Key tweets, and it's all gone to Hell.

[Sea Goat]

From a Longhorn beat writer, Joe Harrington, at the Austin American-Statesman. He rated the BB teams of potential Big 12 additions. While recognizing football is king, he said BB is also important and here is why he rated UConn #1. BTW, this newspaper's sports' writers seem to be in our corner. Whatever - this can only help.

1. Connecticut

2015-16 record:25-11, 11-7

Last tournament appearance:2016

Yeah, it’s not even close. In terms of basketball, the Big 12 should be begging UConn to join the conference. They’d instantly rival Kansas as the best program in the conference and actually have more NCAA National Championships than the Jayhawks in basketball. UConn has won four titles since 1999.Kevin Ollieis probably the greatest example of a coach taking over for a hall of fame coach. Since Jim Calhoun retired in 2012, Ollie is 97-44 with three tournament appearances and, oh yeah, a national championship.

UConn is a top 10 program in the nation along with Cincinnati should be ranked in the top 25 to start this seaso

 

[SpartyCyclone]

Ya this really just made me worry that there doesn't need to be any foresight put into this decision. Pick which ever schools are willing to take the smallest cut and disband after 8 years.

Yes, very worrisome indeed. If they have no long-term plans to exist after 2024, then why sign yourself up to travel half-way across the continent for tennis matches? Just make it easy on yourself and hop across the river to Memphis and be done with it. The same logic applies to BYU, which isn't exactly close to the Big XII footprint. :\

 

[Sea Goat]

Jeff Gravley ‏@jgravleyWRAL 5h5 hours ago Raleigh, NC
NC attorney general @RoyCooperNC pushing for @ECUAthletics to join big 12.

http://www.ncdoj.gov/getdoc/962e9d6f-ffee-40a1-bce3-ef3b14bdf278/CommissionerBowlsbyLtr2.aspx

Roy Cooper ‏@RoyCooperNC 2h2 hours ago
#ECU's inclusion in the Big 12 would mean big things for our university system and eastern NC.

In letters, Cooper and McCrory lobby Big 12 to invite ECU
Read more at In letters, Cooper and McCrory lobby Big 12 to invite ECU :: WRALSportsFan.com

Presumptuous bastards! Why stop with ECU, how about Appalachian State?

 

[nelsonmuntz]

No school is leaving the Pac 12 for Big 12. Ever.

While Texas is on the Board for the ACC, I don't think they are the slam dunk they would have been 5 years ago.

 

[amory]

But not every school will be able to leave so there should be a lot of incentive to get this right, especially since they are probably pissing off their TV partners with the 4 new pro-rated adds.

True, but other than OU and UT I don't have much respect for the other schools in the Big 12 with regard to their ability to think for themselves. They're sheep.

If either OU or UT pulls for us, we're in. If they say "heyy look at Memphis with their FedEx money and 2 good football seasons", they're in.

 

[Charley Horse]

Ya this really just made me worry that there doesn't need to be any foresight put into this decision. Pick which ever schools are willing to take the smallest cut and disband after 8 years.

But think about it another way. What if this temporary money grab actually enhances the conference?

What if UConn, Cincy, Houston and whomever (BYU bleh?) make the most of their Big 12 windfall?

It wouldn't take 8 national championship in three different sports. Reputations are made on less tangible things than that. Oregon's respected now and when exactly did they win their championship? Look at Texas A&M. The only thing they ever did was upset Alabama six years ago but they're still dining off of it.

If the invitees, along with some of the other Big 12 team like TCU and Oklahoma State pull some of those upsets, the entire image of the Big 12 could change.

And if the image changes and dollars follow, Texas and Oklahoma might just have no reason to leave in eight years.

Think that's impossible? Eight years ago, college football was all about Colt McCoy, Sam Bradford and Tim Tebow. Saban's Tide was without a title and lost to Utah. Didn't UConn beat Baylor?

Nobody knows what 2024 will bring but it's rather fatalist to assume it will simply be an unchanged extension of 2016.

 

[Charley Horse]

PS - a quick history lesson for context and perspective:

In 1994 Texas was planning to go to the Pac-10 and A&M was planning to go to the SEC. Texas politicians got involved and forced the two schools to stay together long enough to find a landing spot for Texas Tech and Baylor. Hence, the Big 12.

Texas never wanted in. It was a compromise. A forced marriage.

For the first ten years of the Big 12's existence, rumors ran rampant that Texas (along with Colorado) would leave the Big 12 for Pac-10.

In June 2010, Texas had an opportunity to have its cake and eat it too. To go to the Pac-10 and take favored partners with it.

Since the advent of the LHN, the rumor has been that Texas is going independent.

But you know what, Texas is still here, in the Big 12, after all these years. Colorado got to go to the Pac-10 without Texas, A&M finally got to go to the SEC, Nebraska who thought they owned the Big 8 is gone, And Texas is still here.

Texas is like George Bailey always dreaming of anchor chains, plane engines and train whistles, but being stuck in Bedford Falls forever.

And you guys are worried Texas might leave.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

I like you, but please don't try to make us feel sorry for Texas.

 

[The X Man]

And you guys are worried Texas might leave.

We aren't worried about that at all. All we are worried about is UConn getting in now.

 

[Charley Horse]

Heh. Nothing to feel sorry for, Diacos. Texas is a predator. My only point is that 2024 has yet to written. By the time, the GOR ends, UConn may have surpassed OU as our most hated and worthy rival.

 

[NYUConn]

Heh. Nothing to feel sorry for, Diacos. Texas is a predator. My only point is that 2024 has yet to written. By the time, the GOR ends, UConn may have surpassed OU as our most hated and worthy rival.

Forget 2024, after that corner 3 in 2015 at Gampel I hate you guys right now.

 

[don356]

The one thing that is for certain is the choices will likely dictate the future the conference is going. If there is not a strong presence of teams to create the "north" division, then it's a pretty clear indicator that the b12 has a short remaining useful live, ie big east 2. Loading up with teams in close proximity is not going to do anything to add to it's tv resume and print not to mention it's going to make wv's life even more miserable and remote. Long and short, they'll be looking as gor's expires.

 

[junglehusky]

No school is leaving the Pac 12 for Big 12. Ever.

While Texas is on the Board for the ACC, I don't think they are the slam dunk they would have been 5 years ago.

The question isn't whether any school will ever leave the Pac12 for the BigXII. The question is whether enough B12 schools believe a school or two might leave in 8 years. They don't have to be correct or even have common sonse for this to derail expansion from 4 back to 2. #PrayFor4

 

[NYUConn]

The question isn't whether any school will ever leave the Pac12 for the BigXII. The question is whether enough B12 schools believe a school or two might leave in 8 years. They don't have to be correct or even have common sonse for this to derail expansion from 4 back to 2. #PrayFor4

This is 100% accurate. This is a conference who for years has failed to see the big picture and the future of college football in terms of CR.

It's not inconceivable that you have 8-9 university presidents sitting there right now saying, "Oh yeah, we could TOTALLY grab the Arizona schools in 2024."

 

[whaler11]

Arizona and Arizona State sound insane - but Mellinger mentioned whispers and he's one of the best and most legit columnists in the country.

 

[junglehusky]

Is twitter down for anyone else?

What does this mean???

 

[Santini35]

Is twitter down for anyone else?

What does this mean???

was down, seems to be back up

 

[jostar1]

Houston AthleticsVerified account‏@UHCougars
Houston is IN. @uhcougarmascots on set for the Year 3 CFP on espn shoot. The Road to Playoff… https://www.instagram.com/p/BIaeTZlAXc2/

 

[husky210]

Houston AthleticsVerified account‏@UHCougars
Houston is IN. @uhcougarmascots on set for the Year 3 CFP on espn shoot. The Road to Playoff… https://www.instagram.com/p/BIaeTZlAXc2/

I read those first three words and almost went into meltdown

 

[NYUConn]

Houston better be in the Big 12. They are jerking their fans around pretty badly on social media this week.

 

[SonsOfNutmeg]

In all seriousness, why doesn't the Big XII just go for the gusto and expand by 6 schools? Especially if they're going to just lose Texas and maybe OU? Go stright to 16 teams. You could add: BYU, Cincy, Houston, UConn, plus take like a UCF (Central FL market), and maybe Memphis (to get that FedEx $$$)... Just don't see USF, Colorado State, Bosie State, ECU, Tulane, or Navy making much sense.

 

[CL82]

In all seriousness, why doesn't the Big XII just go for the gusto and expand by 6 schools? Especially if they're going to just lose Texas and maybe OU? Go stright to 16 teams. You could add: BYU, Cincy, Houston, UConn, plus take like a UCF (Central FL market), and maybe Memphis (to get that FedEx $$$)... Just don't see USF, Colorado State, Bosie State, ECU, Tulane, or Navy making much sense.

Because their non-dilution clause only is available for teams 11-14, IIRC.

 

[SonsOfNutmeg]

Because their non-dilution clause only is available for teams 11-14, IIRC.

Just suprising that Arizona & Arizona State want to leave the PAC 12?! I mean the Big 12 isn't exactly a "stable" thing right now...

 

[CL82]

Just suprising that Arizona & Arizona State want to leave the PAC 12?! I mean the Big 12 isn't exactly a "stable" thing right now...

It would be surprising, if true. I'm not convinced.

 

[NYUConn]

Just suprising that Arizona & Arizona State want to leave the PAC 12?! I mean the Big 12 isn't exactly a "stable" thing right now...

Nobody is leaving the Pac12 for the Big 12. The conferences pay out their members identically at this point, so it would be a wash from a purely financial perspective. However, as the only P5 conference with a presence in the Mountain and Pacific Timezones, it's in a position to increase it's value and revenue when the existing TV deal is up.

From a purely competitive perspective, the Pac 12 was one Stanford victory over Oregon away from keeping the Big 12 out of the CFP for a second year in a row. The conference top to bottom is more competitive than the Big 12.

Finally, from a pure stability standpoint, the Pac 12 is going absolutely nowhere. You cannot say that for certainty about the Big 12.