WILD SPECULATION FOLLOWS. For amusement purposes only.
For some time, I've been hearing rumblings of unhappiness from the Nebraska camp, and a few rumblings from B1G. Common psychological phenomenon: Buyer's remorse. To be expected. Within the past few weeks I heard the following rumor: Nebraska's going back to that Texas conference. I simply blew that off--the Beatles will reunite with Ouija boards before that happens. But it appears there may be some truth that something's up in Nebraska.
Then I heard that Arkansas had itchy feet and longing eyes for Texas. Then I heard Arkansas and Missouri were thinking of heading for Texas. Again, I blew the rumors off.
The someone posts here that UConn may be in a push with NDA's involved. How much veracity to give that rumor? Who knows? But it sounds legit to me for the obvious reason and one not-so-obvious reason. The way the B1G is valued it's going to be really, really difficult for any school to buy in before too long. Forget any conference's exit fee, it's the frigging B1G entrance fee that hardly anyone will be able to afford. Especially a school without a Kevin Plank waiting in the wings. Now--before the new TV contract--is the time to push the issue.
Then I start hearing all this hockey stuff.
So, with those inputs, I've deduced the following: Missouri and UConn to the B1G, sooner rather than later.
Here's how I arrived at that. First, no way--public protestations aside--the Big 12 isn't nosing expansion and a CCG. But they ain't getting any financial help from TV partners unless they get big time schools that will draw on TV--and those schools aren't going to be the usual suspects (Memphis, Cincinnati, et al). You'd need schools with better TV audiences, geographically fringe to the bulk of a conference, and no grant of rights. Schools like Nebraska, Missouri, and Arkansas. Inquiries get made, rumors start, leveraging begins. Maybe the time is right...for Missouri to have some buyer's remorse. Haven't heard any rumors at all, but it's basically a psychological fact and certainty that some constituencies at MO aren't happy about something.
Meanwhile, one of the Nebraska has is the lack of traditional rivals. I don't think they would ever bed down with Texas again, but maybe they could convince Missouri and B1G to kiss and make up and leverage Omaha into B1G hockey. Then Missouri would need a traveling partner--one that could shore up the eastern end of the conference geography and bring in hockey as well. NDA's get signed and rumors start. This would be B1G perfect--pick Slive's pocket at his retirement party, thank Bowlsby for the invitation, then plop down on the Swofford's sofa and put your feet up on the coffee table while you light a cigar.
Problem solved. Welcome aboard.
