The likelihood of any kind of promise or expected behavior (non-contractual) being honored 9-10 years in the future is slim-to-none. The networks are businesses, they will do what is best for the business (in their judgment, such as it is) at that point in time. It's entirely possible the entire landscape changes by then.
The Big XII needs to do what it feels is in the conferences best interest, but expecting some back room agreement with an executive at a network who may or may not be in the same position and with players that may or may not represent the best future partners in a changing landscape; would be foolish at best. It doesn't mean it's impossible that it happens, but thinking a hand-shake will carry the day a decade down the road is (IMO) a poor bet.
First of all you completely misrepresented everything I posted.
I never said anything about some handshake deal that would come into play next decade.
I'm simply stating that if they have the ability to add any 4 schools pro-rata and they do that it will severely damage their relationship with the two networks - who are the only buyers in the marketplace.
If you don't think it would negatively impact the Big 12's future negotiations - I don't what to tell you other than that viewpoint is wrong.
The idea that the future negotiations wouldn't be impacted by $800 million dollars worth of payments that the networks don't want to make is ridiculous.
Relationships like this work when there are partnerships. Fox and the Big Ten for example. The Masters and CBS. The Olympics and NBC.
The Big 12 may decide they don't care - but there is not a single person on either side who doesn't understand it will impact their future.
We are having this conversation because of human reaction. The Big 12 wasn't expanding last month - then they got their feelings hurt by the ACC network annoucement and now they are discussing expanding again.
So how exactly won't the human reaction on the other side not color their decisions. Are they going to want to be partners again on anything but their own terms?
