Big Ten and other Conference Expansion

[broken24]

That is what I posted yesterday, this could be something leaked on purpose to slow everything down.

While I don't put 100% faith in what PBC posts, because the fact it is from ONE point of view, the view from the B1G offices. What they are trying to do and what the believe what will happen. You just have to take his info from that point of view and digest it as such.

Was everything suppose to happen last year? Well, the Big Ten probably didn't think ESPN/Fox would throw so much money at the Big 12 to save it. They also probably didn't think ESPN would throw $300 million at Texas for their own network (heck, no one did). So then PBC's info proved wrong on that front because of actions outside of the B1G thinking.

So back to the latest from PBC.

Is the Big 10 talking to Notre Dame and Texas? I have no doubts that is happening. But at what level? WILL it happen? PBC said it himself that Texas prefers to keep the Big 12-2-1 alive and that Notre Dame prefers Independence. BUT, IF things hit the fan, they have the foundation of talks between them.

Why was it leaked? I now have 2 thoughts; #1 Like I said yesterday, The B1G, Texas & Notre Dame wants to keep the status quo, and nothing like keeping the status quo by scaring the heck out of everyone else by leaking that they would join the Big Ten and blow everyone else's plans out of the water.

Or #2, this is a total bluff by the Big Ten. While they have talked, nothing like this is close. BUT, they don't want expansion to happen yet. To continue the poker analogy, Delany pushed all his chips in the middle (ie leaking this info). Does the SEC, Pac12 want to call that bluff and find out Delany doesn't have two aces (Texas & Notre Dame) but god help them if Delany DOES have Texas & Notre Dame.

#3 If ESPiN is right and there is nothing going on between Texas, ND and B1G. Then by leaking these fantasy talks, Delany is covering his ass. If Texas goes to the PAC 16, ND stays independent and B1G adds 'cuse and rutgers. There are going to be a lot
of [censored]ed off people in B1G land.

 

[MaxBuck]

#3 If ESPiN is right and there is nothing going on between Texas, ND and B1G. Then by leaking these fantasy talks, Delany is covering his ass. If Texas goes to the PAC 16, ND stays independent and B1G adds 'cuse and rutgers. There are going to be a lot
of [censored]ed off people in B1G land.

If this information is actually being leaked by someone in the B1G office, then talks have assuredly taken place. They may be pretty benign discussions, but Delany would not condone the issuance of flat-out lies via whatever pathway. Nowhere in these discussions was there any mention of a guarantee that Tejas wouldn't go to the PAC, nor that ND wouldn't remain independent.

If any B1G fan is pissed off as a result of these two schools not joining the conference, they have only themselves to blame.

 

[broken24]

#3 If ESPiN is right and there is nothing going on between Texas, ND and B1G. Then by leaking these fantasy talks, Delany is covering his ass. If Texas goes to the PAC 16, ND stays independent and B1G adds 'cuse and rutgers. There are going to be a lot
of [censored]ed off people in B1G land.

#4 To counter act the ESPiN talk of Texas going to PAC12.

The leak being targeted at all the Texas stakeholders who have heard that Texas' options are BIGXII-2-1, PAC12/4/6 or independence. This leak gets people talking in Texas about the +/- of the alternatives. That the B1G was willing to deal on LNH where Pac12/4/6 wasn't. That they will make more $ in B1G and that a move to the B1G would help on the academic side also. Basically that they then see that B1G is the best choice.

Also his leak states that Texas really wants to keep the BIGXII-2-1 together which helps politically.

In regards to ND, they have the same stakeholder problems but ten fold. They want to stay independent but if NCAAF armageddon happens they will need a conference or be looked out of BCS. Their stakeholders need to realize this. The more talk about it happening the more they will realize that ND can no longer stay independent. Then their choices are Big East or B1G.

If this information is actually being leaked by someone in the B1G office, then talks have assuredly taken place. They may be pretty benign discussions, but Delany would not condone the issuance of flat-out lies via whatever pathway. Nowhere in these discussions was there any mention of a guarantee that Tejas wouldn't go to the PAC, nor that ND wouldn't remain independent.

I was not calling Delany a lier. I was just pointing out an alternative scenario.

If any B1G fan is [censored]ed off as a result of these two schools not joining the conference, they have only themselves to blame.

Why would I blame myself for Delany not getting the top 2 Universities out there. No fan blames their self for Casey striking out. I have nothing to do with it. Delany is getting the big money to make these type of things happen. If the best conference has to settle for 3rd rate schools to keep up with the toothless duke boys (hazzard county). Then heads should roll.

 

[kn1f3party]

Actually, PBC's ENTIRE premise was that Texas was coming to the Big Ten. Near as anyone can tell, that was not accurate. Some have speculated that Texas used the Big Ten to court the Pac 10, but no one around these parts knows the truth in that. Meanwhile, in the end, Texas stayed put and created their own network. I'm not sure how any of what transpired could inspire confidence in what PBC says now...because none of it ended up coming true last time.

I'll admit that I REALLY wanted Texas to join the Big Ten....strong academics, would strengthen the CIC, great athletics...Texas market. Seemed like a huge coup if it came true...so I wanted to believe PBC...but then none of it was accurate. Which is why I won't even get my hopes up about anything now, because it just seems like either he's 1) being used for diseminating disinformation or 2) he's just an internet comedian getting folks riled up and laughing as folks get excited about something that isn't happening. Either way, getting excited about it is a losing proposition.

http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/article/20110909/SPORTS/109090303

He was right. We were after Texas and he did call Nebraska when nobody even really saw it coming.

 

[Mrstickball]

One thing to note that may lend some sort of support to PBC: Wasn't it just last week that we were talking about ND getting an invitation to the Big XII or some sort of discussion that ND was in talks with Texas concerning something?

Everything PBC says is rumor, obviously, but the pieces to match up.

 

[matcar]

http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/article/20110909/SPORTS/109090303

He was right. We were after Texas and he did call Nebraska when nobody even really saw it coming.

He was wrong because he called for Texas and claimed it was moving forward even in the face of numerous reports to the contrary.

 

[broken24]

He was wrong because he called for Texas and claimed it was moving forward even in the face of numerous reports to the contrary.

Do you really think that those numerous reports don't have a vested interest in the situation. They are not the worldwide leader in sports "NEWS/TRUTH". Everyone has an angle. ESPiN is looking out for itself. Reporters/bloggers are not as altruistic as you would think.

To me what PBC says is believable because it makes sense. Of course the B1G is going after the 2 biggest fish in the pond, duh. Anyone who says they are not is an idiot, has ulterior motives or both (ESPiN).

Delany even said they want 10s not 6's and 7's ('cuse, rutgers, mizzu, etc). Delany also said the B1G was looking at the new demographics. That is not UNL, sorry to our new friends in Nebraska. It means South.

ND has been approached many times by B1G and to think there isn't an almost continuous conversation there is just plan stupid.

What PBC has laid out over the last 2 years is the "Delany" plan. Destruction of the BIGXII and forcing a seismic shift in the NCAAF. Which in turn frees UT to join B1G and forces ND into a conference specifically the B1G.

Lastly as stated by Delany and PBC this is not a quick process. It will take years. Specifically, when TV contracts are up, football scheduling can be worked out and UT's ugly sisters can find a home.

I don't profess this to be gospel, but it makes a lot of sense to me.

 

[Muck]

Actually, PBC's ENTIRE premise was that Texas was coming to the Big Ten.

He went so far as to state that all of the upheaval across the landscape was intentionally engineered by Delaney with the intent of forcing UT & ND into the B1G.

Now if you want to believe that Delaney is a machiavellian master mind that's fine but if you believe that PBC is really passing on accurate info ask yourself...how likely is it that one of the very few people who would have been in the room taking a call from Oklahoma would have immediately rushed out after wards to call/email/text PBC to give him the news and how likely it is that he/she would be able do so without drawing attention in an office that is presumably aware that they have a leak.

Conspiracy theories are fun and all but in the real world they are almost always empty stories.

 

[Dryden]

Awesome.

http://espn.go.com/college-football...r-bears-return-3000-tickets-game-texas-aggies

Baylor sells 830 tickets to game at A&M

COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- While Baylor is pushing an email campaign to preserve the Big 12 Conference and rivalry games in the state, Texas A&M said Friday that the Bears purchased only 830 tickets from a possible allotment of 3,850 for their Oct. 15 football game at Kyle Field.

Those figures were released by Texas A&M, whose departure from the Big 12 to a pending spot in the Southeastern Conference is on hold after Baylor and other schools refused to waive their right to sue over such a move.

Baylor said later Friday that it had requested 2,000 tickets for the game by July 1, the deadline set by the Big 12.

"Earlier this week, based on tremendous demand, Texas A&M asked for Baylor to return tickets it did not expect to sell, and we returned 750 tickets as a courtesy," Baylor spokesman Nick Joos said in a statement. "Many of our fans have indicated that they acquired tickets from third-party sources since the seat locations available are superior to the back corner end zone location provided to visiting teams at Kyle Field."

Texas A&M said that Idaho, with 264, was the only opposing team that will play at Kyle Field this year that purchased fewer tickets from the Aggies than Baylor, whose Waco campus is less than 100 miles away. Texas was the only team to keep its full allotment of 3,850 tickets available to all visiting teams. SMU took 1,988 tickets, followed by Kansas (1,750), Missouri (1,600) and Oklahoma State (1,428).

Texas A&M said those figures do not include bands and other complimentary seats.

Baylor said the tickets it kept included seats for its band and family members of players and staff.

Cont'd ...

 

[kn1f3party]

I believe he is more informed than we are. That is all.

 

[BUCKYLE]

He went so far as to state that all of the upheaval across the landscape was intentionally engineered by Delaney with the intent of forcing UT & ND into the B1G.

Now if you want to believe that Delaney is a machiavellian master mind that's fine but if you believe that PBC is really passing on accurate info ask yourself...how likely is it that one of the very few people who would have been in the room taking a call from Oklahoma would have immediately rushed out after wards to call/email/text PBC to give him the news and how likely it is that he/she would be able do so without drawing attention in an office that is presumably aware that they have a leak.

Conspiracy theories are fun and all but in the real world they are almost always empty stories.

I don't believe it is all Delaney. I remember High Lonesome (among other UT posters), six years ago, talking about Texas politics and how it related to the BXII. I don't think it's too far fetched to think that Texas wants...or at least is interested in...joining the B1G. IIRC, they inquired about doing so right after PSU was let in. If Texas would be pursuing other outlets, why wouldn't they want in the B1G? And if they do, and Texas politics as it relates to the other schools in the state is as it was described, then it really makes sense for UT to fuck with them until they make the first move. Then UT goes to the legislature and cries about Aggie forcing their hand...etc..etc...

I'm sure that a big part of it is that I want to believe it will happen...but still...if superconferences are inevitable...and at this point it seems they are...UT will be joining another conference. The B1G makes the most sense, at least to me.

 

[bassbuckeye07]

Oklahoma board of regents unanimous in their desire to apply for pac 10 memborship per Bob Baptist's twitter of all people

 

[Gatorubet]

Oklahoma board of regents unanimous in their desire to apply for pac 10 memborship per Bob Baptist's twitter of all people

Aggies to SEC only if the little guys let them, and the little guys wanted assurance that Okie would not bail.

So....does that mean the Okies are abandoning their little Okie State brother?

Will Ken Starr and Baylor seek Divine Guidance from the courts? Will the SEC get access to those Texas TV sets?? Will Tejas join the Pac fest or abandon the rivalry with Okie for the B1G? Stay tuned.

 

[Piney]

Oklahoma board of regents unanimous in their desire to apply for pac 10 memborship per Bob Baptist's twitter of all people

Chip Brown also reported it

Aggies to SEC only if the little guys let them, and the little guys wanted assurance that Okie would not bail.

So....does that mean the Okies are abandoning their little Okie State brother?

Will Ken Starr and Baylor seek Divine Guidance from the courts? Will the SEC get access to those Texas TV sets?? Will Tejas join the Pac fest or abandon the rivalry with Okie for the B1G? Stay tuned.

Okie State will follow their big brother, but big brother had to make the move first.

It will be fun to watch Baylor's reaction to this.

 

[Woody1968]

Kind of funny that the old poll had Texas as #1 choice, but now they are tied with Mizzou for second, and the #1 is a landslide for Notre Dame. Since we added a powerhouse in Nebraska, I guess the logic is that we need a patsy?