• Video: The Big Red Today Show from day one at Big 12 media days, with Lee Barfknecht, Rich Kaipust and Jon Nyatawa:
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DALLAS — In the Big 12's disagreement with Nebraska and Colorado over fees to be paid for leaving the league, Commissioner Dan Beebe said Monday he doesn't expect a court fight.
“The odds on that are zero,'' Beebe told The World-Herald. “Nobody wants that. We have great relationships, and I think we'll work it out.''
Talks among the Big 12 and the two schools about the price to leave are in progress, Beebe said, and the differences “haven't been worked out yet.''
Still, a cordial result is in sight.
“The chancellors of the two departing schools and the rest of our board are very collegial,'' Beebe said. “They have all worked so closely in other areas of higher education that everybody's desire is to work it out.''
Nebraska Chancellor Harvey Perlman, reached Monday, replied via e-mail from Lincoln: “This tracks with my view.''
Big 12 bylaws detail penalties for leaving the league, depending on how much notice is given.
Perlman, a few days after NU revealed its move to the Big Ten, questioned the idea of any payment.
“I thought in the context, (an exit fee) would be inappropriate,'' Perlman said. “From what I understand the Big 12 has done, I think it's even more inappropriate.''
No money would be taken out of any current Nebraska account to exit. What the Huskers might lose out on is up to 80 percent of the conference revenue distribution they would have received. That could be as much as $15.5 million.
“We have not focused on the amount of the penalty provided in the bylaws,'' Perlman wrote Monday, “but it is a percentage of two years' distribution.''
Beebe said he hopes the disagreement is resolved “by early fall or even before that.''
Contact the writer:
444-1024, lee.barfknecht@owh.com
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• Video: Bo Pelini at Big 12 media days:
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