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NEWS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 2010 THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN KANSAN.COM
Trying to remember how we got here? Here's what has happened the past week:
Friday, June 4
The Big 12 held meetings in Kansas City, Mo. this week and one of the proposals that surfaced involved six members of the conference to move to the Pac-10.
Athletic Director Lew Perkins didn't attend the past three meetings because of a schedule conflict, but he is not worried about where the state of the Big 12 is headed.
"Based on a considerable amount of work by Commissioner Dan Beebe and others," Perkins said in a release Friday, "I am very encouraged as these meetings end about the strength and viability of the Big 12 Conference."
"I respect the candidness of everyone who attended these meetings. We engaged cooperatively in a positive manner to work toward the goal that I think everyone wants, and I can say that I feel very good about the future of the Big
Among the schools in consideration to join the Pac-10 are Texas, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Colorado, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.
12. We at Kansas Athletics know that the Big 12 is one of the best conferences in the country, and we are confident about its future. I appreciate all of those at KU who have worked very hard to keep the Big 12 at the forefront of intercollegiate athletics. We all must stay patient and let this process take its course, but at the end of the day I am convinced that the Big 12 will remain, as it is today, a national leader."
Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little was kept abreast on the situation as well.
"Lew has kept me informed as these meetings progressed. I share his optimism about the Big 12 and look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure a strong future for the conference."
Tuesday, June 8
The Big 12 was still intact, but its future remained shaky.
Much was discussed, but definitive answers about the future of the Big 12 were hard to come by. Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe just showed his optimism that the conference would retain its current members.
"I am comfortable," he said during a press conference following Friday's meetings. "There is a process that we're going through, but based on the conversations that we've had, I think we're in a good position."
Among the schools in consideration to join the Pac-10 are Texas, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and either Colorado or Baylor.
Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State and either Baylor or Colorado — whichever gets left out of Pac-10 talks — would have to find a new location if this Big 12 blow-
up happens. Right now, speculation has the Jayhawks going to the Mountain West or possibly to a yet-to-be formed super conference if they should be left out.
Beebe said he had several reasons to be confident that the league would remain as is, namely because of the strength the Big 12 shows every season.
"I don't blame those other conferences for looking at our institutions" he said. "They're valuable institutions with a lot of great history and tradition and could add a lot. But I think that we have a compelling case for why these 12 should stay together."
He said the Big 12 would like to explore options to expand the league, even though he said 12 teams seemed to be the appropriate number.
Wednesday, June 9
In a move that could spell the apocalypse for the Big 12 Conference, the Pac-10 is looking to extend offers for membership to Texas, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State in addition to already offering Colorado. a source familiar with the negotiations told ESPN.com's Ted Miller.
Texas legislators had been pushing for Baylor to be the sixth school included, rather than Colorado, but it is believed that the draw of the Denver television market — sixteenth largest in the country — was the deciding factor.
One Big 12 football coach told ESPN. com's Mark Schlabach that, should Nebraska accept an invitation to join the Big Ten - and it was reported earlier today that they had - it would lead to the dissolution of the Big 12, according to his athletics director and university
president.
Should the six schools receiving offers from the Pac-10 accept them - it likely hinges entirely in Texas' decision - it would be a doomsday scenario for Kansas and the other four remaining Big 12 teams, which would be left without a conference. NCAA rules state that a conference must have at least six teams with five years of playing experience together, so the remaining five would likely have to separate to find homes.
It is rumored that even if the five Big 12 South schools with offers decline, the Pac-10 will look to expand to 12 teams, with Colorado priority number one, according to a report at chicagobreakingsports.com.
Sunday, June 13
The University of Texas has likely single-handedly put a halt to conference realignment by rejecting a membership invite from the Pac-10 and committing to the Big 12.
Larry Scott, commissioner of the Pac 10 Conference, confirmed to the Dallas Morning News that the Longhorns would not be joining the Pac-10, essentially saving the Big 12 (and setting off small parties in Lawrence; Manhattan, Kans.; Ames, Iowa; Waco, Tex.; and Columbia, Mo. in the process).
In a brief phone conversation with the Morning News, Scott said:"We've been informed by University of Texas president Bill Powers that Texas will stay with the Big 12. We have not received definitive details about this decision. It is our understanding that Texas was going to meet the terms that we have
proposed."
At least three schools considering defection - Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State - will follow Texas in whatever decision it makes.
The Morning News is also reporting that, under Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe's plan to save the conference, Texas A&M will also remain in the Big 12, negating recent serious flirtations with the SEC.
Beebe told the 10 remaining Big 12 schools that, upon the conference's renewal of its television contract in 2011, the schools will see an increase in revenue distribution from as little as $7 million per school to $17 million per school each year.
Corey Thibodeaux and Tim Dwyer