Any comment from the Big 12?

[fan]

Love the approach from Steve Orsini but I'm sure some "cub reporter" called up the Big 12 offices today looking for some type of quote about our position. The fact that there has been no follow-up from all the press yesterday is kind of telling.

[RyanSMU98]

Big 12 is going to keep their mouths shut until they sort out the whole A&M thing and are ready to make some kind of move. Best you'll get is a generic "we are keeping all options open and exploring what is best for our members" kind of statement. There is momentum in both directions simultaneously right now (one school trying to get out, and x number trying to get in), and they need to figure out how they want to play it before they can even begin to come up with a viable comment that gives any insight. Regardless, the fact that SMU made such a bold statement, did it with administration backing, and it was taken seriously speaks volumes to the leaps forward we have taken. We are getting national exposure and making a strong argument; we really have very little to lose right now. Ride the media train as far as it will take us, win a signature game, and this could be a really interesting year.

[GRGB]

The Big 12 Conference issued the following statement Thursday afternoon:

“The letter received today from Texas A&M president R. Bowen Loftin will be addressed by the Big 12 Conference Board of Directors. It remains our strong desire for Texas A&M to continue as a member of the Big 12 and we are working toward that end. However, if it is decided otherwise, the Conference is poised to move aggressively with options.”

[Mexmustang]

There was a last minute addition to that announcement, "...assuming we get clearance from Austin"

[smupony94]

Big 12 convenes but has nothing definitive to say

By Suzanne Halliburton | Saturday, August 27, 2011, 04:35 PM

The Big 12 board of directors conducted a teleconference Saturday regarding A&M’s letter asking what it would take to leave the league.

But after the meeting, Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe had nothing definitive to say.

He issued the following statement: “The Big 12 Conference members have been and will continue to conduct meetings related to the situation with Texas A&M and conference membership. There will be public statements as appropriate and necessary if and when action is taken.”

So, given the lack of a statement, no action was taken.

At issue is how much the Aggies would have to pay to leave the Big 12 without proper notice. Conference bylaws call for a payment of 90 percent of what a school would have received in two years of revenue. The Aggies got $11 million from the Big 12 for 2010-11. And they were set to make $20 million for the upcoming academic year.

However, both Nebraska and Colorado were allowed to negotiate the settlement a year ago.

[Water Pony]

NY Times Blog

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

August 27, 2011, 5:29 pm
Texas A&M Close to Leaving Big 12
By PETE THAMEL

Texas A&M’s time as a member of the Big 12 is all but over. In a conference call Saturday that included the Big 12’s university presidents, R. Bowen Loftin, the president of Texas A&M, essentially said that the Aggies were leaving, and there was nothing the Big 12 could do to keep them, according to a person with first-hand knowledge of the call.

Multiple presidents on the call used the words “amicable divorce” when discussing the Aggies departure. That would seem to suggest that there will not be any protracted legal wrangling. Paramount in the negotiations to free Texas A&M from the conference is the university’s buy out, which is estimated in $15 million range. While no specific timetable was discussed, the feeling on the call was that it the Aggies’ departure could happen as soon as the end of next week.

The Big 12’s expansion committee has already spoken by telephone multiple times and has a wish list of Notre Dame, Arkansas and Brigham Young to replace Texas A&M as its 10th member. Notre Dame and Arkansas are considered long shots. Another name mentioned for the first time on the call was Pittsburgh, which is about 700 miles and 3 states removed from the nearest Big 12 school.

Once Texas A&M negotiates its way out of the Big 12, it will have to apply to join the Southeastern Conference, its new destination. Once the SEC is satisfied that they are in no danger of being sued by the Big 12, Texas A&M is believed to have enough support from the SEC university presidents to enter the league. If things go smoothly, Texas A&M’s first season in the SEC could be 2012

[leopold]

Pittsburg?! Flippin' Pitt?!

Jesus, this has gone too far.

The Big XII right now is simply running the numbers, trying to figure out which school will bring the most bang for the buck. When they figure out who brings the most money, they'll let us know.

[redpony]

Or hopefully, will cost them the least.

GO PONIES!!!

[NomAnor]

I heard a rumor that they have PITT in their sights

[smupony94]

I heard a rumor that they have PITT in their sights

Only if ND comes.

[lwjr]

ESPN reporting A&M makes announcement within the week.

[ponyboy]

Opportunity. It's always about opportunity.

[Dutch]

I heard a rumor that they have PITT in their sights

pitt is in a BCS conf. doesn't make sense. especially since they are in a much more winnable conf. much easier to run the table in the big E than the big12.

oh, and talk about Arkansas leaving the SEC is laughable, and ND is such a cop-out 'we want the best' move. ND is mediocre at best lately, and they don't need a conf. when they decide they want one, the BE & B10 are ready w/ open arms.

[skyscraper]

Pitt is ridiculous. Whoever had that idea is smoking something.
Arkansas is laughable.
ND is the most realistic out of that bunch, and that's not saying much.

[Dutch]

Pitt is ridiculous. Whoever had that idea is smoking something.
Arkansas is laughable.
ND is the most realistic out of that bunch, and that's not saying much.

yeah, what i said.