***Official Big 12 Expansion Thread '16***

[TheHelgo]

welp, based on the comments Leath made to the ISD today, it appears the Big 12 is about to become even more of a joke. I feel like the fans are ultimately the ones that pay the price for this idiocy and the inability of 10 seemingly smart Presidents to agree on ANYTHING. This whole conference realignment / expansion fiasco disgusts me, and is making it hard to enjoy college sports.

The conference had a real opportunity to do something right for once, and completely blew it. I simply don't understand why it could be so hard to get on the same page and come to an agreement that would benefit all members. None of the other major conferences seem to have this problem. What a joke.

 

[SCNCY]

welp, based on the comments Leath made to the ISD today, it appears the Big 12 is about to become even more of a joke. I feel like the fans are ultimately the ones that pay the price for this idiocy and the inability of 10 seemingly smart Presidents to agree on ANYTHING. This whole conference realignment / expansion fiasco disgusts me, and is making it hard to enjoy college sports.

The conference had a real opportunity to do something right for once, and completely blew it. I simply don't understand why it could be so hard to get on the same page and come to an agreement that would benefit all members. None of the other major conferences seem to have this problem. What a joke.

What did the Daily say?

I think the issue with the conference is Oklahoma and Texas. In Oklahoma, you have Boren, a politician trying to get the upper hand in the conference, in the other you have Texas trying to keep on to their power. In both cases, you have two egos who will not give up power and want more of it for themselves. I think the other 8 schools could get along just fine, its Texas and Oklahoma that is the issue.

 

[TheHelgo]

1. 
   ISD Sports Desk @ISDsports
   ISU President Leath took a turn in his view on Big 12 expansion, saying Friday he felt it was “less likely.” http://www.iowastatedaily.com/sports/article_8160e3e8-8cb4-11e6-81cd-97e89ec38f67.html …
   2 retweets1 like
   
2. 
   Luke Manderfeld ‏@LukeManderfeld 2h2 hours ago
   Leath: “[Oklahoma] has indicated less of a willingness to expand.” #Big12Expansion
   
   14 retweets5 likess
3. Added he can’t know for sure until he meets with the Big 12 presidents later this month but feels chances are “smaller." #Big12Expansion
4. Luke Manderfeld ‏@LukeManderfeld 3h3 hours ago
5. This is obviously a turn from August when Leath seemed optimistic on expansion. #Big12Expansion
6. Iowa State President Steven Leath to @iowastatedaily on Big 12: "I feel less likely that we’ll expand right now.” #Big12Expansion

 

[TheHelgo]

Call it posturing if you want to keep your head in the sand, but I don't think these guys have even spoken much since July. Leath's comment about Oklahoma 'indicating less a willingness to expand' points to the same dysfunctional BS that this conference is known for, and that a lot of us were hoping was simply posturing before.

Taking shots at each other through the media. Not actually getting together to work on a compromise. Starting this big 'expansion' circus with no end game in sight. The conference is becoming more and more of a joke all the time.

Oklahoma and Texas should look in the mirror for the real reason the conference has become noncompetitive.

I'm now convinced that they will address the media on 10/17 with no update on anything. There will be some garbage about how they don't see value in expanding, etc. The meaning will be clear - we can't get along, and as soon as possible the ship will be torpedoed.

I have long held out an optimistic hope that, expand or not, the leaders would have positive developments on 10/17 (TV deal, network, GOR extension, etc). Now I am convinced we will see an uncomfortable Bowlsby and Boren basically saying we wasted a bunch of time and money and couldn't agree on anything.

 

[jbhtexas]

IMO, this steaming cow pie falls mostly in the lap of David Boren. He's the one who started mouthing off in public about expansion and the "psychologically disadvantaged" tripe, just as the Big 12 was starting to seem settled after the announcement of record revenue distributions.

Boren forced the whole expansion thing, and it is starting to seem more and more evident that OU doesn't really support expansion. It's been reported in various places ever since Boren started spouting off that many of the OU regents don't support expansion.

 

[SCNCY]

Boren forced the whole expansion thing, and it is starting to seem more and more evident that OU doesn't really support expansion. It's been reported in various places ever since Boren started spouting off that many of the OU regents don't support expansion.

This is what I don't get. Broen said the conference needed to do three things 1) get a championship game. This has been done. 2) Expand the conference. Which again, is what Boren wanted and is in process. But now seems to be back tailing on his previous want. 3) Start a conference network. This would probably begin after the conference expands its membership. Whether it is an online network or a traditional network.

Everything Bornen wanted is either happening or has happened, but that is not good enough now?

 

[twojman]

If these folks were smart at all they probably could have bargained this into an updated contract with additional payout per team without ever expanding. None of the morons can keep their mouths shut. Now the conference looks even worse and can be the perpetual butt of jokes.

I feel like a 20 year old representing each school could have done better than the current representatives.

 

[oldwiseman]

From Tim Montemayor - guy talking about NU coming back.

Confirmed w/5 sources:2 in TV, 2 university sources involved with Big XII expansion and a prominent NU alum that talks are ongoing for the creation of a new conference that would include NU, TCU, BYU, Cincy and a majority of the current Big XII members. OU is part of those discussions but is reluctant to be involved. The new venture has prelim support of ESPN, FS1, Directv, and Google. The significant obstacle appears to be OU and cooperation of many other entities including the NCAA. The new money available through online streaming and "enterprising new content" is a significant and would be groundbreaking in the way college football games an non-game content is distributed and consumed by fans. ESPN is working hard to fix their subscriber purge and the idea of working with universities and tech companies to deliver viewers may fix that.

Someone asked which members of Big XII left out, he said Baylor for sure.

Whether this guy has a clue or not, who knows. Sounds like there are still a number of obstacles even if there is some truth to this. All I know is this fits with what else is being said. This guy said no expansion because of OU and then Leath basically verify's it.

 

[awd4cy]

I have no doubt Baylor would be the first team left out if it came down to it. I just hope we aren't the 9th team.

 

[oldwiseman]

I have no doubt Baylor would be the first team left out if it came down to it. I just hope we aren't the 9th team.

I'm well aware we are not a football power. However, our attendance is much more P5 than not. We are middle of the pack B1G attendance coming in at #8 ahead of MN, Rutgers, IN, IL, MD, Purdue, and Northwestern. We belong from a facilities and fan support standpoint and while that may not mean we have national eyeballs on TV's when we play, neither do any of the other teams I just mentioned. We're also #4 in the Big XII in attendance at 56,519. KU had a pitiful 27,282 almost 20,000 less than Baylor who came in at #9 with 46,160.

Group of 5 schools for comparison

MAC avg was 15,834 (highest attendance Ohio - 21,323)
Conf USA avg - 19,811 (highest attendance UTEP - 28,377)
Mountain West avg - 23,743 (highest attendance Fresno St - 34,876)
AAC avg - 31,870 (highest attendance Temple - 47,343)

I'm just not that worried about not having a seat at the table. We check a number of boxes and the ones we don't, many others can't check either.

 

[Cyched]

From Tim Montemayor - guy talking about NU coming back.

Confirmed w/5 sources:2 in TV, 2 university sources involved with Big XII expansion and a prominent NU alum that talks are ongoing for the creation of a new conference that would include NU, TCU, BYU, Cincy and a majority of the current Big XII members. OU is part of those discussions but is reluctant to be involved. The new venture has prelim support of ESPN, FS1, Directv, and Google. The significant obstacle appears to be OU and cooperation of many other entities including the NCAA. The new money available through online streaming and "enterprising new content" is a significant and would be groundbreaking in the way college football games an non-game content is distributed and consumed by fans. ESPN is working hard to fix their subscriber purge and the idea of working with universities and tech companies to deliver viewers may fix that.

Someone asked which members of Big XII left out, he said Baylor for sure.

Whether this guy has a clue or not, who knows. Sounds like there are still a number of obstacles even if there is some truth to this. All I know is this fits with what else is being said. This guy said no expansion because of OU and then Leath basically verify's it.

It would fit in well with the theory that NU is unhappy with their loss of prestige in the B1G. They would go back to being the top dog in a conference like this.

That being said, I don't believe this. We can just hope our leaders have some sort of plan if things go south in 2025.

 

[CarrollCyclone]

I've read a while back that a TON more money could be made if the power five leagues would collectively bargain one massive TV contract much like the NFL does. Why it doesn't happen is because there are 20 or so schools (or however many) that really want to keep the status quo of having oodles and oodles of more money than their peers. More money equals more power, and likely more success.

 

[isu83]

I thought Nebbie couldn't stand Texas.

 

[Bryce7]

It would fit in well with the theory that NU is unhappy with their loss of prestige in the B1G. They would go back to being the top dog in a conference like this.

That being said, I don't believe this. We can just hope our leaders have some sort of plan if things go south in 2025.

I would already say OuT have told the other 8 they will not stick around for a GOR extension and so others are working on the above option.

 

[Clonehomer]

Call it posturing if you want to keep your head in the sand, but I don't think these guys have even spoken much since July. Leath's comment about Oklahoma 'indicating less a willingness to expand' points to the same dysfunctional BS that this conference is known for, and that a lot of us were hoping was simply posturing before.

Taking shots at each other through the media. Not actually getting together to work on a compromise. Starting this big 'expansion' circus with no end game in sight. The conference is becoming more and more of a joke all the time.

Oklahoma and Texas should look in the mirror for the real reason the conference has become noncompetitive.

I'm now convinced that they will address the media on 10/17 with no update on anything. There will be some garbage about how they don't see value in expanding, etc. The meaning will be clear - we can't get along, and as soon as possible the ship will be torpedoed.

I have long held out an optimistic hope that, expand or not, the leaders would have positive developments on 10/17 (TV deal, network, GOR extension, etc). Now I am convinced we will see an uncomfortable Bowlsby and Boren basically saying we wasted a bunch of time and money and couldn't agree on anything.

While you may ultimately be correct, I don't see how this change of direction automatically means that the schools can't get along. It seems like maybe there has been plenty of communication with the change in stances of those talking. From what we all know is that the presidents have seen the data and all agree that expansion is a bad idea. Just because there has been a shift in direction does not necessarily means division, regardless of what the media keeps telling you.

 

[isuno1fan]

just let it play out. We aren't going to be left out.

 

[jbhtexas]

From Tim Montemayor - guy talking about NU coming back.

Confirmed w/5 sources:2 in TV, 2 university sources involved with Big XII expansion and a prominent NU alum that talks are ongoing for the creation of a new conference that would include NU, TCU, BYU, Cincy and a majority of the current Big XII members.
[...]
Someone asked which members of Big XII left out, he said Baylor for sure.
[...]

Hard to believe that TCU would be in and BU out. BU has much larger enrollment (i.e. more potential TV eyeballs), and a significantly larger athletic budget (by $26,000,000). Not to mention giving the SEC a viable expansion candidate in the DFW area.

 

[oldwiseman]

Hard to believe that TCU would be in and BU out. BU has much larger enrollment (i.e. more potential TV eyeballs), and a significantly larger athletic budget (by $26,000,000). Not to mention giving the SEC a viable expansion candidate in the DFW area.

Baylor is being compared to SMU right now though. Nobody wants to be tied to Baylor.

 

[jbhtexas]

Baylor is being compared to SMU right now though. Nobody wants to be tied to Baylor.

Not buying the BU/SMU thing either. I think that's just alot of wishing and hoping by people who don't like Baylor. Scandals come and go. When is the last time you've heard anything about Louisville's mess or the PSU scandal?

 

[Clonehomer]

Hard to believe that TCU would be in and BU out. BU has much larger enrollment (i.e. more potential TV eyeballs), and a significantly larger athletic budget (by $26,000,000). Not to mention giving the SEC a viable expansion candidate in the DFW area.

Well if you pay attention to Baylorfans.com very single Baylor fan burned their tickets when Briles was fired. So I guess someone thought they didn't have any fans left