Source: UT, 3 others poised for Pac-10

[clenz]

Updated: June 11, 2010, 5:16 PM ET

AUSTIN, Texas -- University of Texas regents will meet next week to decide whether the Longhorns will remain in the Big 12 or switch to another conference, setting the table for an unprecedented realignment of power conferences in college sports.

A source within the Big 12 told ESPN's Joe Schad on Friday that Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are poised to announce they intend to join the Pac-10 as early as Tuesday, with Texas A&M still not firmly on board.

There are members of the Texas A&M board of regents who are more interested in pursuing the SEC than the Pac-10, the source said.

But Texas holds the most significant sway amid a tectonic shift that has seen Colorado move to the Pac-10 and Nebraska bolting to the Big Ten in successive days.

"Our goals and hopes all along have been to keep the Big 12 Conference intact," Texas men's athletics director DeLoss Dodds said in a statement. "The league has been great for its members. We also have been honorable, up front and forthright with regard to our work and responsiveness to all the possible and now definitive changes to conference landscapes."

The Texas regents announced Friday they will hold a meeting by telephone Tuesday for "discussion and appropriate action regarding athletic conference membership."

Texas Tech has also scheduled a special board of regents meeting for Tuesday, at which the formalization of an acceptance to the Pac-10 could occur, the Big 12 source told ESPN.

The athletic director of Texas' longtime interstate rival, Oklahoma, said if the Longhorns were to announce they were committed to staying in the Big 12, the other teams left would likely remain, too.

"Behind the scenes, we're talking about all the different kinds of strategies and plans that would prove that point," Joe Castiglione told The Oklahoman on Thursday.

Oklahoma, Baylor and Kansas have been gathering information about the fiscal viability of keeping the conference alive with 10 teams, a Big 12 source told ESPN's Schad. In that scenario the conference would sacrifice a conference title game. They are exploring the television ramifications as well.

"We have a very, very strong sense from our television partners that the revenue stream would be very, very good going forward," Castiglione told The Oklahoman. "Better than where we are today."

A source familiar with the Pac-10's plans told ESPN that the SEC's interests in Texas A&M and Oklahoma are "real." Another source within the Big 12 said Texas A&M does not necessarily feel it should be required to be attached to the Longhorns.

"We are entrusted with the responsibility of administering our university athletics programs," Dodds said in the statement. "That requires careful examination of any and all options. It is both premature and inappropriate to speculate on what our UT System Regents will discuss at next Tuesday's meeting. But, as the dynamics of the Big 12 continue to change around us, we will utilize additional time to continue our work and evaluate our options."

Castiglione said he continued to work toward a solution to save the Big 12, which he said can still thrive -- in competition and on the balance sheet.

"I understand people are writing this like the ship has sailed and there really isn't any way the Big 12 could stay together," Castiglione told the Oklahoma City newspaper Thursday. "I just don't think this is true. I think there's still a way for us to stick together and be viable. Whether we do or not, I don't know."

In addition to Colorado's move, the Pac-10 is also reportedly interested in inviting Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech to form a 16-team league.

Missouri was reported to be on the trading block, too, even reportedly prompting the Big 12 to issue an ultimatum that also included Nebraska, requiring the schools to commit to the Big 12 by Friday, with an extension possible through Tuesday.

But the president of the University of Missouri system, Gary Forsee, told reporters Thursday he doesn't feel compelled to "justify our loyalty"

"I don't think we need to justify our history in that regard," Forsee said.

Forsee, speaking for the first time on the conference shuffling, said he decided to speak on the subject after Colorado announced its move to the Pac-10.

"Our curators are very interested in those developments, very interested in these facts as they appear. As you might imagine we won't participate in feeding continued speculation of what else might happen around conference realignment or in the Big 12 for that matter.

"But rest assured that our Board of Curators, all our administrators, are on top of these issues."


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[dbackjon]

If Texas A&M goes to the SEC and the other 4 to the Pac 10, who does the Pac try to get as team #16?

[clenz]

If Texas A&M goes to the SEC and the other 4 to the Pac 10, who does the Pac try to get as team #16?

Fresno State

[93henfan]

Weren't the Texas schools trying to tuck Baylor under their wing?

And wouldn't Utah be a better option than Fresno State?

[dbackjon]

Weren't the Texas schools trying to tuck Baylor under their wing?

Trying, but the CA schools don't want Baylor.

[93henfan]

Weren't the Texas schools trying to tuck Baylor under their wing?

Trying, but the CA schools don't want Baylor.

I edited my earlier post, but I'll bring it down to this post. Wouldn't Utah be a better choice than Fresno St?

[clenz]

Trying, but the CA schools don't want Baylor.

I edited my earlier post, but I'll bring it down to this post. Wouldn't Utah be a better choice than Fresno St?

With the MWC adding BSU and likely getting an auto bid I can't see Utah going anywhere.

[UNHWildCats]

Weren't the Texas schools trying to tuck Baylor under their wing?

Trying, but the CA schools don't want Baylor.

DId they not want Baylor or did they just prefer Colorado over Baylor?

[dbackjon]

Trying, but the CA schools don't want Baylor.

DId they not want Baylor or did they just prefer Colorado over Baylor?

Both.

Baylor adds nothing. No TV markets, no significant alumni base. Just dilutes the money pool.
Plus, the CA presidents, especially Stanford and Berkeley, do not want a uber-religious school in the conference, especially one run by Ken Starr.

[clenz]

DId they not want Baylor or did they just prefer Colorado over Baylor?

Both.

Baylor adds nothing. No TV markets, no significant alumni base. Just dilutes the money pool.
Plus, the CA presidents, especially Stanford and Berkeley, do not want a uber-religious school in the conference, especially one run by Ken Starr.

That's right....we can't be having a conservative/religious school in our conference. It has to be only schools run by left wingers

[dbackjon]

Both.

Baylor adds nothing. No TV markets, no significant alumni base. Just dilutes the money pool.
Plus, the CA presidents, especially Stanford and Berkeley, do not want a uber-religious school in the conference, especially one run by Ken Starr.

That's right....we can't be having a conservative/religious school in our conference. It has to be only schools run by left wingers

Arizona schools have conservative leadership. It is more for two reasons:

1) Complications for Sunday games (same reason why BYU will never get an invite)
2) Anger over Prop 8. If the Baptists and the Mormons want to discriminate, be prepared to be discriminated against.

[93henfan]

DId they not want Baylor or did they just prefer Colorado over Baylor?

Both.

Baylor adds nothing. No TV markets, no significant alumni base. Just dilutes the money pool.
Plus, the CA presidents, especially Stanford and Berkeley, do not want a uber-religious school in the conference, especially one run by Ken Starr.

Makes perfect sense. I hadn't thought about the RWNJ factor with Baylor.

I still say Utah is a decent fit. Large state university. Salt Lake City TV market.

[UNHWildCats]

If Texas A&M decides to go to the SEC does Texas and Texas Tech stand up and demand Baylor join or they wont? Gotta think those schools wont be too excited about having one less short trip game.

[Gil Dobie]

So, would Kansas, K-State, Misery and Iowa St go to the Big East then

[clenz]

That's right....we can't be having a conservative/religious school in our conference. It has to be only schools run by left wingers

Arizona schools have conservative leadership. It is more for two reasons:

1) Complications for Sunday games (same reason why BYU will never get an invite)
2) Anger over Prop 8. If the Baptists and the Mormons want to discriminate, be prepared to be discriminated against.

I don't get this.


Yes, Arizona schools may have conservative leadership, but how long have those schools been in the PAC10? I believe UA and ASU were the last two teams to join the conference, and that was 1978 correct? The politics were completely different back then. The differences between the liberals and conservatives wasn't as great as it is now. Did the AZ schools have conservative leadership back then? Were the CA schools ruled by people as liberal as the people that run them now? I honestly have no idea.


Your #1 makes no sense to me. I know the Mormon faith has something against the games and stuff on Sunday but I've never heard such thing being an issue for the Baptist faith. I grew up Baptist, and granted I was never deep into the faith, but I never heard of such an issue. (Side note, doing some research while typing this post after that last sentence I do see it has been brought up before http://www.biblicalrecorder.org/news/8_ ... ptist.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;)

However, how many schools in the NCAA are "Baptist affiliated"? I'm sure there are more than just Baylor...Isn't Duke a "Baptist school"?

Now, maybe southern baptists are a whole lot more strict than the Baptist i grew up as. That is entirely likely, as even my pastor admired he always thought of our church never really fit the mold of being Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, etc...


I understand the thinking behind #2, but that also just proves how close minded and bigoted the left can be/is. Rather than setting the example and accepting everyone, LIKE THEY PREACH THEY DO, they discriminate just as much and sometimes more than the conservatives.

[dbackjon]

So clenz, by your reasoning, Baptists, Mormon, etc should be allowed to be bigots and discriminate, but be welcomed by those they hate?

Being intolerant of intolerance is a virtue.

[ASUMountaineer]

Arizona schools have conservative leadership. It is more for two reasons:

1) Complications for Sunday games (same reason why BYU will never get an invite)
2) Anger over Prop 8. If the Baptists and the Mormons want to discriminate, be prepared to be discriminated against.

I don't get this.


Yes, Arizona schools may have conservative leadership, but how long have those schools been in the PAC10? I believe UA and ASU were the last two teams to join the conference, and that was 1978 correct? The politics were completely different back then. The differences between the liberals and conservatives wasn't as great as it is now. Did the AZ schools have conservative leadership back then? Were the CA schools ruled by people as liberal as the people that run them now? I honestly have no idea.


Your #1 makes no sense to me. I know the Mormon faith has something against the games and stuff on Sunday but I've never heard such thing being an issue for the Baptist faith. I grew up Baptist, and granted I was never deep into the faith, but I never heard of such an issue. (Side note, doing some research while typing this post after that last sentence I do see it has been brought up before http://www.biblicalrecorder.org/news/8_ ... ptist.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;)

However, how many schools in the NCAA are "Baptist affiliated"? I'm sure there are more than just Baylor...Isn't Duke a "Baptist school"?

Now, maybe southern baptists are a whole lot more strict than the Baptist i grew up as. That is entirely likely, as even my pastor admired he always thought of our church never really fit the mold of being Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, etc...


I understand the thinking behind #2, but that also just proves how close minded and bigoted the left can be/is. Rather than setting the example and accepting everyone, LIKE THEY PREACH THEY DO, they discriminate just as much and sometimes more than the conservatives.

Wake Forest used to a Baptist school, but has been distancing themselves...especially after the Southern Baptist Convention kicked Wait Chapel (the church on WFU's campus) out of the convention for marrying gay people.

As to Duke, it's a Methodist school, not Baptist.

As to Baptists playing on Sundays: Sundays are still considered the Sabbath, but the working/ playing on Sundays is not held to the standard of the Mormons.

I understand the California schools not wanting some religious school from Texas in their conference, I could also understand Baylor not wanting to join (but less so, the Bears have nothing to gain by not staying BCS). This whole thing is about money, and getting UT, if UT demands Baylor get in to get UT, then Baylor will get in...money will trump principle. I wonder what Jerry Moore thinks of all of this, he is a Baylor alum.

[SuperHornet]

Baylor MIGHT have an in because the executive director of the AFCA used to coach there. Not sure how much stock the Pac-10 would put in that, though.

Personally, in terms of on-field potential, I'd rather see them take North Texas, which has the best offensive coordinator in history, at least temporarily.

[EPJr]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=5286672

Texas will remain a Big 12 Conference member, the university announced on Monday.

University president William Powers Jr., men's athletics director DeLoss Dodds and women's athletics director Chris Plonsky will hold a news conference at 11 a.m. ET on Tuesday. Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe will also address the media on a teleconference at noon ET. Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott confirmed that Texas has turned down an invitation to leave the Big 12 and join his conference. In an e-mail to The Associated Press, Scott confirms that Texas has rejected the Pac-10's offer.

The news first was reported by The Dallas Morning News. Texas A&M will also continue as a member of the Big 12, a school source told ESPN's Kelly Naqi. Texas A&M regent Gene Stallings said earlier Monday he wanted the Big 12 to survive and would vote to keep the Aggies in the league if they don't get a much better offer. Stallings told The Associated Press that keeping the Big 12 together "would tickle me to death."


Stallings coached Alabama to a football national championship in 1992. He has said that if Texas A&M does move, he'd rather see the Aggies go to the SEC than the Pac-10, but his comments Monday suggested that would be a last resort.
Stallings says he expects Texas A&M regents to meet later this week. Based on a TV deal in the works that could pay upwards of $25 million per year, Texas leaned toward staying in a 10-team Big 12 for the foreseeable future, Orangebloods.com has reported, citing sources familiar with negotiations.

Millions of Reasons
Texas, Texas A&M and Oklahoma would reportedly each receive at least $20 million annually from a new Big 12 TV contract, comparable with what the top conference deals pay now.

BCS conference
Amount of contract
Big Ten $242 million
SEC $205 million
Big 12 $78 million
ACC $67 million
Pacific-10 $58 million
Big East $33 million

[dgreco]

^so 18 million for the other 7 schools? How would they accept this as a good deal for them? Would Kansas, KState, Iowa State, Baylor, Oklahoma State, and Texas Tech all make less ~2.6 mil in any other conferences?

[SuperHornet]

I'm thinking that since TX et. al. dissed the Pac, the conference might do what they SHOULD have done on accepting Colorado: go after Colorado State. Every other pair except for Cal/Stanford is a pair of state-operated schools and even with Cal/Stanford, all form nice, tight travel partners. That would be a good move, IMO.

[GannonFan]

I'm thinking that since TX et. al. dissed the Pac, the conference might do what they SHOULD have done on accepting Colorado: go after Colorado State. Every other pair except for Cal/Stanford is a pair of state-operated schools and even with Cal/Stanford, all form nice, tight travel partners. That would be a good move, IMO.

Nah, Colorado St gives them nothing (seriously, travel partners? Do superconferences even care about that concept?). Now, getting Utah would be entirely different. The Salt Lake City market is a much bigger grab than the Fort Collins market is.

[SuperHornet]

I know I'm crazy, but I'd MUCH rather have Ogden than Salt Lake.

That said, I know full well they won't do that....