Crap from the LJWorld
5:09 p.m. Update:
UT regents meeting has wrapped but not so much as a peep coming out of it. According to Kirk Bohls, of the Austin American-Statesman, UT president Bill Powers did not answer questions and ducked reporters by hustling to the elevator.
Bohls' most recent Tweet says: No small point. UT prez Bill Powers has authority to stay in Big 12, but cannot take action on own to change conferences; regents keep that.
Wild stuff. Never seen UT this vulnerable.
Stay tuned...
4:52 p.m. Update:
Here's a link to a short report from The Associated Press that indicates that there have been serious conversations between the Big 12 and the Big East's football schools about merging.
It doesn't get into specifics, but presumably, this merger would be on the table should OU and Texas leave. However, it's possible — and probably likely — that similar conversations have taken place that include the scenario of OU and Texas both staying.
Not a lot here but worth the look.
http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/6993604/big-east-big-12-talking-possible-merger-report-saysIf the OU and UT foursome leave the proposed merger would look like this (12): KU, K-State, Missouri, Iowa State, Baylor, Louisville, Cincinnati, West Virginia, UConn, Rutgers, TCU and South Florida.
If the foursome stays, it looks like this (16): OU, Texas, Okie State, Texas Tech, KU, K-State, Missouri, Iowa State, Baylor, Louisville, Cincinnati, West Virginia, UConn, Rutgers, TCU and South Florida.
Stay tuned...
4:46 p.m. Update:
More from Boren, via The Oklahoman's Travis Haney:
http://twitter.com/#!/TravHaney• Boren: "If I had the answer, I would reveal it." Says "sooner rather than later." No specific timetable. I don't think it should be that long."
• Also says talks with (MU chancellor Brady) Deaton, others in B12 been constructive. "two sets of very constructive conversations"
• Gist of Boren's talk: 2 options - Pac-12 or save Big 12. Not happy with Baylor, others, for threatening suit. Not happy with LHN.
Stay tuned...
4:34 p.m. Update:
Pac-12 expansion not a given? That could be the case. Here's a statement from UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero, from UCLA's official site.
I know that the national discussion on conference expansion is dominating the conversation for many of you right now. Rumors are rampant and, as is often the case, not necessarily always on point. Ultimately, any decision to expand the Pac-12 will rest with the various school presidents and chancellors, working hand in hand with their respective athletic administrators and our commissioner.
Expansion just for the sake of expansion is rarely a good thing. Dr. Martin Luther King once said, "We may all have come in different ships, but we are all in the same boat now." Those of us in the same boat, the existing Pac-12 members, need to think long and hard as to the relevancy and value of bringing new members into the boat. Issues of academic compatibility, student-athlete welfare, competitive and financial implications all need to be thought out carefully by the various stakeholders. If further expansion is the right thing to do, then it makes sense to proceed.
Stay tuned...
4:31 p.m. Update:
Some interesting quotes from OU president David Boren following the OU board of regents meeting at which Boren was authorized to act on behalf of the university in the matter of conference realignment.
• Boren says OU has not decided to officially leave B12 yet. Staying in B12 "still on the table"
• Boren: too early to tell whether OU/Texas will be in same league
• Boren: "have had informal conversations w/ Pac-12. Those conversations have been warm, constructive."
• Boren: "I'm prepared to take that action as appropriate."
• Boren: "working very close w/ ok st" -- another source reports that whatever they do, OU and OSU will do it together.
• Boren said pods can make superconferences work
• Boren says threatening litigation no way to keep a conference together
All comments courtesy of Jake Trotter's Twitter feed.
http://twitter.com/#!/Jake_TrotterStay tuned...
4:12 p.m. Update:
The Oklahoma regents just stepped out of executive session and voted unanimously to authorize OU president David Boren to act on the university's behalf regarding conference realignment.
What this means? It means that Boren, a political wizard with a massive ego, no longer needs the approval of the board to move OU into another conference.
What that means? OU is gone. Expect the Sooners to announce their application to the Pac-12 someday soon.
So now it's on Texas, whose regents also are in executive session at this moment.
Stay tuned...
