KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Questions continue to far outnumber answers when it comes to any potential membership change in the Big 12.
Commissioner Dan Beebe acknowledged late Tuesday afternoon that he and the league’s athletic directors discussed the “elephant in the room" that is conference realignment on the first day of spring meetings.
Nebraska A.D. Tom Osborne said the talks went “OK."
“There was nothing definitive," he said. “There really can’t be without the presidents here."
Even when the league’s presidents and chancellors arrive on Thursday, most participants caught in the halls of the Intercontinental Hotel expect no concrete action on who might be in or out in the future.
“Sometimes you guys in the media think people here know more than they do," Osborne said. “All I know is mostly rumors.
“We had a good discussion, and some people got an idea of where others are coming from. But there really was nothing definitive at all."
Beebe took questions for 38 minutes and spoke in good humor. He said he will bring the issue of who might leave to the CEOs Thursday afternoon and Friday morning to try to get a handle on what the future landscape might look like.
“It’s my obligation as the commissioner," he said, “to at least bring that to the board as part of the work they need to consider."
As for learning a drop-dead date from a member who might leave — among those in the speculation are Nebraska, Missouri, Texas and Colorado — Beebe knows that is a long shot.
The Big 12 will need to know for sure by April 2011, when it begins negotiating a new TV contract with Fox.
“I’d like to have it a lot sooner than that," Beebe said. “As a commissioner, you want it locked in stone as soon as you can."
In the meantime, Beebe issued a warning to any school considering relocation.
“It’s my view," he said, “that any of them would be really risking a lot by going to another place where they will be outsiders for a long period of time and will have to acclimate to a new and different culture and risk the chance that the success they’ve gained in this league will be dissipated over time.
“I’d hate to see the conference decimated and create a flyover zone."
Contingency plans already are in progress to counter any membership change.
“We’re fully considering all options, including replacement members," Beebe said. “We’d be negligent if we weren’t. But nobody knows what anybody else is doing."
What if the Big Ten, which has said it might take one, three or five new teams, ends up doing nothing, which Commissioner Jim Delany has said is possible?
“That’s a hard one for me to call," Beebe said. “I think a higher level than 12-member leagues is problematic for a whole bunch of reasons.
“You get outside your geographic region. And there are less chances to win championships and less chances to see rivalries that have developed over the years."
So what are the chances that nothing happens in the Big 12?
“Very high," Beebe said, “based on conversations we’ve had and feelings that have been expressed about the value of the conference and what it has done for so many in such a short period of time."
Contact the writer:
444-1024, lee.barfknecht@owh.com
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