A very vague article to say the least. :moreinteresting
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — What little news that did emerge about conference realignment during Friday's finale to the Big 12 meetings was left without explanation.
Commissioner Dan Beebe said a process has been established among the league's presidents and chancellors for member schools to commit to staying in the Big 12 — a so-called drop-dead date.
“I'm not going to be at liberty to talk about what the time frame is,'' Beebe said. “But I'm comfortable where the board came out in terms of a process.''
Flowery language ensued about productive meetings, candid talks and encouragement by the process that the Big 12 will stick together long term.
Yet nothing concrete was said or done to indicate the Big 12 can successfully fight off potential raids of schools by the Big Ten (Nebraska, Missouri) and the Pacific 10 (Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Colorado).
One possible hammer would be for the Big 12 to increase penalties for leaving the conference.
Was that discussed or voted on?
“I won't get into the detail about what's been discussed about the process,'' Beebe said.
But it has been discussed?
“I won't get into detail about that,'' he said.
More read-between-the-lines material took root when Texas President William Powers, the Big 12's board chairman, skipped the final press conference.
Beebe said it was because of travel arrangements. But veteran reporters of many league meetings had trouble recalling a previous board chairman to whom there was no access.
One possible way to enhance Big 12 solidarity would be a major boost in revenue from conference TV deals. News reports have indicated that Big 12 schools could perhaps double their take by changing leagues.
More money is important, Beebe said, but it shouldn't be the ultimate reason for a school to leave.
“You have to peel back the onion to see if what you're really talking about gets back to athletics, and are there other expenses,'' he said. “We have had analysis and projections that look like we'll be every bit as well compensated in the future.''
The Big 12 will distribute $139 million to member schools from 2009-10, up from $130 million the previous fiscal year.
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