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A journalism degree from Mizzou is a fine thing We are learning a lot in this process.
Quality Control
We are learning that these athletic departments, schools and conferences have almost zero quality control in terms of information getting to the press. Or, they have all the control. It's tough to tell. Maybe the conferences and schools are leaking all of this to create the chaos. Certainly, no one's refuting anything, so we must labor under the illusion that all of this stuff is true and real. As chaotic as it may appear, there's no way ancilliary parties (see: T. Boone Pickens, Rick Perry) can comment without at least some direction or verification from the schools.
Money Matters
TV matters, thus money matters. Money is God. Money is the end all, be all.
Geography Does Not Matter
Geography, oddly, was thrown out the window a long time ago. What confuses me is if money matters the most, why wouldn't geography matter too. Do programs benefit so much from playing in a conference of a different region that travel issues don't matter?
Play Does Not Matter
The game on the field, court, pitch, arena, diamond or swimming pool do not matter. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise. There is no way anyone goes to the SEC or Big X with the idea that winning games is most important. Remember, money matters. Geography, history and the athletes and those games do not. Oklahoma does not want to stay in the Big XII (X) or go to the Pac 10 (16) because it puts them closer to a championship. In that case, why would anyone want to break up the Big XII (X) in the first place? Does the bigger super-conferences create more obstacles in keeping perfect records, which typically mean a national championship appearance?
Because Play Does Not Matter, You Do Not Matter
The real victim: The fans. On the surface, fans shouldn't matter. College athletics is about building character and integrity amongst the players. It's about education. That is not unwholly untrue. The other piece of the puzzle is that schools are getting insanely rich along the way. How are they getting rich? Because you watch Texas-Rice and they can set up a Longhorn Network, which will sell ads. For money. Texas A&M sells merchandise. To you. The fan. Meanwhile, is A&M considering how a fan feels about going to the SEC. Or how Texas fans feel about the dissolving of the Big XII, a conference, apparently, still very strong in terms of competition despite all this?
Schools will get their money. Athletes will get their pay day (sooner ... later ... whatever). Fans will be stuck with the empty bag of a defunct Southwest Conference, Big XII and Baylor in the Big East.
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Two days ago, Oklahoma shocked everyone by making a stand: They'd stay in the Big XII if Texas reworked the Longhorn Network and if Big XII commish Dan Beebe were fired.
At least one of those demands is in the works. Beebe's on his way out.
Anyone that thinks that Beebe should not be fired or forced out is crazy. Maybe he got stuck in a room full of immature, bickering children. Maybe Beebe had no shot to succeed.
Doesn't matter. Beebe was hired and paid -- we assume handsomely -- to take the Big XII (X) into the next two decades. He couldn't make the peace. The underlings felt lucky to be around, but were still underappreciated. Schools like A&M and Oklahoma always felt like Texas' stepbrother. Once Nebraska and Colorado left, Texas should have already been in hte middle of a 10-year plan to expand.
They went. Beebe's probably gone. The Big XII (X) is better off.
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Missouri and the SEC have an alleged informal deal to join forces. A potential huge blow to the Big XII (X).
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With Syracuse and Pittsburgh gone and other teams on the outs, the Big East has talked to the Big XII (X) underlings about joined forces.
That would be Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State and Baylor.
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The Pac 10 has apparently rescinded its offer to expand, meaning adding Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech. This is the second straight year for talks and the second straight year that it's fallen through.
So, this has all the Big XII teams going back to the drawing board. For, at least, now, they must learn to live with each other. I find it unlikely that talks do not continue.
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