Conference Re-Alignment Thread Part Who Knows

[ZB9]

Re: Conference Re-Alignment Thread Part Who Knows

update from Chip Brown (Orangebloods.com)

11:30 PM - The Big 12 is Glenn Close in "Fatal Attraction" - rising up out of the bathtub.

Multiple sources confirm to Orangebloods.com that the Pac-12 notified key members of the Big 12 early Tuesday that it would not expand, causing the nine remaining members of the Big 12 to begin working feverishly to iron out differences.

No one expects Texas A&M to remain in the Big 12. A&M officials declared again Tuesday they plan leaving the Big 12 after this season (for the Southeastern Conference).

One of the first steps the nine-member Big 12 took was to notify Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe the league members want a change in leadership, sources said.

Missouri chancellor Brady Deaton led the charge on Tuesday after the Pac-12 notified Oklahoma that its members would not accept OU and Oklahoma State without Texas, sources said.

The Longhorns, who had been hoping the Big 12 could stay alive from the beginning, got the news early Tuesday from Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott that he didn't have the votes to expand.

Sources told Orangebloods.com at least six Pac-12 presidents opposed further expansion, and Larry Scott needed nine of 12 votes to approve any new additions.

Sources say Texas and Oklahoma must work out their differences, including Texas possibly making some concessions on Longhorn Network content (such as no high school highlights and possibly no conference games). Texas might even need to share some revenue from its Longhorn Network with the Sooners, sources said.

Sources said after it became clear the Pac-12 didn't have the votes to admit Oklahoma and Oklahoma State without Texas, Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Texas House Speaker Joe Straus contacted UT regents and urged them not leave the Big 12 for the Pac-12.

Texas officials couldn't immediately be reached for comment Tuesday night.

There will obviously be much more to come on this one.

Stay tuned.

[sportzbro]

Re: Conference Re-Alignment Thread Part Who Knows

JUICY!

BryanDFischer: Bryan Fischer

RT @Dave_Matter: Heard this from Big 12 school official: If Big 12 can survive, league needs to get Texas to change mind on letting in TCU.

@bamafan - haha, honestly I have no idea whats going on. seems like a grab bag situation with everyone just going in all directions...not to mention people reporting whatever they hear.

[Bamafan3723]

Re: Conference Re-Alignment Thread Part Who Knows

SU and Pitt seemed to go into panic mode in their jump to the ACC. I feel the same about Mike Slive if this deal with Missouri is true.

[ZB9]

Re: Conference Re-Alignment Thread Part Who Knows

statement from Okie President

“We were not surprised by the Pac 12′s decision to not expand at this time. Even though we had decided not to apply for membership this year, we have developed a positive relationship with the leadership of the conference and we have kept them informed of the progress we’ve been making to gain agreement from the Big 12 for changes which will make the conference more stable in the future. Conference stability has been our first goal and we look forward to achieving that goal through continued membership in the Big 12 Conference.”

[ehh]

Re: Conference Re-Alignment Thread Part Who Knows

For the ACC, it gives them a presence in the northeast more significant than the tiny Boston College. I can immediately see how it benefits them.

What does the Northeast presence really provide though? I don't see the move causing an increase in the already minimal college football interest up here. We don't care about college football, we never have and never will. Moving our crappy football programs from one crappy football conference to another won't change anything.

Hell, I'm hoping the ACC is buying into that theory because that'll increase UConn's chance of getting in. I guess at this point I'll take us playing UNC/Duke and still playing Pitt/Cuse in basketball.

The Big 10 would be the only conference that might stand a chance in establishing some kind of major presence in the Tri-State area. Michigan, OSU, Penn State etc coming to New York and Connecticut every year would certainly spike interest a hell of a lot more than FSU and a couple ex-Big East programs. I'm a casual college football fan like most up here and there isn't a single program in the ACC I'd pay to see if they came to Connecticut to play.

[Jr.]

Re: Conference Re-Alignment Thread Part Who Knows

What does the Northeast presence really provide though? I don't see the move causing an increase in the already minimal college football interest up here. We don't care about college football, we never have and never will. Moving our crappy football programs from one crappy football conference to another won't change anything.

Hell, I'm hoping the ACC is buying into that theory because that'll increase UConn's chance of getting in. I guess at this point I'll take us playing UNC/Duke and still playing Pitt/Cuse in basketball.

The Big 10 would be the only conference that might stand a chance in establishing some kind of major presence in the Tri-State area. Michigan, OSU, Penn State etc coming to New York and Connecticut every year would certainly spike interest a hell of a lot more than FSU and a couple ex-Big East programs. I'm a casual college football fan like most up here and there isn't a single program in the ACC I'd pay to see if they came to Connecticut to play.

They'll probably average 8 teams in the NCAA basketball tourney each year now. That should bring in some more revenue to the conference. There's an advantage

[ZB9]

Re: Conference Re-Alignment Thread Part Who Knows

JUICY!

BryanDFischer: Bryan Fischer

interesting...how reputable is Bryan Fischer?

[ZB9]

Re: Conference Re-Alignment Thread Part Who Knows

BYU site says looking like BIg XII:

September 20, 2011

Source: BYU Poised to Join Big 12
Brett Richins
DeepShadesofBlue.com Managing Editor

Talk about it in The Blue Zone
A source close to the situation at Brigham Young University is indicating that if the Big 12 Conference in fact holds together as now expected, BYU is highly likely to become a full member of that conference if it can be assured that the league will be stable into the future.

The source says that university and Big 12 officials were close to making an announcement of the addition of BYU to the conference following the loss of Texas A&M, but those plans were put on hold when Oklahoma president David Boren made it known that the Sooners were exploring their options with the PAC-12. That same source informed Deep Shades of Blue last year of BYU's intent to become a football independent weeks before its official announcement.

The source also informed DSB that prior to the Sooners courting of the PAC-12, the BYU Board of Trustees had authorized President Cecil O. Samuelson to move all of the school's athletic programs into the Big 12.

That authorization was granted despite concerns from high-ranking officials of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who are sensitive to relationships between the Church and the faith-based institutions of the West Coast Conference, which provided a home just last year for most of BYU's athletic teams.

On Tuesday afternoon, The Oklahoman reported that Oklahoma is now willing to consider staying in the Big 12, contingent upon the removal of current conference commissioner Dan Beebe and making other significant reforms within the conference, including rules placed on the Longhorn Network.

Then came a report Tuesday night that the PAC-12 has decided not expand.

Those reports coincided with a report that emerged from a Tuesday meeting between Big East officials, that a merger that had been discussed between the Big East and the Big 12 was now dead because of a lack of interest, with the Big East being told by schools in the Big 12 that they are committed to trying to hold their conference together.

A report from Orangebloods.com also says that a serious effort is being made by Big 12 member schools to hold the conference together, quoting one high-ranking official at a Big 12 school as saying, "The Big 12 is going to stay intact except for Texas A&M."

If the nine remaining members of the embattled conference can indeed kiss and make up, they will almost certainly move rapidly to add another school to replace the departing Texas A&M. It is not clear if the conference would immediately look to get back to 12 schools or expand even further. However, the source at BYU believes that if the Big 12 is in fact saved and solidified, adding the Cougars to the conference could happen quickly, even within a matter of days.

[sportzbro]

Re: Conference Re-Alignment Thread Part Who Knows

interesting...how reputable is Bryan Fischer?

One of the main CFB writers for CBSsports.. dude reads and reports on everything all day. Has been reporting constantly on realignageddon. Pretty solid info imo... interesting if anything. Started following him a couple weeks ago.

[ehh]

Re: Conference Re-Alignment Thread Part Who Knows

They'll probably average 8 teams in the NCAA basketball tourney each year now. That should bring in some more revenue to the conference. There's an advantage

No way, not even if they add UConn. Right now they've moved from two locks to four. UConn would give them five and I don't see three other programs in there that are tournament worthy on a consistent level over the next few years. The ACC is a complete disaster in basketball and has been for a couple of years now. From the coaches to the talent to the depth of the league - outside of Duke and UNC it's gross.

Plus, a few more tourney teams is pretty much irrelevant when talking about the financial side of things here and we all know that basketball plays no role in these conference moves.

It'll be the best basketball conference in the land for sure with Pitt/Cuse/UConn/UNC/Duke though and a lot of fun for us college basketball diehards.

[ZB9]

Re: Conference Re-Alignment Thread Part Who Knows

another Chip Brown update

MIDNIGHT - "I've been told Texas and Oklahoma officials will get together in the next week to iron out differences and pledge to at least a five-year commitment in the Big 12."

"There will be a sense of urgency to add one school and possibly more to the Big 12, sources said."

[ehh]

Re: Conference Re-Alignment Thread Part Who Knows

That'd be ridiculous if the Big 12 not only survived this whole ordeal but actually expanded.

[sportzbro]

Re: Conference Re-Alignment Thread Part Who Knows

Im looking forward to the Big 12 match-ups even more now this year... how good is OU/Texas and Texas/A&M going to be?


Also, I think BYU is a good fit along with TCU and a third to push it to 12 again. Probably not a Texas school though...AF? Colorado St.? or Boise.

[rspencer86]

Re: Conference Re-Alignment Thread Part Who Knows

BYU + TCU + anyone would be great IMO.

[sportzbro]

Re: Conference Re-Alignment Thread Part Who Knows

Fake Dan Beebe twitter cracking me up:

DanBeebe: Fake Dan Beebe

what RT @ChipBrownOB: Sources tell Orangebloods.com Big 12 schools have told commissioner Dan Beebe they want a change bit.ly/pr1ntc