Different Operating Model for Big 12

[Water Pony]

Assuming the Aggies are gone and no other raids happen (e.g. MO to SEC/Big10, PAC12 picks off some schools, BE comes begging, etc.), do recent comments that Big 12 will needs to be aggressive in replacing A&M create a new opportunity? Perhaps there is a different model which serves current members, while attracting more independent minded schools.

For example, UT, ND and BYU benefit from controlling their own brand and media platforms. OU, Missour and others aspire to the same possibilities. The first three schools feel they are entitled to benefit unilaterally for their strong national/regionally followings. Perhaps, the Big 12 should concede (as they have done so far for UT) that individual members can keep more of their own revenue, to the degree each is capable of doing. Although revenue sharing is at the heart of SEC, Big10 and PAC12, the Big 12 does not have that currently or is likely to in the future, assuming they survive with only one more departure, A&M.

Is it practical to define a conference with multiple layers of co-dependent players, each bringing value and continued independence, which directly and indirectly benefits current members and a select number of new schools, who openly knowledge the future imbalances and accept these realities?

So, can the Big 12 benefit from one more loss (Aggies) and reconstitue itself with a coalition of the willing with a looser governance model with new scheduling options? Could this attract ND and BYU? Does this appeal on a national stage to Air Force, who is a national brand and can compete within this footprint?

Lastly, by adding ND, AFA and BYU, is there room for an SMU, who could afford to be flexible financially, permitting ND, UT and BYU to showcase conference games on their own network for mutual benefit?

UT, BYU and ND have agreed to schedule each other. Could this be a foundation for a grand Big 12 Coalition?

[RednBlue11]

i was told yesterday that the primary motivation for ND to join the big 12 is not in fact money but the library system and how it is networked among big 12 schools...apparently there are many clergy and faculty pushing for that, but i guess this would be the 1st time ive heard about interest in moving w/o money being involved....and i dont really believe it, i mean how do you have two teams in a conference w/ independent TV deals?

[Water Pony]

FoxSports take: It is inevitable that the Aggies are leaving (and why is OU silent?)

http://www.foxsportssouthwest.com/08/16 ... eedID=3673

[Hoop Fan]

this is our real chance. That we can pay an entry fee AND we almost don't care how much ongoing revenue we get. It would still be an upgrade for us financially. In fact, adding us might be accretive to the conference because we could help them get a championship game without diluting the pot. Yeah, I know that UT and OU don't really want a champ game, but at this point they have no choice. The Big 12 has to increase its visibility nationally again especially after this black eye over A&M.

Really, we need UT to be the good and benevolent king and throw us a freaking bone in the name of tradition, Bobby Layne and Doak Walker, and academic integrity. Add BYU, SMU and TCU, move the UT/OU reg season game to home and home and place permanent championship game in Dallas where UT and OU will normally meet. Having SMU and TCU ensures that every team in the South division plays a game in the Metroplex each year, and the teams from the North play here every other year.

North: Oklahoma, BYU, Missouri, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State,
South: Texas, Ok State, Texas Tech, Baylor, TCU, SMU

Ha, problems solved, call me Beebe.

[WordUpBU]

i was told yesterday that the primary motivation for ND to join the big 12 is not in fact money but the library system and how it is networked among big 12 schools...apparently there are many clergy and faculty pushing for that, but i guess this would be the 1st time ive heard about interest in moving w/o money being involved....and i dont really believe it, i mean how do you have two teams in a conference w/ independent TV deals?

1- Could you elaborate on how the library system in the Big 12 would be leverage for ND vs the B10 or ACC?

2- The TV aspect is easy. Give ND the same concessions you gave all current members for their own network (1 fb, 8 hoops, 3 or more womens hoops, anything else blacked out) and explore the opportunity for more if league foes agree to appear. It would be a tier 3 deal and ND would tie into the main deals with the league for everything else.

3- I think SMU should hope for a raided, but surviving BE. Something like Rutgers, UConn, USF, and TCU leftover rebuilding where they would need 3-4 teams and SMU, UCF, ECU, Houston, Temple, Memphis, and Nova would be the top candidates. That is a high probability of SMU getting in IMO.

The problem with the Big 12 was never competitive strength, it was tv market strength. I will be shocked if a B12 addition is from within the tv footprint despite the fact you guys are a school I really would like to add personally. (Full disclosure- Baylor fan) I see BYU (owns the #32 Market SLC and has a following throughout the west) and others as more likely.

The Big East (especially if Pitt, WVU, Louisville, and others are gone will need quality programs and SMU has shown the football commitment to give them that. It seems like a better fit when you evaluate league needs.

4- If SMU has games available that aren't getting picked up, I hear UT & ESPN are desperate for more LHN content and probably will pay high dollar.

[RednBlue11]

i was told yesterday that the primary motivation for ND to join the big 12 is not in fact money but the library system and how it is networked among big 12 schools...apparently there are many clergy and faculty pushing for that, but i guess this would be the 1st time ive heard about interest in moving w/o money being involved....and i dont really believe it, i mean how do you have two teams in a conference w/ independent TV deals?

1- Could you elaborate on how the library system in the Big 12 would be leverage for ND vs the B10 or ACC?

2- The TV aspect is easy. Give ND the same concessions you gave all current members for their own network (1 fb, 8 hoops, 3 or more womens hoops, anything else blacked out) and explore the opportunity for more if league foes agree to appear. It would be a tier 3 deal and ND would tie into the main deals with the league for everything else.

3- I think SMU should hope for a raided, but surviving BE. Something like Rutgers, UConn, USF, and TCU leftover rebuilding where they would need 3-4 teams and SMU, UCF, ECU, Houston, Temple, Memphis, and Nova would be the top candidates. That is a high probability of SMU getting in IMO. I will be shocked if a B12 addition is from within the tv footprint despite the fact you guys are a school I really would like to add personally. (Full disclosure- Baylor fan)

as i understand it, if your school is a member of the Big 12 then you have access to all of the research materials of ever school involved, vastly widening academic resources and enabling research that wouldn't have been possible otherwise

the issue w/ the TV thing is that we dont know what ND's contract involves and redoing it likely isnt as simple as you make it out to be

speaking as someone who actually knows what's going on in the BE from the inside i find your suggestion funny.

[WordUpBU]

i was told yesterday that the primary motivation for ND to join the big 12 is not in fact money but the library system and how it is networked among big 12 schools...apparently there are many clergy and faculty pushing for that, but i guess this would be the 1st time ive heard about interest in moving w/o money being involved....and i dont really believe it, i mean how do you have two teams in a conference w/ independent TV deals?

1- Could you elaborate on how the library system in the Big 12 would be leverage for ND vs the B10 or ACC?

2- The TV aspect is easy. Give ND the same concessions you gave all current members for their own network (1 fb, 8 hoops, 3 or more womens hoops, anything else blacked out) and explore the opportunity for more if league foes agree to appear. It would be a tier 3 deal and ND would tie into the main deals with the league for everything else.

3- I think SMU should hope for a raided, but surviving BE. Something like Rutgers, UConn, USF, and TCU leftover rebuilding where they would need 3-4 teams and SMU, UCF, ECU, Houston, Temple, Memphis, and Nova would be the top candidates. That is a high probability of SMU getting in IMO. I will be shocked if a B12 addition is from within the tv footprint despite the fact you guys are a school I really would like to add personally. (Full disclosure- Baylor fan)

as i understand it, if your school is a member of the Big 12 then you have access to all of the research materials of ever school involved, vastly widening academic resources and enabling research that wouldn't have been possible otherwise

the issue w/ the TV thing is that we dont know what ND's contract involves and redoing it likely isnt as simple as you make it out to be

Their contract has to have out clauses if they join a league. If not I could see the B12 agreeing to let ND keep it until it expires and then fold them into the league deal after that.

[EastStang]

Then we should be a lock for the Big XII if ND joins. We have one of the best theological libraries in the Country.

[RednBlue11]

Their contract has to have out clauses if they join a league. If not I could see the B12 agreeing to let ND keep it until it expires and then fold them into the league deal after that.

maybe...until you get a hold of a copy it's all gonna be speculation.

and i doubt ND would want that anyway, otherwise they wouldn't me making a [deleted] tone of money from thier OWN tv deal...these people don't share.

[leopold]

1- Could you elaborate on how the library system in the Big 12 would be leverage for ND vs the B10 or ACC?

Would depend on how much the school presidents have in deciding who enters and what they are looking for.
The rumor was the teachers at ND very much wanted in to the Big 10 because the academics now use athletic conferences as a way of organizing research and sharing resources somehow (don't ask me how) and the the academics wanted to be a part of that. I heard the academics in the Big 10 wanted Mizzou for the same reason.

But notice something: The Athletic question won out at both ND, who stayed indy, and the Big 10, who brought in NU, who was possibly the least acadmically qualified of all the major candidates. So the Big XII may have access to the Vatican library and not be able to convince them to join.

[NickSMU17]

Big 10 and Pc 10 share academic resources...some of these bring in more money that sports...

Research and such....

Part of the reason Northwestern holds some power there...also U of C is still academic member...

[Water Pony]

Could UT save the Big 12 the help of their new ESPN Partner? If they are struggling (unsure) to get cable operators to commit to the Longhorn Network, perhaps they should consider relabeling it as the Lone Stark Network. Bigger pie, bring in some HS games and provide a home for UT/SMU, hopefully a Big 12 conference game, and UT/Rice (a non-conference game), If UH gets in Big12, that is an option.

In summary, Lone Star Network broadens the media market and it looks less like a UT promo.

Win/win

[ericdickerson4life]

Interesting concept, the Lone Star Network. Although I doubt UT at this point would want any part of it, and if A&M leaves they wouldn't either. But think about getting all the other Texas universities together and showing games on one station. It would be pretty sweet and might actually provide some more revenue for schools like SMU, UH, and the like.

[Stallion]

There are licensing restrictions in each conference in which the schools play that make that unlikely