KANSAS CITY, MO. — Amid rumors of a Big 12 breakup that would have repercussions throughout college sports, the commissioner of the conference said today he is “comfortable” the league will remain intact.
Nevertheless, commissioner Dan Beebe failed in four days of league meetings to get a commitment that all 12 schools would spurn whatever invitations might come in from other leagues looking to expand.
Instead, he spoke of a “process” that was put in place, but refused to describe it or reveal the drop-dead date when schools must declare whether they’re going to stay or leave the 14-year-old conference.
The presidents are scheduled to meet again in October.
“I am comfortable,” Beebe said as meetings wrapped up.
“There’s still a process we’re going through but based on the conversations we had I think we’re in a very good position.”
He said that process will “assure the solidification” of the Big 12.
“The process that has been set is firm. But I’m not going to engage in what that is,” he said.
Nebraska and Missouri had triggered talk of a Big 12 breakup by indicating they would be interested in talking to the expansion-minded Big Ten. Then on Thursday, a blog report went through these meetings like a lightning bolt with word that the Pac-10 planned to invite six Big 12 schools to help create two eight-team divisions.
In addition, The Associated Press confirmed on today that the Big Ten is interested in pursuing Texas. The richest and most influential Big 12 school, the Longhorns have long been the Big 12’s lynchpin.
Ohio State president Gordon Gee told Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany in an April 20 e-mail that Gee had spoken with University of Texas president Bill Powers. Gee said Powers would welcome a call.
Powers was scheduled to be at today’s news conference with Beebe, but was not.
The driving issue of all the expansion talk is money, and the possibility of schools greatly boosting revenue by adding to their inventory of television homes.
As a sales pitch to keep the league together, Beebe spent the week explaining that he expected huge increases in rights fees when he opens negotiations next April on a new agreement with Fox Sports. The league’s contracts with ESPN run through the 2015-16 academic year.
“We have had analysis and projections that look like we’re going to be every bit as well compensated in the future,” Beebe said.
Under their present television deals, Big 12 members received between $7 million and $10 million each last year, depending on how many appearances each school made. The Big Ten, enriched by its Big Ten cable network, distributed some $22 million to each member last season.
The greatly staggered contract dates are not working in the Big 12’s favor as it seeks to keep up with other leagues.
An expanded Pac-10 could launch its own TV network and command huge money. Texas, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Colorado were said to be on the Pac-10’s shopping list. If they take that deal and Nebraska and Missouri go to the Big Ten, Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas and Kansas State would be in danger of not belonging to a BCS league.
“There are many fine universities that aren’t in major conferences,” said Gary Sherrer, vice chairman of the Kansas Board of Regents. “You don’t have to have that to be a really quality university.”
