Why did Big 12 Trademark the Big 14 name?

Sorry if this has already been posted.....

Does anyone have any idea why the Big 12 trademarked the "Big 14" - Is this just business as usual as they claim or do they have something up their sleeve???

 

probably just a precautionary measure in case the conference ended up expanding

 

Well, the current 10 plus TCU, Rice, Houston and North Texas. I imagine there will also be a large, single star in the logo.

 

lolwut?

 

Good schools aren't exactly dying to get in right now.

 

I was thinking maybe they are sitting back this season and looking who will best fit in our conference when Nebraska and Colorado leave next year.

 

You are probably right - I just read that they first trademarked the name in 1997 - they just renewed it this year.

 

The only long term solution I see for the Big 12 would be expansion, and 14 teams fuels lots of speculation. BYU and TCU are the popular choices, but if they could pry Arky away from the SEC who would be the 14th team? I only see one Texas school in the event of expansion (read TCU).

If the Big 12 could guarantee a massive television contract it could work in favor to land Arkansas. Geographic location is a big factor, Arky is the farthest team from everyone else in the SEC and almost every recruit they go after they are in the backyards of LSU, Bama, Georgia and Florida. They might be able to recruit better in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas if they headed west

 

I agree - If I remember correctly - they (Arkansas) were mad they were left out when we expanded to 12 - but I could be wrong. I think Memphis would be good for B-ball and I heard they were lobbying to get in. I even read something about Cinn. But that seems far out.

 

fixed

 

I can see maybe TCU - but any more Tx schools does not offer any new markets - so how would they help?

 

Here is a sports editor's take on it here.

In a nutshell, they register the name as a precaution, much like I'm sure some of you out there camp on domain names just in case somebody wants to pay lots of money to you someday for it.

 

Actually, Arky left the SWC in 1991, announced in 1990. The idea of the Big 12 didn't exist until 1994 and the first season for the Big 12 was 1996. So Arky was actually the catalyst for realignment back then.

 

What they need to do is go on the offensive and get Arizona and Arizona State. That gets it back to 12 and then look to maybe add TCU and BYU if they want 14. Arkansas and LSU fit geographically but they will never leave the SEC.

 

Those are well rounded schools which would fit well into the big 12 - They just seem to be far away.... Now that I think about it - they are probably closer to us than Washington and Oregon.

 

Quick! Someone copyright "Big 20"!!

 

That's an opportunist move. They should trademark them all (Big 13, 15, 16, 17 etc) & then sell the rights to other conferences; lockdown the website addresses too.

 

Word on the street is that this conference was going to tie-in its championship team to the Alamo Bowl.

 

Probably closer? I bet you sucked at geography.

 

DEAN
are you telling me that fayetteville is closer than seattle ?????