NCAA Conference Realignment

[Jon]

OrangeBloods.com is apparently reporting a "stalemate" between Texas and Texas A&M due to some in-fighting at A&M.

[snoodmonger]

Pac-10 allegedly stopping at CU. (per ESPN)

 

Boone Pickens paying lip service to staying in the Big 12, saying he values loyalty too much to abandon KU, KSU, ISU. Leaving the conference doesn't sit well with him. (verified)

 

Texas and aTm back to reconsidering staying with the Big 12. aTm doesn't want to go to the Pac-10 and would prefer the SEC if they break away from the Big 12. UT doesn't want SEC teams having better inroads into Texas recruiting. (rumor)

 

It might be either Big 10 or stand pat for the Texas schools. (rumor)

 

Sounds like a slim chance the Big 12 lives to see another day.

 

ETA: Just read UT and Tech want to go to the p10 regardless of aTm.

Edited June 11, 2010 by snoodmonger

[Andy]

I'm not sure why the Pac-10 would stop at CU, but the easy solution would seem to be for the Big 12 to grab two of BYU/TCU/Utah/Houston and then the MWC to add Boise to keep itself viable.

[Old Style]

OrangeBloods.com is apparently reporting a "stalemate" between Texas and Texas A&M due to some in-fighting at A&M.

OB is a mouthpiece for the texas AD. Don't believe anything they say about A&M. The horns are worried about us going to the SEC so they are threatening to stop playing us in all sports if we go there. They're nothing more than bullies and we are about to call their bluff.

[NeifiIsMyHomeBoy]

OrangeBloods.com is apparently reporting a "stalemate" between Texas and Texas A&M due to some in-fighting at A&M.

OB is a mouthpiece for the texas AD. Don't believe anything they say about A&M. The horns are worried about us going to the SEC so they are threatening to stop playing us in all sports if we go there. They're nothing more than bullies and we are about to call their bluff.

 

Do what is best for your school and your fans. In my mind the SEC is a lot better fit for A&M because of geography. The money should not be significantly different for A&M in the SEC as opposed to the Pac 10 (16?), and it will be better for Aggie fans. I would think the Aggies have enough pull in the State Legislature to mandate a game between A&M and Texas, but I really have no clue.

[SouthSideRyan]

OrangeBloods.com is apparently reporting a "stalemate" between Texas and Texas A&M due to some in-fighting at A&M.

OB is a mouthpiece for the texas AD. Don't believe anything they say about A&M. The horns are worried about us going to the SEC so they are threatening to stop playing us in all sports if we go there. They're nothing more than bullies and we are about to call their bluff.

 

Do what is best for your school and your fans. In my mind the SEC is a lot better fit for A&M because of geography. The money should not be significantly different for A&M in the SEC as opposed to the Pac 10 (16?), and it will be better for Aggie fans. I would think the Aggies have enough pull in the State Legislature to mandate a game between A&M and Texas, but I really have no clue.

 

I fully endorse your encouraging of A&M to the SEC so we can have Texas and ND for 14.

[Jon]

OrangeBloods.com is apparently reporting a "stalemate" between Texas and Texas A&M due to some in-fighting at A&M.

OB is a mouthpiece for the texas AD. Don't believe anything they say about A&M. The horns are worried about us going to the SEC so they are threatening to stop playing us in all sports if we go there. They're nothing more than bullies and we are about to call their bluff.

Oh, I'm 70% certain that Texas is primarily using him for negotiating leverage and saving face politically.. He's just one of the few people actually saying anything at this point.

 

Here's a Penn State fan's interpretation of it, which I think is quite plausible:

 

So Delaney and Powers plan would have been to pick off Nebraska, a willing party if there ever was one, and a fairly big splash. Texas postures like there's no way to save the Big 12. The Pac 10 offers the whole lot of them, except Colorado over Baylor. The Texas 4 is now split up with no way of saving it. TTech is the problem, you can still take the other 3 to the west. But A&M postures to the SEC, and flat out refuses the Pac 10, A&M was the solution to the Tech problem. It's looking like A&M and Texas are going to divorce. But Texas steps in and arranges a deal with the Big 10 to keep A&M and Texas together, coming out looking like the good guy politically. Too bad for Tech, but there was no way to keep UT, TT, and A&M all together, and UT thought the A&M connection was more important. Now, Oklahoma's out there floundering, and the Pac 10 swoops in to extend a lifeline, perhaps even snatching Ok State or Kansas or someone like that.

[Old Style]

From what I hear from my A&M sources, there is ZERO chance we go to the Big 10.

[Jon]

An NU fan's summary of the Northwestern Rivals poster's story and predictions (italics):

 

 

Though this is only my interpretation of what PBC has laid out here is my summary of the events thus far, and what lays ahead (italicized).

 

Bringing Texas home:

1. UT and B10 have eyes for each other from the start.

2. April 18th, AAU conference - many side meetings occur on expansion including discussions with Nebraska, UT, Mizzou, Rutgers at least.

3. April 20th - email between Gordon Gee and Delany, discussing need to call Bill Powers to discuss Tech problem.

4. Leaks that Mizzou and Nebraska are heading to the B10

5. Texas arranges with Larry Scott Texas 6 to Pac 16 proposal and delivers ultimatum to Nebraska and Mizzou. Reported by Chip Brown as a way to force NEB and Mizzou back into the fold and save the Big 12, and also shows that Texas is prepared to take care of her little sisters

6. TX legislature and TX talk about substituting Baylor for CU. Again, looks like TX is being the repsponsible one.

7. CU, who has been coveted by the PacX all along, accepts invite to join the Pac-10. Kills Texas schools staying together.

8. NEB accepts B10 offer to join, calling TX bluff. TX looks like it was the failed hero who tried to save the Big 12.

9. Texas 6 fails to move to PacX as Chip Brown reported they would if Nebraska called the offer.

10. Rumors that SEC is courting TAMU and OU (not rumors, true).

11. Texas claiming they did everything they could to save Big 12, but it's failed. Starts talks with TAMU (reported by Chip Brown to discuss whether to continue with the Big 12 or to go to the PacX). Baylor and Tech NOT included.

12. KC station reports Texas and TAMU petitioning to join the Big 10. Actually, TAMU still considering SEC to break away from big brother.

 

13. Texas would rather TAMU stays together, but OTOH, TAMU going to SEC on it's own first, gives UT all it needs to ditch other little sisters, to look after own interests and go to the B10 alone. Alternatively, Texas will appease Governor of TX requirement by "brokering" a deal preset months ago to get TAMU and TX into the Big 10. Either way, they will get 4X the TV money they get in the B12, 2X what they would get in the PacX, and CIC affilaition which could net increases of hundreds of millions in federal research funding if Penn State's experience after joining the B10 is any indication. They happen also to play in a conference with the top 5 winningest programs in the history of the game (if ND also joins) and they rid themselves of any affilation with non-AAU schools that have disgusted them since the SWC days.

14. PacX picks off the best wounded remaining from the Big 12, including Kansas (and probably Kansas State). They also get a network deal brokered by Delany with Fox (who runs the B10 network).

15. PacX network and BTN are bundled to land in basic cable carriage across a MASSIVE footprint stretching from the Pacific to at least Pennsylvania, Canada to Mexico. PacX gets lower cut of royalties, but both parties get upside they couldn't have gotten alone. Rose Bowl is truly the Granddaddy of them all.

 

The Campaign for Notre Dame:

1. Lots of hints that B10 will go after BE schools. Pitt, Syracuse, Rutgers named as high potential candidates

2. JoePa and others talking about how they want to go East

3. Randy Edsall says they need to give ND an ultimatum

4. Rumors of Rutgers and other BE schools on verge of getting an invite.

5. Somewhere, Delany and Tranghese talk. Delany cuts a deal - at some point, BE needs to push ND away, in return B10 will not raid the rest of the BE and leave it intact

5. B10 is courting ND, setting the stage. Texas gets involved, and the schools develop a warm relationship. ND private jet is sighted in Austin. There is talk about creating a super conference with TX and ND set up as protected rivals, adding an annual marquis non-Midwest conference matchup in important recruiting country. ND talks about multiple conditions, including sufficient OOC scheduling to maintain a national schedule.

6. B10 makes it clear that championship game will not be pursued. Instead current rotation model will continue all teams will get 13th game - this gives more BTN programming (and ad $$$s) but also helps to address ND's desire for 5 OOC games.

7. June 10, ND and BE rumored to be in discussions on forcing ND to choose football membership in the BE or get the hell out (sweetheart deal with BE taken off the table as planned)

8. Chip Brown still reporting that Texas 5 (without possibly TAMU) are heading to the PacX. And that this could result in 4 mega-conferences with champions playing a playoff for the national title (meaning ND would be locked out). Well done Chip. Will the Irish blink and pull the trigger?

 

9. At some point UT makes it clear their intention (to ND, not necessarily to the public). With Nebraska and Texas in the fold, BE no longer offering the sweetheart deal, all of a sudden, the new Big 10, with the other 4 Top 5 winningest programs in college football in line, looks really good and slightly less regional. Plus, there is the CIC that delivers academic prestige and research money as a bonus (which ND faculty have overwhemingly been craving). If they pull the trigger now, the Big10 stands pat at 14 schools (15 if TAMU comes).

10. If ND balks still, the deal with the BE is off. B10 will take Rutgers to access the NYC DMA and either one other BE or ACC school and put more pressure on the Big East to crumble (if an ACC school, ACC will likely raid BE (bye bye Syracuse) to replace, pushing ND again towards the B10.

11. With B10 at 15 schools, and all other conferences moving to 16 school mega-conferences (ACC will be raided by SEC for Va Tech at least, possibly up to 2 others (OU will have already joined), and subsequently the remaining ACC schools ravage/merge with the remainder of the Big East), ND is on the verge of being left out of the national championship (champions of each conference are the semi-finalists). They have no choice but to join a conference, and there is no question who is the belle of the ball.

 

[NeifiIsMyHomeBoy]

An NU fan's summary of the Northwestern Rivals poster's story and predictions (italics):

 

 

Though this is only my interpretation of what PBC has laid out here is my summary of the events thus far, and what lays ahead (italicized).

 

Bringing Texas home:

1. UT and B10 have eyes for each other from the start.

2. April 18th, AAU conference - many side meetings occur on expansion including discussions with Nebraska, UT, Mizzou, Rutgers at least.

3. April 20th - email between Gordon Gee and Delany, discussing need to call Bill Powers to discuss Tech problem.

4. Leaks that Mizzou and Nebraska are heading to the B10

5. Texas arranges with Larry Scott Texas 6 to Pac 16 proposal and delivers ultimatum to Nebraska and Mizzou. Reported by Chip Brown as a way to force NEB and Mizzou back into the fold and save the Big 12, and also shows that Texas is prepared to take care of her little sisters

6. TX legislature and TX talk about substituting Baylor for CU. Again, looks like TX is being the repsponsible one.

7. CU, who has been coveted by the PacX all along, accepts invite to join the Pac-10. Kills Texas schools staying together.

8. NEB accepts B10 offer to join, calling TX bluff. TX looks like it was the failed hero who tried to save the Big 12.

9. Texas 6 fails to move to PacX as Chip Brown reported they would if Nebraska called the offer.

10. Rumors that SEC is courting TAMU and OU (not rumors, true).

11. Texas claiming they did everything they could to save Big 12, but it's failed. Starts talks with TAMU (reported by Chip Brown to discuss whether to continue with the Big 12 or to go to the PacX). Baylor and Tech NOT included.

12. KC station reports Texas and TAMU petitioning to join the Big 10. Actually, TAMU still considering SEC to break away from big brother.

 

13. Texas would rather TAMU stays together, but OTOH, TAMU going to SEC on it's own first, gives UT all it needs to ditch other little sisters, to look after own interests and go to the B10 alone. Alternatively, Texas will appease Governor of TX requirement by "brokering" a deal preset months ago to get TAMU and TX into the Big 10. Either way, they will get 4X the TV money they get in the B12, 2X what they would get in the PacX, and CIC affilaition which could net increases of hundreds of millions in federal research funding if Penn State's experience after joining the B10 is any indication. They happen also to play in a conference with the top 5 winningest programs in the history of the game (if ND also joins) and they rid themselves of any affilation with non-AAU schools that have disgusted them since the SWC days.

14. PacX picks off the best wounded remaining from the Big 12, including Kansas (and probably Kansas State). They also get a network deal brokered by Delany with Fox (who runs the B10 network).

15. PacX network and BTN are bundled to land in basic cable carriage across a MASSIVE footprint stretching from the Pacific to at least Pennsylvania, Canada to Mexico. PacX gets lower cut of royalties, but both parties get upside they couldn't have gotten alone. Rose Bowl is truly the Granddaddy of them all.

 

The Campaign for Notre Dame:

1. Lots of hints that B10 will go after BE schools. Pitt, Syracuse, Rutgers named as high potential candidates

2. JoePa and others talking about how they want to go East

3. Randy Edsall says they need to give ND an ultimatum

4. Rumors of Rutgers and other BE schools on verge of getting an invite.

5. Somewhere, Delany and Tranghese talk. Delany cuts a deal - at some point, BE needs to push ND away, in return B10 will not raid the rest of the BE and leave it intact

5. B10 is courting ND, setting the stage. Texas gets involved, and the schools develop a warm relationship. ND private jet is sighted in Austin. There is talk about creating a super conference with TX and ND set up as protected rivals, adding an annual marquis non-Midwest conference matchup in important recruiting country. ND talks about multiple conditions, including sufficient OOC scheduling to maintain a national schedule.

6. B10 makes it clear that championship game will not be pursued. Instead current rotation model will continue all teams will get 13th game - this gives more BTN programming (and ad $$$s) but also helps to address ND's desire for 5 OOC games.

7. June 10, ND and BE rumored to be in discussions on forcing ND to choose football membership in the BE or get the hell out (sweetheart deal with BE taken off the table as planned)

8. Chip Brown still reporting that Texas 5 (without possibly TAMU) are heading to the PacX. And that this could result in 4 mega-conferences with champions playing a playoff for the national title (meaning ND would be locked out). Well done Chip. Will the Irish blink and pull the trigger?

 

9. At some point UT makes it clear their intention (to ND, not necessarily to the public). With Nebraska and Texas in the fold, BE no longer offering the sweetheart deal, all of a sudden, the new Big 10, with the other 4 Top 5 winningest programs in college football in line, looks really good and slightly less regional. Plus, there is the CIC that delivers academic prestige and research money as a bonus (which ND faculty have overwhemingly been craving). If they pull the trigger now, the Big10 stands pat at 14 schools (15 if TAMU comes).

10. If ND balks still, the deal with the BE is off. B10 will take Rutgers to access the NYC DMA and either one other BE or ACC school and put more pressure on the Big East to crumble (if an ACC school, ACC will likely raid BE (bye bye Syracuse) to replace, pushing ND again towards the B10.

11. With B10 at 15 schools, and all other conferences moving to 16 school mega-conferences (ACC will be raided by SEC for Va Tech at least, possibly up to 2 others (OU will have already joined), and subsequently the remaining ACC schools ravage/merge with the remainder of the Big East), ND is on the verge of being left out of the national championship (champions of each conference are the semi-finalists). They have no choice but to join a conference, and there is no question who is the belle of the ball.

 

So from what I can tell Mizzou is the school that gets screwed in this scenario?

[Ding Dong Johnson]

From what I hear from my A&M sources, there is ZERO chance we go to the Big 10.

glad that's settled

[Jon]

So from what I can tell Mizzou is the school that gets screwed in this scenario?

Really hard to say. There's 4 big scenarios: Texas and Notre Dame join the Big Ten, Texas joins, Notre Dame joins, or neither join. One of the problems for the "secondary" targets like Missouri is that the Texas and Notre Dame decisions aren't going to happen at the same time, most likely. So there are different ways each of those big scenarios can play out.

[snoodmonger]

2. Your school started this by lifting its skirt and wafting its muff scent over to the Big 10 in the first place.

 

Not really. Mizzou had nothing to do with the Big 10 deciding to expand.

 

 

I know it isn't technically Missouri's fault. I'm sure all of this has been in the works for a while. But from a public perception standpoint, Missouri flashing its boobs at anyone who will look was the first and strongest outward facing sign of Big 12 fragility. And it certainly opened the door for other schools to start "exploring options" without looking disloyal and taking a PR blast.

 

Likely, all this happens with out Missouri being the lipsticked whore that it is. (The Big 12 was a conference with great teams but a terrible conference set-up, bad contract, and miserable footprint from a TV set perspective.) But Missouri drunkenly stumbling around the party making out with every dude who'd have a go at her didn't help at all.

 

Still, I really wouldn't worry about Missouri being left out in the cold in all this. Maybe it doesn't make it into the Big 10 (maybe it does), but all the things that made it a viable candidate in that scenario (AAU, flagship school, populated state) will make it a viable candidate in other scenarios.

[Jon]

purple book cat[/url]"]6/11 Morning Update from the office:

 

Had an update this morning. Same story as yesterday, Missouri must convince Texas & A&M to come to the conference for Mizzou to get an invite, while the Big East schools must pressure Notre Dame to either join fully (which it won't do) or leave the conference.

 

It was rumored earlier that it would only take Texas for Missouri to get the invite.

 

Interesting strategy overall with the Big East if it plays out this way. But considering their situation and lack of leverage, they're in a win/win. Either Notre Dame goes all in or they push Notre Dame to the Big Ten and not get raided.

 

I wish Texas A&M would hurry up. I can't take much more of this.

[Old Style]

purple book cat[/url]"]6/11 Morning Update from the office:

 

Had an update this morning. Same story as yesterday, Missouri must convince Texas & A&M to come to the conference for Mizzou to get an invite, while the Big East schools must pressure Notre Dame to either join fully (which it won't do) or leave the conference.

 

I wish Texas A&M would hurry up. I can't take much more of this.

Where is that quote from?

[Jon]

Where is that quote from?

He's the guy who has claimed he's getting his info straight from someone inside the Big Ten office. The summary I posted earlier in the spoiler tags is based entirely on this guy's reports.

[Jon]

And he edited it:

 

purple book cat[/url]"]---6/11 Morning Update from the office:

 

Had an update this morning. Same story as yesterday, Missouri must convince Texas & A&M to come to the conference for Mizzou to get an invite, while the Big East schools must pressure Notre Dame to either join fully (which it won't do) or leave the conference. Big Ten may move forward with Texas and ND only, but Texas must ensure that it has done whatever it can to ensure its former Big Twelve partners find a good home. Texas administration is internally divided, and Orangebloods is connected to only one side of the conversation - the side that has not been involved with the strategy all along.

[Old Style]

Where is that quote from?

He's the guy who has claimed he's getting his info straight from someone inside the Big Ten office. The summary I posted earlier in the spoiler tags is based entirely on this guy's reports.

I'll check again with my sources, but I would be absolutely shocked if A&M ended up in the Big 10 after what I've heard recently.

[Andy]

Joe Schad just Tweeted that Boise's joining the Mountain West.

[Guest]

And he edited it:

 

purple book cat[/url]"]---6/11 Morning Update from the office:

 

Had an update this morning. Same story as yesterday, Missouri must convince Texas & A&M to come to the conference for Mizzou to get an invite, while the Big East schools must pressure Notre Dame to either join fully (which it won't do) or leave the conference. Big Ten may move forward with Texas and ND only, but Texas must ensure that it has done whatever it can to ensure its former Big Twelve partners find a good home. Texas administration is internally divided, and Orangebloods is connected to only one side of the conversation - the side that has not been involved with the strategy all along.

 

 

So is the thinking that they continually want the non-ND number to be odd to leave the spot for them?

 

And Snood, I think you're confusing people who actually belong to the university with politicians. No one with authority to speak for Mizzou has said anything besides "we're happy to be a part of the Big 12".

[Jon]

Where is that quote from?

He's the guy who has claimed he's getting his info straight from someone inside the Big Ten office. The summary I posted earlier in the spoiler tags is based entirely on this guy's reports.

I'll check again with my sources, but I would be absolutely shocked if A&M ended up in the Big 10 after what I've heard recently.

The report makes it seem like it's 50/50 as to what A&M will do. The invitation along with Texas is there for A&M. But either way, according to him, Texas would end up in the Big Ten.

[Jon]

And he edited it:

 

purple book cat[/url]"]---6/11 Morning Update from the office:

 

Had an update this morning. Same story as yesterday, Missouri must convince Texas & A&M to come to the conference for Mizzou to get an invite, while the Big East schools must pressure Notre Dame to either join fully (which it won't do) or leave the conference. Big Ten may move forward with Texas and ND only, but Texas must ensure that it has done whatever it can to ensure its former Big Twelve partners find a good home. Texas administration is internally divided, and Orangebloods is connected to only one side of the conversation - the side that has not been involved with the strategy all along.

 

 

So is the thinking that they continually want the non-ND number to be odd to leave the spot for them?

 

And Snood, I think you're confusing people who actually belong to the university with politicians. No one with authority to speak for Mizzou has said anything besides "we're happy to be a part of the Big 12".

It could be that it's either Texas, Texas A&M, Missouri, and Notre Dame to make it 16 or Texas and Notre Dame to make it 14. But I'm not sure the even number is a must. That's not very clear. There's certainly a geographical aspect to it where if they don't land Texas, they're going to be expanding east, most likely, even though Missouri isn't much of a stretch in the current setup.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Joe Schad just Tweeted that Boise's joining the Mountain West.

 

It's up on the Boise State website too. Done deal.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Nebraska's BoR meeting is being streamed live.

http://www.huskers.com/mediaPortal/player.dbml?catid=0

[BigSlick]

The MWC is now officially a stronger conference than the Big East and the ACC, they should get an automatic bid to the BCS

 

I really like the Nebraska move to the Big Ten (though i would have also liked the assumed accompanying Mizzou move, always thought they'd fit in well) mostly because now we get to see them get curbstomped by whoever's in charge of the Big Ten every year, railed by Penn State, humiliated by Ohio State, even teams like Wisconsin and Michigan State will feast off of them. No more hiding in the Big 12 North.

 

Too bad Illinois will still probably get embarrassed for another 10 years.