Smoke your cigars and enjoy the band while you can....

[Skipper44]

OU wants to keep the Big 12 together but only if they have their own network and UT is not going to leave them high and dry when the Tier 1 expires.  

OU is putting the ball back in UT's court - commit to the big 12 for a significant number of years and get UT's BFFs at ESPN to hook them up or OU&OSU are going Pac.

[ArchE_Cat]

http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/article.aspx?subjectid=203&articleid=20110915_203_B1_OLDFAS164035

It appears OU and OSU are headed down the road toward membership in the Pac-12 and that Texas Tech and Missouri might be going with them.

  @ the Tech Mizzou pairing. OK_CAT, what can you tell me about John Klein?

[PurpleSleezyE]

OU wants to keep the Big 12 together but only if they have their own network and UT is not going to leave them high and dry when the Tier 1 expires.  

OU is putting the ball back in UT's court - commit to the big 12 for a significant number of years and get UT's BFFs at ESPN to hook them up or OU&OSU are going Pac.

This makes sense, although i have always thought that ESPN wants the Big 12 dead. 

[OK_Cat]

http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/article.aspx?subjectid=203&articleid=20110915_203_B1_OLDFAS164035

It appears OU and OSU are headed down the road toward membership in the Pac-12 and that Texas Tech and Missouri might be going with them.

  @ the Tech Mizzou pairing. OK_CAT, what can you tell me about John Klein?

never heard of him.  Tulsa is insignificant in pretty much everything.

[sonofdaxjones]

David Glenn from the David Glenn Show in Raleigh, and editor of the ACC Sports Journal:

"Texas and friends to the ACC . . . Extremely Unlikely . . . " per his sources across the ACC

[Skipper44]

OU wants to keep the Big 12 together but only if they have their own network and UT is not going to leave them high and dry when the Tier 1 expires.  

OU is putting the ball back in UT's court - commit to the big 12 for a significant number of years and get UT's BFFs at ESPN to hook them up or OU&OSU are going Pac.

This makes sense, although i have always thought that ESPN wants the Big 12 dead. 

It appears ESPN was just keeping the Big 12 on life support by honoring the 1 st tier contract last summer, not saving it

[chum1]

If we are to believe that there is actual negotiating going on, wouldn’t someone report it?  Like, wouldn’t that get out to someone?  Granted, the reporters covering these things north of norman appear to be happy being fat, terrible smelling, lazy and/or skinny, non-zeal reporters.  And you could argue that the reporting going on in Norman and Austin are simply just negotiating platforms. The OU BOR are meeting on Monday, so you’d think that a hint of hope would start to filter.  A “there’s a source that says a plan is being floated out that might just keep the conference together…stay tuned”.  But there’s nothing, save for some “I got an email from my uncle who’s BFF’s with DeLoss…”.  Nothing.  OU is done w/ it.  

i have the same feeling.  ou doesn't seem like it wants to negotiate.  according to thamel, they sent texas reps packing without even discussing lhn.  and what's with reports that the big 12 is dead?  not reports that it's dead because ou's leaving or that ou's leaving because ou thinks it's dead, but just that it's dead.

[sonofdaxjones]

At risk of sounding like "All is well" . . . it makes no sense for either OU or Texas to want to leave the Big 12, it's absurd, but then again, common sense doesn't prevail. 

Oh and David Glenn out of Raleigh, ACC Journal guy . . . saying Syracuse and Pitt are the ACC targets. 

[michigancat]

And you could argue that the reporting going on in Norman and Austin are simply just negotiating platforms.

yep.

[Johnny Wichita]

Chip's continual, "TX now more dedicated to the LHN than ever!" comments make me think maybe OU has given TX an ultimatum that they scrap the LHN in favor of a B12 Network (or a TX/OU network or something else) or they walk and now Texas is waiting to see if they are serious or not.  

This is correct. 

[sonofdaxjones]

Here's the deal, according to the ACC sports journal guy, there's NO WAY Texas would ever get a single vote to get an invite to the ACC if they cling to the LHN.   It's highly unlikely (understatement of the decade) the Big 10 would budge an inch on that either, considering the Big 10 Network is so lucrative, so that pretty much only leaves the Pac-12 or Independence as Texas' options outside the Big 12 . . . and I doubt the current Pac-12 TV partners would ever allow the LHN in, given the money they're paying out now, the only offset could be the number of TV sets in Texas.

[Stupid Fitz]

I am honestly curious as to what Beebe is and has been doing the past few weeks.  

[michigancat]

Here's the deal, according to the ACC sports journal guy, there's NO WAY Texas would ever get a single vote to get an invite to the ACC if they cling to the LHN.   It's highly unlikely (understatement of the decade) the Big 10 would budge an inch on that either, considering the Big 10 Network is so lucrative, so that pretty much only leaves the Pac-12 or Independence as Texas' options outside the Big 12.

I don't think the Pac 12 is an option if they want to keep LHN, either.

[chum1]

If we are to believe that there is actual negotiating going on, wouldn’t someone report it?  Like, wouldn’t that get out to someone?  Granted, the reporters covering these things north of norman appear to be happy being fat, terrible smelling, lazy and/or skinny, non-zeal reporters.  And you could argue that the reporting going on in Norman and Austin are simply just negotiating platforms. The OU BOR are meeting on Monday, so you’d think that a hint of hope would start to filter.  A “there’s a source that says a plan is being floated out that might just keep the conference together…stay tuned”.  But there’s nothing, save for some “I got an email from my uncle who’s BFF’s with DeLoss…”.  Nothing.  OU is done w/ it.  

i have the same feeling.  ou doesn't seem like it wants to negotiate.  according to thamel, they sent texas reps packing without even discussing lhn.  and what's with reports that the big 12 is dead?  not reports that it's dead because ou's leaving or that ou's leaving because ou thinks it's dead, but just that it's dead.

also, there are the reports that the ok bor is pro pac.  are they truly involved in tv contract negotiations?  seems weird.  more believable that they're exercising the will of ou fans.

[CNS]

Beebe's popularity in the last two years is more volatile than the stock market.

[PurpleSleezyE]

If we are to believe that there is actual negotiating going on, wouldn’t someone report it?  Like, wouldn’t that get out to someone?  Granted, the reporters covering these things north of norman appear to be happy being fat, terrible smelling, lazy and/or skinny, non-zeal reporters.  And you could argue that the reporting going on in Norman and Austin are simply just negotiating platforms. The OU BOR are meeting on Monday, so you’d think that a hint of hope would start to filter.  A “there’s a source that says a plan is being floated out that might just keep the conference together…stay tuned”.  But there’s nothing, save for some “I got an email from my uncle who’s BFF’s with DeLoss…”.  Nothing.  OU is done w/ it.  

i have the same feeling.  ou doesn't seem like it wants to negotiate.  according to thamel, they sent texas reps packing without even discussing lhn.  and what's with reports that the big 12 is dead?  not reports that it's dead because ou's leaving or that ou's leaving because ou thinks it's dead, but just that it's dead.

also, there are the reports that the ok bor is pro pac.  are they truly involved in tv contract negotiations?  seems weird.  more believable that they're exercising the will of ou fans.

OU fans are damn near some of the dumbest people in existence.  I would hope that the OK BOR is made of up more intelligent people than the fanbase, but I doubt it.

[catzacker]

If we are to believe that there is actual negotiating going on, wouldn’t someone report it?  Like, wouldn’t that get out to someone?  Granted, the reporters covering these things north of norman appear to be happy being fat, terrible smelling, lazy and/or skinny, non-zeal reporters.  And you could argue that the reporting going on in Norman and Austin are simply just negotiating platforms. The OU BOR are meeting on Monday, so you’d think that a hint of hope would start to filter.  A “there’s a source that says a plan is being floated out that might just keep the conference together…stay tuned”.  But there’s nothing, save for some “I got an email from my uncle who’s BFF’s with DeLoss…”.  Nothing.  OU is done w/ it.  

i have the same feeling.  ou doesn't seem like it wants to negotiate.  according to thamel, they sent texas reps packing without even discussing lhn.  and what's with reports that the big 12 is dead?  not reports that it's dead because ou's leaving or that ou's leaving because ou thinks it's dead, but just that it's dead.

also, there are the reports that the ok bor is pro pac.  are they truly involved in tv contract negotiations?  seems weird.  more believable that they're exercising the will of ou fans.

There are few things that make me think OU is serious: 

Last year they were vocal in saying they wanted the big 12 to stay together.  This year, they were, at the beginning, quiet.

Last year it was their AD who spoke and was vocal about the big 12 staying together.  This year it’s their crazy ass president that’s talking all kinds of noise. 

It caught everyone off guard when their Pres came out and said what he said.  It sent everyone in scramble mode.  Everyone was talking about replacements, not leaving.  To me, this screams “alright Joe, I’m taking this thing over and we’re leaving” by their pres/bor.

[mcmwcat]

And you could argue that the reporting going on in Norman and Austin are simply just negotiating platforms.

could you argue that they are anything but negotiating platforms?

[michigancat]

There are few things that make me think OU is serious: 

Last year they were vocal in saying they wanted the big 12 to stay together.  This year, they were, at the beginning, quiet.

Last year it was their AD who spoke and was vocal about the big 12 staying together.  This year it’s their crazy ass president that’s talking all kinds of noise. 

It caught everyone off guard when their Pres came out and said what he said.  It sent everyone in scramble mode.  Everyone was talking about replacements, not leaving.  To me, this screams “alright Joe, I’m taking this thing over and we’re leaving” by their pres/bor.

well, ou isn't happy with the way things ended up last year. Why would they use the same strategy and expect different results this time around?

[catzacker]

There are few things that make me think OU is serious:  

Last year they were vocal in saying they wanted the big 12 to stay together.  This year, they were, at the beginning, quiet.

Last year it was their AD who spoke and was vocal about the big 12 staying together.  This year it’s their crazy ass president that’s talking all kinds of noise.  

It caught everyone off guard when their Pres came out and said what he said.  It sent everyone in scramble mode.  Everyone was talking about replacements, not leaving.  To me, this screams “alright Joe, I’m taking this thing over and we’re leaving” by their pres/bor.

well, ou isn't happy with the way things ended up last year. Why would they use the same strategy and expect different results this time around?

I don’t think OU was unhappy when it was all over.  I don’t think anyone (sans A&M) was unhappy.  My perspective is that  last year OU was making an effort to keep the conference together, with their AD out front saying so.  Their agenda was to keep the Big 12 together.  This year, they are done with it.  Their agenda is to move away from the Big 12, with their UP saying so.  Completely different agendas for completely different results.

[michigancat]

There are few things that make me think OU is serious: 

Last year they were vocal in saying they wanted the big 12 to stay together.  This year, they were, at the beginning, quiet.

Last year it was their AD who spoke and was vocal about the big 12 staying together.  This year it’s their crazy ass president that’s talking all kinds of noise. 

It caught everyone off guard when their Pres came out and said what he said.  It sent everyone in scramble mode.  Everyone was talking about replacements, not leaving.  To me, this screams “alright Joe, I’m taking this thing over and we’re leaving” by their pres/bor.

well, ou isn't happy with the way things ended up last year. Why would they use the same strategy and expect different results this time around?

I don’t think OU was unhappy when it was all over.  I don’t think anyone (sans A&M) was unhappy.  My perspective is that  last year OU was making an effort to keep the conference together, with their AD out front saying so.  Their agenda was to keep the Big 12 together.  This year, they are done with it.  Their agenda is to move away from the Big 12, with their UP saying so.  Completely different agendas. 

At the time, they also thought they could pull off their own LHN. Now, they know they can't.

[catzacker]

At the time, they also thought they could pull off their own LHN. Now, they know they can't.

which gives them even less incetive to stay.

[michigancat]

At the time, they also thought they could pull off their own LHN. Now, they know they can't.

which gives them even less incetive to stay.

Yes, but that doesn't mean the Big 12 is not their most attractive option as of today. It also changes their negotiating tactics.

[TheCatFanSpeaks]

I am honestly curious as to what Beebe is 

[catzacker]

At the time, they also thought they could pull off their own LHN. Now, they know they can't.

which gives them even less incetive to stay.

Yes, but that doesn't mean the Big 12 is not their most attractive option as of today. It also changes their negotiating tactics.

I guess we differ in that I dont' think they are negotiating.   I think they could be convinced, but I don't think their intent was to negotiate.  maybe that's a bit naive, because if they wanted to go and had an invite, they'd just go (although A&M's departure may have given everyone pause in just how they go about leaving).