Greg Flugaur @flugempire 8h8 hours ago
Following tweets are notes taken by me at tonight’s dinner with “The Source” - BTM.
Last week BTM once again broke a local Gopher story (Lucia) ahead of MN Press.
Now tonight he discusses “3 old pals” meeting in Kansas.
Greg Flugaur @flugempire 8h8 hours ago
BTM:
“In late February 2017 ,during Oklahoma and Kansas Basketball game, non official reps from all 3 Universities of Oklahoma, Kansas & Nebraska met in a planned informal meeting to discuss potential steps forward in Conference Realignment.”
Greg Flugaur @flugempire 8h8 hours ago
BTM:
“Completely unofficial meeting among non-employees of the 3 Universities, but significant. How do we know this happened? Because notes were taken”
Greg Flugaur @flugempire 8h8 hours ago
BTM:
“I know there were notes taken, not because I’ve seen them, but I know the party who has seen them when he was called to help guide the person (Nebraska unofficial rep) in answering follow up questions two weeks out after said meeting occurred”
Greg Flugaur @flugempire 8h8 hours ago
BTM:
“When did I find out about this meeting at Allen Fieldhouse?
4 days ago. How did I find out? Because of a what I do in my business, my job, I was curious and asked about a recent large donation to KU. The rest of info unraveled in my lap”
Greg Flugaur @flugempire 8h8 hours ago
BTM:
“Let’s take a step back. Few years ago Kansas and Oklahoma opened their books for Big Ten examination. This is not a secret. Opening the books at the time was never about the last Big Ten Expansion, but about the next one.”
Greg Flugaur @flugempire 8h8 hours ago
BTM:
“The last Big Ten Expansion was always going East. Delany was going to get Eastern population, Eastern Media to increase value of entire Conference. Delany always had 2 region conference concept for next Big Ten Expansion.”
Greg Flugaur @flugempire 8h8 hours ago
BTM:
“Big Ten back-channeled talked with Rutgers for over 6 years. No promises, but no secrets. Same is happening now with Kansas & Oklahoma. But there is one big and extremely telling and interesting difference”
Greg Flugaur @flugempire 8h8 hours ago
BTM:
“These back-channel talks (twice that we know of 1: Opened books 2013 2: Feb 2017)with Kansas & Oklahoma has been in tandem. Package deal. We do not know of any comparable examples of this long range back-channeling with a tandem before now.”
Greg Flugaur @flugempire 8h8 hours ago
BTM:
“Kansas & Oklahoma need to know what each other are doing if they want to keep their options going forward. They can’t go into their separate 3rd Tier negotiations in 2021 & 2022 without some sort of idea of how the other one is proceeding”
Greg Flugaur @flugempire 8h8 hours ago
BTM:
“As valuable as KU and OU are in brands, institutions, and economic centers in their respective states they both still need each other to gain invite to Big Ten. Both schools bring in value the other does not have. They jump every hurdle together”
Greg Flugaur @flugempire 8h8 hours ago
BTM:
“It’s why they had the meeting. Informal, planned meeting with non officials, non direct employees of Nebraska, Oklahoma & Kansas. The interest is mutual on all sides. It has been for quite sometime and the interest has not dissipated”
Greg Flugaur @flugempire 8h8 hours ago
BTM:
“None of these schools would set up a formal meeting with direct representation of each school at this time for it would endanger Kansas & Oklahoma financially because of its obvious violation of Big 12 bylaws when schools have entered Grant of Rights”
Greg Flugaur @flugempire 8h8 hours ago
BTM:
“Discussions, the meeting notes of February of 2017, centered around maximizing options of 3rd Tier rights for OU & KU leading up to potential Big Ten invite in 2023/24 for 2025 entry”
Greg Flugaur @flugempire 8h8 hours ago
BTM: “These rights are important. They involve multiple platforms within each institution. And they also differ from each other.”
Greg Flugaur @flugempire 8h8 hours ago
BTM:
“Questions were raised on how these next 3rd Tier negotiations OU & KU will be going through very shortly can have off ramps into Big Ten Network if possible”
Greg Flugaur @flugempire 7h7 hours ago
BTM:
“Discussions also included what are the options, not so much to shorten the 6 year investment into Big Ten Network, but if the off ramp from their own new 3rd Tier deals negotiated 2021/2022 can somehow be mixed into Big Ten Network on short term basis”
Greg Flugaur @flugempire 7h7 hours ago
BTM:
“Oklahoma & Kansas want to keep all options open, which includes staying with reformed Big 12. So it wants to work in concert with each other and *understandings* from Big Ten when moving into next 3rd Tier negotiations with ESPN, IMG or other media.”
Greg Flugaur @flugempire 7h7 hours ago
BTM:
“What is striking about this meeting, about this particular back-channel talks is Kansas & Oklahoma did it together. It’s no surprise it happened with Nebraska unofficial rep, but it’s meaningful Kansas & Oklahoma did it together.”
Greg Flugaur @flugempire 7h7 hours ago
BTM:
“When KU & OU and their Board of Regents look at their options for beyond 2025 when Big 12 Grant of Rights comes to completion, they will be looking at what they both hope is a reformed Big 12 Option & Big Ten Option. They will be doing it together.”
Greg Flugaur @flugempire 7h7 hours ago
BTM:
“There is a growing perception in Big Ten circles Oklahoma & Kansas do not have much Pro SEC or Pro PAC factions within their Board of Regents and for Oklahoma it’s Pro SEC donors have huge uphill climb against Oklahoma BOR.”
Greg Flugaur @flugempire 7h7 hours ago
BTM:
“But there is, and will continue to be, very strong voices at OU & KU to push reform in Big 12 and stay in Big 12 past 2025.”
Greg Flugaur @flugempire 7h7 hours ago
BTM:
“And this is the reason for back-channel talks. This is how OU and KU work in concert with each other during their upcoming separate 3rd Tier negotiations and keep clear options open for Big Ten invite and entry, and also keep a reformed Big 12 Option.
Greg Flugaur @flugempire 7h7 hours ago
BTM
“Big Ten interest is very high on expanding with Kansas & Oklahoma. The 16 School Conference has been war gamed out for years. It’s extra content it would provide to sell in Tier 1/2 market and 3rd Tier to Big Ten Network has been discussed throughly”
Greg Flugaur @flugempire 7h7 hours ago
BTM
“16 school Logistics, schedules, divisions, effect on non revenue sports, discussions with 51% owner of BTN FOX Sports, travel has all been on the table for years.”
Greg Flugaur @flugempire 7h7 hours ago
BTM
“The number 16 itself is not an issue. The right value-add with 15 & 16 have to be nailed to keep it a sweet spot. Current ripples in Big Ten, and Media partner FOX, is in favor of targeting Kansas & Oklahoma”
Greg Flugaur @flugempire 7h7 hours ago
Me: I won’t be able to get to any of your questions or remarks tonight for I will be out quite late..
I will circle back tomorrow.
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