KC Radio: Big 10 EXTENDS OFFERS TO 4 SCHOOLS

[RGV Pony]

Stallion--I'm hearing the first move from Texas will be to see if they can still maintain a viable Big 12 by back-filling the three open spots before they would move to another conference. Some combination of BYU, Cincinnati, Louisville, or Memphis. Any validity to that?

I think adding BYU L'ville and Memphis they'd be very strong. Upgrade to basketball, Memphis would have the $ to upgrade the Liberty Bowl, and all three stadiums are BigXII capacity-wise.

Big XII North
OU
OSU
Iowa St
Kansas
K-State
BYU
L'ville
Memphis

how's that for basketball? wow.

[gostangs]

I think UT doesnt go anywhere where they are not in control - and I think a move east or west presents very large political challenges to them - so the best bet is a revamped Big 12 - backfilling a couple of slots - and maybe dumping Iowa St and Kstate (and Okie State maybe) and getting deeper in the same markets (UH, TCU, SMU) or adding markets that mean something.

[East Coast Mustang]

I think UT doesnt go anywhere where they are not in control - and I think a move east or west presents very large political challenges to them - so the best bet is a revamped Big 12 - backfilling a couple of slots - and maybe dumping Iowa St and Kstate (and Okie State maybe) and getting deeper in the same markets (UH, TCU, SMU) or adding markets that mean something.

Would you rather be "in control" in a conference where you'd make half as much money as being in another stronger conference where you're not "in control?" If you think Texas is going to stick around the Big 12 and let the little cubs like SMU and Houston come and play as well, you're kidding yourself. They're going to follow the benjamins. They're not called the "Whorns" for nothing

[Topper]

I think UT doesnt go anywhere where they are not in control - and I think a move east or west presents very large political challenges to them - so the best bet is a revamped Big 12 - backfilling a couple of slots - and maybe dumping Iowa St and Kstate (and Okie State maybe) and getting deeper in the same markets (UH, TCU, SMU) or adding markets that mean something.

Would you rather be "in control" in a conference where you'd make half as much money as being in another stronger conference where you're not "in control?" If you think Texas is going to stick around the Big 12 and let the little cubs like SMU and Houston come and play as well, you're kidding yourself. They're going to follow the benjamins. They're not called the "Whorns" for nothing

Neither DeLoss Dodds or the Texas fans want to lose their position of power in the Big 12, but when the league topples, and they can't attract huge TV dollars, they will bolt to the SEC. UT fans will hate being in a league where they will get whipped like puppies on a regular basis, but that is the reality of college athletic budgets. There is NEVER enough money, especially when you throw it at coaches the way they throw it at Mack.

[gostangs]

Sorry - I disagree. UT thinks they are big enough and control enough area by themselves to just reconsitute the Big 12 and negotiate better splits for themselves - and they are right. Some of the biggest TV markets for college football in the country are in Texas - and UT basically controls access to those markets. The SEC and the PAC aint getting them - UT will go it alone before they become "one of 16" with a bunch of southern dummies or wine sippin left coasters in control of their budget. UT is much more likely to make a bunch of new schools kiss the ring and take a lesser split then to cede control of Dallas, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio TV market dough to some other conference then the one they think they invented. Big 12 will continue, does the best with what they can to replace the canadians, and then UT strikes a over weighted deal and lets everyone else fight over the remainder. We would kiss the ring for years before we complained about it - as would all the others.

And by the way - it wont be that hard to replace Nebraska and Missouri from a TV perspective.

[Topper]

Sorry - I disagree. UT thinks they are big enough and control enough area by themselves to just reconsitute the Big 12 and negotiate better splits for themselves - and they are right. Some of the biggest TV markets for college football in the country are in Texas - and UT basically controls access to those markets. The SEC and the PAC aint getting them - UT will go it alone before they become "one of 16" with a bunch of southern dummies or wine sippin left coasters in control of their budget. UT is much more likely to make a bunch of new schools kiss the ring and take a lesser split then to cede control of Dallas, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio TV market dough to some other conference then the one they think they invented. Big 12 will continue, does the best with what they can to replace the canadians, and then UT strikes a over weighted deal and lets everyone else fight over the remainder. We would kiss the ring for years before we complained about it - as would all the others.

And by the way - it wont be that hard to replace Nebraska and Missouri from a TV perspective.

You may be right about UT feeling that it can weight a weakened Big 12 deal to their advantage, but Missouri has 2 of the 4 biggest TV markets in Big 12 territory (Dallas and Houston being the two biggest). And don't forget that Colorado very well might leave. In that case, the Big 12 loses 3 of its biggest 5 markets.

[East Coast Mustang]

Sorry - I disagree. UT thinks they are big enough and control enough area by themselves to just reconsitute the Big 12 and negotiate better splits for themselves - and they are right. Some of the biggest TV markets for college football in the country are in Texas - and UT basically controls access to those markets. The SEC and the PAC aint getting them - UT will go it alone before they become "one of 16" with a bunch of southern dummies or wine sippin left coasters in control of their budget. UT is much more likely to make a bunch of new schools kiss the ring and take a lesser split then to cede control of Dallas, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio TV market dough to some other conference then the one they think they invented. Big 12 will continue, does the best with what they can to replace the canadians, and then UT strikes a over weighted deal and lets everyone else fight over the remainder. We would kiss the ring for years before we complained about it - as would all the others.

But isn't the point of these conference realignment cycles to better position yourself in terms of revenue and exposure, if possible? Why would Texas willingly stay in a second tier conference when they could go to the SEC or Pac-10 and make more money, which is what all of this is about anyways? Even in the SEC, they'd be one of the fat cats, along with Bama, Florida, et al. Same with the Pac-10. They're going to be a power player wherever they go. I just don't see how staying in a drastically weakened conference with the likes of Baylor, Iowa State, and newcomers like Colorado State or BYU could possibly be considered beneficial to them, all things considered.

[Topper]

I live within a stone's throw of the UT campus and have numerous connections with the powers that be in the administration and the Longhorn Foundation. I have no information about what is going on in the high level offices regarding this issue, but I am amazed at the amount of denial this town exhibits in the face of repeated reports that the Big 12 might implode. The attitude among the UT people is that Missouri and Nebraska would be crazy to leave a conference containing UT. The top newspaper columnist here actually believes that if Missouri bolts to the Big 10 Arkansas would love to take their place in the Big 12 and that all would be fine. Incredible.

[East Coast Mustang]

I live within a stone's throw of the UT campus and have numerous connections with the powers that be in the administration and the Longhorn Foundation. I have no information about what is going on in the high level offices regarding this issue, but I am amazed at the amount of denial this town exhibits in the face of repeated reports that the Big 12 might implode. The attitude among the UT people is that Missouri and Nebraska would be crazy to leave a conference containing UT. The top newspaper columnist here actually believes that if Missouri bolts to the Big 10 Arkansas would love to take their place in the Big 12 and that all would be fine. Incredible.

The Arkansas-to-the-Big 12 rumors have always killed me. Yea, I'm sure the UA brass is just itching at the opportunity to make less money while playing the likes of Iowa State, Kansas State, and/or Baylor every year. Their fans would revolt UT-Lane Kiffin style.

[HB Pony Dad]

From LA Times today...

Pac-10, Big 12 commissioners continue alliance discussion

[ponydawg]

From LA Times today...

Pac-10, Big 12 commissioners continue alliance discussion

you say today, it says may 7th. who is lying?

[HB Pony Dad]

From LA Times today...

Pac-10, Big 12 commissioners continue alliance discussion

you say today, it says may 7th. who is lying?

My Bad!!

[huskerpony]

The attitude among the UT people is that Missouri and Nebraska would be crazy to leave a conference containing UT.

Now that is funny. UT is the sole reason why they would leave.

[go4it]

Everyone who’s talked about Texas going to the PAC Ten might find this interesting. I’d heard Mac Brown and Nick Saban were out in California on Monday filming commercials for ESPN Game day and a friend sent me this link. Skip the article and go to the video clip.

http://blog.al.com/ray-melick/2010/05/m ... xpans.html

[huskerpony]

Well kids, looks like this all goes down in the next 6 weeks.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=5184715

Leaving the Big 12 wouldn't come without a cost. Under conference rules, Missouri could have left without penalty had it given the league two years notice by June 2009.

Now, a "breaching member" wanting to withdraw would owe the Big 12 a payment equal to 80 percent of its two-year conference revenues if notice is given by June 30. The penalty increases to 90 percent before the end of the year or 100 percent is notice isn't given until 2011.