Osborne: No story today

[Nexus]

Osborne basically letting it be known that the ultimate decisions of whether we stay or go elsewhere lies in Perlman's hands. I get a sense that Osborne will be okay with whatever Perlman chooses to do when it's all said and done.

Tom Osborne was rushed by the media following Wednesday morning's talks at the Big 12 meetings in Kansas City.
"Your real story is going to come when the presidents are here (Thursday and Friday) because no one here can make a decision," Osborne said. "I don't have a vote. I'm not trying to push it off on the (school) presidents, but essentially those are the guys that are going to have to make the decision on what happens."

Osborne said there was some talk about conference realignment during Wednesday's meeting. UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman will be on hand for the talks starting tomorrow.

"Maybe no decision will be made (at the meetings)," Osborne said. "I don't know what will happen."

As for all the Big Ten speculation, Osborne said: "It's important to understand that I don't think the Big Ten knows what they're going to do. They may add one, they may add three, they may add five. So we have no indication right now about what's going to happen. And we like the Big 12. We're not looking to leave."

Osborne said he hoped a solution would come "before too long."

I asked Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe if he thought he'd have a good idea where everyone stood after the meetings conclude this week.

"Certainly from an athletics director's standpoint ... I think there's an increasing feeling of not wanting to mess up the recipe that's been so good for so many," Beebe said. "So I don't know how that will translate with the board, but we'll have an opportunity to have that discussion tomorrow."

Beebe said Tuesday he thought chances are "very high" the league would remain as is. Does Osborne think the league will remain intact?

"I don't know," Osborne said. "I think there's a very good chance it will. We like the Big 12, but as I said, I don't have a vote. We''ll talk tomorrow. Presidents will be here. The presidents probably will make some decision by Friday I would think. It may be yes, no, or somewhere in between."

By Friday, Osborne said he expects " there will be a pretty serious discussion about where people stand."

As for Nebraska's general feeling about the Big 12, Osborne pointed out that "we're not mad at anybody."

Concerned about a shift of gravity in the league?

"I made that comment one time and probably shouldn't have said it, but just the idea when the conference office moved to Dallas, and now you do see some push to have the (championship) game played in Dallas for three years, and then there's a pretty good possibility it may stay there, I don't know," Osborne said. "But those are not things that are major problems for Nebraska."

Stay tuned.

LINK

 

[Husker_x]

I sort of checked out of this discussion for a few weeks. My understanding is we should know pretty soon here whether or not we're going to the Big 10. That accurate?

 

[Nexus]

I sort of checked out of this discussion for a few weeks. My understanding is we should know pretty soon here whether or not we're going to the Big 10. That accurate?

The consensus in the media thinks it'll be during football season before we know anything. Originally the Big Ten commish had said it'd be a 12-18 month ordeal. That was in Dec. 2009, so we're 6 months into it at this point. He re-affirmed this timetable 2 weeks ago.

So to answer your question, it could come anytime, but more likely sometime during football season.

 

[Husker_x]

Huh. Osborne made it sound like decisions are on the way. Maybe the timetable between decisions and announcements will take longer. If that's so, here's hoping for leaks.

 

[Nexus]

Huh. Osborne made it sound like decisions are on the way. Maybe the timetable between decisions and announcements will take longer. If that's so, here's hoping for leaks.

Well he made it clear in this article that he doesn't know where the Big Ten is at on their decision yet. At this point, my guess would be that if Perlman is pressed to give the Big 12 an answer, then he'll probably say something along the lines of "We're committed to the Big 12 until further notice." We can't really give them an honest answer until the Big Ten makes their move.

 

[RedNeckHusker]

Wow. I'm actually shocked that T.O. revealed so much in a few minutes of interviews today.

I suspect Nebraska's not going anywhere, and neither is Tejas, and that this will be firmed up by Friday.

Osborne isn't one to mince words, and he said things like "we like where we are", "We like the Big 12", "we aren't looking to leave", and that chances are "very good" that the Big 12 stays intact, as well as a single championship site (Jerry World) "not a problem" for Nebraska. Plus the fact that he even concedes that a decision during these meetings is possible. You don't casually toss out all those reassurances if you are even considering going elsewhere - it's just not T.O.

My guess is that Tom, Harvey, board members, and maybe even Bo got together and figured out that the Big 10 could present some huge risks to our program, and unless the Big 12 falls completely apart, it's still our best option by a long shot:

1. It actually makes geographic sense for our fans as opposed to the Big 10.

2. Significant recruiting unknowns.

3. Team travel time and expense.

4. Yes, the Big 10 could have a significant financial payoff, but this isn't a business; it's a university. And Nebraska's university at that.

Finally, it would be very un-Nebraska-like to say one thing and do something completely the opposite in 6 months. And don't think for a second that Pearlman is going to deviate from T.O.

Nebraska's staying in the Big 12.

And this business about moving to the Big 10 is getting ready to be a non-story.

Now, about October 16th...

 

[Nexus]

Wow. I'm actually shocked that T.O. revealed so much in a few minutes of interviews today.

I suspect Nebraska's not going anywhere, and neither is Tejas, and that this will be firmed up by Friday.

Osborne isn't one to mince words, and he said things like "we like where we are", "we aren't looking to leave", and there is a "very good chance" that the Big 12 stays intact. Plus the fact that he even concedes that a decision during these meetings is possible. You don't throw out those sorts of reassurances if you are even considering going elsewhere.

My guess is that Tom, Harvey, board members, and maybe even Bo got together and figured out that the Big 10 could present some huge risks to our program, and unless the Big 12 falls completely apart, it's still our best option by a long shot:

1. It actually makes geographic sense for our fans as opposed to the Big 10.

2. Significant recruiting unknowns.

3. Team travel time and expense.

4. Yes, the Big 10 could have a significant financial payoff, but this isn't a business; it's a university. And Nebraska's university at that.

Finally, it would be very un-Nebraska-like to say one thing and do something completely the opposite in 6 months. Tejas? Who knows.

Nebraska's staying in the Big 12.

I disagree. What I got from it is that T.O. is conceding whatever decisions to Perlman and will support it.

So I'm going with IF the Big Ten extends an invite, Perlman will be the one to accept or reject the offer. I'd be willing to bet that Perlman would accept a Big Ten offer for reasons already mentioned in various other threads. ACADEMICS.

 

[RedNeckHusker]

Of course he's conceding - he doesn't have a vote. But if Oz thought there was any chance of a "move to Big 10" initiative from Perlman, he wouldn't be saying squat, much less offering up a plethora of reassurances. Perlman and T.O. are in lock-step on this deal.

T.O. spilled 'da beans. :ahhhhhhhh

 

[Nexus]

you might be right on the money, but if that was the case, I would think Osborne wouldn't be saying anything at all, much less offering up a plethora of reassurances. Perlman and T.O. are in lock-step on this deal.

T.O. spilled 'da beans. :ahhhhhhhh

This could just be a matter of verbal poker. Afterall we're not the only ones being discussed about leaving the Big 12. Mizzou, Texas and Colorado are also in the mix as well. Therefore there's a lot of "poker players" in that room this week.

 

[RedNeckHusker]

it's possible it's all a ploy, but that's not been T.O.'s m.o. historically. Pretty much what the guy says is good..

If it was coming from Dodds, I'd say don't hold your breath.

T.O.'s sticking a lot of hiney out there to later find out that Pearlman's doing an about-face. I just don't see it.

 

[Nexus]

it's possible it's all a ploy, but that's not been T.O.'s m.o. historically. Pretty much what the guy says is good..

If it was coming from Dodds, I'd say don't hold your breath.

T.O.'s sticking a lot of hiney out there to later find out that Pearlman's doing an about-face. I just don't see it.

Have you been following the Big Ten expansion at all and for how long? Just curious because there are some T.O. quotes over the past month or so that are subtle hints about the possibility of bolting to the Big Ten.

At this point, he can't make definite statements about the Big Ten because, 1) it's not his to make, but Perlman's. 2) The Big Ten hasn't decided who they are going to invite yet.

So with that in mind, he's limited in what he can say and how he can say it. Therefore the easiest thing to do is confirm that you're comfortable with your present situation and leave it at that.

 

[knapplc]

it's possible it's all a ploy, but that's not been T.O.'s m.o. historically. Pretty much what the guy says is good..

If it was coming from Dodds, I'd say don't hold your breath.

T.O.'s sticking a lot of hiney out there to later find out that Pearlman's doing an about-face. I just don't see it.

What quotes can you point to in that article that tell you we're staying in the Big 12? I must be missing them...?

 

[RedNeckHusker]

no quotes per se, but TO's quotes don't seem to indicate anything but the status quo. Everyone might have a different take on that, though.

 

[knapplc]

I think all we're seeing here is Osborne using his patented coach-speak. The kind of coach-speak he'd use before we played Middle Directional State Tech in the late 80s and Osborne's pregame presser would have him all concerned that we can't sleep on these guys - they're good, and they'll beat you if you don't bring your A Game.

TO isn't saying anything to anybody because the stakes are very, very high right now. We're going to hear a whole lot of nothing from Tom until this is all over, and then we'll hear it from Harvey.

 

[Nexus]

I think all we're seeing here is Osborne using his patented coach-speak. The kind of coach-speak he'd use before we played Middle Directional State Tech in the late 80s and Osborne's pregame presser would have him all concerned that we can't sleep on these guys - they're good, and they'll beat you if you don't bring your A Game.

TO isn't saying anything to anybody because the stakes are very, very high right now. We're going to hear a whole lot of nothing from Tom until this is all over, and then we'll hear it from Harvey.

:laughpound @ Middle Directional State Tech.