Oklahoma.. PAC 12 says no-no..will the Big 12 survive?

[Cornhusker]

Pac-12 stays put, limiting options for OU and OSU


BY BERRY TRAMEL Staff Writer btramel@opubco.com
Published: September 21, 2011


The Pac-12 Conference announced Tuesday night that it would not expand at this time, apparently ending one of the two stated options of OU and OSU.

OU President David Boren said Monday the Sooners were deciding between staying in the Big 12 and applying for the Pac-12. He indicated OU and OSU would be welcomed into the Pac-12.

But Tuesday, a high-ranking source from a Big 12 school told The Oklahoman the Sooners would consider remaining in a “reformed” version of the conference, which would include restrictions on Texas' Longhorn Network and removal of Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe.

It was not immediately clear Tuesday night if OU's demands were met or if the Sooners overplayed their Pac-12 opportunity.

“We were not surprised by the Pac-12's decision to not expand at this time,” Boren said in a statement, though that seemingly contradicts Boren's statements Monday.

“Even though we had decided not to apply for membership this year, we have developed a positive relationship with the leadership of the conference and we have kept them informed of the progress we've been making to gain agreement from the Big 12 for changes which will make the conference more stable in the future.

“Conference stability has been our first goal and we look forward to achieving that goal through continued membership in the Big 12 Conference.”

Just after 10 p.m. Oklahoma time, the Pac-12 released a statement that in part read “In light of the widespread speculation about potential scenarios for Conference realignment, the Pac-12 presidents and chancellors have affirmed their decision to remain a 12-team conference.”

Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott, who according to West Coast sources had given OU and OSU encouragement that they would be welcomed into his league, said, “after careful review, we have determined that it is in the best interests of our member institutions, student-athletes and fans to remain a 12-team conference. While we have great respect for all of the institutions that have contacted us, and certain expansion proposals were financially attractive, we have a strong conference structure and culture of equality that we are committed to preserve.”

The reference to “culture of equality” appears to be a shot at Texas, which was loath to compromise on its Longhorn Network and fold it into the Pac-12 Network model.

The culture of equality was a theme earlier Tuesday, when the source said it would take “major, major reforms” for OU to consider remaining in the Big 12.

But if the Pac-12 closed the door on the Sooners — and some sources indicated Scott failed to muster support from his presidents to get the Oklahoma schools admitted — then OU would have lost its bargaining power.

Earlier in the day, the high-ranking source from a Big 12 school said “we'd have to have an interim commissioner” to keep OU in the league.

The source said the league presidents do not believe Beebe responded with adequate leadership to Nebraska's and Texas A&M's frustration, even though Beebe was rewarded last November with a contract extension through 2015. Nebraska and Colorado left the Big 12 in May, and A&M announced in August it was leaving for the Southeastern Conference.

The other reform the Sooners sought was concessions from Texas and ESPN on The Longhorn Network. The UT/ESPN partnership angered Big 12 members on two counts: 1) ESPN reached an agreement with Fox Sports to move a conference game to the Longhorn Network; and 2) The Longhorn Network announced it would show high school highlights even after the conference voted to keep televised high school games off school-branded networks.

Both Boren and OU athletic director Joe Castiglione have stated their desire to make the Big 12 work, as have OSU president Burns Hargis and athletic director Mike Holder.

“No one wants to give up on it,” an OSU source said of the Big 12. The problems have “nothing to do with finances. It has nothing to do with success. For the league to be falling apart, it's crazy.”

But the high-ranking source from a Big 12 school said OU was willing to consider only a reformed Big 12.



The source said conference expansion is not a major issue, that while the Big 12 likely needs to return to 10 or 12 schools, the reforms are a much higher priority for stabilizing the conference.

Tuesday, the Birmingham News reported that Missouri has tentatively agreed to join the Southeastern Conference, “barring new developments.” It's unknown whether the Pac-12 announcement constitutes new developments.

Texas A&M's move to the SEC has been held up by Baylor's threat of litigation. But the reforms OU seeks would not entice the Aggies to remain in the Big 12.

“We are gone,” said an A&M official.

Earlier Tuesday, OSU booster Boone Pickens, who tried to use his influence in the state of Texas to get A&M to make the same demands of UT that OU now is making, said he detected a thaw in the Aggies' stance.

Pickens even contacted Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who is running for the Republican presidential nomination. Pickens said he told Perry to show America that “you fix problems, don't contribute to 'em.”

Perry is a former Texas A&M yell leader. “After the Aggies leave school, they're still looking for a yell leader,” Pickens said. He said he told Perry to be that leader.

But A&M vice president for communications Jason Cook, responding to Pickens, said, “Texas A&M has made our intentions perfectly clear. We do not intend to be a member of the Big 12 past this season.”

A&M officials apparently believe that Beebe was part of the problem.

“The perception is, he answers only to one school (Texas),” the source said. “That does not work.”

The source said Beebe made the decision that appeasing Texas was the Big 12's best hope for stability. “He made the wrong decision,” the source said. Instead, that led to instability, with the departure of Nebraska and now A&M.

The source said Big 12 presidents view Beebe as a commissioner serving only one school, Texas. They lay Nebraska's departure in June 2010 at the feet of Beebe.

“When a commissioner has a tin ear to what's happening in Nebraska and doesn't get himself up there …” the source said.

Ironically, the source said, Texas supported another candidate for commissioner four years ago, Jack Swarbrick, while OU supported Beebe.

“The best commissioner's a consensus builder,” the source said. “We need a consensus-builder commissioner.

“You take the Big Ten, SEC, the Pac-12, their conference office runs circles around our conference in capability, not to mention bias. This commissioner totally cost us Texas A&M.”

The source said that OU could even push for revenue-sharing of individual networks. Texas is reaping more than $12 million a year from its ESPN contract with the Longhorn Network.

“What if we share a small percentage?” the source asked. “That's a real strong show of support. Where's anybody going to go in any other conference that doesn't want all your network? Wouldn't it be a nice show of good faith?

“It would be making sure the conference was evenhanded and stable. It's true there's some things in favor of the Pac-12. Plain stability. We don't want to have to do this every year. What do we do? What do we do?”


Read more: http://newsok.com/pac-12-stays-put-l...#ixzz1YaM65UqU





Big 12 football: Expansion talks blinded us
by Berry Tramel

I'm like e everyone else. For 15 months, and particularly for one month, I’ve focused on expansion as the key to Big 12 survival. When Nebraska and Colorado left the league last year, we thought the Big 12 was vulnerable at 10 teams, despite a period of euphoria over the new Big 12 cable television contract.

Then when Texas A&M bolted the league in August, we figured the Big 12 was done. Figured that the conference could not possibly fill the Aggies’ shoes, and thus the Big 12 would wither away as other schools departed.

The latter might still be true. But expansion, or lack thereof, is not the biggest problem. We kept focusing on the symptoms, not the disease. As I wrote earlier Tuesday, a high-ranking source at a Big 12 school said OU is willing to remain in the Big 12, if The Longhorn Network makes concessions and if commissioner Dan Beebe is removed. Those moves, more than adding any schools, would bring stability to a conference that teeters on the edge of oblivion.

We talked about some of the issues, the Longhorn Network especially. I had no idea the extent of frustration with Beebe, other than from the Nebraska precincts. But the Huskers who claimed Beebe was a Texas puppet have been fortified by the source’s news.

We should have seen it coming, if for no other reason than OU president David Boren made a passing reference to it on Monday, when discussing realignment. Boren took an obvious jab at the conference office, for allowing Nebraska and Colorado to get away last year.

But talk about The Longhorn Network gets tiresome. Even talk about Texas power grabs gets old. Realignment — this school going there, that school going here — never gets old. I’ll bet I’ve received 500 emails the last year from people with an expansion plan. I’ve never received one email from someone with an idea for a new Big 12 commissioner.

And you know why. It’s fun to move schools around. Fun to add BYU or TCU or Louisville or Houston or West Virginia to the Big 12. Fun to dream about Arkansas and Notre Dame. Fun to talk about who’s going to the ACC, now that Syracuse and Pitt are headed there. Fun to talk about what the SEC will do, should it want to get to 16 teams. Fun to talk about the Big Ten. Fun to talk about Pac-16 pods and divisions and championship games in JerryWorld and the Rose Bowl.

Not so fun to focus on why the Big 12 was in trouble in the first place.

But now we know. Nebraskans were right.(EDIT: whhaaaaaat??) Texas appeasement has crippled the Big 12. My source blames Beebe, and there’s probably merit to that. But the Big 12′s fundamental flaw goes back long before Dan Beebe.

Beebe actually pushed for equitable revenue sharing but was voted down by the Big 12 power brokers: Texas, OU, A&M and Nebraska. Beebe’s predecessor, Kevin Weiberg, pushed for a Big 12 Network. He was rebuffed by the same set of schools and instead went to the Big Ten and formed that league’s network, and now is doing the same at the Pac-12.

Truth is, the Big 12/Big Eight/Southwest Conference always have been weak-commissioner conferences. They don’t possess a strong leader like Roy Kramer, late of the SEC, or Jim Delany of the Big Ten or Larry Scott, who is working wonders at the Pac-12. I’m not talking personality. I’m talking power. I’m talking expectations.

The Big 12/Big Eight rarely has hired a strong leader and let him lead. That goes back long before Dan Beebe, back to the days of Carl James (remember him?) and Chuck Neinas.

Texas appeasement dates long before Dan Beebe. The conference was formed with the idea that making the Longhorns happy would keep UT in the conference. If Mama Bevo ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy. It wasn’t a kooky theory. It just turned out to be the wrong theory.

In reality, making Mama Bevo happy eventually drove off Nebraska, and now has driven off A&M. The league might die for the same reason some thought it would survive.

Not that Beebe is off the hook. On his watch, the Big 12 has lost three members, two of them virtually irreplaceable. Perhaps he didn’t create the environment by which frustration grew, but it’s absolutely true that Beebe didn’t stand tall when the league needed a strong leader most. The new TV deal was great news for the Big 12; making Texas A&M feel like the Big 12 was the conference for the Aggies would have been better news.

I like Beebe. I think he tried, early in his administration, to make necessary changes. He was rebuffed, so he went into survival mode.

Can’t blame him. As recently as 18 months ago, when the Big Ten started the whole mess by declaring it was interested in expansion, speculation was heavy that the Big Ten would court Texas. Oh no, everyone thought. What would become of the conference if Texas left.

Instead, we’re seeing what became of the conference since Texas stayed. And soon enough, whether the Sooners and Cowboys go West or not, we’ll wonder what will become of Dan Beebe.



September 21, 2011
Can OU still find a new home?

The Norman Transcript


NORMAN — T here hasn’t been a day like Tuesday in University of Oklahoma athletics since Gene Stephenson gave back the baseball job Joe Castiglione simply would not give to Sunny Golloway until he finally gave it to Sunny Golloway.

Of course, when that happened, Castiglione still had Sunny Golloway to give it to.

Today, you wonder where Oklahoma might possibly call home. Where is the conference whose dream was always to bring Oklahoma into the fold?

You wonder if the Pac-12 might still be posturing when it reasserted — about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday; don’t you just love the Pacific Time Zone — yet again, it will not be expanding beyond 12 institutions.

You wonder if Missouri really is on the way to the SEC, with Auburn moving to the East division just to make it work, as the Birmingham News reported Tuesday evening.

You wonder if anything David Boren said Monday in Tulsa still applies. Probably everything about acting in the best interests of the University of Oklahoma does, but what might that possibly mean now?

If Missouri’s really headed to the SEC and the Pac-12 really won’t budge in time to institute a Pac-14 or Pac-16 by next fall, you know what you might have?

You might have the Big Eight all over again, only your teams will be Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas Tech, Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State and Baylor.

Yuck.

Everything seemed to change about 38 times over the course of Tuesday.

The conventional wisdom coming out of Monday’s university regents meeting was to wholeheartedly believe in one of the two courses of action Boren highlighted after being granted the authority to fully speak for Oklahoma in all matters realignment: the Pac-12 course.

He said the Sooners weren’t necessarily finished with the Big 12, but it was so hard to believe how they could be anything but finished with it, because everything he said about seeking stability only seemed available somewhere else.

On Tuesday afternoon, The Oklahoman put a story on its website that claimed, according to a “high ranking Big 12 source,” the Sooners could envision the Big 12’s survival if a couple key conditions could be met. One, Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe, even though the conference extended his contract three years only 10 months ago, has to be removed. Two, the Longhorn Network must be reined in.

It didn’t seem to make sense.

If OU wanted to stay, why not announce it publicly with names attached and really be the good guy. If OU wanted to go, why try to look magnanimous when your conditions might just be met.

It might make sense now.

Maybe the Sooners knew what was about to happen late Tuesday night on the West Coast, or knew whenever the Pac-12 next spoke it wasn’t going to be good, and they really are interested in keeping the Big 12 together, yet didn’t want to fully expose themselves by putting their name on a plan.

It’s a theory.

Every couple of hours, it seems, a new one must be introduced.

For a while, it appeared the great irony would be a big Texas Joke. It was the Longhorn Network that lit the fuse on conference realignment, but to find a post-apocalyptic conference home, Texas would have to pull the plug on its network.

Only now it appears there may be no place to land with or without a network. For Texas, but also for Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and everybody else looking for a place to go.

It can still get worse.

The Big 12 also-rans — Kansas State, Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas — could still jump ship themselves. They could head east, head Mountain West, who knows where they might head, but they could always seek their protection, wherever they might find it, and let the heavyweights twist in the wind.

Then what happens to Oklahoma?

Maybe today the full court press to save the Big 12 really begins. Maybe today, with no other options, Boren will begin trying to do what Beebe did two offseasons ago: save the Big 12, or as much of it as he can.

It’s fascinating.

Like a natural disaster.

Clay Horning 366-3526 cfhorning@normantranscript.com

[Left Seater]

OU will be just fine when this all shakes out.

[SunCoastSooner]

OU will be just fine when this all shakes out.

The Pac Twelve wants OU . . . their Presidents want OU. They aren't very big on the idea of Texas Tech and Oklahoma State though. Oklahoma State is a millstone around our neck that President Boren needs to jettison. If Oklahoma came with a package that included Texas without the Longhorn Network The Pac would take it no matter who the other two were within reason. Without Texas Boren and Castiglione need to get a package together that at least gets rid of Tech for Kansas and probably Oklahoma State, hopefully for Missouri. I don't think this is too much different than the SEC's posturing by "turning down" A&M a few weeks ago.

According to recent studies by Forbes and USA Today Oklahoma ranks in the top ten in both revenue and profitability as well as in the top 20 in number of people who identify themselves as fan nation wide. It would be foolish to insinuate that Oklahoma isn't one of the most attractive expansion candidates for any conference looking do so.

[Van]

It would be foolish to insinuate that Oklahoma isn't one of the most attractive expansion candidates for any conference looking do so.

That's just it. If we're to believe Larry Scott, the Pac 10's presidents really aren't looking to do so. Supposedly they're fine with twelve.

[SunCoastSooner]

It would be foolish to insinuate that Oklahoma isn't one of the most attractive expansion candidates for any conference looking do so.

That's just it. If we're to believe Larry Scott, the Pac 10's presidents really aren't looking to do so. Supposedly they're fine with twelve.

They're posturing to nail Texas on the LHN and get rid of either or both of Tech and Oklahoma State from the equation.

[King Crimson]

while i'm not at all excited by the idea of being the "new Arkansas" in a reformed state of Texas based SWC of sorts....the Pac never really interested me as a fan much. nothing against the Pac, just doesn't seem like where OU ought to be. it was weird enough trying to get up for playing ATM and Tech twice every year in hoops instead of Mizzou and Kansas....but, Wazzou or ASU, meh. in fact, i know for a fact that within the AD a year ago that the idea of the Pac was not at all popular. SEC had traction, but the Pac wasn't so much.

in the long run, i think Oklahoma will be fine.

[Van]

SCS, who would replace Okie State and Taco Tech then? Wouldn't sixteen teams be the goal?

[King Crimson]

Their posturing to nail Texas on the LHN and get rid of either or both of Tech and Oklahoma State from the equation.

what i think...and i think it's a good move by the Pac. you have OU and UT publicly wanting in and you don't want Tech and Poke. why not try and shake em loose.

[BSmack]

One has to wonder if the Meatgrinder will come calling for OU. Then again, that might be too far to travel.

[H4ever]

[quote="Cornhusker"]

".... which would include restrictions on Texas' Longhorn Network and removal of Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe..."



"The reference to “culture of equality” appears to be a shot at Texas, which was loath to compromise on its Longhorn Network ..."


".... league presidents do not believe Beebe responded with adequate leadership to Nebraska's and Texas A&M's frustration, ..."

“We are gone,” said an A&M official.

“Texas A&M has made our intentions perfectly clear. We do not intend to be a member of the Big 12 past this season.”

A&M officials apparently believe that Beebe was part of the problem.
“The perception is, he answers only to one school (Texas),” the source said. “That does not work.”

" Big 12 presidents view Beebe as a commissioner serving only one school, Texas. They lay Nebraska's departure in June 2010 at the feet of Beebe."

“When a commissioner has a tin ear to what's happening in Nebraska and doesn't get himself up there …” .


"We talked about some of the issues, the Longhorn Network especially. I had no idea the extent of frustration with Beebe, other than from the Nebraska precincts. But the Huskers who claimed Beebe was a Texas puppet have been fortified by the source’s news.

We should have seen it coming, if for no other reason than OU president David Boren made a passing reference to it on Monday, when discussing realignment. Boren took an obvious jab at the conference office, for allowing Nebraska and Colorado to get away last year."


"But now we know. Nebraskans were right.(EDIT: whhaaaaaat??) Texas appeasement has crippled the Big 12. "



Whole lot of egg all over faces up in this bitch.... a couple of sooner fans come to mind especially with David Boren on the truth wagon now.

Board bitch this! Sincerely, Nebraska fan

[SunCoastSooner]

".... which would include restrictions on Texas' Longhorn Network and removal of Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe..."



"The reference to “culture of equality” appears to be a shot at Texas, which was loath to compromise on its Longhorn Network ..."


".... league presidents do not believe Beebe responded with adequate leadership to Nebraska's and Texas A&M's frustration, ..."

“We are gone,” said an A&M official.

“Texas A&M has made our intentions perfectly clear. We do not intend to be a member of the Big 12 past this season.”

A&M officials apparently believe that Beebe was part of the problem.
“The perception is, he answers only to one school (Texas),” the source said. “That does not work.”

" Big 12 presidents view Beebe as a commissioner serving only one school, Texas. They lay Nebraska's departure in June 2010 at the feet of Beebe."

“When a commissioner has a tin ear to what's happening in Nebraska and doesn't get himself up there …” .


"We talked about some of the issues, the Longhorn Network especially. I had no idea the extent of frustration with Beebe, other than from the Nebraska precincts. But the Huskers who claimed Beebe was a Texas puppet have been fortified by the source’s news.

We should have seen it coming, if for no other reason than OU president David Boren made a passing reference to it on Monday, when discussing realignment. Boren took an obvious jab at the conference office, for allowing Nebraska and Colorado to get away last year."


"But now we know. Nebraskans were right.(EDIT: whhaaaaaat??) Texas appeasement has crippled the Big 12. "



Whole lot of egg all over faces up in this bitch.... a couple of sooner fans come to mind especially with David Boren on the truth wagon now.

Board bitch this! Sincerely, Nebraska fan

Oklahoma's real problem is with the LHN and wanting stability. The rest are just talking points being used as excuses/reasons to make it happen for us. Tell yourself whatever you like otherwise. Boren is a p[olitician and knows how to play the game.

[Left Seater]

Board bitch this! Sincerely, Nebraska fan

Uh, ok I will rack that! Nebraska fan calling themselves board bitch. We would never see SoCal or noj do this. Props!

[MuchoBulls]

Oklahoma's real problem is with the LHN and wanting stability.

What do you think OU's play would be if Texas does not concede on the LHN? Everything I have seen suggests that the LHN is non negotiable part of it.

[SunCoastSooner]

Oklahoma's real problem is with the LHN and wanting stability.

What do you think OU's play would be if Texas does not concede on the LHN? Everything I have seen suggests that the LHN is non negotiable part of it.

I really don't know what Boren's play is. Guy wasn't the longest sitting head of the foreign intelligence committee in the senate longer than any other person because he doesn't know what he is doing politically.

[Goober McTuber]

So is there a possibility that if Baylor, ISU, etc. refuse to release A & M from possible legal action, the SEC will withdraw their offer and the Big 12 continues as it is but with concessions from the Longwhorens?

[SunCoastSooner]

So is there a possibility that if Baylor, ISU, etc. refuse to release A & M from possible legal action, the SEC will withdraw their offer and the Big 12 continues as it is but with concessions from the Longwhorens?

No, A&M is gone.

[Bizzarofelice]

who said they only recently realized that beebe was an issue with some schools? I thought every school not located in Austin thought Beebe was a jackass? I've been bitching about him for years on these boards and all Tiger fans and Husker fans have been bitching about him for years.

[Bizzarofelice]

and if this shit was handled a couple of years ago we'd still have Nebraska. But Texas is so important that they don't have to be like the SEC or Big Ten or Big East or Pac-12 and ave equality. And now this conference has gone from 2nd place to 2nd to last.

good job.

[M Club]

fake beebe's twitter account is the fun-nay:

http://twitter.com/#!/danbeebe