Looks like the Colorado exit orchestrated by the Texas crew to circumvent the Baylor political "problem" is going down just like it was predicted.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's actually pretty simple. Colorado is discussing how to properly avoid paying the massive exit fee imposed by the Big 12.
First of all, don't be fooled. Inviting Colorado now (it's not 'official' yet, FYI) is not a unilateral decision by the Pac-10. UT and A&M are behind this, but they are very skillfully covering their fingerprints.
The big Texas schools have no interest in Baylor whatsoever. BU flushes millions of dollars in BCS money down the toilet every year and brings nothing to the table. It ceased being a serious football team many years ago. The big boys would much rather have Colorado for market reasons, and because the Buffalos actually might be competitive again some day.
Larry Scott is on the verge of tendering this preemptive offer with the full blessing and encouragement of UT and A&M for one reason: It neutralizes the Texas politicians' ability to complicate things.
Nebraska is about to trigger the Big 12 collapse, so the Texas schools have to do something. But, the Texas suits have no ammunition to force Baylor into the mix if the Pac-10 is already the Pac-11. UT and A&M can shrug and say, "Sorry, we tried." The Pac-10 can shrug and say, "We couldn't just sit around, we had to do something." And Baylor gets the shaft.
But back to the secret meeting, Colorado's tentative (again, it's not a done deal) plan is to accept a preemptive invitation, and then take some initial legal measure to contest the B12's buyout clause. The only reason for doing that is to tie it up in court just long enough for the conference to dissolve, leaving no legal entity left to collect the check. This meeting will be to discuss the specific legal strategy, dot the i's and cross the t's, as well as develop a contingency in case something goes seriously wrong and the Big 12 doesn't actually implode as planned.
The MWC is patiently waiting to pick up the pieces. But, buyer beware, they may not get them. If the Kansas schools, Missouri, and Baylor can't be lured by the MWC itself, BYU, TCU, and Utah are prepared to break off and help form a new conference with the hope of a BCS autobid.
I also heard something else interesting today that I'll throw in as food for thought... don't be surprised if five or so years from now BYU and Utah are in the same conference as....
Arizona and Arizona State.
Not everyone down in the desert likes the way things are going right now.
