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

[WHAT?]

speaking of number 1 rpi in basketball, how much did our RPI increase with the deletion of Nebraska and Colorado?

[KITNfury]

The 10 remaining Big 12 schools would divide up the more than $20 million in buyout penalties that will have to be paid by Colorado and Nebraska for leaving the league early.

Suck it Pearlman.

Isn't CU more broke than broke? How much time do they have to pay the money back? I'm cool with doing it in installments with an interest rate of 23%. Obviously this hinges on Bebee no rough ridin' this up.

[sys]

rough ridin' beebe.  why the eff is he working so hard to save a conference which treats him like crap?


fwiw, the baron is also shitting on the big east dream.  without the impetus of ku to the pac 16, there's no way the regents will let us go.

Kansas is a contingency plan in case if Oklahoma goes to the SEC. Multiple legit sources both inside and outside of UU have confirmed that Utah is already in the PAC, whether it’s PAC-12 or PAC-16. (Sorry I can’t divulge more.)

The deal is already inked; the announcement is pending. The announcement will come sometime next week. The exact time is up in the air due to the politics of the UT situation. The plane that was scheduled for Kansas is irrelevant to Utah.

I will be shocked if this PAC-16 thing actually goes down; especially if OU agrees to join TAMU in the SEC.

I can’t imagine that the KU contingency plan will be very attractive to UT in the end. I’m sure UT wants to stay with OU and KU is a poor replacement, considering how deep the ties are between OU and UT.

I can’t begin to imagine UT agreeing to be in a division with AZ, AZS, CU, UU, KU, TT and OSU. If OU opts out, I imagine the entire Big 12/PAC deal will die, if it’s not already dead.

I expect a PAC-12.

[steve dave]

ChrisLevel    If UT commits to Beebe then the Aggies will need to do so as well. If they both commit then CU and NU owe buyout fees.

[catzacker]

IMO, positioning by UT to make A&M look like the bad guy. especially within the Texas Legislature.  

p.s.  f*ck you Kirk.  What, you skip out on breakfast at Early Edition to push out that tweet?

[Ira Hayes]

The 10 remaining Big 12 schools would divide up the more than $20 million in buyout penalties that will have to be paid by Colorado and Nebraska for leaving the league early.

Suck it Pearlman.

Isn't CU more broke than broke? How much time do they have to pay the money back? I'm cool with doing it in installments with an interest rate of 23%. Obviously this hinges on Bebee no fracking this up.

CU doesn't cut a check.  The Big XII withholds half their money over the next two years.

[steve dave]

Chip Brown
Orangebloods.com Columnist

Talk about it in Inside the 40 Acres
In a bombshell development that could bring a halt to seismic changes in college realignment, sources tell Orangebloods.com Texas has been convinced by a plan presented by commissioner Dan Beebe to stay in a 10-member Big 12.

  
 
Sources say Texas is considering a plan by Dan Beebe to hold the Big 12 together with 10 teams.
 
UT officials are expected to announce their decision to remain in the Big 12 as early as Monday.

Such a move would appear to end a courtship between Texas and the Pac-10, which all but seemed solidified as of Friday when Nebraska announced it was heading to the Big Ten and Colorado had a press conference with its new commissioner - Larry Scott of the Pac-10.

But as it became clear over the weekend that Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State appeared ready join the Pac-10 and Texas A&M appeared ready to join the SEC, Beebe was able to obtain assurances that a TV deal could be reached paying each of the 10 remaining members of the Big 12 between $14 million and $17 million.

Under Beebe's plan, schools would also be able to explore their own distribution platforms, including networks.

Texas would not be able to pursue those options in the Pac-10, which is planning to launch a conference network in 2012 and would require schools to turn over all of their inventory.

YOUR MOVE TEXAS A&M

The big question now is if Texas A&M, which, according to Orangebloods.com, has the votes on its nine-member Board of Regents to join the Southeastern Conference, would reconsider a possible move to the SEC and remain in the Big 12 with its long-time, in-state rival.

The stakes for Beebe to somehow rescue the Big 12 seemed to get exponentially higher on Sunday as Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott and chief operating officer Kevin Weiberg conducted a tour of Texas A&M, Texas Tech and Texas.

So either Texas A&M will consider Beebe's plan to rescue a 10-member Big 12. Or A&M will most likely end 100 years of tradition with rival Texas by heading to the SEC, likely triggering a exodus west of Texas, OU, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and possibly Kansas. The Aggies can be seen as the final piece of the puzzle to holding the Big 12 together.

A Big 12 athletic director and two other sources told Orangebloods.com that A&M president R. Bowen Loftin indicated to Scott and Weiberg in a brief meeting in College Station Sunday the Aggies were not interested in joining the Pac-10.

But A&M spokesman Jason Cook refuted that report and said, "Texas A&M continues to evaluate its options. At this point, all options continue to be on the table."

Orangebloods.com was able to confirm with a top source at Texas A&M that despite visits to College Station by SEC commissioner Mike Slive on Saturday and by Scott and Weiberg on Sunday, Aggies athletic director Bill Byrne was out of the state the entire weekend - at a family reunion in Idaho.

"As Bill Byrne and I have said on several occasions, our desire was for the Big 12 Conference to continue," Loftin said in a statement Sunday evening. "With the departure of two universities from the conference last week, the Big 12 is certainly not what it was.

"We are aggressively exploring our options, one of which is for the Big 12 to continue in some form. We have also had extensive discussions with other conferences over the past two days. We continue to evaluate our options in a deliberate manner as we work toward a decision that is in the best long-term interests of Texas A&M."


BEEBE'S HAIL MARY

"My plan is about what's best for the citizens in this part of the country and for the student-athletes and not having this section of the country with all its major institutions connected to conferences that aren't even here. We shouldn't be a fly-over zone," Beebe told Orangebloods.com on Sunday before returning to what he called his "War Room" on no sleep from the previous night.

Friday afternoon Texas announced it would have a regents meeting on Tuesday at 11 a.m. that sources said was to finalize a vote to accept an invitation to the Pac-10.

That vote was expected to begin an exodus west by at least four Big 12 South teams (Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State).


THE BEEBE PLAN

Here's what Beebe has provided to the five Big 12 South schools who have been targeted by the Pac-10, including Texas A&M, who has been in deep conversation about joining the SEC, according to sources.

 
Associated Press
 
Dan Beebe's plan says the Big 12-Lite can get to $17 mil/school in its next TV deal in 2011.
--Beebe has secured information that enough money could be inked in its next TV negotiation (in 2011) that revenues per school would jump from between $7 million and $10 million in the Big 12 currently to $17 million beginning in 2012, which is what the SEC pays out.


--The 10 remaining Big 12 schools would divide up the more than $20 million in buyout penalties that will have to be paid by Colorado and Nebraska for leaving the league early.


--Individal institutions would be allowed to pursue their own networks, which has been a goal of Texas. If the Longhorns went to the Pac-10, they would have to forgo their own distribution platforms, including a network, because the Pac-16 would seek to have a conference network in which all inventory is shared.

(Consultants have put Texas' ability to generate revenue from its own network at between $3 million and $5 million after a start-up window of about three years.)


--The Big 12 would proceed with 10 teams. Everyone would play everyone in football, providing a nine-game conference schedule.

--The conference championship game would be dumped in the short-term (because the NCAA mandates 12 schools for a football title game).


--The loss of Nebraska and Colorado should have been a loss of about 16 percent to the league's revenue generating capacity. But because Colorado was an underperformer, the league lost only about 8.6 percent of its value with the loss of Nebraska, according to sources with knowledge of the Beebe Plan.


AN END TO REALIGNMENT COULD BE ON THE LINE

If life could be breathed into the Beebe plan by the Big 12 South, life would re-enter the Big 12 North, where limbo has been the theme for more than a week at Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri and Iowa State as well as at Baylor in the Big 12 South.

It might also stop what appears to be an impending avalanche of college realignment across the country, depending on how conversations between Texas A&M and the SEC might be affected.

Sources say if the Pac-10 is ultimately denied by the Big 12 South schools, Scott would likely extend an invitation to Utah and wrap up the Pac-10's expansion at 12.

The information from Beebe might at least slow down the rocket-like pace of Big 12 schools seeking a new home and possibly draw all the divided parties back to the table.

Hearings are scheduled in the Texas House on Wednesday with invitations to all the Texas universities involved in this break-neck game of musical conferences to get some answers by elected officials.

Texas Rep. Dan Branch, R-Dallas, who will preside over the hearings as chair of the House Higher Education Committee, said it would not be wise to act on any conference movement before Wednesday.

"I think it's great the different conference commissioners are going around and being vigilant about what the market economies are," Branch told Orangebloods.com Sunday night.

"I applaud the universities for being nimble and acting quickly and looking at everything. But I think the leadership would be wise to give their principal officers authority but not to act.

"They need to make sure the people of Texas and their elected representatives have a chance to get their questions asked and answered. There will be time to act after that."

Houston Astros owner Drayton McLane Jr., a prominent Baylor alum, told Orangebloods.com Sunday that officials will live to regret killing off prized tradition in Texas college athletics by moving too quickly.

"The rivalries between Texas, Texas A&M and Baylor have lasted more than 100 years," McLane said. "Those are treasured assets in this state. And to see them broken up and discarded would be a travesty.

"Sometimes we make decisions faster than we should. I would like to encourage the universities to see the issues as they are, the tradition. To wipe out over 100 years of tradition and go start playing on the west or east coast, that just doesn't fit what this state is all about."


BIG 12-LITE HAS A PULSE

So hold on folks. This is about to get interesting. The key in all of this now is Texas A&M will come back to the table and rethink its position on leaving for the Pac-10 and is considering the Beebe proposal.

Texas A&M has been in deep discussions with the SEC and as of Saturday night had enough votes on its Board of Regents to join the SEC (believed to be 6-3).

But the dissenting votes on A&M's regents board are apparently passionate about keeping Texas and A&M together and not breaking up a 100-year rivalry by having the schools head to different leagues.

Sources say SEC commissioner Mike Slive was in College Station Saturday. Sources close to the situation say A&M has an invitation to the SEC if it wants it. The SEC has also been doggedly pursuing Oklahoma.

But with news that Texas is now willing to stay put, the Big 12 just might survive after all. Texas A&M, it's your move.

Stay tuned.

[deputy dawg]

One concession to Texas / Oklahoma of keeping the Big 12 together is elimination of the CCG.  Hasta la vista to our chances of winning the conference if that's the case.  I'd rather go to MWC and make it a BCS conference.

[steve dave]

IMO, positioning by UT to make A&M look like the bad guy. especially within the Texas Legislature.  

Yep, I'm almost certain this is what they're doing 

[EllToPay]

ETP's Revised Conference Predictor Measurements:

Big 12 (10) - 60%
MWC - 40%

[catzacker]

One concession to Texas / Oklahoma of keeping the Big 12 together is elimination of the CCG.  Hasta la vista to our chances of winning the conference if that's the case.  I'd rather go to MWC and make it a BCS conference.

our chances of winning either conference are the same, which is to say relatively low, the important thing is to make money and get on tv.  if winning championships was the main goal, KSU would have committed suicide long ago.

[deputy dawg]

One concession to Texas / Oklahoma of keeping the Big 12 together is elimination of the CCG.  Hasta la vista to our chances of winning the conference if that's the case.  I'd rather go to MWC and make it a BCS conference.

shazbot! what you want.  GTFO our board.

When you do something other than bbs, maybe you'll learn that no risk = no return.  We're minimizing risk and minimizing our return (BCS bowl games, etc.).  Everyone is entitled to an opinion, sorry I can't agree with yours.

[WillieWatanabe]

One concession to Texas / Oklahoma of keeping the Big 12 together is elimination of the CCG.  Hasta la vista to our chances of winning the conference if that's the case.  I'd rather go to MWC and make it a BCS conference.

shazbot! what you want.  GTFO our board.

When you do something other than bbs, maybe you'll learn that no risk = no return.  We're minimizing risk and minimizing our return (BCS bowl games, etc.).  Everyone is entitled to an opinion, sorry I can't agree with yours.

  

[deputy dawg]

One concession to Texas / Oklahoma of keeping the Big 12 together is elimination of the CCG.  Hasta la vista to our chances of winning the conference if that's the case.  I'd rather go to MWC and make it a BCS conference.

our chances of winning either conference are the same, which is to say relatively low, the important thing is to make money and get on tv.  if winning championships was the main goal, KSU would have committed suicide long ago.

Man, I've had all wrong all along then.

[steve dave]

One concession to Texas / Oklahoma of keeping the Big 12 together is elimination of the CCG.  Hasta la vista to our chances of winning the conference if that's the case.  I'd rather go to MWC and make it a BCS conference.

shazbot! what you want.  GTFO our board.

When you do something other than bbs, maybe you'll learn that no risk = no return.  We're minimizing risk and minimizing our return (BCS bowl games, etc.).  Everyone is entitled to an opinion, sorry I can't agree with yours.

Why do all the shitty BBS'ers always want what's worst for our school?

[MadCat]

Operation: Save our Asses - Plan 'W'

Link

[Acceleration Man]

So if we stay @ 10 teams (very skeptical about this still), I'd love to see us push hard (yeah, like that would happen w/ Beebe) to add Ark & TCU. Then put OU & OSU in the North div (old Big8 teams back together & adds more credence to the North div.).

I'm dreaming, but... will do it while I can.

[steve dave]

So if we stay @ 10 teams (very skeptical about this still), I'd love to see us push hard (yeah, like that would happen w/ Beebe) to add Ark & TCU. Then put OU & OSU in the North div (old Big8 teams back together & adds more credence to the North div.).

I'm dreaming, but... will do it while I can.

I think Levi put it best on twitter this morning:

levi_wolters    Life tip: If someone tells you "Arkansas to the Big 12" with a straight face, don't be his friend.

[deputy dawg]

One concession to Texas / Oklahoma of keeping the Big 12 together is elimination of the CCG.  Hasta la vista to our chances of winning the conference if that's the case.  I'd rather go to MWC and make it a BCS conference.

shazbot! what you want.  GTFO our board.

When you do something other than bbs, maybe you'll learn that no risk = no return.  We're minimizing risk and minimizing our return (BCS bowl games, etc.).  Everyone is entitled to an opinion, sorry I can't agree with yours.

Why do all the shitty BBS'ers always want what's worst for our school?

Didn't know greater chance of winning and bowl games was the worst.  If you think that no CCG game in the Big 12 makes no difference, I can only be in awe of your deductive reasoning skills.  The CCG gives us a MUCH GREATER shot at BCS bowl games than the conference without a CCG.

[steve dave]

One concession to Texas / Oklahoma of keeping the Big 12 together is elimination of the CCG.  Hasta la vista to our chances of winning the conference if that's the case.  I'd rather go to MWC and make it a BCS conference.

shazbot! what you want.  GTFO our board.

When you do something other than bbs, maybe you'll learn that no risk = no return.  We're minimizing risk and minimizing our return (BCS bowl games, etc.).  Everyone is entitled to an opinion, sorry I can't agree with yours.

Why do all the shitty BBS'ers always want what's worst for our school?

Didn't know greater chance of winning and bowl games was the worst.  If you think that no CCG game in the Big 12 makes no difference, I can only be in awe of your deductive reasoning skills.  The CCG gives us a MUCH GREATER shot at BCS bowl games than the conference without a CCG.

Couldn't give two shits about odds of winning a CCG.  Playing in the MWC gives us a MUCH WORSE chance of staying a viable academic institution.  We are teetering on that brink already bro, wouldn't take much to push us off the edge. 

[sonofdaxjones]

Well I'll believe it all when I see it.   However, the Round Robin Football Season and Basketball Season has to look compelling to TV IMO.   While the loss of the CCG takes away one "drama" factor, the everybody plays everybody factor increases the drama factor potential of every conference game.  

For those advocating going to MWC anyway .  . . if Beebe can make the TV deal happen and K-State opts for the MWC, please get out your check book and write a $12 million dollar check every year to make up the difference, and also send Frank a congratulations and much success card for his new job elsewhere.

[Rage Against the McKee]

One concession to Texas / Oklahoma of keeping the Big 12 together is elimination of the CCG.  Hasta la vista to our chances of winning the conference if that's the case.  I'd rather go to MWC and make it a BCS conference.

shazbot! what you want.  GTFO our board.

When you do something other than bbs, maybe you'll learn that no risk = no return.  We're minimizing risk and minimizing our return (BCS bowl games, etc.).  Everyone is entitled to an opinion, sorry I can't agree with yours.

Why do all the shitty BBS'ers always want what's worst for our school?

Didn't know greater chance of winning and bowl games was the worst.  If you think that no CCG game in the Big 12 makes no difference, I can only be in awe of your deductive reasoning skills.  The CCG gives us a MUCH GREATER shot at BCS bowl games than the conference without a CCG.

With no conference championship game, we would have one the Big 12 one time, and also played for (and probably won) a national championship. With the conference championship game, we have won the Big 12 once and not played for a national championship. It seems to me that maybe the CCG has hurt us over the lifetime of the Big 12.

[MadCat]

Right now, I could care less about being in a BCS bowl.  I do want to be in a BCS conf though.

[The1BigWillie]

BITB coming up on WHB with "huge news" from Kirk Shultz!  (Non Olive Garden related I assume)

[hemmy]

Win 6 games and go to a bowl, eff.  Shut up deputy dawg.