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http://www.huskerextra.com/articles/2010/06/09/football/doc4c1050f4ef1f6253873668.txt
NU steps closer to Big Ten, denies reports of offer
Reddit Text Size: By BRIAN CHRISTOPHERSON and BRIAN ROSENTHAL / Lincoln Journal Star
Wednesday, Jun 09, 2010 - 09:43:21 pm CDT
The strongest indication to date that Nebraska will be changing conferences came in the form of a six-word addition to the University of Nebraska Board of Regents’ agenda: Resolution regarding UNL athletic conference realignment.
The decision to add those words to the Friday meeting’s agenda means regents will be briefed on the subject. The regents will hear from chancellor Harvey Perlman and athletic director Tom Osborne and have a chance to present a resolution.
Though Friday has been set as a popular target date, it’s possible official word of Nebraska’s move to the Big Ten may not come until at least Saturday, the Journal Star has learned.
On Wednesday, university officials said Nebraska doesn’t yet have an offer from the Big Ten, disputing what others were reporting.
Several media outlets — including the Chicago Tribune — cited anonymous sources saying that Nebraska to the Big Ten is a done deal.
Even ESPN’s Chris Mortensen, who normally covers the NFL, weighed in and said Osborne informed athletic staff members that Nebraska was going to the Big Ten.
The Journal Star spoke to Husker coaches from four different sports who said there has been no meeting with Osborne since last Friday. Two of them said Osborne was at a university function in Omaha on Wednesday.
And while it sure seems a big announcement is around the corner, regent chairman Bob Phares said any reports declaring the process completed would be inaccurate.
“No. 1, there’s been no vote by the board at all,” Phares said. “No. 2, as I understand it, there are no invitations that are extended. You decide if you wish to make an application and then they react to your application.
“And I heard that there were reports that Tom Osborne had advised all of his staff that it was a done deal. You can talk to Tom and see what his comment is. I would be immensely surprised if that was the case, because as I said, there’s been no vote by the board and no formal decision.”
Osborne did say during an appearance on the Husker Sports Network on Tuesday night that he thinks Nebraska will be able to put this subject to bed “before too long.”
On Wednesday, Osborne said a decision has not been finalized and declined comment when asked whether the Big Ten has formally invited Nebraska to join the league.
The University of Nebraska also issued a statement saying no action has been taken “and none will be taken prior to Friday’s meeting.”
Expect a long day of speculation leading up to that meeting.
“We anticipate there will be a lot of interest and a lot of people there,” Phares said.
Phares, along with fellow regents Bob Whitehouse and Kent Schroeder, were part of an executive conference call with University of Nebraska President J.B. Milliken on Wednesday afternoon.
One answer Schroeder wished to gain from the conference call: Who should be there to help the regents with their resolution?
“Is Chancellor Perlman and athletic director Osborne enough, or do you want to talk to other people?” Schroeder said.
As to what the regents’ opinions mean?
“It’s a campus decision, first of all,” Phares said. “It will come up from the campus not down from the Board of Regents. It isn’t something that we’d do and then say, ‘We’ve made this decision, guys. Now hop to it.’
“The board really has three basic choices after they hear all the facts. They can decide that they want to do nothing. They can decide that they want to reaffirm their affiliation with the Big 12. They can decide that they want to pursue an application somewhere else.”
Reach Brian Christopherson at bchristopherson@journalstar.com or 473-7439.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
http://www.huskerextra.com/articles/2010/06/09/football/doc4c1050f4ef1f6253873668.txt
NU steps closer to Big Ten, denies reports of offer
Reddit Text Size: By BRIAN CHRISTOPHERSON and BRIAN ROSENTHAL / Lincoln Journal Star
Wednesday, Jun 09, 2010 - 09:43:21 pm CDT
The strongest indication to date that Nebraska will be changing conferences came in the form of a six-word addition to the University of Nebraska Board of Regents’ agenda: Resolution regarding UNL athletic conference realignment.
The decision to add those words to the Friday meeting’s agenda means regents will be briefed on the subject. The regents will hear from chancellor Harvey Perlman and athletic director Tom Osborne and have a chance to present a resolution.
Though Friday has been set as a popular target date, it’s possible official word of Nebraska’s move to the Big Ten may not come until at least Saturday, the Journal Star has learned.
On Wednesday, university officials said Nebraska doesn’t yet have an offer from the Big Ten, disputing what others were reporting.
Several media outlets — including the Chicago Tribune — cited anonymous sources saying that Nebraska to the Big Ten is a done deal.
Even ESPN’s Chris Mortensen, who normally covers the NFL, weighed in and said Osborne informed athletic staff members that Nebraska was going to the Big Ten.
The Journal Star spoke to Husker coaches from four different sports who said there has been no meeting with Osborne since last Friday. Two of them said Osborne was at a university function in Omaha on Wednesday.
And while it sure seems a big announcement is around the corner, regent chairman Bob Phares said any reports declaring the process completed would be inaccurate.
“No. 1, there’s been no vote by the board at all,” Phares said. “No. 2, as I understand it, there are no invitations that are extended. You decide if you wish to make an application and then they react to your application.
“And I heard that there were reports that Tom Osborne had advised all of his staff that it was a done deal. You can talk to Tom and see what his comment is. I would be immensely surprised if that was the case, because as I said, there’s been no vote by the board and no formal decision.”
Osborne did say during an appearance on the Husker Sports Network on Tuesday night that he thinks Nebraska will be able to put this subject to bed “before too long.”
On Wednesday, Osborne said a decision has not been finalized and declined comment when asked whether the Big Ten has formally invited Nebraska to join the league.
The University of Nebraska also issued a statement saying no action has been taken “and none will be taken prior to Friday’s meeting.”
Expect a long day of speculation leading up to that meeting.
“We anticipate there will be a lot of interest and a lot of people there,” Phares said.
Phares, along with fellow regents Bob Whitehouse and Kent Schroeder, were part of an executive conference call with University of Nebraska President J.B. Milliken on Wednesday afternoon.
One answer Schroeder wished to gain from the conference call: Who should be there to help the regents with their resolution?
“Is Chancellor Perlman and athletic director Osborne enough, or do you want to talk to other people?” Schroeder said.
As to what the regents’ opinions mean?
“It’s a campus decision, first of all,” Phares said. “It will come up from the campus not down from the Board of Regents. It isn’t something that we’d do and then say, ‘We’ve made this decision, guys. Now hop to it.’
“The board really has three basic choices after they hear all the facts. They can decide that they want to do nothing. They can decide that they want to reaffirm their affiliation with the Big 12. They can decide that they want to pursue an application somewhere else.”
Reach Brian Christopherson at bchristopherson@journalstar.com or 473-7439.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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