CSNbbs

Orangeblood.com is reporting that Univ. of Texas is expected to stay in a ten member Big 12. This will probably halt conference expansion. However, if Texas A&M agrees to go to SEC then Big 12 will dissolve.

http://texas.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1094038

http://www.kansascity.com/2010/06/13/201...vival.html
COLUMBIA | Chances of the Big 12 Conference staying together are “significantly greater than 24 hours ago,” a source close to Big 12 realignment negotiations has told The Star.

The same source said a new television contract being touted by commissioner Dan Beebe could produce “significantly more” than $17 million for each of the 10 remaining Big 12 schools. Perhaps upwards of $20 million per school.

And, that a departure penalty of around $20 million withheld from Colorado and Nebraska would mean $2 million each to the remaining Big 12 members.

That, of course, is dependent on there being a Big 12 Conference beyond the 2010-11 academic year. Last week Colorado agreed to leave for the Pacific-10 Conference, and Nebraska agreed to join the Big Ten Conference. It was anticipated that Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott would make offers over the weekend to Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.

But on Sunday morning, word began to filter in to media outlets all over the Big 12 — from the Texas Rivals.com site Orangebloods to The Star — that Beebe’s efforts to halt a mass exodus from the Big 12 might be gaining at least a tenuous foothold.

A source close to the realignment negotiations suggested that Texas — the key to league survival in its present form — probably would gain concessions for “getting to play the hero.”

It was concessions to Texas — for example, in the form of uneven revenue distribution that allows schools to keep more of their money from TV appearances — on which an unstable foundation was laid when the Southwest Conference and the Big Eight Conference merged.

“There is a price,” the source said. “But the price is worth it, or it’s a price we have to pay.”

Sunday was a day of news confirmed and news denied in the case of Texas A&M.

Chad Moller, media relations director for Missouri, confirmed that a Big 12 official had informed Missouri late Sunday afternoon that Texas A&M had turned down an offer to join the Pac-10.

At about the same time, the Rivals.com site devoted to A&M athletics, Aggieyell.com, reported the Aggies had turned down the Pac-10 and they “will be the newest member of the Southeastern Conference.”

Barely had those statements been made than officials at Texas A&M denied that the Aggies had committed to the SEC or spurned the Pac-10.

Jason Cook, vice president of marketing and communications, told Orangebloods.com: “Texas A&M continues to evaluate its options. At this point, all options continue to be on the table.”

That, at least for one more day, seemed to leave open the option of Big 12 survival.

Still out there is the obvious specter of dissolution. If the Pac-10 can convince even three more of the Big 12 South schools to leave, then the Big 12‘s days are numbered.

After a one-hour special session of the MU Board of Curators — most of those involved hooked up by telephone — MU chancellor Brady Deaton emerged from University Hall and addressed a large media gathering shortly after 9 p.m. Sunday.

No votes were taken, merely MU athletic director Mike Alden briefing the curators by telephone on the current situation.

Numerous times, Deaton referred to Missouri’s commitment to helping the Big 12 remain viable.

“We continue to work in every way we can to strengthen the Big 12,” Deaton said. “We’ll be continuing discussions over the next few days.”

Asked whether he felt more optimistic about the survival of the Big 12 than he might have a few days before, Deaton said: “We’re reasonably optimistic. You’d have to be blind not to have concerns about what’s happening to the Big 12.

“That’s why it’s important to get meaningful information, knowing where we stand.”

Deaton said Missouri was maintaining daily communication with other members of the Big 12.

Alden declined an interview with The Star.

Speculation continues to list Missouri’s possible options — beyond staying in the Big 12 — as eventual inclusion in the Big Ten if it grows to 14 or 16, or possibly becoming of interest to the SEC. The Big East, if it loses members to other leagues, might welcome Missouri as well as Kansas, according to several speculative reports. And the Mountain West Conference, looking to move forward to gaining a BCS berth, has been reported to be looking into taking Missouri, Kansas, Kansas State and Iowa State.

Moller said he could neither confirm nor deny anything about realignment involving Missouri outside the Big 12.

To reach Mike DeArmond, call 816-234-4353 or send e-mail to mdearmond@kcstar.com

Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2010/06/13/201...z0qpvEkN00

Conflicting report: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=5284375

Quote:Updated: June 14, 2010, 10:38 AM ET

Sources: Departure to Pac-10 coming

By Joe Schad
ESPN

The departure of Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State to the Pac-10 is imminent, four sources within the Big 12 said Monday.

One source said commissioner Dan Beebe's last-minute plan to save the conference has "zero" chance to succeed. Another source said it is "very unlikely" to succeed.

Texas' interests in being aligned with the research opportunities and academic missions of Pac-10 schools is driving the decision, along with money.

Beebe's last-ditch plan included an emotional plea about preserving rivalries and maintaining the best welfare of the student-athlete, one source said.

Texas A&M is now most likely to join the SEC, a source within the Big 12 said. This move, in the wake of Colorado and Nebraska's departure, would further diminish the chance of Beebe's plan succeeding, one source said.

Texas' decision is expected to come no later than Tuesday. One source familiar with Texas' plans suggested a hearing on Wednesday at the Texas House of Representatives is "a nonfactor."

I just don't see how the Big XII can stay together when other conferences can offer their teams better financial terms.

The speculation in Texas is that Univ. of Texas officials know that Texas A&M is heading to the SEC. UT officials leaked information to Orangebloods.com that UT is staying in the Big 12 so it will appear that A&M caused the final breakup of the Big 12 and not UT.

AP source: Steps toward saving Big 12 at 10 teams

Published - Jun 14 2010 04:36PM EST

By JIM VERTUNO and DOUG TUCKER - AP Sports Writers

AUSTIN, Texas— The Big 12 Conference, which has lost Nebraska and Colorado within the past week, is close to moving forward with its 10 remaining schools, The Associated Press has learned.

A person with direct knowledge of discussions among the Big 12's remaining members said the University of Texas would be clear to set up its own TV network and keep all proceeds in exchange for remaining in the Big 12. The person, speaking on condition of anonymity because nothing has been finalized, stopped short of flatly predicting the league would survive, adding that details were still being worked out.

"Something could still happen," the person said Monday afternoon.

The fate of the conference born in 1996 when the Big 8 merged with four members of the Southwest Conference has been at risk for days, and Texas emerged as the key to the Big 12's survival when Nebraska (Big Ten) and Colorado (Pac-10) decided to leave over the next two years. The Pac-10 has courted Texas and other Big 12 South Division schools, while Texas A&M reportedly expressed interest in going to the Southeastern Conference barring a better offer.

Both Texas and Texas A&M are now leaning toward staying in the Big 12, the person told the AP.

"Everybody is feeling much more confident the Big 12 is going to survive," the person said. "Everybody's going to be making more money."

Big 12 officials have told member schools that the loss of the Denver television market and Nebraska would not weaken the league's negotiating position with TV networks as much as feared, the person said.

Texas, the biggest and most lucrative of the Big 12 members, has been the pied piper in the league discussions, with other schools seemingly ready to line up behind the Longhorns once the school decides where it wants its cash cow football program to compete.

Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe has reportedly told his remaining members that new television deals with a 10-team league would give league revenues a huge boost. Beebe did not return messages seeking comment Monday.

Texas A&M has represented another wild card, with school officials meeting with Pac-10 and SEC officials in recent days. If the Aggies are serious about leaving for the SEC, no matter what Texas and the others decide, would that prompt the Longhorns, Sooners and the rest to decide the Big 12 is not worth saving with only nine members?

Texas A&M regent Gene Stallings said Monday he wants the Big 12 to survive and would vote to keep the Aggies in the league if they don't get a much better offer. Stallings told The Associated Press that keeping the Big 12 together "would tickle me to death."

Stallings coached Alabama to a football national championship in 1992. He has said that if Texas A&M does move, he'd rather see the Aggies go to the SEC than the Pac-10, but his comments Monday suggested that would be a last resort.

Regents at Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State have scheduled meetings Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss conference allegiances. Stallings says he expects Texas A&M regents to meet later this week.

The Kansas Board of Regents on Monday lobbied its counterparts in Texas and Oklahoma to keep the Big 12 alive, sending a letter that said a 10-member league would be "extremely viable."

___

Tucker reported from Kansas City, Mo. AP Sports Writer Stephen Hawkins contributed to this report from Dallas.

http://www.rr.com/sports/topic/article/r...eams/full/

Per ESPN text alert:

Texas president William Powers Jr announced school will decline Pac-10 invite, will remain in Big 12

All just a big play for more jack divided 10 ways versus 12?

Now, the BE is back to being "expansion bait".

Cool...Big 10 and Big 12 can just switch names now.

But this is FAR from over. Still a lot of head games going on here.

(06-14-2010 06:11 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote: [ -> ]All just a big play for more jack divided 10 ways versus 12?

yes. quite possibly.

Utah goes to Pac 10 to make the Pac 12...

everything else is a crapshoot.

Texas A&M and Oklahoma both announced that they're also staying in the Big 10. Seemed like a foregone conclusion after UT's announcement.

So does the Big 12 expand now?

Much now depends on the Big Ten and the SEC.

If the Big Ten takes 2 or more teams from the Big East and the SEC stands pat, the rest of the Big East is in big trouble.

If the SEC steals a few of ACC teams (the more the better), there is still a chance for that ACC/Big East merger.

If the SEC and ACC stand pat, then the Big East replaces whoever he Big Ten steals with Memphis and Central Florida (that won't help revenue any).

I'd bet that Big 10 expansion is done for now, unless Notre Dame agrees to go to the Big 10, which I doubt. I think Big 10 stays at 12 for a year or two and keeps working behind the scenes for some blockbuster additions--namely 2 from the following: Notre Dame, Texas, Maryland, North Carolina or Georgia Tech. I just don't see Rutgers to the Big 10, especially now with Nebraska in the fold. Travel is just too difficult for Nebraska to places like State College, PA and northern New Jersey.

(06-14-2010 07:42 PM)vabearcat Wrote: [ -> ]Travel is just too difficult for Nebraska to places like State College, PA and northern New Jersey.

How is travel difficult to Northern NJ? Newark Airport is one of the largest and busiest airports in the country and is about 30 minutes from Rutgers.

The Big 10 is finally at 12 teams, so if they do make the move to grab Rutgers for the TV market they will have to add another to keep it even. Although they have played this long with a uneven team lineup... i just don't see you expanding again and not keeping it even. But other than Rutgers for the NY/NJ market, who do you add that adds to the TV marketing deal.?. Other than ND.

I think the B10 may be done for now as well, unless ND decides to join and if that is the case, then they will add another team. Maybe they would go to 16 at that point, but who knows. If they get ND, that really would potentially open up all the markets they want since ND is a nationwide team. Only time will tell.

I'm interested to see what the Big 12 does as well, should be interesting to see if they stay at 10 or go back to 12 and have a championship game. Big 12 coaches voted unanimously against a championship game but we all know money is what drives these conferences. Let's just say the Big 12 does expand, which teams will be there potential targets? Obviously the usual MWC suspects come to mind along with Houston but none of these schools really add anything in the form of TV markets. Adding Cincinnati and Louisville could be an interesting play since it would add two good size markets that currently have little to no Big 12 presence. Not to mention it would open up the possibility of expanding farther East if the conferences go through another alignment which I believe is imminent. The Big 12 schools save Texas, Oklahoma, and A&M (20+ million) stand to make between 14-17 million dollars annually after the alignment. That is a considerable upgrade over what Cincy currently stands to make in the BE which I believe is around 7 million. I wouldn't be surprised if the Big 12 decided to stay at 10 but the millions of dollars they make off the Big 12 championship game might be too hard to give up. If so I think a Cincy-Louisville could be a bold but ultimately beneficial move for both parties financially, however the distance and lack of history is something to think about too.