Today’s ePaper

e edition

Regents are ready to talk Big Ten

By Henry J. Cordes
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

The University of Nebraska Board of Regents likely will to be talking Friday about whether the Cornhuskers should stay in the Big 12 Conference or consider moving to the Big Ten.

Bob Phares of North Platte, chairman of the regents, said Wednesday he expects the board to be briefed on the issue by University of Nebraska-Lincoln officials.

"I would anticipate that will occur on Friday,'' Phares told The World-Herald. "And then we'll see.''

Phares said a conference call of the board's executive committee was scheduled for Wednesday afternoon to lay the groundwork for Friday's closed-door briefing. It will include discussion of who will speak to the board beyond Athletic Director Tom Osborne and Chancellor Harvey Perlman.

Phares said there are lots of issues for the regents to consider, including the effect a potential move would have on the school's academic standing and its impact on other schools in the conference.

"We have a responsibility on behalf of the state and university to look at this not from an emotional point of view but on what is in the best interest of the university,'' he said. "I can't tell you how I'm leaning, but I'll make my decision based on the facts.''

A second NU regent, Chuck Hassebrook, also said Wednesday that he expects conference affiliation to be added to the meeting agenda.

Athletic director Tom Osborne said in a radio interview Tuesday night that a decision should come soon.

This report includes material from The Associated Press.


Contact the Omaha World-Herald newsroom


Copyright ©2012 Omaha World-Herald®. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, displayed or redistributed for any purpose without permission from the Omaha World-Herald.

Site map