If you were Beebe for a day . . .

[Incyte]

who would you informally contact?

My assumptions are: (1) Missouri and Nebraska will be leaving, (2) Colorado is not leaving, (3) Texas will not be leaving and (4) Texas has no interest in allowing old SWC (other than Arkansas) from joining.

My rank:

(1) Nebraska and Missouri: I would at least try to get them to stay and check whether Texas is willing to make any concessions. Doubtful but you have to at least try to reach out.

(2) Arkansas and TBD: Arkansas been rumored before and it's a great geographic fit.

(3) Pitt and West Virginia: If the Big East implodes, it's proably worth calling the two best football schools left. The Pennsylvania market would by HUGE for the B12. I would welcome both of these schools to the B12 North with arms wide open.

(4) Utah and Boise State/BYU: I'd rather have BYU but I'm note sure if two Utah schools makes sense.

(5) Louisville and Memphis: Not crazy about the city schools but it would probably work.

Other opitions I would consider:

(6) Merge with Pac-10 if you can but rarely play each other other than in championships (similar to NL/AL in baseball)

(7) Stay at 10 and go East/West instead of North/South for competitive balance.

[cloneu]

My order would be:
1. Hope Missouri/Nebraska stay but would expect them to be gone.
2. Arkansas, worth a shot
3. Utah
4. BYU

Either way the Big 12 should be able to pick up Utah and another team of their choosing and there will not be much of a dip in talent. The Big 12 can not stay at 10 as they would not be able to have a Championship game.

[cyclonedave25]

The first thing I'd do is try to find a way to pull my head outta my ***.

[djcubby]

who would you informally contact?

All of the Big12 AD's and let them know I was going to resign.

[Tank]

What about Tulsa as an option? I read on here of people talking about schools like Memphis, Louisville, Cinci, TCU, Houston and even Northern Illinois but no talk of Tulsa. They have been a pretty good team over the years and are located in Oklahoma so that fits geographically also.

So, if Mizzou, Nebraska and Colorado were to leave, I would try to get Arkansas, Tulsa and TCU and make the Big 12 regions be:

North:
ISU
KSU
Kansas
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
Tulsa

South:
Texas
Texas A&M
TCU
Baylor
Texas Tech
Arkansas


Tulsa
2009: 4-7
2008: 11-3
2007: 10-4
2006: 8-5
2005: 9-4
2004: 4-8
2003: 8-5

Any thoughts on Tulsa in the Big 12?

[1100011CS]

The first thing I'd do is try to find a way to pull my head outta my ***.

[pyrocyz]

Don't think you would want to split up OU and Texas. Red River Rivalry is important. I would think that pseudo East-west alignment might be better.

East
ISU
KU
KSU
Tulsa
Arkansas
TCU

West
TT
BU
UT
OSU
OU
T AM

[Tank]

Don't think you would want to split up OU and Texas. Red River Rivalry is important. I would think that pseudo East-west alignment might be better.

East
ISU
KU
KSU
Tulsa
Arkansas
TCU

West
TT
BU
UT
OSU
OU
T AM

I thought of that also but I think the Red River Rivalry will live on no matter what and OK/UT do not have to be in the same division for that to continue. I split it North/South more b/c of the equal split in overall team performance. Imagine the above scenario of East/West and having OK/UT/TT/OSU all in the same division going for the Big 12 Championship compared to what the East has to offer (TCU and Arkansas). In all honesty, it would be the same as today and how many people think of the South has the superior division presently. Now splitting OU and UT could make for a better possible Big 12 Championship game and also even out the divisions with credible, national teams.

[Incyte]

What about Tulsa as an option? I read on here of people talking about schools like Memphis, Louisville, Cinci, TCU, Houston and even Northern Illinois but no talk of Tulsa. They have been a pretty good team over the years and are located in Oklahoma so that fits geographically also.

So, if Mizzou, Nebraska and Colorado were to leave, I would try to get Arkansas, Tulsa and TCU and make the Big 12 regions be:

North:
ISU
KSU
Kansas
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
Tulsa

South:
Texas
Texas A&M
TCU
Baylor
Texas Tech
Arkansas


Tulsa
2009: 4-7
2008: 11-3
2007: 10-4
2006: 8-5
2005: 9-4
2004: 4-8
2003: 8-5

Any thoughts on Tulsa in the Big 12?

I don't know what Tulsa adds in terms of more tv sets. We've got oklahoma covered. I also don't think Texas has any interest in having old SWC schools like TCU in the conference. TCU doesn't add to the B12 footprint either.

[Clone96]

Arkansas would jump over in a heart beat, the only thing holding them back is the $23 million they get from the SEC.

[CycoCyclone]

If I was Beebe for a day, I'd call Texas and tell them that the conference is going to straight revenue sharing, so suck it up or get **** out.

[Tank]

Arkansas would jump over in a heart beat, the only thing holding them back is the $23 million they get from the SEC.

That is 23 million reasons not to jump over then!

[jbhtexas]

Arkansas
Louisville
Utah

Call all three, and hope that two accept.

[CycloneWarning]

What about Tulsa as an option? I read on here of people talking about schools like Memphis, Louisville, Cinci, TCU, Houston and even Northern Illinois but no talk of Tulsa. They have been a pretty good team over the years and are located in Oklahoma so that fits geographically also.

Any thoughts on Tulsa in the Big 12?

Tulsa to Big 12 is the equivalent of Big 10 asking ISU to join.

This is the difference in the Big 10 and Big 12. Big 10 thinks and acts bold -- they are prepared to rip apart a huge rival conference like the Big 12 and poach MU and NU.

Big 12 fans think about adding TCU and/or Tulsa.

If Beebe and the conference had any brains, they would lock down a TV network for Pac-10/Big 12 and steal some other big teams (Arkansas, BYU or Utah) to dominate the entire Western US sports market with each league having 12 teams.

The key is to hold NU.

[Clonehomer]

If I was Beebe for a day, I'd call Texas and tell them that the conference is going to straight revenue sharing, so suck it up or get **** out.

And they'd tell you **** off. Beebe doesn't have the power to force revenue sharing. I believe they need at least 9 of the 12 teams to vote yes.