Big 12 calls emergency teleconference w/o OU

[colleyvillesooner]

http://texas.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1259825

Talk about it in Inside the 40 Acres
Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe convened a conference call late Friday afternoon with a handful of his conference's presidents to discuss the increasing possibility that Oklahoma wants to bolt the Big 12 for the Pac-12, multiple sources said.

Texas president Bill Powers, Oklahoma president David Boren and Texas A&M president R. Bowen Loftin were excluded from the call, sources said. But Beebe advised the other presidents in the Big 12 to "work on Texas" to get the Longhorns to stay in the Big 12, sources said.

It's Beebe's belief that if Texas refuses to go to the Pac-12 that Oklahoma would not get a bid from the Pac-12, sources said. But another source close to the situation said if Oklahoma and Oklahoma State indicated to the Pac-12 that they wanted to be a part of that league, they would be admitted.

Beebe released a statement to Orangebloods.com Friday night that said, "We continue to work hard for the long-term stability of the Big 12 Conference."

Boren dropped a bombshell on Friday when he said no one has been more active than the Sooners in surveying their options for the future and that OU would be no wallflower.

"At this point in time, I'll be very honest with you in saying I do not know with certainty, or perhaps even can't hazard a totally intelligent guess as to what our final decision will be," Boren told reporters. "But we are carefully looking over all the options. We are ? there's no school more active in the Big 12 more active than we are right now."

Sources said the Longhorns have been actively working to hold the Big 12 together. Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds and OU athletic director Joe Castiglione are on the five-member Big 12 expansion committee charged with looking for new members to join the Big 12. But if Oklahoma bolts, Texas would consider the Big 12 dead and probably follow the Sooners to the Pac-12.

When I texted a key source close to Texas Friday night if the Longhorns were preparing to head to the Pac-12 with Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech, the source texted back, "Leaning that way." The source later said there was a "50 to 60 percent" chance those schools would end up in the Pac-12.

Any move by Texas to the Pac-12 would not be an easy one. First, there is the issue of the Longhorn Network. No schools in the Pac-12 are allowed to have their own network. Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott has set up a series of regional networks that partner two schools together to share revenue from third-tier rights with each other and with the Pac-12.

So Texas' Longhorn Network, which launched on Aug. 26 and still can't even be seen by most of the Lone Star State, would likely have to be turned into one of the Pac-12's regional networks (and most likely partner with Texas Tech).

And that could mean Texas basically tearing up the 20-year, $300 million deal it just inked with ESPN and giving up its riches.

An industry source with direct knowledge of the Longhorn Network said turning LHN into a regional network in the Pac-12 would be "very difficult." When I asked if it was impossible, the source said, "After last year, I don't subscribe to that word anymore."

That source doubted Texas was going anywhere. That source also doubted that Oklahoma would go anywhere without Texas.

Sources said Texas officials told them last year the Longhorns were reluctant to go to the Pac-12 because they would lose a lot of the power they enjoy in the Big 12. The sources said Texas feared being out-voted and muscled in the Pac-12 by the power brokers in that conference - the original Pac-8 (USC, UCLA, Cal, Stanford, Oregon, Oregon State, Washington and Washington State).

But Texas' move to the Pac-12 would also be difficult because of the legislative heat the Longhorns would likely face. Legislative sources said Friday night that part of the reason Texas A&M was allowed to withdraw from the Big 12 was because of assurances from the rest of the Big 12 that the league would survive.

Now that it appears the Big 12 is in serious jeopardy, lawmakers will not be so passive, sources said.

Two Big 12 sources said if Oklahoma and Texas are preparing to lead a charge to the Pac-12 there would almost certainly be a tortious interference lawsuit filed against the Southeastern Conference. That's if Texas A&M indeed submits its application for membership to the SEC next Tuesday or Wednesday as expected, according to sources.

"Texas A&M leaving has started this whole thing," one source said. "There is a big-time lawsuit here."

The potential of such legal action and the real possibility the Big 12 could collapse prompted another Big 12 source to wonder if the SEC would now hesitate to accept Texas A&M, considering the fallout that could befall the Big 12.

Messages left with officials from Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech as well as Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott were not returned Friday night.

Stay tuned.

[badger]

I am starting to wonder if David Boren is the greatest politician this state has ever seen... and we had Carl Albert once upon a time.

Boren: Sure we can't convince you to stay?
A&M: Nope.
Boren: So you're headed to the SEC?
A&M: Yup.
Boren: (sly grin) No you're not.

(days later)

Boren: Time for the Big 12 to dissolve. Oh, and Texas legislature and rest of the Big 12? When you're looking to file the lawsuits, Texas A&M started this and it is their intention to join the SEC.

A&M: :eek:
SEC: :mad:
Boren: :D

Seriously. Greatest. Politician. Ever. He found a way. By golly. He found a way.

[Flagstaffsooner]

I cant wait to see Beebe in the unemployment line.

[SoonerMom2]

Beebe is an idiot for releasing this crap -- you want to make Boren even madder then do what Beebe has done with leaving him, TX, and A&M off the call. Really dumb move.

[SoonerMom2]

I cant wait to see Beebe in the unemployment line.

That makes two of us!

[3rdgensooner]

I've been saying all along that I had faith in Boren & Joe C. I don't think there's anyone who cares more about OU than David Boren. And he is no dummy. He'll take good care of the institution that he loves.

[Peach Fuzz]

****. Just. Got. Real.

[soonerboomer93]

****. Just. Got. Real.

No, that they're tracking a private plane flying from lubbuck, to austin, to lubbock, to norman on the horns sites means...

[Landthief 1972]

If I were Boren, I'd state that OU will announce they will remain in the Big Twenine right after Beebe tenders his resignation. That clown couldn't run a frozen banana stand.

[Sooner_Tuf]

I am starting to wonder if David Boren is the greatest politician this state has ever seen... and we had Carl Albert once upon a time.

Boren: Sure we can't convince you to stay?
A&M: Nope.
Boren: So you're headed to the SEC?
A&M: Yup.
Boren: (sly grin) No you're not.

(days later)

Boren: Time for the Big 12 to dissolve. Oh, and Texas legislature and rest of the Big 12? When you're looking to file the lawsuits, Texas A&M started this and it is their intention to join the SEC.

A&M: :eek:
SEC: :mad:
Boren: :D

Seriously. Greatest. Politician. Ever. He found a way. By golly. He found a way.

He's a sharp guy and a great networker. He get's things done and has a done more for Oklahoma than anyone else I know of. Whether or not you like his politics the man gets things done, he doesn't make enemies, and he doesn't leave his opposition trashed. I guess you can say he has the ability to keep his eye on the ball at all times.

[prrriiide]

Whether or not you like his politics the man gets things done, he doesn't make enemies, and he doesn't leave his opposition trashed. I guess you can say he has the ability to keep his eye on the ball at all times.

That's the mark of a man that knows where each and every single political skeleton is buried in the state of Oklahoma, and most of the ones in texass. He doesn't make enemies because nobody can afford to have him as an enemy. Remember: he used to chair the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Black ops, people. He knows how to run them.

Beeber has effed up in crossing him. I expect his brakes to fail in as spectacular a manner as his Big XII leadership.

[silverwheels]

Beebe failed last summer when he allied himself with Texas first and the rest of the conference second. If he had tried to guarantee the happiness of all 12 members, his job probably wouldn't be in jeopardy right now. **** him. Maybe he can investigate Craig James about SMU in the 80s for the rest of this life.

[yermom]

this lawsuit business sounds weird. shouldn't they be targeting Nebraska or something?

[the-rover]

this lawsuit business sounds weird. shouldn't they be targeting Nebraska or something?

Or missouri....they started this whole mess

[Lott's Bandana]

Boren is also genius for timing his comments for late Friday, so they will flare up in the national spotlight and then melt away, as the weekend's sports news take center stage. This way, the talking heads don't spend a lot of time dissecting this and deciding what's best for us and making the rest of the country sick of it, like they are of whorn and aTm.

High road taken.

Again.

[Boomer.....]

Let's fly this coop!

[Boomer.....]

So OSU was at this conference call? Wouldn't that be weird if they were going to be following us?

[MeMyself&Me]

So OSU was at this conference call? Wouldn't that be weird if they were going to be following us?

Yeah, OU, Texas, and aTm left out of the conference call. We know what aTm is up to but it looks like OU and Texas are setting up to move together on something that does not involve anyone else. Either they're going B1G or there's truth to the statements made a few weeks ago about forming a new conference.

[OUstud]

If I were Boren, I'd state that OU will announce they will remain in the Big Twenine right after Beebe tenders his resignation. That clown couldn't run a frozen banana stand.

There's always money in those, I hear.

[trwxxa]

I find the threat of lawsuit amusing. Perhaps they have some grounds somewhere, but I don't see how it can be proven that aTm's actions alone caused the collapse of the conference, if it does collapse.

As long as the conference is around, UT will be the hammer and the rest of the schools are nails. We might as well rename it to the Bovine Nine. :mad:

[SoonerMom2]

When Boone Pickens opened his big fat mouth about TCU who BTW got beat by Baylor as the answer to the Big 12, would say he made an enemy because Boren made sure people knew we were not taking any more SWC. He wants a stable conference and you are not going to get it with the Big 12.

It could be OU going to SEC and TX going independent or OU and TX to the Big 10 or PAC 10. The only reason the Big 10 didn't want us was because we were bringing OSU. Have a hunch that tie is broken big time as Boren looks out for OU and ONLY OU. Three days to several weeks but I bet he has given TX three days to get on board or we are gone. Wouldn't surprise me to see MO and KS going with OU and TX to the PAC 12. Would bet the TX legislature will do nothing now with not doing anything with A&M leaving. Our legislature would be fools to take on David Boren. They said he was in a really good mood like the decision has been made and he had a meeting with Castigleone and Stoops before the dedication. I think it is a done deal whatever we are doing and now waiting for TX to make up their mind.

[WE ARE dirtburglars]

Its time for OU to just blow this popsicle stand and head out west. Some people might prefer the SEC, but it aint happening and the Pac 12 has a lot to offer. Lets just do this already. At this point we will get no blame put on us, and it will make us look stronger as an institution if we make the first move and dont follow * to a new conference.

[PLaw]

Bottom line: Beebe is Powers and Dodds' bitch. Texas is about to experience their worst nightmare driven solely from their arrogance and greed.

If anybody ever questions whorn hate, then look no farther than the past two summers. They couldn't settle for being the richest program in the country, they had to have more. It's the same thing that destroyed the SWC and it's history repeating itself.

BOOMER

[BoomerJ]

[QUOTE=prrriiide;3331119]That's the mark of a man that knows where each and every single political skeleton is buried in the state of Oklahoma, and most of the ones in texass. He doesn't make enemies because nobody can afford to have him as an enemy. Remember: he used to chair the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Black ops, people. He knows how to run them.

Beeber has effed up in crossing him. I expect his brakes to fail in as spectacular a manner as his Big XII leadership.[/QUOTE

Now that's funny. We have the best coach, the best AD, and an incredibly impressive president during uncertain times. Always proud to be a Sooner!

[SoonerMom2]

Its time for OU to just blow this popsicle stand and head out west. Some people might prefer the SEC, but it aint happening and the Pac 12 has a lot to offer. Lets just do this already. At this point we will get no blame put on us, and it will make us look stronger as an institution if we make the first move and dont follow * to a new conference.

Exactly! Personally think the decision has been made or Boren wouldn't have said a peep -- also interesting that OU and UT were no on the phone call. Supposedly someone leaked that they told the members to ask TX not to leave but not a word about OU. In one of the reports, he inferred the paperwork had been signed and final steps being taken as he is not going to leave OU hanging. That doesn't sound like taking four teams to the PAC 12 -- more like two from the Big 12. MO board is saying they are headed to the SEC and will announce on Tuesday for what that is worth. MO President is also President of the Big 12 Executive board and Boren is secretary but Beebe didn't want Boren on that call I am sure. MO is also afraid that the SEC will take OU who they want the most.

[ouradu]

Aything's possible at this point. The last couple of paragraphs make me wonder if this is a ploy to convince the SEC to stay away from A&M. Set up the possibility of us leaving, the conference falling apart, and the potential suit against the SEC for interfering. Since the dominos appear to be in place, maybe the SEC would hesitate. Who knows.

[PLaw]

Boren is also genius for timing his comments for late Friday, so they will flare up in the national spotlight and then melt away, as the weekend's sports news take center stage. This way, the talking heads don't spend a lot of time dissecting this and deciding what's best for us and making the rest of the country sick of it, like they are of whorn and aTm.

High road taken.

Again.

We are blessed to have a "holy trinity" of leadership - Boren, Joe C., and Bob.

BOOMER

[GottaHavePride]

Aything's possible at this point. The last couple of paragraphs make me wonder if this is a ploy to convince the SEC to stay away from A&M. Set up the possibility of us leaving, the conference falling apart, and the potential suit against the SEC for interfering. Since the dominos appear to be in place, maybe the SEC would hesitate. Who knows.

Why go to such effort to save a conference that is already at a HUGE disadvantage, revenue-wise, to the B1G, SEC, and PAC-12?

[SoonerinSouthlake]

I remember when I was in school, people suspected Boren could make a legit run for the White House.

Im awfully glad we have such strong leader at our University. Seems through all of this he is the only pres who has been smart enough to put himself in the drivers seat as opposed to the others who are waiting for Whorn to tell them what to do.

[MountainOkie]

Um, why aren't they trying to get US to stay again?

I love how Beebe thinks that we can't leave without Texas. What a slap in the face and what a disrespectful attitude. Somehow, after three other teams left--two of them definitely without our history--we aren't good enough to get out on our own.

Nice, yeah Beebe the best way to keep OU in is to disrespect them. Yeah, that will work.

What a joke.

[Theskipster]

Um, why aren't they trying to get US to stay again?



Because Beebe believes that last year OU was Texas's lapdog and OU still is. He didn't understand that OU did what they thought was best for OU and that happened to be staying with Texas in the Big 12. Not that we just did what Texas did.

[MeMyself&Me]

Yeah, OU, Texas, and aTm left out of the conference call. We know what aTm is up to but it looks like OU and Texas are setting up to move together on something that does not involve anyone else. Either they're going B1G or there's truth to the statements made a few weeks ago about forming a new conference.

Just thought of one more scenario that I don't think anyone has considered. We know OU and Texas has been talking to ND and that Texas would like to be in a conference with ND. What if ND has convinced OU and Texas to join the Big East and that ND would too along with BYU? The Big East is up for renewing its TV contract next year and a conference like that would now have some huge football brands with a huge national footprint and a bunch of very large TV markets. That would actually be better money wise than ND and BYU joining the Big 12.

[Widescreen]

I dont see BYU or OU or Texas joining the Big East. It makes no geographic sense. Particularly for BYU. We'd be better off staying where we are.

[WE ARE dirtburglars]

Just thought of one more scenario that I don't think anyone has considered. We know OU and Texas has been talking to ND and that Texas would like to be in a conference with ND. What if ND has convinced OU and Texas to join the Big East and that ND would too along with BYU? The Big East is up for renewing its TV contract next year and a conference like that would now have some huge football brands with a huge national footprint and a bunch of very large TV markets. That would actually be better money wise than ND and BYU joining the Big 12.

This will never happen, its a dream scenario at best. If OU goes anywhere, it will be the PAC 12, with a very slight chance of the Big 10. The Big East is sure to dissolve once this ball gets rolling anyway and superconferences start forming.

[badger]

I lurked at Baylorfans to see what they were saying, and they are really upset that they couldn't enjoy their victory a little bit more because of Boren's statements. It's like, yeah, we just had a huge field-rushing victory, but we're going to be out of a BCS conference. Poor Baylor. Even when they win they lose.

[madmartigan]

There's always money in those, I hear.

http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lnxjk1fJFD1ql141xo1_500.gif

[Cantstandya]

And for us conspiracy theorist... I'll point out that Boren Is a 33 degree mason.

[bluedogok]

And for us conspiracy theorist... I'll point out that Boren Is a 33 degree mason.
He was a Bonesmen at Yale as well.

[GottaHavePride]

Just thought of one more scenario that I don't think anyone has considered. We know OU and Texas has been talking to ND and that Texas would like to be in a conference with ND. What if ND has convinced OU and Texas to join the Big East and that ND would too along with BYU? The Big East is up for renewing its TV contract next year and a conference like that would now have some huge football brands with a huge national footprint and a bunch of very large TV markets. That would actually be better money wise than ND and BYU joining the Big 12.

I think it way more likely that OU and UT to the Big 10 would make that conference attractive enough to pull in ND too.

Where does all the BYU junk keep coming from? I just can't see any advantage to adding BYU to an conference that far out of it's geographic area.

[sooner59]

The plot thickens. Are you saying that Boren's statement about OU being a nation-wide name somehow means that OU is getting ready to take over the country?

[rainiersooner]

The potential of such legal action and the real possibility the Big 12 could collapse prompted another Big 12 source to wonder if the SEC would now hesitate to accept Texas A&M, considering the fallout that could befall the Big 12.

How wonderful would it be if A&M gets stranded in all this!? Losers.

[SoonerinSouthlake]

The plot thickens. Are you saying that Boren's statement about OU being a nation-wide name somehow means that OU is getting ready to take over the country?

EEEEEXCELLENThttp://img707.imageshack.us/img707/2526/originaln.gif

[trwxxa]

Don't think for a minute Texas did not have "access" to the call. In the end, the fate of the conference as we know it rests with Texas.

With each passing day, it bugs me more and more that the whorns are going to decide our future. :mad:

[delhalew]

Don't think for a minute Texas did not have "access" to the call. In the end, the fate of the conference as we know it rests with Texas.

With each passing day, it bugs me more and more that the whorns are going to decide our future. :mad:

Don't buy that BS media narrative.

[soonerstan56]

Don't think for a minute that Texas did not have "access" to the call. In the end, the fate of the conference as we know it rests with Texas.

With each passing day, it bugs me more and more that the whorns are going to decide our future. :mad:

I think that's why Boren said OU was a national name.Making the point that were not relying on any other schools to determine our future.

Stan

[badger]

If Dan Beebe was in on the call, so was Texas, because if you look real close, Dan Beebe's puppet strings are operated by UT.

[bluedogok]

If Dan Beebe was in on the call, so was Texas, because if you look real close, Dan Beebe's puppet strings are operated by UT.
I think Beebe is more of a sock puppet, Dodds arm is so far up his ***........

[hawaii 5-0]

I remember when I was in school, people suspected Boren could make a legit run for the White House.

Im awfully glad we have such strong leader at our University. Seems through all of this he is the only pres who has been smart enough to put himself in the drivers seat as opposed to the others who are waiting for Whorn to tell them what to do.


I remember when I was in school people suspected Boren would come out of the closet.

I'm glad he's taking a proactive approach on OU's future.

5-0

[Cantstandya]

The plot thickens. Are you saying that Boren's statement about OU being a nation-wide name somehow means that OU is getting ready to take over the country?

Just pointing out that he has some of the highest level of connections that exist politically and that I'm sure he uses them in times like this... He also is a senior member of the council on foreign relations for example...

[badger]

nyuck nyuck nyuck, some aggie butt hurt because RG3 didn't mention them on Gameday this morning.

Link (http://texags.com/main/forum.reply.asp?topic_id=1905577&forum_id=5)

[Veritas]

I think Beebe is more of a sock puppet, Dodds arm is so far up his ***........
Boy is that the truth. Mrs V and I refer to Beebe as Mrs. Dodd.

[LASooner]

It's also going to keep OU in the spotlight during the coming bye week next weekend. It really was a nice chess move.

[stoopified]

He's a sharp guy and a great networker. He get's things done and has a done more for Oklahoma than anyone else I know of. Whether or not you like his politics the man gets things done, he doesn't make enemies, and he doesn't leave his opposition trashed. I guess you can say he has the ability to keep his eye on the ball at all times.I did not like him or trust him as governor or senator BUT he has been great at OU.

[stoopified]

If Dan Beebe was in on the call, so was Texas, because if you look real close, Dan Beebe's puppet strings are operated by UT.You don't have to look that close. Those STRINGS are as obvious as anchor chains.

[lexsooner]

If I was the PAC-12, of course I would want OU and Texas, but OSU and Tech? These are both no class, hick schools with no scruples or any academic standards - one owned and run by an oilman and another which would hire Bobby Knight/Billy Gillespie. OSU is also one of the suspiciously surging programs which could go the way of USC and Oregon and under NCAA scrutiny when the true story of their star qb and receiver returning for another year comes out. Stanford, Cal, two of the great institutions of higher learning in the world with numerous Nobel laureates on their faculties, joined in the same sports conference by two bumpkin cowboy schools populated by illiterate students? Now that would be interesting.

[soonerboomer93]

They don't want Tech or OSU, they will take them as a by product of getting OU and UT. Besides, it's not like they don't have their Washington and Oregon aggies in the conference

[OK2LA]

Sources said the Longhorns have been actively working to hold the Big 12 together.

Really?

Really?

How?

[badger]

True story: In a week where virtually every conference suffered really embarrassing upsets at home, at neutral sites, etc., the Big 12 was 100 percent undefeated.

SMU still has to pwn A&M tomorrow, but the SEC can claim ownership of those losers.

[silverwheels]

True story: In a week where virtually every conference suffered really embarrassing upsets at home, at neutral sites, etc., the Big 12 was 100 percent undefeated.

Some teams (ISU and KSU) only by the grace of Tebow.

[sooner59]

Good thing Colorado is out, because their *** is about to lose at Hawaii. Yes, I watch college football until its over for the night. I'm hardcore.

[SoonerMom2]

Colorado looks pathetic -- watching the same game!

[Rogue]

I hate hate hate the idea of joining the PAC10/12. I can see a nationwide conference with teams from all over the country and everyone having to travel....or staying in the BigXII and adding a few teams before I can see us joining the California 12. At this point, all past ultimatums (no more SWC schools etc) are void and every day seems like a new negotiating field.

When we lost the annual game with Nebraska (past AD's fault IMO), I never forgave the BigXII and never thought of it as permanent.
Oh well, Big 6, Big 8, Big XII, National 16, PAC-20, what-the-F-ever...we'll play for championships in any scenario.