Tuberville to be reprimanded for comments about Big 12

[corncraze]

It is because of actions like that r going to lead to the big 12s demise! No equal treatment... I every aspect!!!

[bugeater17]

What was he thinking of questioning the setup Texas and their lacky Beebe now have... shoulda known better T'ville

[HuskerfaninOkieland]

Found this article on soonerfans.com (the link takes you to redraiders.com which was posted on soonerfans.com)

 

Redraiders.com

 

Tommy Tuberville has yet to coach a football game for Texas Tech, but hes already been punished by the Big 12 Conference.

 

The Big 12 publicly reprimanded the Red Raiders new coach on Friday for comments he made earlier this week about the leagues unity and viability.

 

In a Tuesday interview broadcast on Rivals.com, Tuberville said, We have a 10-team league right now, but I just dont know how long thats going to last, to be honest with you.

 

The Big 12 issued the reprimand on its athletic website, saying Tubervilles comments were a violation of the Big 12 Conferences Principles and Standards of Sportsmanship, prohibiting public criticism of members.

 

Tommy Tubervilles comments were unfortunate, and contrary to the very strong feelings of unity expressed publicly and privately by the Big 12 Board of Directors and athletic directors, Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe said in a statement. Coach Tuberville has admitted that his comments do not reflect his true feelings of respect for the conference, its leadership, and his excitement about its future and has apologized to the conference and its members.

 

Tuberville was vacationing in Alabama on Friday and could not be reached for comment. Tech athletic spokesman Blayne Beal said the Big 12 asked the school not to comment on the issue.

 

The Big 12 concluded its statement by saying, This will serve as the final decision and comment on this matter by all parties.

 

In Tuesdays interview, Tuberville said the Big 12s member schools lack camaraderie like there is in the Southeastern Conference. Prior to being hired to coach the Red Raiders in January, Tuberville had spent his entire 14-year coaching career with SEC teams Auburn and Mississippi.

 

It starts with the commissioner, Tuberville said in the interview. And I think (SEC commissioner) Mike Slive has done a good job. (Former SEC commissioner) Roy Kramer did a good job of building a base where everybody was on the same page. And that just has not happened here in the Big 12.

 

Tuberville also questioned the Big 12s uneven distribution of television revenue, again comparing the league to the SEC.

 

I dont think this conference will last long because there is too much disparity between all the teams, he said in the interview. In the SEC, for instance, Vanderbilt makes as much money in the television contract as Florida. Everybody is good with it. Everybody is on the same page. Everyone gets the same votes.

 

That doesnt happen here in the Big 12. We have some teams that get a little bit more money and have a little bit more stroke than some of the other teams. And when that happens, youre going to have teams looking for better avenues to leave and reasons to leave.

 

The Big 12s livelihood was in jeopardy last month, when in the span of two days Colorado and Nebraska announced their decisions to join other conferences. The Buffaloes are bolting for the Pac-10 , and Nebraska is headed to the Big Ten.

 

Tech, Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State also received invitations from the Pac-10 as part of a package deal, and A&M flirted with the idea of joining the SEC.

 

But the leagues 10 remaining schools decided to stick together with the promise of more lucrative television deals.

 

In his statement, Beebe indicated that he went easy on Tuberville for expressing his doubts about the leagues prospects for longevity. The commissioner also issued somewhat of a warning.

 

In deciding to reprimand Coach Tuberville, I took into account that this is a first-time offense and that he has committed to adhere to the rules and contribute to strengthen the conference, Beebe said. If not for these factors, a more significant penalty would be assessed, and will be if there are any future violations.

 

To comment on this story:

adam.zuvanich@lubbockonline.com l 766-8733

courtney.linehan@lubbockonline.com l 766-8735

EDIT: Read some of the readers comments on that link

[HUSKER 37]

Dan 'Douchebag' Beebe strikes again. Where were these huevos when Texas was ripping the conference apart?

[irafreak]

On a side note is it just me or do a lot of articles talk about colorado "bolting" to the pac 10?

[drmathprog]

Tuberville

 

Too bad; honesty is apparently way under-valued these days.

[LouisianaHuskerFan]

Doesn't surprise me at all even though he was right in what he said.

[billdozer15]

Just remember, truth has no place in today's society. Anyone who tries to tell the truth is usually chastized for being intolerant. Its a sad, sad state.

[Street Novelist]

Just remember, truth has no place in today's America's society. Anyone who tries to tell the truth is usually chastized for being intolerant. Its a sad, sad state.

 

fixed it for you

[huKSer]

Just remember, truth has no place in today's Islamic society. Anyone who tries to tell the truth is usually chastized beheaded for being intolerant. Its a sad, sad state.

Unfortunately, I fixed it for ya