Strengthening the Big 12

[Augusta_Sooner]

How can the Big 12 stop the current trend of its members leaving/threatening to leave the league year after year? I'd like to see the Big 12 remain intact but add a university or two to strengthen the conference schedule. Travel expenses would greatly increase if OU were to change conference affiliations. Just some random thoughts on how the Big 12 could better position itself for long-term stability:

1. Consider expansion by adding 1 or 2 schools with a strong fan base and solid TV market appeal. I don't think the conference necessarily needs a large market like Houston; a strong fan base will make up for that. Who fits these criteria?

a. ND - Forget it. They're independent and as long as they have the NBC contract, I don't see why they would join a conference. Besides, Brian Kelley seems to have them going in right direction. As long as ND improves, chances diminish that they join any conference as they're TV contract would only increase in value.

b. BYU - Makes sense to me. They have some national appeal and they have a solid football tradition with a strong fan base. Normally, BYU is a top 25 BCS football program; at least borderline top 25. They're also stronger (football wise) than ISU, KU, KSU, Baylor and possibly TTech.

c. Cincinnatti - When they have the right coaching staff in place, we've seen them reach a BCS bowl game, i.e., Sugar Bowl a couple of years ago against Florida. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe they're building a stadium on campus? They lack tradition; however their fan base is growing. They're currently in a BCS conference (Big East) and I would think the Cincinnatti market would be attractive. Plus, the Big 12 could expand further into the midwest and possibly take some of the St. Louis and Indianapolis markets. Would they leave the Big East for the Big 12? I think so but who knows.

d. TCU - I know they're going to the Big East, but TCU wanted to join any BCS conference. I can't imagine they had their sites set on traveling to the east coast for the majority of their road games. Yes, it's another Texas school and yes, they'r reprsent a market the Big 12 dominates (Dallas/Ft. Worth); HOWEVER, they would add immediate strength and credibility to the conference. Every Big 12 member who plays them in football would see their strength of schedule increase. This team is starting to consistently finish in or very near the top 10-15. They just won the Rose Bowl and I would hate to see Big 12 miss out on a program that continues to climb the college football world. Travel expenses would be minimal and I don't think their coach would leave unless offered by a major program such as OU, UT, or a big time program from the SEC or PAC-12. He's seen just how demanding other jobs can be and the toll it takes on coaches. Oh, and OU's last home loss? TCU.

2. Is there a Big 12 Network TV deal in the works? I'm not sure on this, but if not, would a network TV program help? Is it feasible considering the new TV contracts secured last year by Don Beebe?

Just some random thoughts. I'm curious as to what anyone else thinks about strengthening the Big 12 Conference for its long-term success.

[WE ARE dirtburglars]

I honestly dont see any way to strengthen the Big XII to where it is on the same level as the SEC or Big 10. The only way that would be possible is if we could steal a team from one of those conferences which wont happen. The Big XII is going to fall apart in the near future, it seems, so I just wish we could skip the BS and let it just happen now. I am rooting for A&M to the SEC that way we can set this thing in motion.

[soonervegas]

I think the best, realistic way to strengthen would to:

1. Keep A&M
2. Get BYU in the fold
3. Ask Air Force or TCU to join (Would love West Virginia but they don't even appear to be on the radar)
4. Redesign the conference to a different alignment with OU and Texas in opposite divisions

[thecrimsoncrusader]

The best way to strengthen the Big 12 is to get rid of Dan Beebe. Seriously.

[XingTheRubicon]

the big 12 is myspace in 2008

[delhalew]

The best way to strengthen the Big 12 is to get rid of Dan Beebe. Seriously.

Yup.

[JLEW1818]

tell the whorns to quit sucking at football

[badger]

As soon as Aggie is outta the way, The Longhorn Network should become the Big 12 Network. Then, there's no issue with the channel picking up an additional Big 12 game or dozen, depending on who isn't televised elsewhere, not only because there's no fear of fans not being able to see the game (because it would be in other states if it was a conference network), there's also no fear of bias towards UT... or at least, LESS fear

I also endorse getting rid of loser Beebe at this point. He seems to the worst leader of the BCS conferences and the reallignment stuff is making everyone look bad.

I agree that BYU needs to be one of our first calls for expansion, if we decide to go that route. From everything I've heard, they were a fun fanbase at Jerryworld, even if we lost the game.

[silverwheels]

Yeah, a regional conference with our traditional opponents is my first preference, but out of all of our "realistic" options (not sure if BYU is realistic or not, but I'm going with no for the time being) for expansion, none of them strengthen the conference in enough facets to justify adding them.

Some schools add a great football program but not very many fans and a TV market the Big 12 already has locked down (TCU).

Some schools add a sliver of hope that the Big 12 can stay relevant in a certain TV market should the big school in that area leave, but they don't offer much else (Houston).

Some schools are also in a TV market we already have, but don't add a great football program (SMU).

Cincinnati is interesting, but risky. They already have an on-campus stadium, but it is small. They do bring a new market, but it's not a huge market and it's a good distance from the Big 12. And their football program made strides under Kelly, but was unremarkable when he wasn't there, and they've only been a BCS team for a few years.


Any other mid-majors in the region (New Mexico, Colorado State, Memphis, Air Force, etc.) probably shouldn't even be considered, and I don't think the Big 12 is viable in the long-term as a 9-team conference while other conferences are getting stronger and richer. I think the Big 12's days are numbered right now, and that clock skips ahead a few minutes if (when) A&M leaves. Just my opinion.

[winout]

Big XII cannot survive when one member has so much cache. Texas has to lose the network and that is not going to happen. Big XII is doomed and Castiglione should be proactive and find a conference that fits best for us. That is an expanded SE conference, IMHO.

[NormanPride]

Telling a whorn to stop sucking anything is like telling an aggie to let go of their sheep.

[Augusta_Sooner]

The best way to strengthen the Big 12 is to get rid of Dan Beebe. Seriously.

Oh, forgot to add this ^^^^as my 3rd option. I don't think the Big 12 could ever match the SEC, but it could strengthen itself from its current position. BYU, TCU or Cinci is the conference's best bet. I just see lots of potential with the Bearcats. They're solid in basketball as well.

[silverwheels]

Big XII cannot survive when one member has so much cache. Texas has to lose the network and that is not going to happen. Big XII is doomed and Castiglione should be proactive and find a conference that fits best for us. That is an expanded SE conference, IMHO.

Boren doesn't want to go to the SEC. At least not at the moment. I'm sure if push comes to shove and it's between the SEC and being stuck in a conference with a bunch of mid-majors, he would take it, but everything I've heard says he wants no part of Dixie.

[Football Jim]

For the Big 12 to survive the folks at the main office need to get aggressive and build the conference to 16 teams.
This may never happen but having the extra teams would leave room for future defections.

For stability it would be a good idea to invite all three military teams. I know it does nothing for adding power to the conference but it would be a nationwide interest.

Also to make the league strong the invite should be sent to LSU, Arkansas, Arizona, Arizona State, TCU, Notre Dame, Boise State and BYU.

It might not hurt to offer several other BCS teams in the ACC.

I know all of these would be a long shot at best, but having one or two come on board would be great.

If OU and * leave the Big 12 the teams who are left had better have a plan to add Colorado State, Houston, Memphis and Wyoming and drop the BCS and be content to have what they have.

Without an aggressive policy the Big 12 is finished.

[S008NER]

NO 16 TEAM CONFERENCE!

10 teams, strong ooc scheduling

[badger]

I am sure little bugs are being dropped in SEC ears, as well as big threats being dropped in Texas A&M years. You know, ones having to do with 10-year agreements.

Right now, I'm sure every SEC president and athletic director has been dropped with the following bugs:

- You'll be able to get a new TV deal with or without Texas A&M, so why split the pot more ways?
- Having a bigger conference means more conference games. Less non-conference games means less home games. Less home games means less revenue.
- We are such a strong conference already. Why wreck something that seems perfect?
- If our goal is to be a stronger football conference, then why are we considering a team that hasn't won its own conference since the 90s and hasn't won a bowl game since 2001?
- The Texas legislature isn't going to let them move anyway, so why bother, right before football season, too?
- We need a more secure athletic department to deal with than Texas A&M, or at least one where the academic side doesn't force athletics to pay off millions in debt so fast. Do we even want to deal with debt-ridden department?
- A&M rejected us last year. They should have to pay for that by waiting longer for an invite.
- We are better than Texas A&M. Forget the size of the fanbase, the TV market or academics. They haven't had better than a 9-win season lately.
- The SEC is about national championships in football, not womens basketball. 1939 was a long time ago. Even Kentucky claims a share of one after then.
- I know people from the elite coasts might look down on us, but even we can look at Aggie and say that they are too weird for us.

[bluedogok]

The only way for the Big 12 to survive is to bring in a strong commissioner to replace DeLoss Dodds......but we know that will never happen.

[Bourbon St Sooner]

Tell * to go indy and bring nebbish back. Problem solved.

[sooneredaco]

The best way to strengthen the Big 12 is to get rid of Dan Beebe. Seriously.

My thoughts exactly. He's got his head so far up the tejas a$$ it clouds his judgment, therefore all of his decision making is skewed and not in the best interest of the conference as a whole.

[bluedogok]

My thoughts exactly. He's got his head so far up the tejas a$$ it clouds his judgment, therefore all of his decision making is skewed and not in the best interest of the conference as a whole.

I think it's the other way around, Beebee is nothing more than Dodds sock puppet....so it's Dodds who has his hand up Beebee's.......