Big 10 Expansion Thread -Big Ten ready for a playoff .. finally?

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by MrBug708

What is the significance of Vandy abstaining?

They like to abstain. Courteously.

SI

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Looks like all the hurdles are cleared. SEC chairman..........

"After receiving unanimous written assurance from the Big 12 on September 2 that the Southeastern Conference was free to accept Texas A&M to join as a new member, the presidents and chancellors of the SEC met last night with the intention of accepting the application of Texas A&M to be the newest member of the SEC. We were notified yesterday afternoon that at least one Big 12 institution had withdrawn its previous consent and was considering legal action. The SEC has stated that to consider an institution for membership, there must be no contractual hindrances to its departure. The SEC voted unanimously to accept Texas A&M University as a member upon receiving acceptable reconfirmation that the Big 12 and its members have reaffirmed the letter dated September 2, 2011."

A&M should comment today or tomorrow and then we wait for OU/OSU to pull the trigger.

[Ksyrup]

All the hurdles except Baylor's withdrawn consent. SEC just put the ball back in the Big 12/Baylor's court. I think A&M will stay quiet, or at least, won't be talking about acceptance by SEC. Maybe they'll take some shots at Baylor in the media.

[panerd]

Originally Posted by bronconick

Example:

November 26th: Ohio State ( 9-2, 6-1 conference record, division championship clinched) vs. Michigan (9-2, 7-0 division clinched)

December 3rd: Ohio State vs. Michigan (Big Ten Championship)

"The Game" on the 26th may as well be a NFL exhibition game, since it's completely meaningless. At minimum, you have to move the game away from the last game of the year, which will cause Michigan/Ohio State fans to have a rare moment of agreement and burn down the Big Ten conference offices.

Heck, speaking as someone rooting for Florida State in 1996, rematches are incredibly overrated, especially when you pull what was basically a serious upset to knock off your rival only to have to play them again 5 weeks later for a national title.

This is your example? What world are you living in where Michigan and OSU run the table in the Big Ten?

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

All the hurdles except Baylor's withdrawn consent. SEC just put the ball back in the Big 12/Baylor's court. I think A&M will stay quiet, or at least, won't be talking about acceptance by SEC. Maybe they'll take some shots at Baylor in the media.

Deadline is Sept. 8th at 5:00 PM. Also, it should be noted that there's no option to withdraw consent if OU/OSU and Mizzou also leave this week as the B12 would be dissolved as a conference. This is an annoyance more than any real roadblock. Leave it to Ken Starr to be a pain in the ass.

[Ksyrup]

But that requires some pretty quick movement involving 3 other schools. I could see this slowing down, and the SEC extending that deadline until things are worked out.

I understand why Baylor is doing this - of all the Big 12 teams, I think they are the only one completely left out of any scenarios where they move to an AQ conference, right? Even KSU is rumored to hitch with KU in the Big East, and TTU to the Pac-xx with or without Texas. Baylor is fucked and rightfully taking a desperate shot at trying to stay at the big boy's table.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

But that requires some pretty quick movement involving 3 other schools. I could see this slowing down, and the SEC extending that deadline until things are worked out.

I understand why Baylor is doing this - of all the Big 12 teams, I think they are the only one completely left out of any scenarios where they move to an AQ conference, right? Even KSU is rumored to hitch with KU in the Big East, and TTU to the Pac-xx with or without Texas. Baylor is fucked and rightfully taking a desperate shot at trying to stay at the big boy's table.

You're right, but it's not going to change the end game. This isn't a surprise to anyone. There's no real leg to stand on other than holding up the process for a day or two. Sounds like OU was trying to avoid any announcement on Friday due to Selmon funeral, so they'd have to wait a few days anyway if they can't do it tomorrow.

[panerd]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

But that requires some pretty quick movement involving 3 other schools. I could see this slowing down, and the SEC extending that deadline until things are worked out.

I understand why Baylor is doing this - of all the Big 12 teams, I think they are the only one completely left out of any scenarios where they move to an AQ conference, right? Even KSU is rumored to hitch with KU in the Big East, and TTU to the Pac-xx with or without Texas. Baylor is fucked and rightfully taking a desperate shot at trying to stay at the big boy's table.

I think that all Baylor is doing is extending the inevitable and making themselves undesireable to other conferences, including mid-majors. They hitched their wagons to Texas and Texas A&M and now are crying foul when the rest of the conference (who never wanted them in the first place) leaves because of their buddies.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by panerd

I think that all Baylor is doing is extending the inevitable and making themselves undesireable to other conferences, including mid-majors. They hitched their wagons to Texas and Texas A&M and now are crying foul when the rest of the conference (who never wanted them in the first place) leaves because of their buddies.

I'm not sure they're undesirable, but they definitely should be counting their blessings that they were able to stay in a BCS conference this long and should be thanking Texas lawmakers for that.

[Ksyrup]

espn4d Pat Forde
Maybe the greatest 5 days in Baylor athletic history: shock TCU on national TV, get ranked, roadblock A&M's getaway from Big 12.

[Ksyrup]

George Schroeder: Change is in the offing — and soon for Pac-12

[Ksyrup]

Ha!


JPosnanski Joe Posnanski
It could just be spam email, but I'm pretty sure I just got invited to join the Big 12.

[bhlloy]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

espn4d Pat Forde
Maybe the greatest 5 days in Baylor athletic history: shock TCU on national TV, get ranked, roadblock A&M's getaway from Big 12.

...end up in the Sun Belt

[Ksyrup]

Guess I forgot about Iowa State. This is from Bleacher Report:

Here’s a list of the most likely destinations for all of the teams in the Big 12.

Texas A&M – SEC
Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas Tech – Pac-12
Missouri, Kansas, Kansas State – Big East
Baylor, Iowa State – Mountain West/C-USA

Missouri, from all of the speculation I’ve seen, is not a target of the Big 10 though they nearly begged for admittance last year.

If they do get offered a spot, Iowa State would replace them in the Big East.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Sounds like Baylor has already backed down. Conference call at noon to let SEC know that all is kosher again.

[Izulde]

Meh. I don't like Baylor or Iowa State as schools and the whole Mountain West concept would kind of take a hit.

[Ksyrup]

[I. J. Reilly]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

George Schroeder: Change is in the offing — and soon for Pac-12

Why do these writers who cover the Pac-12 keep talking about how much more money Texas could make in the Pac-16? Texas doesn’t care about the size of the pie, just that their piece is the biggest. The fact that every team in the Pac-16 would be make a shit ton of money is really an argument against Texas joining.

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by I. J. Reilly

Why do these writers who cover the Pac-12 keep talking about how much more money Texas could make in the Pac-16? Texas doesn’t care about the size of the pie, just that their piece is the biggest. The fact that every team in the Pac-16 would be make a shit ton of money is really an argument against Texas joining.

If that's the case, then shouldn't Texas be joining Baylor in trying to save the Big 12? Where else are they going to get their run of a conference? I can't imagine the ACC caving to them - or, if they did, I'd expect the ACC to turn out just like the Big 12 is about to.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

If that's the case, then shouldn't Texas be joining Baylor in trying to save the Big 12? Where else are they going to get their run of a conference? I can't imagine the ACC caving to them - or, if they did, I'd expect the ACC to turn out just like the Big 12 is about to.

Texas is like an alcoholic. They just don't know when to stop. They've destroyed two conferences in 15 years. They're not going to change. They'll go sober for a couple years after this and then they'll be right back to causing problems again.

[Ksyrup]

I hope they go west.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

I hope they go west.

Mountain West or Big Sky?

SI

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

And now Billy Liucci says Baylor not stopping yet.

[Ksyrup]

They might be able to argue for 90% of the conference pie in that case.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

TTRaider poster just reappeared over at Tigerboard. Said that Mizzou has been given the green light by the SEC once the Baylor speed bump is cleared.

[I. J. Reilly]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

If that's the case, then shouldn't Texas be joining Baylor in trying to save the Big 12? Where else are they going to get their run of a conference? I can't imagine the ACC caving to them - or, if they did, I'd expect the ACC to turn out just like the Big 12 is about to.

Texas did everything they could think of to save the Big 12. Accepting reality wasn't one of the things they could think of however. Once they insisted on the LHN Oklahoma was gone, and that's all she wrote.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

Texas is like an alcoholic. They just don't know when to stop. They've destroyed two conferences in 15 years. They're not going to change. They'll go sober for a couple years after this and then they'll be right back to causing problems again.

If they can find a way to ruin this prospective Pac-16, I'll be impressed. That isn't a conference that is dependent on Texas money like the other two.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

If they can find a way to ruin this prospective Pac-16, I'll be impressed. That isn't a conference that is dependent on Texas money like the other two.

I'm certainly not implying that they'll 'ruin' it. But they'll definitely be a thorn in the side of those West Coast teams when they start looking for more revenue streams again in a couple years.

I don't really have any preference on where Mizzou lands out of the three big conferences, but I don't think you'd find a single Mizzou fan that wants to land in the same conference as Texas. They're more trouble than they're worth (literally).

[cartman]

Originally Posted by I. J. Reilly

Texas did everything they could think of to save the Big 12. Accepting reality wasn't one of the things they could think of however. Once they insisted on the LHN Oklahoma was gone, and that's all she wrote.

Except that OU is trying to set up their own network, and are getting frustrated that it isn't happening as quickly as the LHN.

[Ksyrup]

Stewart Mandel:

Independence is definitely one of the options Texas is pondering, but there's one big problem: Texas fields 17 athletic teams besides football, and they need a conference. Can you imagine trying to put together a 27-game basketball schedule as an independent? Or a 50-something game baseball schedule? That's why Notre Dame is in the Big East for all its other sports, Army and Navy in the Patriot League, BYU in the West Coast Conference. If the Big 12 dissolves, there's no logical landing spot for Texas' other teams. Do you think Rick Barnes wants to compete in the Mountain West? It's the biggest reason why Texas is still fighting to keep the Big 12 intact in some form.


My suggestion: Get the band back together. Re-create the Southwest Conference (mostly). Texas, Texas Tech, Houston, Rice, SMU, Baylor and maybe throw in UTEP and Tulsa. Only this time they'll call it the Longhorn Conference, and all games involving Texas will be shown on The Longhorn Network. The league probably won't get an AQ bid, but Texas won't need one. It will schedule Oklahoma, Notre Dame and BYU out of conference to impress the voters, and get its own qualification provision written into the BCS, a la the Irish. Problem solved.

[I. J. Reilly]

Originally Posted by cartman

Except that OU is trying to set up their own network, and are getting frustrated that it isn't happening as quickly as the LHN.

Again, it's in response to the LHN. If there were a Big 12 network and no LHN, would any of this be happening right now?

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

More PR releases in the ever-evolving soap opera. From A&M.....

"We are certainly pleased with the action taken last night by the presidents and chancellors of the Southeastern Conference to unanimously accept Texas A&M as the league's 13th member. However, this acceptance is conditional, and we are disappointed in the threats made by one of the Big 12 member institutions to coerce Texas A&M into staying in Big 12 Conference. These actions go against the commitment that was made by this university and the Big 12 on Sept. 2. We are working diligently to resolve any and all issues as outlined by the SEC."

And an e-mail sent by KU to their donors........

Dear Jayhawk:

Amid the latest round of conference realignment discussions, I want all KU alumni to know that Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little and Dr. Sheahon Zenger, KU athletics director, are aggressively pursuing the best possible outcome for KU. As the chancellor expressed yesterday, they will continue to keep our community informed.

The unsurpassed loyalty of the Jayhawk Nation is one of KU's greatest assets. Thanks for all you do to strengthen KU.

Rock Chalk!

Kevin J. Corbett, c’88
President
[email protected]

[cartman]

Originally Posted by I. J. Reilly

Again, it's in response to the LHN. If there were a Big 12 network and no LHN, would any of this be happening right now?

If 75% of the teams in the Big 12 wanted a Big 12 network, that would have happened. Instead, they voted unanimously to allow teams to pursue individual deals for their Tier 3 rights. You can argue that Texas pushed for that option, but if it was such an unacceptable deal that it would cause teams to leave the conference, you'd think at least a quarter of the teams would have banded together and blocked it. That didn't happen.

[Logan]

Don't you people have jobs?

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by Logan

Don't you people have jobs?

[I. J. Reilly]

Originally Posted by cartman

If 75% of the teams in the Big 12 wanted a Big 12 network, that would have happened. Instead, they voted unanimously to allow teams to pursue individual deals for their Tier 3 rights. You can argue that Texas pushed for that option, but if it was such an unacceptable deal that it would cause teams to leave the conference, you'd think at least a quarter of the teams would have banded together and blocked it. That didn't happen.

Except that agreement was reached at the point of a gun. Last year none of these other schools had and clear path to a new conference, so they accepted whatever was put in front of them to buy time. They may have voted for that agreement then, but they are voting with their feet now.

As far as Texas goes, I don't really blame them for over playing their hand. When you have such a good plan B in place why not push as hard as you can? But don't whine about being the painted as the bad guy when a few schools end up getting screwed.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by I. J. Reilly

Except that agreement was reached at the point of a gun. Last year none of these other schools had and clear path to a new conference, so they accepted whatever was put in front of them to buy time. They may have voted for that agreement then, but they are voting with their feet now.

As far as Texas goes, I don't really blame them for over playing their hand. When you have such a good plan B in place why not push as hard as you can? But don't whine about being the painted as the bad guy when a few schools end up getting screwed.

This. I'm not going to say that Texas has to act in any way other than in the interest of Texas, but the whole 'but they voted for it' argument is amusing at best. It's just another way that Texas can pass the blame onto everyone but their own actions.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

the whole 'but they voted for it' argument is amusing at best.

But it seems considerably more polite than simply saying outright that the rest of the conference lacked the balls to stand up to them ... but that's the bottom line of the picture you paint when you discredit the "voted for it" argument.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

But it seems considerably more polite than simply saying outright that the rest of the conference lacked the balls to stand up to them ... but that's the bottom line of the picture you paint when you discredit the "voted for it" argument.

You're absolutely right. Several of the B12 admins at other schools, especially in the North, have been blasted for this very reason. Hell, Osborne even called out some of those people on the way out the door last year.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

dola

Sounds like original report that Baylor had backed down was correct. Sent fax at 8:05 AM to give their approval. B12 teleconference at noon will go on as planned. A&M to announce tomorrow.

[cartman]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

This. I'm not going to say that Texas has to act in any way other than in the interest of Texas, but the whole 'but they voted for it' argument is amusing at best. It's just another way that Texas can pass the blame onto everyone but their own actions.

It is amusing at best to lay the blame entirely on Texas.

[the_meanstrosity]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

You're absolutely right. Several of the B12 admins at other schools, especially in the North, have been blasted for this very reason. Hell, Osborne even called out some of those people on the way out the door last year.

You do realize that Missouri (and Colorado) was one of the schools that voted with the south division on conference headquarters in Dallas as well as conference commissioner? I'm pretty sure Dr. Tom was taking a lot of shots at Missouri.

[dawgfan]

Latest from Wilner on Texas & the Pac:

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/college...ghorn-network/

Can't say I'm terribly surprised, though the idea that the Pac-12 isn't up to snuff academically for Texas amuses me.

I think it's all part of the negotiation dance. Texas doesn't want to feel forced into action by Oklahoma, and they probably think Oklahoma won't get into the Pac without them coming along too.

While I'm sure Scott would love to add the Sooners to the conference, a 14-team conference would be really awkward, and I don't see other schools from the Big-"12" that could be added that wouldn't result in the per team TV revenue take going down.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by the_meanstrosity

You do realize that Missouri (and Colorado) was one of the schools that voted with the south division on conference headquarters in Dallas as well as conference commissioner? I'm pretty sure Dr. Tom was taking a lot of shots at Missouri.

Thanks for repeating my point.

[the_meanstrosity]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

Thanks for repeating my point.

If that's what you meant to say then why not come out and say it instead of saying "several schools especially in the north"? Missouri and Colorado's leadership now is a far cry from what it was during the early years of the Big 12. I have a feeling Alden and Deaton wouldn't have voted with the south at the time had they been in power. Chalk it up to some bad decisions by the old guard.

[bronconick]

Originally Posted by panerd

This is your example? What world are you living in where Michigan and OSU run the table in the Big Ten?

mckerney's suggestion was that splitting the teams up so they aren't in the same division and could meet up in the conference title game was the "right" way to go about preserving the rivalry.

So....that world. If they're both 6-5, who friggin' cares?

[Ksyrup]

@davidubben The only thing funnier than Texas A&M completely altering the landscape of college sports is Baylor halting it.

[Ksyrup]

@WhitesideUSAT: Iowa State says it has not waived its rights to sue either SEC or Texas A&M according to Des Moines Register

[timmynausea]

I'll just predict right now that any SEC team of lawyers will crush Baylor and/or Iowa State 48-6. Too much speed.

[Crapshoot]

Originally Posted by timmynausea

I'll just predict right now that any SEC team of lawyers will crush Baylor and/or Iowa State 48-6. Too much speed.

SEC Money perhaps; SEC schools, not so much (Vandy aside).