KU insider again...
Tale of the Tait | Fan blogs | KUsports.com
Spent the past few hours trying to get a solid read on OU's move here. Are they legitimately trying to help save the conference or simply biding time until they can bolt?
Tough call. And I gotta tell ya, I've talked to plenty of people on both sides of this thing.
Here are the prevailing thoughts:
• OU's in as long as Texas makes some concessions and Beebe's out.
• OU's in but only because they can't get BOTH OU and OSU into the Pac-12.
• OU's doing this as a way to show they tried but hoping that Texas says no to the demands so they can bolt and say it was all UT's fault.
• OU's Pac-12 all the way and is trying to power play Texas into doing something. These two are divorced and it's uglier than ever.
Any of these could be true.
I'm still leaning toward OU's interest in saving the Big 12 being legit right now. Why else would they go through all this if they're going to leave anyway?
Meanwhile, Missouri reportedly has lined up a sweet deal with the SEC that says if the Big 12 blows up, they'll head south.
At the same time, plenty of Big 12 sources are saying that MU chancellor Brady Deaton is working his butt off to save the Big 12. I'm buying it.
According to those I've talked to, Deaton is a stand-up guy who is fulfilling his obligations to the Big 12 as the chairman of the board of the directors. At the same time, he cannot — and should not be expected to — control what OU or Texas are saying, doing or even thinking. That's when his obligation to Mizzou kicks in.
Right now, he's played this thing about as well as it could be played. If the Big 12 lives, he plays a huge role and is praised for it. If it dies, it's someone else's fault and he's a genius for setting up a nice landing spot for Mizzou. The guy deserves a raise.
Before you go off on how this is exactly what KU's leaders should be doing, you have to remember something.... Missouri had these options and that gave Mizzou this leverage. Kansas has not and does not.
Deaton and OU president David Boren are supposed to meet later this week and
OU officials have said they should have their decision by the end of the week.
God willing, that'll be true.
Stay tuned...