Beebe takes off gloves on 810 WHB interview
In an exclusive interview on Sports Radio 810 WHB, Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe has taken off the gloves publicly regarding a possible raid of his conference to lure Missouri and Nebraska to the Big Ten.
"We need to have a very frank conversation about where we're going and who's going to be on the plane when we take off," Beebe said about the upcoming Big 12 meeting in two weeks in Kansas City. "I will be very direct... and want to find out."
Sports Radio 810 reported earlier this week that the Big Ten had made initial offers to four schools to join the Big Ten including Missouri and Nebraska. Beebe responded saying, "I've talked directly with (Big Ten commissioner) Jim (Delaney)."I understand what he's doing, where he's coming from. Maybe I'd do it differently if I were in his situation, maybe I wouldn't. But I'm going to protect our interests."
The comments are the first made publicly by Beebe acknowledging the Big Ten's pursuit of Big 12 institutions and Beebe continued by sharing his thoughts about the future of the Big 12, even if Missouri and Nebraska leave.
"I've thought about replacements, sure," said Beebe. When asked if those possible replacement schools might be in Texas, Beebe said, "I'm not sure how any other institutions in the states we already have schools would add. I think we've captured the markets in those states."
In the 28-minute interview, Beebe emphasized a resolve that the Big 12 is not changing its revenue sharing agreement between schools that allows each school to keep half of its individual football television revenue before sharing the other half with the rest of the league.
"They say a deal's a deal," Beebe said. I understand the notion of revenue sharing and how it can get you to a good place. The Pac 10 doesn't have it and we don't have it."
Pressed on the future of the Big 12 Football and Basketball Championships being played in Kansas City, Missouri, Beebe was asked if the league has ever held a championship in a state that didn't have a member institution. "I don't believe there has," Beebe said while conceding if those events in Missouri were important to Kansas, Kansas State and Iowa State, they would be considered.
As for the future of the Kansas-Missouri rivalry games and Kansas Athletic Director Lew Perkins comments that it would be hard for Kansas to schedule Missouri if they left the league, Beebe stated there is no current Big 12 rule preventing such match-ups and it's unlikely the conference would get involved in the business of individual members scheduling.
It has also been widely reported the Big 12 is working with the Pac-Ten Conference on a partnership to gain bigger television revenues by negotiating with networks together. Beebe was asked directly if it could lead to the Big Ten being excluded from the Rose Bowl and the Big 12 having its champion play in that game.
"That's a question for those (Pac 10) gentlemen," Beebe said. "As far as I've gone (talking) right now is as far as I’m going to go."
With all the talk and stories of Big Ten might, it was clear during the interview Beebe and the Big 12 have just about had enough. The commissioner made it clear they are quietly working on several possibilities he said could lead to a conference without Missouri and Nebraska that would be stronger than the league it is today.