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

[scottwildcat]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=5257088

Report: Huskers, Mizzou face ultimatum ESPN.com news services

The Big 12 has drawn a line in the sand for at least two member schools.

The conference, amid a chorus of story lines that would all significantly change the face of big-league college sports, has imposed a deadline of Friday for Nebraska and Missouri to state their intentions on whether they intend to bolt for the Big Ten, with the possibility of an extension for a decision by next Tuesday, The Austin American-Statesman has reported, citing two sources.

The Big 12's university presidents decided on imposing the ultimatum, two highly placed officials within two of the conference schools said, according to the newspaper.


Big 12 blog
 ESPN.com's David Ubben writes about all things Big 12 in his conference blog.



"Nebraska has until 5 p.m. on Friday to tell us what they're going to do," one school official said, according to the The American-Statesman. "The same deal for Missouri. They have to tell us they're not going to the Big Ten."

A Dallas Morning News report also cited a deadline for the Cornhuskers but said it was within two weeks.

"I've talked to the Pac-10," said the Big 12 school administrator, according to the Austin newspaper. "There is an invitation. When it comes, it'll come fast."

Another political figure connected to Texas told The American-Statesman: "I know the war drums are beating. This is way beyond gossip."

Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott, speaking at meetings in San Francisco, laid out several scenarios Friday to its schools' athletic directors, one of which would include adding six Big 12 schools, with Texas among them.

Scott was to brief school presidents and chancellors Sunday morning.

Big 12 commissioner Don Beebe said Friday he is "comfortable" the league will remain intact.


Pac-10 blog
 ESPN.com's Ted Miller writes about all things Pac-10 in his conference blog.

• Blog network:
College Football Nation


Beebe said a "process" had been put in place by Big 12 presidents to ensure the long-term viability of a conference that has greatly increased revenue for its members, but still not kept pace in television dollars with the other big leagues.

The Big 12 presidents are scheduled to meet again in October. It could hardly be longer away than February, when they meet just before Beebe begins negotiations on a new cable deal with Fox.

"I am comfortable," Beebe said as four days of Big 12 meetings in Kansas City, Mo., wrapped up. "There's still a process we're going through but based on the conversations we had I think we're in a very good position."

He would not discuss how the process will keep the Big 12 intact.

"The process that has been set is firm. But I'm not going to engage in what that is," he said.

As a sales pitch to keep the league together, Beebe spent the week explaining that he expected huge increases in rights fees from both Fox and ESPN. Unfortunately for those wanting to keep the Big 12 intact, its more lucrative contract with ESPN runs through the 2015-16 academic year.

The greatly staggered contract dates are not working in the Big 12's favor as it seeks to keep up with other leagues.

"We have had analysis and projections that look like we're going to be every bit as well compensated in the future," Beebe said.

Under their present television deals, Big 12 members received between $7 million and $10 million each last year, depending on how many appearances each school made. The Big Ten, enriched by its Big Ten cable network, distributed some $22 million to each member last season.

Information from The Associated Press and ESPNDallas.com was included in this report.

[Huskerpride]

Actually Tejas did start this by unfairly changing the rules of the big 8 and by not sharing revenue equally. The Big 8 members took in the pathetic SWC where Tejas was a very minor player in CFB. The old Big 8 members were tired of being beaten yearly by OU & NU and thought that adding the SWC would be like a big FU to the league bullies.
The only dissenting vote for Big 12 expansion was Osborne. He stated that in years to come everything would start to have a Tejas flavor and that Tejas would hold all the cards. BINGO we have a winner. The Big 10 is the countries leader in research, every team in the Big 10 is AAU accredited. Sure, it's about football money but it's also about the grants and billions in research monies that  brings as well.
Nu is a big research university and the prestige (academically) associated with the Big 10 would be great. Only the SEC is lower than the Big 12 academically. Nu would do just fine football wise in the Big 10. Posters here are right by saying that the path to championships would be easier in the Big 12.....But who want's the easy road

This fantasy is squarely contradicted here.  http://www.kansascity.com/2010/06/05/1995770/big-12-problems-trace-to-leagues.html

Yes, NU, that FINE, FINE academic institution focused on athlete-scholars, blah blah blah.  We've heard it all before, but you and I both know that ANY TEAMwould put players on the field with an IQ of 70 if it helped them win games.

There, I fixed it for ya

[sonofdaxjones]

cfb . . . if you're going to be a typical non college attending hyper-defensive Cornhole "fan", than you're going to have to do a better job on here. 

[Trim]

_33 why'd u take the video off of the youtube??

 

[Huskerpride]

cfb . . . if you're going to be a typical non college attending hyper-defensive Cornhole "fan", than you're going to have to do a better job on here. 

Daxi, If your going to be a typical homer and not be able to see past your purple colored glasses and lose some of your east coast elitist demeanor you'll have to do a better job as a human. You're the one who chooses to call people corn-holers and other colorful monikers.
Try not calling others names and being judgmental just based on a persons allegiance. I'm a cfb fan and a husker supporter. Don't act like you know me and whether I did or didn't attend college. You come off like a snob who feels their view is the only important one. No matter how big of a narcissist you are, your opinion is just that...an opinion. You know what they say about opinions.

[MadCat]

cfb . . . if you're going to be a typical non college attending hyper-defensive Cornhole "fan", than you're going to have to do a better job on here. 

Daxi, If your going to be a typical homer and not be able to see past your purple colored glasses and lose some of your east coast elitist demeanor you'll have to do a better job as a human. You're the one who chooses to call people corn-holers and other colorful monikers.
Try not calling others names and being judgmental just based on a persons allegiance. I'm a cfb fan and a husker supporter. Don't act like you know me and whether I did or didn't attend college. You come off like a snob who feels their view is the only important one. No matter how big of a narcissist you are, your opinion is just that...an opinion. You know what they say about onions.

They make your breath stink.

[bradleigh]

I had a feeling that all the rumors we've been hearing have been floated to put mu and nu in their place.

[SkinnyBenny]

Possibly, but I am a sports pessimist/nervous wreck in every possible regard, so since I first heard them I have been all  and 

[scottwildcat]

http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation

Nebraska e-mails: Osborne, Tressel met
By Adam Rittenberg

Nebraska is definitely on the Big Ten's radar for potential expansion, league sources have told ESPN.com, and the feeling apparently is mutual.

Nebraska athletic director Tom Osborne met with Ohio State head football coach Jim Tressel on April 19, according to an e-mail Osborne sent to Nebraska chancellor Harvey Perlman on April 20. ESPN.com colleague Mark Schlabach obtained the e-mail through a records request to Nebraska.

"I think it would be a good time if we met sometime soon regarding the expansion landscape," Osborne wrote to Perlman.

According to reports, Nebraska is one of two Big 12 schools (Missouri is the other) that have been given a Friday deadline by the league's presidents to decide whether they'll remain in the Big 12 or leave for the Big Ten. No formal invitations have been extended by the Big Ten to any expansion candidate, although the Big Ten's presidents and chancellors are meeting right now at league headquarters in Park Ridge, Ill.

In another e-mail obtained through the records request, Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe informed the league's athletics directors May 10 that Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany said nothing had changed regarding the league's original 12- to 18-month timetable for expansion.

Beebe wrote that Delany "affirmed once again that if the Big Ten decides to engage in formal discussions with institutions, he first would contact the commissioner of the conference."

[scottwildcat]

http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation

Big Ten brass meets as Big 12 buzz swirls
By Adam RittenbergAfter the Big Ten's spring meetings last month in Chicago, it became clear that the league wouldn't operate on anyone else's expansion timetable but its own.

Commissioner Jim Delany said no votes were imminent, and league sources said back then and again last week the process likely would go through the fall before a resolution.

Have the events of recent days changed things?

First, we saw the e-mails between Delany and Ohio State president E. Gordon Gee about "fast-tracking it" and "agility and swiftness of foot is our friend." And then Saturday night, the Austin American-Statesman reported that Big 12 presidents are giving Nebraska and Missouri a deadline of Friday to say whether they'll remain in the league or leave for the Big Ten.

"Nebraska has until 5 p.m. on Friday to tell us what they're going to do," one school official said, according to the American-Statesman. "The same deal for Missouri. They have to tell us they're not going to the Big Ten."

If they don't meet the deadline, at least six Big 12 schools, including Texas and Oklahoma, likely would bolt for the Pac-10, creating potential Armageddon in college sports.

Now the Big Ten hasn't extended any formal invitations to anyone and continues to work toward landing a major program, such as Texas or Notre Dame. Texas is obviously on the table for every league exploring expansion, and I'm told Notre Dame remains in the mix for the Big Ten and doesn't know what it wants to do.

While Nebraska and Missouri certainly are strong candidates, I've been told no formal meetings have taken place to discuss them. Are those schools confident enough they're part of the Big Ten's expansion plan? Will they demand an answer from Delany in the next week?

The Big Ten wants to take its time with this process, but Delany and his crew might need to pick up the pace. Then again, Delany isn't the type to cater to anyone else's ultimatums.

It will be very interesting to hear from the commissioner today at the meeting of Big Ten presidents and chancellors at league headquarters in Park Ridge, Ill. The agenda isn't public because the meetings are held in executive session, but you can bet expansion is the No. 1 topic being discussed. It just has to be.

Media aren't allowed in the building, but apparently Delany wasn't kidding when he mentioned all of us enjoying some beer and brats today. Yum.

Delany and Michigan State president Lou Anna K. Simon, the chair of the Big Ten's council of presidents/chancellors, will address reporters around 4 p.m. ET. My pal Teddy Greenstein has a good preview of the meetings.

I'm definitely planning to ask about the Big 12/Pac-10 buzz and how that affects the Big Ten's plans. Check back this afternoon, as I'll have a recap on the blog

[WillieWatanabe]

Here's an idea...    

Thanks for posting that, I haven't laughed that hard since I was a little girl.

Wtf, merge athletically and play football in Topeka? I think I'd rather be part of the Missouri Valley...

I'm ashamed someone posted that on our network.  The actual editors of that site are very, very good.

My bad, i edited the original post.

Also, it seems goEMAW.com has quite the pull over there. 

[swish1]

I should add that the truly optimal solution* given these parameters, provided geography/divisions can be worked out, would be for UNLV to replace Mizzou.

*for me.

i think memphis is the best replacement for mizzou

[cas4ksu]

I should add that the truly optimal solution* given these parameters, provided geography/divisions can be worked out, would be for UNLV to replace Mizzou.

*for me.

Riggghhhhtttt??

[The42Yardstick]

Which Big 12 school will you guys miss the most? I'm going with Texas Tech, there are all sorts of reasons to love them

[Cire]

Which Big 12 school will you guys miss the most? I'm going with Texas Tech, there are all sorts of reasons to love them

A&M and their crazy fans.

[catzacker]

don't really get the "ultimatum".  "hey, nebraska (and possibly mu), you need to tell us you're committed to the big 12, even though the entire south division might leave."  so NU's supposed to take everyone else's word that they're not going to bolt to the PAC-10?  it seems like someone (i.e. Texas) knows that NU doesn't have an offer from the Big 10 or won't be invited by the big 10 and is just trying to make sure NU knows that they are (the state of) Texas's bitch.  

[Dr Rick Daris]

don't really get the "ultimatum".  "hey, nebraska (and possibly mu), you need to tell us you're committed to the big 12, even though the entire south division might leave."  so NU's supposed to take everyone else's word that they're not going to bolt to the PAC-10?  it seems like someone (i.e. Texas) knows that NU doesn't have an offer from the Big 10 or won't be invited by the big 10 and is just trying to make sure NU knows that they are (the state of) Texas's bitch. 

i assume that all schools would be making some kind of agreement/contract that if they leave the big12 within the next 10 years or whatever that they will owe millions and millions or something. if neb signs/agrees then everybody else does as well. or maybe everybody else already has and it's contingent on neb signing as well or something. def trying to force nubbs hand. sign/agree now with the rest of us or face the possibility that the big10 might not want you afterall and then you're screwed cause texas and ou are already in the pac10 and your stuck w/ kstate, iowa state, ku.

[BMWWcat]

someone posted a tweet from chip brow on the ksu rivals that

"PAC-10 has been authorized to make 6 invites to B12 schools"

 

[steve dave]

espn4d
 
Strap in, hang on. AP reports that Pac-10 presidents give commish Larry Scott authority to pursue possible expansion.

[The42Yardstick]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hnzIhFaatwkq64GmeoMWPwy9xbcwD9G604SG2

Pac-10 commish gets authority to pursue expansion

By JOSH DUBOW (AP) – 53 minutes ago

SAN FRANCISCO — The Pac-10 board has given commissioner Larry Scott the authority to pursue any possible expansion for the conference.

Scott spoke following the conclusion of the conference meetings in San Francisco on Sunday. Earlier in the day, he addressed the chancellors and presidents about possible expansion and was given authority to move ahead without having to go back to the board for approval.

Scott says no final decision has been made whether to expand but many different scenarios were discussed this weekend. There have been reports that the conference could add as few as two teams or as many as six if it does expand.

The conference will decide its future plans by the end of the year before negotiating a new television contract for the 2012-13 academic year.

Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

[_33]

What if the Big XII counter expands by offering invites to 6 Pac-10 teams?  

[steve dave]

Another athletic director tells Orangebloods.com Big Ten trying to work things out with Notre Dame before addressing Nebraska or Missouri.

[_33]

Another athletic director tells Orangebloods.com Big Ten trying to work things out with Notre Dame before addressing Nebraska or Missouri.

go Notre Dame, go.

[steve dave]

Another athletic director tells Orangebloods.com Big Ten trying to work things out with Notre Dame before addressing Nebraska or Missouri.

go Notre Dame, go.

Nothing would be funnier than the South teams bolting for the Pac 10 and flirty NU getting passed over by the Big 10.  Sorry Huskers, you are stuck with us smelly fat kids at the last table in the lunch room. 

[steve dave]

BradyMcCollough
 
From all the reports, it appears that the big 12 will survive if the big ten can get Notre dame. Are the Irish ready to shed independence?