has been unable to confirm those reports independently, but there have been multiple indications that the Mountaineers sit behind Missouri on the SEC's wish list.

The bottom line is this: It appears that Missouri has a spot in the Southeastern Conference if and when the Tigers are ready to make the jump. However, it is not a slam dunk.

The remaining questions are these:

--Could Mizzou make the move to the SEC independent of what Oklahoma and Oklahoma State decide?

--Will the desire to keep the Big 12 intact win out, if the Oklahoma schools opt to stay?

--If Oklahoma and Oklahoma State do leave, is that the final blow that cannot be overcome, and does that launch Missouri to the SEC? Or could Texas somehow scrape together enough support to keep the Tigers around and hold a watered-down version of the conference together?

As has been the case throughout the realignment situation, there are many moving parts. No deal is done until it is officially done. But all indications are that if Missouri chooses to leave the Big 12, or if there is no Big 12 to leave, the SEC is the likely landing spot for the Tigers.

[Reerun_KC]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

Gabe has been very consistent in saying that all of his posts were speculation. Not this time. He said that he's hearing from sources within Mizzou that the SEC is there if they want it.

Now, its just a matter of breaking up this cluster**** of a conference. OU needs to GTFO so that we can make our move.

so MU cant leave until OU does something?

[DaKCMan AP]

[SPchief]

If your Mizzou, why even wait on Oklahoma?

[mnchiefsguy]

Originally Posted by SPchief

If your Mizzou, why even wait on Oklahoma?

To avoid being the situation A & M is in...they jumped the gun and got into a mess. If Mizzou plays its cards right, it could collect some exit fees, then move to the SEC without penalty.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by mnchiefsguy

To avoid being the situation A & M is in...they jumped the gun and got into a mess. If Mizzou plays its cards right, it could collect some exit fees, then move to the SEC without penalty.

Isn't there a clause about the dissolution of the conference? If X teams leave, it will waive the exit fees, no?

[Saulbadguy]

http://www.rockmnation.com/2011/9/19...ce-realignment

Snort.

[mnchiefsguy]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Isn't there a clause about the dissolution of the conference? If X teams leave, it will waive the exit fees, no?

I have a feeling that if OU and OSU take off, then the remaining teams will threaten to stay together, if only to collect the exit fees. The conference would only have to stay together for one more year to collect. Then, a "settlement" could be negotiated, and A & M, OU, OSU would pay less than the full penalty, but they would still pay. At the point, the conference then officially dissolves, and Mizzou would join A & M in the SEC, with some of A & M's money in their pocket. Total win/win for the Tigers if the chips were to fall that way. Anything can happen though.