The Big 12 dumped embattled Commissioner Dan Beebe on Thursday and announced a plan to bind nine member schools together by holding a huge financial hammer — their TV rights for the next six years — over their heads. The plan is far from a done deal, since it must be approved by some if not all the schools' governing bodies.

But if it sticks, any school that considers leaving the Big 12 would have to leave their TV rights — and millions of dollars — behind in a blow much more punishing than a typical exit fee.

"These are very strong handcuffs," Oklahoma President David Boren said after Big 12 university leaders met for more than an hour by telephone. "The grant of rights really does bind the conference together and it shows that we fully intend to stay together.

Handcuffs. That's what it has come to in a fractured league that seemed ready to split apart on Monday.

http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/p...s-14585257

Mizzou will stay in B12 . . sez 'No' to SEC

http://www.nola.com/sports/index.ssf/201...rtuni.html

Mizzou doesn’t commit to Big 12, SEC still an option

Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/09/22/316...z1YmmP32E3